Philippine central bank orders e-wallets to cut iGaming links
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Philippine central bank, has ordered all e-wallet providers to remove icons and links to online gambling sites within 48 hours, a timeline that several senators have criticised as unnecessary.
BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan announced the move during a Senate Committee on Games and Amusement hearing, saying the Monetary Board had approved the directive that day. “The Monetary Board of the [BSP] has approved our policy that we asked, directing the BSP supervising institutions to take down and remove all icons and links redirecting to gambling sites,” Tangonan said. He told the panel that “by Sunday,” e-wallet platforms should no longer have any connections to online gaming sites.
Committee chair Senator Erwin Tulfo warned Tangonan that he could be cited in contempt if links to gambling platforms were still present by Sunday morning. “Do not take this committee lightly. We have a problem, we have a crisis. When you say the deadline is the last hour of Saturday, I will give you until Sunday. If on Sunday morning there are still games in e-wallets, we will hold you in contempt,” Tulfo said in Filipino.
“We provided 48 hours because we want to give time to the BSP’s supervising institutions to take down those in-app links and icons to the online gambling sites,” Tangonan explained. “The other reason is so that we can also provide time for the customers and consumers to withdraw their funds from the online gaming account once they learn that we are already removing the links from the mobile payment applications and websites.”
E-wallet providers pledge compliance
GCash operator G-Xchange Inc. said it would “fully comply” with the BSP order. “We share the BSP’s commitment to ensuring that digital financial services are used responsibly and in ways that protect the welfare of Filipinos,” it said, adding that changes would be implemented “immediately” once the official directive is received.
Maya also stated that it was “ready to comply” and assured customers that their accounts and transactions would remain secure and operational.
Concerns over gambling addiction
The hearing was conducted jointly with other Senate committees, amid growing calls for a total ban or stricter regulation of online gambling in the Philippines.
Tulfo argued that both legal and illegal gambling were destroying the lives of Filipinos. He criticised the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) for “fuelling this epidemic” and questioned the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) over its role in digital protection.
Senator Risa Hontiveros called for unified government action, noting the need for legislation to ensure a “coordinated and whole-of-government” approach.
The Philippines’ Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Centre (CICC) earlier stated that it has shut down 8,901 illegal online gambling websites in a sweeping crackdown, which comes as lawmakers weigh a nationwide ban. The hearing also revealed there are 11,985 illegal online gambling sites still operating, including 6,363 online casino games, 235 offshore sites, and 4,815 online sabong platforms.
