PAGCOR suffers revenue decline as e-wallets pull online links
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has reported a 40-50 percent decline in revenue following the disconnection of e-wallet payment links to online gaming platforms. The sharp drop, observed within the first two weeks after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), also known as the central bank of the Philippines, issued its directive, shows the immediate impact of regulatory intervention on the country’s rapidly growing online gaming sector.
Assistant Vice President Jessa Mariz Fernandez disclosed the figures during a Senate Committee on Games and Amusement hearing on 16 September 2025, stressing that online gambling transactions fell sharply following the orders of the Central Bank.
For the unaware, the BSP had instructed GCash and Maya, the country’s two largest e-wallet providers, to remove all in-app links to gambling sites within 48 hours. The full disconnection of e-wallet payment links was completed by 17 August 2025, effectively cutting off convenient access to online betting for millions of users.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) welcomed the measure as senators also questioned whether high-value gambling transactions, reportedly reaching PHP500,000 (approximately €8,100) per user, posed significant social and economic risks.
PAGCOR reaffirms support despite losses
Despite the delinking, licenced operators remain recognised as merchants, allowing regulated cash-in and cash-out transactions through approved channels, ensuring legitimate activity continues.
PAGCOR reaffirmed its support for strict regulation rather than a total ban on online gambling, while the BSP stated that it would defer to Congress regarding whether to implement prohibition or strengthened oversight. Committee chair Sen. Erwin Tulfo confirmed that lawmakers will continue reviewing the social and economic implications of online gambling as part of pending legislation aimed at balancing revenue generation with public safety.
Meanwhile, in another major step, PAGCOR announced the imminent launch of an artificial intelligence (AI) monitoring tool capable of detecting illegal gambling sites in real time. The system will operate in coordination with the CICC, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), allowing swift identification and blocking of unlicensed operators.
From manual monitoring to AI
Previously, PAGCOR relied on manual monitoring via reports from licencees, complaints from citizens, and its internal tracking teams. The AI tool will now enable proactive enforcement against an estimated 11,985 illegal gambling sites, including 6,363 online casinos and 4,815 online cockfighting platforms. The system monitors activity per second, greatly enhancing detection speed and accuracy while ensuring that regulatory interventions are timely and effective.
The agency has already complied with government requests regarding online operators and recently revoked the licence of One Visaya Corporation on 28 August 2025, demonstrating active enforcement against non-compliant entities. Officials hope that combining AI monitoring, e-wallet delinking, and close regulatory oversight will curb illegal gambling while maintaining lawful platforms for regulated operators.
With the goal of protecting customers, curbing illegal conduct, and restoring public confidence in the nation’s online gaming sector, PAGCOR characterised the project as a shift from reactive monitoring to proactive enforcement.
