Philippine online gambling transactions fall 50% after e-wallet restrictions

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Online gaming transactions fell by 50% after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas directed e-wallet platforms to cut in-app access to gambling sites, according to the Philippine gambling regulator PAGCOR.

PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco briefed lawmakers at the House of Representatives this week, saying the 50% decline was recorded between Sunday and Monday. He also confirmed PAGCOR’s support for tighter online gambling rules.

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In response to a question from Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno, Tengco said, “I, together with the entire PAGCOR team, believe that there still are things that should be done to make the regulations and structure pertaining to online gaming stricter.”

Tengco accepts the gaps in regulation due to the rapid growth of online gaming, but said the agency was updating its manuals to keep pace. He also noted that more than 60% of online gaming sites targeting Filipinos were illegal and operated internationally.

Tengco also mentioned that PAGCOR’s Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Department receives about 2,000 complaints monthly, with over 60% linked to unlicensed operators. Of the 11,800 illegal operators reported to government agencies, nearly 8,000 had been taken down.

Tengco added, “Unfortunately, there are enterprising illegal operators. They just change their name, add one letter or one number, and their illegal activity resumes. It is a cat-and-mouse situation.”

Yet, the chairman reiterated that PAGCOR and other government agencies are dedicated to stopping offshore operations.

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