QuestionsQuestions (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 810)
PD 810 grants the Philippine Jai-Alai and Amusement Corporation (and its successors) the right, privilege, and authority to construct, operate, and maintain a Basque Pelota court in the Greater Manila area, establish branches for booking purposes, and hold Basque pelota games with betting either directly or through electric/computerized totalizators.
The franchise is for twenty-five (25) years from approval of the decree, extendable for another twenty-five (25) years without the necessity of another franchise.
The franchise covers Basque Pelota and the related games of pala, raqueta, cestapunta, remonte, and mano.
The Games and Amusements Board (Board) supervises the games and betting. It enforces the laws, rules, and regulations governing Basque Pelota under Commonwealth Act No. 485, as amended, and ensures officials and pelotaris are duly licensed.
Bets may be offered, taken, or arranged within or outside the place/enclosure/court where games are held. However, off-court bets must be in places duly licensed by the corporation and remain subject to Board supervision.
No person other than the grantee or its duly authorized agents may take or arrange bets on any pelotari or on the game, or maintain/use a totalizator or any betting device/method/system, within or without the enclosure/court where the grantee’s games are held.
Violations are punishable by a fine not more than Two Thousand Pesos (₱2,000) or imprisonment not more than six (6) months, or both, at the discretion of the court.
If the offender is a partnership, corporation, or association, criminal liability devolves upon its president, directors, or other officials responsible for the violation.
The grantee must provide: (a) an electric totalizator; (b) a machine connected to a computer for a display board for ticket sales including off-court stations; (c) modern sound system and loud speakers; (d) facilities ensuring safety, security, comfort, and convenience; (e) modern intercommunication devices; and (f) other facilities/devices/instruments for clean, honest, and orderly games.
They supervise and regulate: (1) placing of bets; (2) proper computation of dividends; and (3) distribution of wager funds.
Eighty-five percent (85%) is for dividends to holders of winning/“place” numbers or winning combinations. The remaining fifteen percent (15%) is split into 11.5% as the grantee’s commission fee and 3.5% for special health, educational, civic, cultural, charitable, social welfare, sports, and similar projects directed by the President.
Breakage refers to receipts corresponding to the fraction of ten centavos eliminated from dividends paid to winning tickets. PD 810 requires breakage to be set aside for the same special projects mentioned in Section 4.
Yes, the grantee is authorized to hold games on all days of the week except Sundays and official holidays (Section 5).
CA No. 485 provisions are deemed incorporated. PD 810 also states that its provisions take precedence over CA 485 and any other laws, executive orders, or regulations that are inconsistent with PD 810.
The grantee cannot lease, transfer, grant usufruct of, sell, or assign the franchise permit or rights/privileges acquired, nor merge with another entity for the same purpose, without the previous approval of the President of the Philippines.
For franchise purposes, the grantee is authorized to make use of existing fronton, stadium, and facilities located along Taft Avenue, City of Manila, belonging to the government by virtue of CA No. 485.
It takes effect upon its approval.