Philippine lawmaker works on measure to limit use of e-wallets for online gambling
Representative Jonathan Keith Flores says he will draft a bill on the issue.
The Philippines.- A lawmaker is proposing measures to limit the use of e-wallets on online gambling sites and apps. According to Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores, the growing accessibility of e-wallets in gambling apps has made it “alarmingly easy to top up and continue betting.”
Flores said he is still researching the issue to determine which agencies should be involved and what penalties should be imposed. He said his bill would focus on imposing stricter regulations and safeguards on digital financial services rather than a complete ban on the use of e-wallets in gambling apps. He called on the central bank, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to review the role of e-wallet providers in enabling gambling access.
“Let’s make it harder to gamble, not easier,” said Flores to DZMM. “E-wallets should not serve as easy gateways to gambling apps. Their platforms are being used, whether they admit it or not, as channels of addiction.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Rolando Valeriano is seeking a stricter approach. He called on the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) to cancel the licences of online gambling operators and said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas should prohibit any electronic payment systems and e-wallets from being used for online gambling.
Earlier this week, Nicasio Conti, a former commissioner of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) and current CEO of Capstone Intel Corporation, called for the government to implement a nationwide ban on online gambling advertisements.
