Group says mobile wallets 'allies' in curbing illegal online gambling

A group of online gaming companies said Thursday that regulated non-bank electronic money issuers should be "retained" as key enforcement tools rather than be disconnected from gambling-related transactions.

In a press release, PlaySafe Alliance PH spokesman Mike Defensor pointed out that mobile wallets are strategic allies of the government and licensed e-gaming operators in curbing the operations of illegal internet gambling.

Defensor said mobile wallets provide ''Know Your Client (KYC)'' data and transaction trails, which will enable authorities to trace flows, link accounts to suspected operator networks, and build cases. 

He also said that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas draft measures - including stronger identity verification, daily limits and mandatory monitoring for gambling-related activity - create the legal and technical scaffolding needed for wallets to flag and block illicit transfers promptly.

Defensor warned that a total ban or unilateral disconnection of mobile wallets could produce perverse effects, driving bettors and operators toward cash couriers or emerging digital payment channels that are harder for domestic regulators to monitor.

Meanwhile, he also called on regulators to publish clear protocols for when and how freezes are applied, including oversight, appeal mechanisms, and data?privacy safeguards, to maintain public trust while enabling rapid enforcement of the regulations. 

The PlaySafe Alliance, composed of 20 founding members, has expressed its full support to the BSP’s proposed Circular seeking to regulate online gambling payment services.

Defensor’s group of government-licensed operators is also pushing for the strictest regulations on online gambling as part of their commitment to responsible gaming.

The launch of the industry association came as the local online gambling sector faces scrutiny from lawmakers, regulators, and industry leaders.

Several other lawmakers have also called for either the total ban or strict regulation of online gambling, citing its negative impact on Filipinos who have become addicted to it.

PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco earlier noted that the gaming industry regulator recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ad Standards Council (ASC) to strengthen the monitoring of gambling-related advertisements across all platforms. —VAL, GMA Integrated News