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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Banking & Finance devider Game over: GCash, Maya cut ties with online gambling

Game over: GCash, Maya cut ties with online gambling

E-wallets comply with central bank order

Published Aug 14, 2025 06:14 pm
E-wallets GCash and Maya will promptly remove all links redirecting users to online gambling sites in compliance with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) order to remove such links.
In a statement late Thursday, Aug. 14, GCash said it would fully comply with the BSP’s directive that mandates supervised institutions to suspend in-app gaming access on their mobile payment apps and websites.
GCash said it will implement the changes within 48 hours to promote a more secure and responsible digital financial environment.
Beginning Saturday, Aug. 16, at 8 p.m., access to gaming through the GLife feature on the GCash app will be suspended.
Users who have funds in their gaming accounts can withdraw them back to their GCash wallet through GLife before the deadline. After this time, users can still access their remaining funds by visiting the gaming merchant’s website directly.
“GCash will fully comply with the BSP’s proactive directive to remove links and icons that connect payment apps to online gambling platforms,” the company said.
“We share the BSP’s commitment to ensuring that digital financial services are used responsibly and in ways that protect the welfare of Filipinos,” it further said.
During a Senate hearing on Thursday, Aug. 14, BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan disclosed that all BSP-supervised financial institutions (BSFIs) were given exactly two days to take down all redirect links to online gambling sites. The two-day countdown will officially run from the time the BSP publishes the memorandum circular on its website.
“We provided 48 hours because one, we want to give time to BSFIs to take down those in-app links or icons to online gambling sites,” Tangonan said.
“The other reason is, so that we will also provide time for the customers, for the consumers to withdraw their funds from the online gaming account once they learned that we are already removing the links from BSFIs’ mobile payment application and websites,” Tangonan further explained.
“So, within that time, for consumers who may want to take their money out from the online gambling accounts, they may do so,” Tangonan added.
In a statement on Thursday night, the central bank confirmed that it has directed all BSP-supervised institutions (BSIs) to remove links that provide in-app gambling access from payment apps and website within the next 48 hours.
“Covered by this memo are e-wallets, banks (through their payment apps and websites), and other BSIs,” the BSP said.
“Suspended in-app gambling access includes any product/service/feature that redirects an account holder to a gaming/gambling site,” it added.
According to the BSP, this directive, under Memorandum No. M-2025-029 was issued “in light of the surge in online gambling transactions and its impact on the financial health of consumers and their families, and considering the broader social cost.”
“The suspension will remain in place until the BSP finalizes the policy on online gambling payment services,” the central bank said.
For its part, Maya Ph also expressed readiness to comply with the directive.
“Maya is ready to comply with the BSP directive to remove links to online gambling from its app. The update will be implemented in line with the BSP’s guidance,” it said in an Aug. 14 statement.
“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 e-wallet said.
As of writing, there are 49 in-app e-gambling platforms on Maya, while GCash has 29 on its app.

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Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) online gambling GCash Maya
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