Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 13)
The primary objective of Executive Order No. 13 is to strengthen the fight against illegal gambling and clarify the jurisdiction and authority of concerned agencies in the regulation and licensing of gambling and online gaming facilities in the Philippines.
The Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and other law enforcement agencies are ordered to intensify the fight against illegal gambling, in coordination with agencies like the DOJ, DILG, and DICT.
Illegal gambling is committed by any person who directly or indirectly takes part in any game scheme involving wagers of money or articles of value when such game is not authorized or licensed by the government agency empowered to do so, or is conducted in violation of prescribed terms and conditions. Gambling activities conducted beyond the territorial jurisdiction of the licensing authority are also considered illegal.
The Order clarifies that no duly licensed online gambling operator shall allow persons physically located outside the territorial jurisdiction of the licensing authority to participate in their games, except those physically outside Philippine territory. Licenses for online gambling operators are non-transferable and should not be shared or encumbered.
The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO), and Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) have authority to operate or license gambling in their respective jurisdictions, subject to certain conditions, including PAGCOR's supervision in the case of AFAB.
The Office of the President, through a duly authorized representative, shall exercise oversight over the implementation of the Order, recommend issuance of rules and regulations for suppression of illegal gambling, and coordinate with relevant agencies to improve government efforts against illegal gambling.
No, the license to operate, especially for online gambling, granted to qualified operators cannot be assigned, shared, leased, transferred, sold or encumbered to any other party.
These regulatory entities, in coordination with relevant law enforcement agencies, must submit consolidated reports on the progress of the fight against illegal gambling to the Office of the President every six months from the effective date of the Order.
If any provision is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions of the Executive Order not affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
The Executive Order took effect immediately upon its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.