The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has ordered e-wallet apps to remove all links to online gambling platforms by Saturday, August 16. This move aims to protect users from the risks of online betting, especially young people and families.
The central bank said the 48-hour grace period gives providers time to update their apps and lets users withdraw money from gambling accounts. The directive was announced during a Senate hearing on online gambling.
GCash and Maya, the two largest e-wallet providers, said they are ready to comply with the order. GCash will act once the directive is received. Maya assured users that accounts will stay secure during the update.
The Senate is considering stricter rules, or a full ban, on online gambling. Lawmakers raised concerns about addiction, debt, and crime. Senator Zubiri said gambling revenues jumped from ₱8 billion in 2022 to over ₱106 billion in the first half of 2025.
Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros urged lawmakers to regulate gambling access through apps. Malacañang previously shut down 7,000 illegal gambling sites due to addiction concerns.
