GCash, Maya to unlink services to online gambling platforms following BSP order

Manila, Philippines – GCash and Maya, two of the biggest e-wallet players in the Philippines, has officially stated that they will comply with the orders of the nation’s central bank, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), on unlinking its services to online gambling platforms. The moves were made following a recent Senate hearing that tackled the issue of online gambling in the country.

E-wallet platforms take action

In a public statement, GCash stated that it will comply with BSP’s latest mandate on the suspension of in-app gaming access in mobile payment apps and websites in BSP Supervised Institutions (BSIs).

With this, access to gaming via the app’s GLife services will be suspended after Saturday, August 16, 8 PM. 

Moreover, users may withdraw their funds from their gaming account back to their GCash wallet through GLife only until Saturday, August 16, 8 PM. After this, users who have remaining funds can only access this directly through the gaming merchant’s website.

“GCash supports adopting stronger safeguards on online gaming and will continue to work with regulators and industry partners to protect the financial health of Filipinos,” the company said.

Meanwhile, Maya has confirmed to MARKETECH APAC that it will also follow BSP’s orders, though they didn’t go into detail how will this rollout.

“Maya is ready to comply with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) directive to remove links to online gambling from its app. The update will be implemented in line with the BSP’s guidance. We assure customers that their accounts and transactions remain secure and fully operational. We remain focused on serving our customers while fully complying with regulatory requirements,” the company told MARKETECH APAC.

More on BSP’s actions

Earlier today, BSP revealed in a recent Senate hearing that they ordered electronic wallets including GCash and Maya to sever links to online gambling platforms in 48 hours from August 14.

In the hearing, Senate Committee on Games and Amusement Chairperson Sen. Erwin Tulfo has issued a stern warning to BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan that could be cited for contempt if e-wallet links to online gambling apps are not removed by Sunday, August 17.

“If I see a single link to gambling apps, I will cite you in contempt. The committee is serious—we have a problem, we have a crisis,” Sen. Erwin Tulfo declared.

The senator also added, “I’m taking your word on this, we’ll give you actually more than 48 hours. So Sunday morning, we will not see online gambling games anymore and no more links of any sort will be accessible on e-wallets.”

He also added that they were seeking a clear and concise solution from governing bodies, noting that most lawmakers favoured a total ban on online gambling, while others were pushing for regulation due to potential revenue losses.

“If you ask us, we want to stop online gambling right here, right now. But we will hear every side,” he quipped.

Huge contrasts on online gambling platforms and users

In the same hearing, Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri presented that online gambling platforms had gross gaming revenues (GGRs) that rose from P8 billion in 2022 to P33.16 billion in 2023 and P135.71 billion in 2024, with P106.53 billion already logged in the first half of 2025. For Sen. Zubiri, these numbers translate to money lost at home of many Filipino families.

Moreover, he shared anecdotes of multiple families who have been hugely affected by online gambling platforms, from being buried in gambling-related debts, to harming themselves, and also delving into a life of crime to sustain their gambling addiction.

“These stories reveal the ugly truth of online gambling. It is not at all just fun and games, as the colorful advertisements would like us to believe,” he stated.

The senator then blamed this rise in online gambling to accessibility and ease of transactions, noting that the integration between digital wallets and online gambling sites made it extremely convenient to place bets, withdraw funds, top up accounts, and wager again with just a few clicks, all without leaving home.

Earlier in July, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) teamed up with the Ad Standards Council (ASC) to formalise an agreement aimed at regulating advertisements for online gambling platforms. This initiative also follows PAGCOR’s recent directive mandating the removal of outdoor ads promoting online gambling.

In the same month, advocacy group Digital Pinoys, alongside Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), worked with Meta to take down multiple pages of social media influencers who were rampant in promoting online gambling in their pages. This resulted in the deletion of 20 celebrity pages, whose total following amassed more than 15 million followers.