Major Philippine e-wallet providers GCash and Maya have cut connections with online gambling platforms following a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) directive issued on Thursday.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) welcomed the move, calling it a crucial step in curbing gambling addiction among Filipinos.
The BSP ordered e-wallets to remove icons and links to online gambling platforms within 48 hours during a Senate Committee on Games and Amusement hearing on Thursday, August 14th. Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan announced that by Sunday, August 17th, e-wallets should be fully disconnected from online gaming platforms.
Maya disabled links to gambling platforms through its Games feature at 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 16th, 2025. The company expressed support for BSP’s initiative to ensure the responsible use of digital financial services. GCash, operated by GXchange Inc., took the same action by cutting gambling access through its GLife feature at the same time, stating it shared BSP’s commitment to maintaining a safe and secure digital environment.
“We share the commitment of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in maintaining a safe, secure, and responsible digital environment for all,” GCash said in an advisory, according to local media. The company noted it would fully comply with BSP’s Memorandum No. M-2025-029, which mandates the suspension of in-app gaming access in mobile payment apps and websites under BSP supervision.
The CICC praised the removal as a positive development. Acting Executive Director Renato “Aboy” Paraiso called it a “good step” in restricting easy access through payment gateways. In an interview on Sunday, he noted that people will be less likely to use illegal gambling sites because of the poor user experience.
However, Paraiso acknowledged that blocking payment gateways from gaming sites remains a challenge. The CICC proposed that the government serve as the sole online payment provider for legitimate gaming platforms, suggesting institutions such as Landbank could handle payments for all licensed online casinos.
The official stressed that the Philippines must adopt modern technology to combat criminal organizations behind illegal online gambling. He said the government requires automated systems to identify and block illegal sites, estimating that the CICC would need PHP700 million to PHP800 million ($12.4 million to $14.2 million) annually for this purpose.
Senator Erwin Tulfo, chair of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, commended payment apps for complying with the BSP directive but warned that gambling operators may migrate to alternative platforms. In a press release on Sunday, he cited an advisory from BingoPlus informing users they could still access games through its app, website, and the messaging platform Viber. The operator also sells gaming vouchers via shopping app Lazada.
“The fight against the accessibility of gambling to the public is far from over, and we will do our best to work with the private sector and other stakeholders to come up with a holistic approach in addressing this problem,” Tulfo stated.
The BSP has also introduced stricter regulations for financial service providers linked to gambling, including biometric verification and daily transaction limits. Governor Eli Remolona Jr. emphasized that beneficiaries of government financial aid must not be able to access gambling platforms.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is reviewing proposals to ban online gambling entirely. Malacañang Palace previously reported shutting down 7,000 unauthorized gambling sites as part of wider efforts to address the gambling problem in the Philippines.
