Statute
Civil Code
Article
Art. 2014
Topic
Gambling
Status
In force
Book
BOOK IV Obligations and Contracts
Title
TITLE XIII ALEATORY CONTRACTS
Chapter
CHAPTER 2 Gambling
Formerly
Art. 1799a of the old Civil Code
Year
1949
Cited by
A Supreme Court decision

The provision

No action can be maintained by the winner for the collection of what he has won in a game of chance. But any loser in a game of chance may recover his loss from the winner, with legal interest from the time he paid the amount lost, and subsidiarily from the operator or manager of the gambling house. (1799a)

Intellegal Wiki · In plain terms

A winner in a game of chance cannot go to court to collect what they won. A loser, on the other hand, may recover the money they paid out from the winner, with legal interest running from the time of payment, and secondarily from the operator or manager of the gambling house.

An editorially maintained plain-language explanation of this provision — not legal advice.

Intellegal Wiki · How the courts apply it

In Yun Kwan Byung v. Philippine Amusement, the Supreme Court held: PAGCOR cannot share its gambling franchise with third parties (delegata potestas non potest delegari); an agreement doing so is void, gambling debts are unenforceable (Article 2014), and a void contract cannot be ratified (Article 1409).

One leading Supreme Court case applying this provision.

Cases applying this article

Related provisions in this Chapter

Civil Code, Art. 2014 is found in CHAPTER 2 Gambling of TITLE XIII ALEATORY CONTRACTS of BOOK IV Obligations and Contracts of the Civil Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 386).

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Reviewed by the Intellegal Legal Team for currency against amending laws and Supreme Court jurisprudence.

Research aid — not legal advice. Verify the current text against the Official Gazette. Provisions may have been amended or repealed. Using this page creates no attorney-client relationship. For legal advice, consult a Philippine lawyer.