Jonathan Frederic De Santos

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online gambling

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center welcomed the removal of in-app links to online gambling from e-wallet and payment apps in compliance with a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas directive, saying making it harder to play will help Filipinos curb the habit.</p><p>CICC Acting Executive Director Renato “Aboy” Paraiso called it a ‘good step’ in removing easy access through payment gateways.</p><p>“Pangit na user experience, tatamarin ‘yung mga tao pumunta dun sa mga iligal eh no, ‘tutal maglilibang lang din ako, dahil mahirap pumunta dito, dito na ako sa legal’,” he told DZMM’s “Ano’ng Ganap?” program Sunday, August 17. </p><p>(People will be less likely to go to illegal gambling sites because of the bad user experience. They will just go to the legal ones)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/8/16/e-gaming-links-no-longer-accessible-through-e-wallets-2128"><strong>E-gaming links no longer accessible through e-wallets<br/></strong></a></div><p>However, he acknowledged that access to payment gateways from gaming sites still poses a challenge.</p><p>One of the solutions proposed by the CICC is for the government to serve as the sole online payment provider for legitimate online gaming platforms. </p><p>“Halimbawa, si Landbank siya yung gawin nating payment platform for all online casinos,&quot; the official said.</p><p>(For example, Landbank could be the the payment platform for all online casinos)</p><p>He said illegal online gambling sites may have access to online banking and payment platforms because of lax policies or collusion.</p><p>When asked why some illegal online gambling sites have access to online banking and e-wallet platforms have, Paraiso floated two possible scenarios that need to be looked into.</p><p>“That has to be addressed,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/8/9/licensed-online-gambling-operators-unite-vs-illegal-gambling-1230"><strong>Licensed online gambling operators unite vs illegal gambling</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>MODERN TECHNOLOGY </strong></div><p>Paraiso underscored the need for the country to catch up with latest technologies to run after criminal organizations that are behind illegal online gambling.</p><p>He said the government needs tools like automated systems to find and block illegal online gambling sites. </p><p>This would require an estimated P700-800 million annual budget for the CICC, he said.</p><p>“Kailangan nating makita ‘yung whole criminal organization whether it’s here locally or abroad. (We need to see the whole criminal organization whether it is here or abroad). Then we have to strengthen partnerships din with our foreign counterparts,” he said.</p><p>The CICC executive further called on for stricter regulation through legislation, including making it more difficult to bet.</p><p>He said the agency believes more in regulation than a total ban.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/8/11/econ-managers-back-stricter-rules-on-online-gambling-not-total-ban-1719"><strong>Econ managers back stricter rules on online gambling, not total ban</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>ERWIN TULFO: GAMBLING MOVING TO OTHER PLATFORMS</strong></div><p>In a press release on Sunday, Sen. Erwin Tulfo, chair of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, commended payment apps for complying with the order, but warned online gambling operations may just move to other platforms.</p><p>He cited an advisory from gambling operator BingoPlus, which said users can still access games through their app, website and through messaging app Viber.</p><p>He said the operator is also selling gaming vouchers through shopping app Lazada.</p><p>“The fight against the accessibility of gambling to the public is far from over and we will do our best to work with the private sector and other stakeholders to come up with a holistic approach in addressing this problem,” Tulfo, who prefers an outright ban, said.</p><p>“We are not enemies here. We are allies that should work hand in hand to ensure that the next generation of Filipinos are not gambling addicts.”</p>

<p>The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center welcomed the removal of in-app links to online gambling from e-wallet and payment apps in compliance with a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas directive, saying making it harder to play will help Filipinos curb the habit.</p>

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center welcomed the removal of in-app links to online gambling from e-wallet and payment apps in compliance with a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas directive, saying making it harder to play will help Filipinos curb the habit.

Removing online gambling from e-wallets seen as good first step

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Removing online gambling from e-wallets seen as good first step

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 17, 2025 01:26 PM PHT

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Updated Aug 17, 2025 07:03 PM PHT

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Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center

Online gambling

Erwin Tulfo

E-wallets

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