Good Morning. Better safe than sorry. A Philippine law firm has called on the country’s central bank to strengthen its proposed regulations on online gambling payments, highlighting that the current draft inadequately protects vulnerable users and primarily focuses on institutional compliance rather than addressing player-level harms. At the same time, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian warned that online lending apps are exploiting Filipinos already trapped in online gambling addiction. Meanwhile, in Macau, gaming operator Galaxy ranked top in the premium mass gaming segment, with Sands China close behind, according to Citigroup’s latest monthly table survey for July 2025.
What you need to know
- A Philippine law firm has called on the country’s central bank to strengthen its proposed regulations on online gambling payments.
- Galaxy tops Macau’s premium mass with 35% share, while Sands boosts its position via a new baccarat jackpot, says Citigroup’s July survey.
- Digital loans are worsening online gambling addiction, says Gatchalian, urging a crackdown on abusive lenders and unlicensed apps.
On the radar
- IPI casino assets transfer advances following February auction win.
- Macau maintains a 50-license limit for junkets in 2026.
- DigiPlus backs tighter online gaming rules amid regulatory speculation.
- Lottery operator Allwyn has sold its casino assets for $122.7 million.
AGB Intelligence
PHILIPPINES
Law firm urges strengthening of online gambling payment regulations
A Philippine law firm has urged the country’s central bank to enhance its proposed regulations on online gambling payments, arguing that the current draft insufficiently protects vulnerable users. While the firm acknowledges the draft as a positive step toward regulation, it emphasizes that only a small fraction of the provisions address player-level harms, with most focusing on institutional compliance. Key concerns include an ineffective daily spending cap and superficial restrictions on gambling payment windows, which may not deter compulsive behavior.
Corporate Spotlight
Why Asia’s iGaming operators must rethink risk strategy | SEON
Winning Trust, Stopping Fraud. Asia Pacific’s iGaming market is expanding extremely fast, and a new wave of digital-savvy players is pushing demand through the roof. But the rise in adoption has outpaced regulation in many markets, and fraudsters have taken notice.
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