Philippines: Online Gaming Transactions Drop 50% Following BSP Ban on E-Wallet Gambling Access

Online gaming transactions have plunged by up to 50 percent following the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) directive to electronic wallet platforms to cut in-app access to gambling websites, according to Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) Chairman Alejandro Tengco.

“From Sunday to yesterday, we observed that online gaming transactions may have dropped by around 50 percent,” Tengco said during Pagcor’s budget briefing at the House of Representatives.
 

Pagcor Supports Stricter Online Gambling Regulations

Tengco expressed full support for tighter regulations on online gaming, stating: “Yes, Congressman Diokno, I believe there is still much to be done to make our regulatory framework stricter,” he said, responding to Rep. Chel Diokno of Akbayan.

He noted that the rapid expansion of online gambling has outpaced current regulatory mechanisms. “Pagcor is not perfect, but we are making necessary adjustments to our manuals and protocols to cope with the exponential growth of online gaming—not just locally, but globally,” he added.
 

Illegal Online Gambling Remains a Major Concern

Tengco revealed that over 60 percent of online gambling sites accessed by Filipino users are illegal, operated by foreign entities targeting the local market.

“These operators are not based in the Philippines, but they continue to engage Filipino players,” Tengco said, noting that Pagcor is working closely with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Philippine National Police Cybercrime Group to crack down on these illegal platforms.

Pagcor’s Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Department (CMED) receives an average of 2,000 complaints monthly, with more than half related to unlicensed operators.
 

Nearly 8,000 Illegal Gaming Sites Taken Down

Tengco reported that out of 11,800 illegal operators flagged by Pagcor and referred to government agencies, almost 8,000 websites have already been taken offline.

“The advantage here is that we get the exact URLs of the reported illegal operators. These are then forwarded to the DICT, NTC, CICC, and PNP for swift action,” he said.

However, Tengco acknowledged the ongoing cat-and-mouse game with tech-savvy illegal operators. “They often change names or alter a character in their site address to evade detection and resume operations,” he explained. “But rest assured, Congressman Poe, that Pagcor and relevant agencies are relentless in tracking and shutting down these entities.”
 

Pagcor’s Ongoing Efforts to Rein in Online Gambling

Online transactions dropped 50% following BSP’s e-wallet gambling restrictions

60%+ of online gambling sites remain illegal, mostly foreign-based

Pagcor working with DICT, PNP, and other agencies to shut down unlicensed sites

7,800+ illegal sites taken down out of 11,800 flagged

Ongoing efforts to update regulations and strengthen enforcement
 

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