Prescribing Stiffer Penalties On Illegal Gambling

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Presidential Decree No. 1602 on Illegal Gambling

Penalties:
- Section 1(a)1: Prison correccional medium period or fine of 1,000 to 6,000 pesos, and for recidivism, prision mayor medium period or fine of 5,000 to 10,000 pesos for participating in illegal gambling activities like cockfighting, jueteng, jai alai, horse racing bookies, numbers games, bingo, lotteries, card games, dice games, tile games, slot machines, races, sports betting, and other games of chance or skill involving wagers.
- Section 1(a)2: Same penalties for knowingly permitting illegal gambling on owned or controlled premises. If the place has a reputation for gambling or is a public/government building, prision correccional maximum period and 6,000 pesos fine.
- Section 1(b): Prision correccional maximum period or 6,000 pesos fine for maintainers or conductors of gambling schemes.
- Section 1(c): Prision mayor medium period with temporary absolute disqualification or 6,000 pesos fine if the maintainer, conductor, banker, player, promoter, referee, umpire, judge or coach is a government official involved in game fixing or machinations.
- Section 1(d): Prision correccional medium period or fine of 400 to 2,000 pesos for possessing lottery lists or materials related to jueteng, jai-alai, horse racing bookies, and similar lotteries.
- Section 1(e): Temporary absolute disqualification for barangay officials who fail to abate gambling houses in their jurisdiction.
- Section 1(f): Prision correccional maximum period or fine of 500 to 2,000 pesos for security personnel of premises with a gambling reputation.

Informer's Reward (Section 2): 20% of confiscated cash or valuables for informants leading to arrest and conviction.

Repealing Clause (Section 3): Repeals inconsistent provisions of Revised Penal Code Articles 195-199, R.A. 3063, P.D. 483, 449, 510, 1306, and other laws, orders, and ordinances.