GCash to Suspend Online Gambling Access via GLife

(UPDATE) LEADING electronic wallet provider GCash has suspended access to online gambling services through its GLife platform since Saturday at 8 p.m., Aug. 16, in compliance with a directive from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

The announcement, made through an in-app advisory posted on Aug. 14, follows Memorandum M-2025-029 issued by the BSP, which directed all BSP-supervised institutions (BSIs) to disable access to online gambling services within 48 hours of the memorandum’s release.

The BSP directive cited a “surge in online gambling transactions” and growing “public concern on its financial health impact on consumers” as the primary reasons for the move. According to the memo, the BSP’s Monetary Board approved the temporary suspension “pending the issuance of a corresponding policy that provides standards and expectations for BSIs in the provision of online gambling payment services.”

In its advisory, GCash advised users that funds can be withdrawn from their gaming accounts to their GCash wallets via GLife only until the 8 p.m. cutoff. After the deadline, any remaining funds must be accessed directly through the gaming merchant’s platform.

The BSP’s move has also drawn attention in Congress. BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan appeared before the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement on Aug. 14 to inform lawmakers about the regulator’s action.

Sen. Erwin Tulfo, who chairs the committee, warned Tangonan during the hearing that failure to enforce the removal of gambling access links from e-wallet apps by Sunday, Aug. 17, could result in contempt charges.

“I’m taking your word on this,” Tulfo said, according to a press release from his office. “We’ll give you 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.”

The suspension marks a significant step in tightening regulatory oversight of digital financial platforms and their role in facilitating online gambling transactions. The BSP has not yet disclosed when or in what form the forthcoming gambling policy guidelines will take.

BSP gets support

Sen. Bam Aquino has expressed strong support for the BSP’s recent directive, compelling e-wallet providers to sever links with online gambling platforms. He also reiterated his call for a complete ban on electronic gambling in the country, citing its damaging effects on families and society.

“We welcome the BSP’s move to delink e-wallets from e-gambling sites,” Aquino said in a statement. “This is a step in the right direction, and we urge providers to fully commit to distancing themselves from these platforms.”

Aquino expressed optimism that the BSP’s directive would curtail the influence of e-gambling, describing it as a potential turning point in broader efforts to eliminate such platforms.

“If this continues, we could see a significant weakening of online gambling in the country. What we’re pushing for is a total ban. The decision now rests with Pagcor (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.) and the President,” he said.