Senate panel to summon e-wallet firms over online gambling probe

The Senate Committee on Games and Amusement will soon summon two giant electronic wallet (e-wallet) companies in connection with the chamber’s investigation into online gambling woes in the country. 

This was confirmed by the panel’s chairperson, Senator Erwin Tulfo, in an ambush interview on Thursday. 

“We’re not happy about it. Kaya nga napagalitan yung mga yon. Well, dinidrible-drible nila kami. Susmaryosep naman, and dami namin diyan kanina. Hindi uubra kahit anong palusot, kahit anong paikot-ikot. We’re not satisfied, I’m sorry, we’re not satisfied, really ,really not satisfied,” Tulfo told reporters. 

Tulfo expressed growing frustration over the unchecked rise of illegal online gambling in the Philippines and the perceived inaction of regulatory bodies, including the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

According to Tulfo, the e-wallet giants, GCash and Maya, were not included in the recent hearing due to time constraints, but emphasized that they will be summoned to the next hearing, tentatively set for the end of the month.

“Nag kulang ng oras, pero definitely sa next hearing po imbitado po sila yung gcash and then yung Central Bank. Ano ba kaya na ba idelink yan, isingil. Baka pwedeng i-delink, yon yung importante eh kasi don parin yung payment eh, sa GCash (We ran out of time, but definitely in the next hearing, GCash and the Central Bank will be invited. Maybe we can consider delinking it or charging it. Maybe it can be delinked — that's what's important, because the payment is still there, in GCash),” Tulfo explained. 

Tulfo criticized the ease with which Filipinos, including minors, can access online gambling through popular e-wallet services and even link accounts to illegal platforms.

“We allowed them time to explain because they are saying good things, like the revenue goes to PhilHealth and the sports commission, but if you want regulation, then do it properly,” he pressed on. 

The Senator cited the case of “Piso Games” and other unregulated platforms that appear innocent but are actually gambling fronts, raising questions about how such apps were approved.

“Paano naaprubahan, eh wala naman palang ganon, yung piso game. So, we’re not happy. Hopefully sa second hearing, pinababalik ko sila. Bigyan niyo kami ng malinaw na regulation (How was it approved when it turns out there’s no such thing as the 'piso game'? So, we’re not happy. Hopefully, in the second hearing, I’m calling them back. Give us clear regulations),” he said. 

Tulfo also lamented that the Senate is now seriously considering a total ban on online gambling due to the lack of clear enforcement and continued public endangerment.

He then mentioned Senator Win Gatchalian’s filing a bill for strict regulation, but noted the latter’s disappointment over rising 

“He’s not happy, ineexpect niya sasabihin ng Central Bank, may mga ganto kaming nakalatag may mga ganon. Eh wala eh, he’s frustrated also. I mean, yung kanyang regulations kung titignan ninyo, yung kanyang resolution for stricter regulation. Pero tignan mo iba yung sinasabi niya (he was expecting that the Central Bank would say something like, ‘We have these measures in place, we have those plans.’ But there was nothing. He’s frustrated too. I mean, if you look at his regulations, his resolution for stricter regulation... but if you listen to what he’s saying, it’s different),” he said. 

Further, Tulfo also called out prominent illegal operators such as 1XBET, which continues to advertise heavily despite not paying taxes or having the proper licenses.

“Yung mga yon sabi ng PAGCOR, hindi nagbabayad ng buwis. Eh napakalakas ng 1XBET. So pinpa-imbitahan natin sabi nga ng committee secretary, bakit hindi? (Those ones, according to PAGCOR, aren’t paying taxes. But 1XBET is very influential. So we’re asking them to appear—like the committee secretary said, why not? 

“Kailangan nila ng tulong natin diyan, ng anti-cyber crime na PNP. Mahahanap naman yon, tsaka DICT (They need our help there, from the PNP’s anti-cybercrime unit. They can be found, and also the DICT), we need all of these agencies,” he said. 

“They’re mocking the government. Imagine the audacity,” Tulfo said. “We’ve summoned them to the hearings and are seeking help from agencies like the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group and the DICT.”

He lamented the lack of concrete action from law enforcement, comparing the issue to the lingering problem of illegal online sabong (cockfighting), which persists despite previous government bans.

“DICT says they just switch URLs. Today it’s Sabong888, tomorrow it’s Sabong999. It's endless.”

Tulfo also cited the disturbing revelation involving GCash Jr., a platform designed for minors, reportedly having links to gambling content.

“DICT said they’ve already investigated, but there’s a government site that redirects to e-games,” he said.

“So very frustrating. Not happy. We’re not happy right now sa explanations; we will not take that. Hindi pu-pwede. We really need to hear from them more.”