Lawmaker: E-wallets still being used in online gambling despite BSP order

Metro Manila, Philippines - E-wallets are still being used for online gambling even after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) ordered digital wallet companies to unlink from e-gaming platforms, a House lawmaker said on Wednesday, Aug. 20.

The BSP announced the order last Thursday in a Senate hearing. It gave firms 48 hours to comply.

During the House appropriations committee’s deliberations on the 2026 budget, Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno asked Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairman Alejandro Tengco on information he received.

“We continue to receive reports that despite that order, kung pupunta tayo sa mga [when you go to] online gambling platforms, meron pa ring [there are still] options to pay using the e-wallet. Are you aware of this?” Diokno asked.

Tengco replied: “Yes, we have been monitoring it Cong. Diokno. Again, nakakalungkot po. Napansin namin din maski sa illegal, mas lalo pang lumakas. So, talagang napakahirap lang tugisin at pahintuin ang mga iligal.”

[Translation: Again, it is saddening. We noticed that illegal sites are getting stronger. So, it is really difficult to stop them.]

Online gaming transactions dropped

Despite the issue, Tengco said online gaming transactions dropped by half following the BSP order.

“Para po sa kaalaman ng lahat, ino-obserbahan po ng PAGCOR nito pong magsimula po nung araw ng Linggo hanggang kahapon ay bumagsak po ng siguro'y 50 porsiyento ang online gaming transactions,” he said.

[Translation: For everyone’s knowledge, the PAGCOR observed that online gaming transactions dropped by more or less 50 percent from Sunday until yesterday.]

Meanwhile, Tengco said about 60 percent of online gaming platforms used by Filipinos are illegal.

Tengco said the illegal e-gaming platforms are not registered with the agency and are operating outside the Philippines.

“Ang nakakalungkot lang po sabihin, wala pang 40 percent ang legal online gaming dito sa Pilipinas,” Tengco said.

[Translation: What’s saddening is the number of legal online gaming sites in the Philippines does not even reach 40 percent.]

“Ang mga iligal na site na ito… ito po ay mga dayuhang tina-target ang mga customer na Pilipino,” he noted.

[Translation: These illegal sites are foreigners who target Filipino customers.]

Tengco said they reported almost 12,000 illegal online gaming sites to authorities. Of which, authorities have taken down around 8,000 platforms.

Issues on legal gaming platforms

Bukidnon Rep. Audrey Zubiri has noticed issues even on legal gaming platforms.

“Our office tried these two apps, ArenaPlus and PlayTime, and the only thing that was required of us was to give a phone number and to enter a verification code. After that, nakapasok na po at ready na maglaro [we were in and ready to play],” she said.

“It bothers me because I was under the impression that PAGCOR is fully monitoring our legal online platform games. But now, it appears that even the legal are not fully monitored,” Zubiri added.

Tengco assured the congresswoman that they will look into the matter and sanction apps if proven to have violated regulations.

Stricter regulation vs total ban

Sixty-two percent of PAGCOR’s current budget came from online gaming while the remaining 38 percent is from land-based casino operations.

Last year, PAGCOR’s total income reached P111.71 billion.

For Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima: “The government’s earnings from online gambling are worthless if they come at the cost of ruining Filipino families, mental health of many individuals, the future of our youth, and the moral fiber of our nation.”

For Tengco, a total ban on online gaming would not deter illegal sites because of technology advancement.

“Makalulusot pa rin ‘yung iligal dahil nga du’n sa binanggit ko na mule merchants. Hahanap at hahanap po ng paraan para maka-connect sila sa payment apps,” he said.

[Translation: Illegal sites could still operate through mule merchants. They would find ways to connect to payment applications.]

PAGCOR is expected to meet with software companies in the coming months to discuss artificial intelligence-powered tools to better regulate e-gaming.

Lawmakers have filed measures seeking to either regulate or totally ban online gaming platforms due to its negative impacts to society.