Several senators have raised alarm over the growing presence of online gambling operations embedded in popular apps and digital platforms, urging government regulators to move swiftly in shutting them down.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has ordered mobile payment platforms, including GCash and Maya, to cut access to in-app gaming within 48 hours, amid mounting concerns in the Senate over the social costs of online gambling.
Manila representative Rolando Valeriano on Wednesday, Aug. 13, called on the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to go after and close illegal online gambling and betting operators, citing their violations of the National Internal Revenue Code as grounds for prosecution for tax evasion.
Following a public consultation, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is finalizing rules that will require banks, e-wallet operators, and other financial service providers to strengthen measures against online gambling-related harm.
The move closely follows the company's launch in Brazil in September 2025 and positions DigiPlus to enter Africa's most established and rapidly expanding online gambling market.
A new study on online gambling among Filipinos suggests that better regulations — not an outright ban — are needed to create a safer playing environment and prevent the proliferation of unregulated gambling platforms.
Legislators from both chambers of Congress have expressed deep frustration over what they describe as the government’s and e-wallet providers’ weak and half-hearted efforts to curb the proliferation of online gambling advertisements.
DigiPlus Interactive Corp., the local operator behind online gambling apps BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, and GameZone, said it is set to launch its operations in Brazil this September.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said on Thursday, July 3, it will issue a circular meant to protect users of digital platforms from risks associated with online gambling.
