WHEREAS, the present system of control and supervision of gaming, particularly the operations of offshore casino gaming, is found inadequate to cope up with the increasing pace of gaming activities in the country today;
WHEREAS, it is necessary to regulate and control all forms of authorized gaming in order to support the tourism program of the government, broaden the base for revenue generation and provide better protection to the betting public;
WHEREAS, in order to control and regulate effectively these gaming activities, it is necessary to centralize as much as possible in one agency, such power and authority of control and regulation and to impose taxes on operators of gaming establishments and on players.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order and decree as follows:
PART I—THE NATIONAL GAMING COMMISSION
SECTION 1.—Creation of the National Gaming Commission. There is hereby created the National Gaming Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, which shall be composed of a Chairman and two (2) members, who shall be appointed by the President and shall hold office at his pleasure.
The Chairman shall receive a salary of P50,000 per annum, while each of the two (2) members shall receive P40,000 per annum.
The Chairman and members shall serve on full-time basis and shall not hold any other public or private office, nor shall they be pecuniarily interested in any business or organization conducting gaming covered by this Decree.
SEC. 2. Functions and powers of the Commission. The Commission shall have (a) Grant permits to persons who under its rules and regulations may be qualified to operate gaming activities authorized by law;
(b) Revoke the said permit if under its rules and regulations, the conduct of the gaining activities justifies such revocation;
(c) Supervise and regulate all gaming authorized by law, such as casino gambling, horse racing, jai alai and cockfighting, taking into consideration the protection of the betting public and the promotion of tourism;
(d) Authorize the use of gaming equipment, paraphernalia and such other facilities by gaming establishments;
(e) Prohibit the use of improper devices, drugs, stimulants, and other means as to artificially affect the results of any gambling game;
(f) Suspend or revoke for a reasonable cause a license or permit issued by it;
(g) Prepare its budget, and fix the number and compensation of its personnel in accordance with law;
(h) Recruit, appoint, suspend, or terminate the services of its personnel in accordance with law;
(i) Delegate its licensing and regulating' powers over cockfighting to any national or local agency; and
(j) Issue rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this Decree.
SEC. 3. Jurisdiction. The jurisdiction of the Commission shall embrace all forms of authorized gaming; Provided, however, That sweepstakes races and lotteries shall remain under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office; and provided, further, That boxing, wrestling and professional basketball shall emain under the jurisdiction of the Games and Amusement Board.
SEC. 4. Appropriation. To carry out the purposes of this Decree, there is hereby appropriated out of the funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of P1,000,000 for the initial year of operation of the Commission. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for its operation shall be included in the annual appropriation.
PART II.—TAX ON CASINOS
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
