Philippines’ Senator Erwin Tulfo (as depicted in the featured image) has called on digital wallet providers and e-wallets in the Philippines to sever ties with online gambling platforms, warning that the issue has reached crisis levels and urging companies to act before the government is forced to legislate.
Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, appealed ahead of upcoming Senate hearings into proposals that could lead to a nationwide ban on all forms of online gambling. He said firms such as GCash and PayMaya should take voluntary steps to restrict gambling-related transactions on their platforms.
“We want to see what you call corporate responsibility—social responsibility. Show us.”
~ Erwin Tulfo, Chairman, Senate Committee on Games and Amusement
“Companies shouldn’t wait for legislation. You have a social responsibility, and we’re already facing a crisis. The online gambling problem is a crisis,” Tulfo said in an interview with ABS-CBN News.
Senator calls for social responsibility
The senator’s remarks come amid growing concern over the social and financial impact of online gambling in the country. He said the problem has worsened to the point where government welfare money may now be finding its way into betting platforms.
“Before, we only heard rumours that 4Ps [Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program] money was being gambled away in tong-its. But now, it’s scary to think government aid might be going straight to online gambling,” he added.
Tulfo also criticised the widespread presence of gambling advertisements across social media and mobile apps, questioning whether large firms have lost sight of basic moral standards.
“These are big companies, even listed on the stock exchange. You used to thrive without online gambling. Now, we want to see what you call corporate responsibility—social responsibility. Show us,” he said.
Central bank drafts new policy
The push for reform comes as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the country’s central bank, bared a draft policy aimed at tightening financial regulations linked to gambling. The BSP is proposing the creation of special digital wallets—called Online Gambling Transaction Accounts (OGTAs)—specifically for betting-related activities.
Under the proposal, e-wallet users would only be allowed to transfer up to 20 percent of their average daily balance into these accounts, and only during a six-hour daily window. A 24-hour cooling-off period would apply once daily transaction limits from e-wallets are reached, to help curb impulsive betting.
The proposed accounts would need stricter identity checks, including facial recognition, and would show pop-up messages to remind users to gamble responsibly. Lending features would be turned off by default, and users could choose to disable their gambling wallets temporarily.
Breaking these rules could lead to fines of up to ₱100,000 (around €1,570) per day, or ₱1 million (around €15,700) for each illegal transaction. Repeat violations might result in a suspension or permanent loss of the company’s licence to handle gambling payments.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is accepting feedback on the draft rules until 25 July, with final guidelines expected soon after. At the same time, the Philippine Senate will begin hearings this week to decide whether online gambling should be banned entirely or more tightly controlled.
