By DILG Bans Online Gambling for All Personnel, LGU Officials
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has issued a sweeping ban on online gambling for all its personnel, employees of attached agencies, and local government officials, extending its long-standing prohibition on casino gambling to digital platforms.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has formally prohibited all its personnel, employees of attached agencies, and elected and appointed officials of local government units (LGUs) from accessing or engaging in online gambling.
The directive, issued through Memorandum Circular No. 2025-082 and signed by Secretary Juanito Victor C. Remulla on August 12, 2025, extends the long-standing prohibition on casino gambling to cover all forms of online gambling, except those regulated by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
Background and Legal Basis
The move is anchored on the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Republic Act No. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees), and various presidential directives that emphasize the ethical obligations of public servants.
In 2016, the Office of the President issued Memorandum Circular No. 06, barring all government officials and employees from entering gambling casinos. The DILG notes that the rapid growth and accessibility of online gambling platforms now pose an equal—if not greater—threat to public service integrity.
“Public office is a public trust. Engaging in online gambling undermines the credibility of our institutions and diverts public servants from their sworn duty to serve with integrity, competence, and loyalty,” the circular states.
The memorandum also cites other legal references, including:
- Presidential Decree No. 1869 – Prohibiting government officials connected with government operations from playing in casinos.
- Office of the President Memorandum Circular No. 08, s. 2001 – Reinforcing the prohibition under P.D. 1869.
- 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service – Classifying conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service as a grave offense.
Coverage
The ban applies to:
- All provincial, city, municipal, and barangay elected and appointed officials
- DILG Central and Field Office personnel
- Officials and employees of DILG-attached agencies, including the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, National Youth Commission, Philippine Commission on Women, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, Philippine Public Safety College, and National Police Commission.
Penalties
Any person found violating the directive will face administrative and/or criminal liability in accordance with existing laws and regulations. Penalties for grave offenses may include suspension of up to one year for the first offense and dismissal from service for the second offense.
Effectivity
The memorandum takes immediate effect and orders all heads of agencies, offices, bureaus, and services to disseminate the policy to all concerned personnel within their respective jurisdictions.
