Philippines: GCash, Maya to cut online gaming access at 8pm on August 16

Manila: Access to online gaming through "e-wallet" platforms GCash and Maya will be suspended starting 8 pm Saturday, August 16, in compliance with a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) directive.

GCash announced that it would “fully comply” with the order to remove in-app gaming features.

Users can withdraw funds from their gaming accounts via GLife only before the cutoff.

“After this, users who have remaining funds can only access this directly through the gaming merchant’s website,” it said.

Local media reported that at least illegal gambling sites exist, enlisting online gamblers.

Features like GCash’s “GLife” and Maya’s “Games” let users jump straight into betting apps, which has fuelled a rise in gambling addiction, especially among younger people.

Maya, for its part, confirmed it will disable its Games feature at the same time.

Customers may cash out balances before the deadline; afterward, withdrawals must be done directly with gaming providers.

“We will always safeguard our customers and ensure uninterrupted availability of all our financial services,” Maya said.

BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan told senators the 48-hour window gives e-wallets time to remove links and lets players retrieve funds.

The suspension stays until the BSP finalises tighter anti-gambling payment rules.

GCash and Maya are the Philippines’ most popular e-wallets for cashless payments, from buying groceries to paying bills.

But lately, they’ve been catching heat for making online gambling way too easy.

On July 30, 2025, Senator Erwin Tulfo, chair of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, announced plans to hold public hearings to assess the harms of online gambling.

He emphasised the issue’s escalation into a national crisis and expressed his personal preference for a complete ban, although key agencies like PAGCOR and the Department of Finance (DOF) are leaning toward tighter regulation instead.

On Thursday, August 14, the Senate conducted a public hearing on the impact of online gambling.

It brought together government bodies — including PAGCOR, DOF, and representatives from the executive branch — as well as stakeholders such as youth groups, parents, educators, and church leaders

The crackdown forms part of a bigger push to curb illegal betting and protect users, with Senators Tulfo and Alan Peter Cayetano calling for tougher rules, or even a total ban.

Both GCash and Maya said they are complying, promising to disable gambling access, while the BSP works on stricter regulations.

A new policy is expected to be released to address the issue.