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.
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WATCH: Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairman Alejandro Tengco identifies the online gaming platforms operating "illegally."
Tengco says authorities have taken down about 8,000 out of the almost 12,000 illegal sites flagged by PAGCOR. | @daniza_sf pic.twitter.com/AQHm3yNTwc
— NewsWatch Plus PH (@newswatchplusph) August 20, 2025
