Limitation on Gambling on Horse Races

September 8, 1906

ACT NO. 1537

AN ACT TO LIMIT GAMBLING ON HORSE RACES IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS TO CERTAIN SPECIFIC DATES AND PROVIDING FOR VIOLATION OF ITS PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, corporation, or association to offer, take, or agree upon any horse race, or to maintain or employ a totalizer or other device, method, or scheme for betting or gambling on any horse race, or realizing any profit therefrom by betting or gambling in the Philippine Islands, except during the periods in this section mentioned:

(a) On each Sunday and legal holiday between the date of the passage of this Act and the first day of January, nineteen hundred and seven.

(b) After the first day of January, nineteen hundred and seven, on the first Sunday of each month and on legal holidays, and for a period of three days in each year immediately before the beginning of Lent: PROVIDED, That nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent the offering and payment of prizes or gifts to the winners in horse races at other periods than those in this section stated unaccompanied by any betting or the use of totalizers or other devices for making money on a horse race.

SECTION 2. Whenever it shall appear that there has been a violation of section one of this Act with respect to any horse race, every race held on the same occasion at the same place shall be punishable as a separate offense.

SECTION 3. The president and each of the directors or managers of a partnership, corporation, or association that has violated section one of this Act shall be deemed to be a principal in the offense.

SECTION 4. Every person convicted under this Act shall be punished by a fine not to exceed two thousand pesos, or by imprisonment not to exceed six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on its passage. AHDacC

ENACTED, September 8, 1906.