The Philippine Star
August 16, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Following a directive from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), digital pockets platforms GCash and Maya will droop entry to on-line playing websites beginning as we speak.
In separate advisories, the 2 platforms knowledgeable clients how they may withdraw funds from their gaming accounts earlier than the unlinking takes impact at 8 p.m.
For Maya customers, clients might withdraw any remaining funds from linked gaming accounts again to their Maya Pockets through the Video games function.
Expressing assist for the federal government effort, Maya mentioned: “We are going to all the time safeguard our clients and guarantee uninterrupted availability of all our monetary providers. Maya will proceed working carefully with regulators and business companions to uphold the best requirements of shopper safety and full compliance with all rules.”
On Thursday, the BSP mentioned it directed e-wallet platforms and different monetary establishments underneath its supervision to unlink on-line playing platforms from its techniques inside 48 hours.
The directive was introduced throughout a Senate listening to looking for to handle reported points associated to on-line playing, notably its affect on Filipinos.
BSP backed
Lawmakers lauded the BSP’s suspension of in-app playing entry in e-wallets, calling it a crucial step in defending Filipinos from dependancy and monetary wreck.
In a joint assertion, Home “Younger Weapons” bloc members Deputy Audio system Paolo Ortega and Jefferson Khonghun, Deputy Majority Leaders Zia Alonto Adiong and Ernesto Dionisio Jr. and Rep. Lordan Suan mentioned that BSP’s initiative addresses the surge in on-line playing transactions and their detrimental affect on Filipino shoppers’ monetary well being.
“Unrestricted entry to on-line playing via cellular funds exacerbates dependancy, resulting in devastating penalties similar to chapter, damaged households and even heightened charges of melancholy and suicide amongst affected people,” Khonghun mentioned. “By suspending these options, the BSP is taking an important step to guard our residents from these harms.”
“The heightened public concern over the monetary and well being impacts of on-line playing calls for quick motion. Supporting this suspension ensures that cellular cost providers stay targeted on productive makes use of, not harmful habits,” Dionisio famous.
Adiong, for his half, mentioned: “Filipinos deserve cost techniques that promote monetary stability, not ones that allow easy accessibility to high-risk actions. This coverage reinforces accountability within the digital economic system.”
Complete ban pushed
Whereas the BSP directive was welcomed as a step ahead, Catholic Bishops’ Convention of the Philippines (CBCP) president and Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David mentioned it falls brief of what’s wanted, calling as a substitute for a “complete ban, not simply regulation” of on-line playing.
Citing Part 10 of Republic Act 9487, which restricts the operation of slot machines and related gadgets to accredited lodges and resorts, David warned that cellular playing circumvents safeguards and makes betting accessible “wherever, anytime” to anybody with a smartphone.
“That is worse than slot machines in malls or markets,” David mentioned. “Now, the slot machine is already inside each telephone. No bodily safeguards, no restricted venues, no bouncers on the door.”
He additional argued that on-line playing undermines legislative intent, fosters dependancy and exploits the poor even because it generates billions for the federal government via the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR).
Echoing this sentiment, CIBAC party-list Rep. Eddie Villanueva careworn that solely a full ban would remove the hurt.
“We welcome the BSP’s directive, however regulation just isn’t sufficient. On-line playing should be banned in its entirety to actually halt its harmful affect on households and communities,” Villanueva mentioned.
He referred to as for the passage of his Home Invoice 637, which emphasizes that whereas the sector is closely taxed and controlled, these efforts are inadequate when weighed in opposition to the social hurt it inflicts.
“On-line playing is predatory – not simply addictive, however harmful. Eradicating app icons is only a begin. The one actual resolution is abolition,” mentioned Villanueva.
Senate weighs choices
Within the Senate, Sen. Erwin Tulfo mentioned the video games and amusements committee will invite regulation enforcement companies and e-wallet companies to the subsequent listening to to element plans for cracking down on unlawful playing, together with the danger of web sites going underground.
In response to the senator, of the practically 12,000 unlawful playing websites, together with on-line casinos, offshore platforms and e-sabong, greater than 3,000 are nonetheless lively.
Tulfo mentioned the Senate will determine after the hearings if it can name for an outright ban or simply mere regulation of the net playing business.
Earlier, PAGCOR argued for regulation, noting that on-line playing generated P48.79 billion in license charges in 2024 and contributed P23.6 billion to social packages and P7.59 billion to common well being care.
DOH affords assist for playing addicts
As authorities tighten controls, the Division of Well being mentioned it is able to help these battling playing dependancy.
Well being Secretary Ted Herbosa mentioned DOH hospitals’ psychiatric well being and behavioral sciences models can present consultations and therapy.
“You probably have or in case you expertise playing dependancy and also you need to endure therapy, there can be found providers from the DOH,” Herbosa mentioned.
“We have now the behavioral sciences, psychiatric well being (division) to help you. Anybody who want to have interaction in session are most welcome. Our hospitals offering psychiatric help are open to all,” he added. — Janvic Mateo, Jose Rodel Clapano, Rhodina Villanueva, Emmanuel Tupas, Bella Cariaso, Marc Jayson Cayabyab
