The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said on July 3 that it will issue a circular to protect consumers from the risks of online gambling by mandating banks and electronic money issuers to strengthen their safeguards1. The central bank gave no date for the circular and no details of the safeguards it will require, which have not been reported1.
The announcement came as the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) argued against a total ban on online gaming. PAGCOR chairman Alejandro Tengco said regulation is a more realistic and beneficial path than prohibition, and that distinguishing legitimate online operators from illegal offshore groups that evade regulation and taxes and target Filipino users is important1.
"We collected around P50 billion from online gaming operations in 2024"
Tengco said half of that revenue directly funds social services, including the Universal Health Care Act, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., the Philippine Sports Commission and the Dangerous Drugs Board1. He said PAGCOR is investing in AI-powered systems that can track player activity, flag risky behavior and enforce self-exclusion, and is looking at AI-powered Know-Your-Client tools to ensure registered users are 21 and above1. He said accounts may be automatically suspended if a player deposits more than usual or loses more than they win, and that Canada and the United States use these technologies1.
Separately, the Department of Finance is finalizing a proposal to impose an online gambling tax in the Philippines. Finance Undersecretary Maria Luwalhati Dorotan-Tiuseco said the details, supporting policy recommendations and other relevant information will be released at the proper time1.
What it means for players
The BSP circular is aimed at the payment layer: the banks and e-money issuers that process deposits to and withdrawals from gambling accounts. The announcement does not say what those institutions will be required to do, so it is not yet known whether the measures will affect how players fund accounts, how quickly withdrawals are processed, or whether certain transactions will be blocked or flagged1. Until the circular is published, the practical effect on players in the Philippines has not been reported1.
PAGCOR's stated direction is tighter supervision of licensed operators rather than a ban, which points to more monitoring of player accounts on the regulated side. Tengco described automatic suspension of accounts showing unusual deposit or loss patterns, and age verification through AI-powered Know-Your-Client checks for users 21 and above1. How those systems would work in practice, and what a player would need to do to restore a suspended account, has not been reported1.
What happens next
PAGCOR said it will sign a deal with the Ad Standards Council on July 16 to regulate outdoor and digital advertisements of online gaming operators, covering billboards and primetime TV placements between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.1. PAGCOR is coordinating with the Department of Trade and Industry and the National Telecommunications Commission on complaints about casino gaming apps pre-installed on mobile phones and aggressive digital advertising targeting users, including minors, and will launch a round-the-clock hotline for counseling services to gambling addicts1. The Department of Finance has not set a date for releasing its online gambling tax proposal1.
For how payment rules and account freezes work across the region, see Banks, E-Wallets and Frozen Accounts: Gambling Payment Laws in Asia. For the licensing position in the country, see Can I Play at Online Casinos in the Philippines? and Can I Gamble in the Philippines?.
