The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has directed e-wallet platforms to remove links to online gambling sites within 48 hours, following the government’s request for gambling operators to take down both digital and physical advertisements. The move aims to address growing concerns over gambling addiction in the country.
During a Senate hearing, data showed there are 11,985 illegal online gambling sites in the Philippines, including 6,363 online casino games, 235 offshore sites, and 4,815 online sabong platforms.
BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan said e-wallet operators were told to remove in-app features or links that enable users to access e-gambling sites. He noted, however, that gamblers can still place bets through e-wallets if they access gambling platforms directly.