ONLINE GAMBLING
BSP orders e-wallets to unlink from online gambling
Senators started discussions on various proposed measures aimed at regulating its operation or completely banning online gambling Thursday, August 14, 2025.
MANILA, Philippines – The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has issued a directive ordering electronic wallets (e-wallets) to sever their links with online gambling platforms. The order, announced on Thursday, August 14, comes amidst ongoing Senate deliberations on bills that seek to tighten regulations or ban online gambling entirely.
According to BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan, e-wallet providers have been given a 48-hour grace period to comply with the order. This means that by Saturday, August 16, online gambling games should no longer be directly accessible through e-wallet applications.
During a Senate hearing, the two-day grace period was questioned by senators, including Sen. Joel Villanueva, who suggested that platforms could comply immediately. In response, Tangonan clarified that the time is needed for institutions to remove the in-app links and also to allow consumers to withdraw funds from their online gaming accounts.
While the BSP’s order mandates the removal of direct links from e-wallet apps, it was noted that consumers could still use e-wallets to pay for online gambling if they access the gaming sites directly through other means.
