Licensed Operators Defend Regulation in Philippine Gambling Talks

The debate over online gambling in the Philippines has intensified, but licensed operators are making their position clear. The PlaySafe Alliance of the Philippines—a group of 18 Pagcor-licensed online gambling firms and one law firm—has expressed support for the Senate’s recent hearings, while warning against measures that could drive players toward illegal platforms.

Good to know

• The Senate is reviewing five bills, three calling for a ban and two proposing stricter oversight.
• Pagcor-licensed operators say the real harms stem from unregulated sites, not legal ones.
• The central bank has ordered e-wallets to cut access to gambling links.

In a statement, the alliance commended lawmakers for recognizing the difference between legal and illegal gambling activity.

“We commend the Senate for surfacing the central truth in its hearing: the harms highlighted – underage access, uncontrolled betting, and financial distress – stem from illegal, unlicensed platforms, not from Pagcor-licensed operators,” the group said.

The alliance emphasized that regulated operators are subject to audits, oversight, and penalties. They are required to implement age checks, know-your-customer protocols, and responsible gaming safeguards.

Senators began discussing possible paths forward last week. Some proposed banning online gambling entirely, while others called for tougher rules instead. Senator Erwin Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, said the battle against illegal gambling was ongoing as operators shift to new apps.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian argued that stronger laws were needed to address underground activity:

“It’s time to have stricter regulations that have real teeth. A ban alone may not be enough. Online gambling operators would likely just move underground, making it even harder for authorities to regulate operations and putting vulnerable Filipinos, especially the youth, at greater risk.”

Meanwhile, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has stepped in with its own directive, telling e-wallet and digital payment providers to cut links that connect users to gambling platforms.

Industry’s Warning on Consumer Protection

The PlaySafe Alliance said it shares the central bank’s goals of consumer safety and financial integrity, but stressed that cutting off payment access for licensed operators could backfire:

“Delinking licensed operators from online payment platforms would not stop gambling. It risks pushing players into the dark corners of the Internet where activity is untraceable, taxes disappear, and harm is harder to detect.”

The alliance argued that keeping gambling activity inside the regulated system—where payments are supervised and taxes collected—provides the best balance between consumer protection and government oversight.

The post Licensed Operators Defend Regulation in Philippine Gambling Talks appeared first on iGaming.org.