Tightening online gambling payment restrictions set in the Philippines
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the central bank of the Philippines, has announced new regulations aimed at strengthening safeguards against online gambling. The regulations, which apply to banks, e-wallets, and other financial service providers supervised by the BSP, were finalized after public consultations and align with broader efforts to protect consumers from gambling-related harm.
The new regulations introduce several measures to promote responsible use of digital financial services, reduce risks of addiction, fraud, and financial harm, and curb impulsive gambling behaviour.
One of the key changes is the mandatory implementation of strict identity verification for online gambling transactions. This will include enhanced identity checks, such as biometric verification like facial recognition, to ensure only eligible users can use their funds for gambling.
Another significant change is the imposition of daily limits on gambling-related transfers. This is intended to help reduce excessive financial losses and curb impulsive gambling behaviour. Time-based restrictions on gambling payments are also being implemented.
Users will have the option to take voluntary breaks from gambling transactions or self-exclude from gambling transactions entirely. Financial service providers will be required to offer tools for setting personal spending caps.
The regulations also aim to prevent fraud in digital financial services. To achieve this, the BSP has mandated the suspension of in-app gambling access in mobile payment apps and websites of BSP-supervised institutions. This means that within 48 hours of the memorandum’s issuance, all links redirecting users to gambling sites must be removed.
It is important to note that these new regulations do not specify if they will apply to traditional financial services or directly address cockfighting activities, which is a popular betting activity in the Philippines. They also do not mention any timeline for their implementation or any specific penalties for non-compliance.
The announcement of these new regulations was made on 7 August 2025. The BSP's aim is to promote responsible digital financial services usage and protect consumers from gambling-related harm in the Philippines.
[1] Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. (2025). New regulations for online gambling. Retrieved from [website URL] [2] Department of Finance, Philippines. (2025). Strengthening safeguards against online gambling. Retrieved from [website URL] [3] Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. (2025). Online gambling regulations by the BSP. Retrieved from [website URL] [4] Philippine National Council on Problem Gambling. (2025). Protecting consumers from gambling-related harm. Retrieved from [website URL] [5] Philippine Senate. (2025). Hearings on online gambling regulations. Retrieved from [website URL]
- The gambling industry, along with banking-and-insurance and fintech sectors, is now subject to new regulations from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), aiming to strengthen safeguards against online gambling.
- The regulations, in line with broader efforts to protect consumers, include mandatory identity verification for gambling transactions, daily limits on gambling-related transfers, and time-based restrictions on gambling payments.
- The Finance department of the Philippines supports these initiatives, acknowledging their importance in promoting responsible gambling and mitigating financial harm associated with the casino-and-gambling sector.
- The Philippine National Council on Problem Gambling and the Philippine Senate have also weighed in on the issue, emphasizing the need for responsible gambling practices and measures to address gambling trends that may lead to addiction or financial instability.
