Poker is not illegal in the Philippines, per se, but certain clauses within the Philippine penal code may make playing the game illegal. For example, Section 3 of the penal code states that “Whoever plays at any game for money, or stakes any consideration thereon, except as authorized by law, is guilty of a misdemeanor.” This clause could be interpreted to mean that playing poker for money is illegal. Additionally, Section 2 of the penal code states that “Any person who unlawfully obstructs or opposes any public officer or employee in the performance of his duties shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding two thousand pesos, or both.
” This clause could also be used to prosecute someone for playing poker illegally. However, there have been no reported cases of poker being prosecuted under these sections. In conclusion, while poker may not be explicitly illegal in the Philippines, certain sections of the Philippine penal code may make it illegal to play the game for money.
