President Rodrigo Roa Duterte ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to intensify the fight against illegal gambling.

This directive came as the President signed Executive Order No 13 strengthening the fight against illegal gambling.

The same law enforcement agencies were further directed by the Chief Executive to coordinate and promptly act on requests of gambling regulatory authorities to investigate and put a stop to illegal gambling activities in their respective jurisdictions.

The order likewise instructed the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB), Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) and other regulatory entities to submit a consolidated report on the progress of the fight against illegal gambling in their jurisdictions within six (6) months and every six (6) months thereafter from the effective date of the EO.

In addition, the President prohibited the assignment, sharing, lease, transfer or selling of online gambling license to any other party.

Online gambling operators who wish to operate outside the jurisdiction of the government authority who issued the license shall apply for a separate license.

Executive Order No 13 defines illegal gambling as any game scheme not authorized or licensed by the government

All gambling activities conducted beyond the territorial jurisdiction of the government authority which issued the license is also considered as illegal gambling. ###PCO-Content.