SENATOR Robinhood ‘Robin’ Padilla has filed a measure seeking to prevent the spread of gambling especially among the youth, by penalizing the publication and promotion of gambling-related content online and on social media.

In Senate Bill 2602, Padilla noted gambling has been linked to addiction, criminal activities, and even social issues that destroy the moral fiber of our nation.

“Considering the evolving landscape of social media platforms, this representation has been apprised of the availability of online user-generated content relating to gambling that demonstrates, promotes and provides instructions on betting or staking to the general public,” he said.

“In this regard, this representation proposes the prohibition of online publication of materials that instruct or demonstrate gambling, commentaries and advertisements that promote awareness of gambling activities,” he added.

Padilla, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, noted his bill aims to lessen, if not all eliminate, the exposure and impact of gambling to the general public, especially the youth.

Under the bill, the Department of Justice shall issue a disabling order to restrict or block access to online content promoting gambling, with notice to the Department of Information and Communications Technology and National Telecommunications Commission to monitor compliance.

Service providers must comply with the disabling orders within 48 hours of the issuance of the orders.

Those found publishing or promoting gambling materials online will be penalized with a jail term for up to one year; or a fine of up to to P500,000.

If the offender linked the prohibited content to an online gambling site or received commissions from publishing the content, he or she faces up to three years in jail and a P500,000 fine.