The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has ordered e-wallet platforms to remove links and icons to online gambling sites within 48 hours. This is to give users time to withdraw their money from online gambling accounts before access is permanently removed.
During the Senate hearing, several senators such as Alan Peter Cayetano, Erwin Tulfo, and Risa Hontiveros expressed concern that the 48 hours could potentially pose even greater risks to gambling addicts. There were calls to completely ban online gambling and disconnect e-wallets and bank accounts from gambling sites, whether legal or illegal.
According to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., the number of “electronic gaming players” reached 32.117 million from January to May 2025 — nearly one-third of the Philippine population. This is a significant increase from 8.2 million in 2024, equivalent to a 291% increase.
E-wallet companies have pledged to comply with the BSP's order and ensure that services remain safe and sound for their users while removing gambling links.
