The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Lawmakers from the House of Representatives’ Young Guns bloc on Friday threw their full support behind the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) move to suspend in-app gambling access in mobile payment platforms, calling it a crucial step to protect Filipinos from addiction and financial ruin.
In a joint statement, the group said BSP’s decisive action tackles the surge in online gambling transactions made dangerously easy by e-wallets linked directly to betting sites.
“The easy linkage of e-wallets to gambling sites has made it alarmingly simple for anyone, including vulnerable individuals, to gamble without leaving their homes,” said Deputy Speaker Francisco Ortega V, warning that the convenience has fueled impulsive betting nationwide.
Lawmakers cited the harms of unchecked online gambling — from mounting debts and bankruptcies to broken families, depression, and even suicide. Deputy Speaker Jefferson Khonghun said BSP’s suspension “is a crucial step to protect our citizens,” while Deputy Majority Leader Ernesto Dionisio Jr. stressed that mobile payment services should remain focused on “productive uses, not destructive habits.”
Cagayan de Oro 1st District Rep. Lordan Suan called the move “a proactive measure prioritizing people’s well-being over unchecked tech conveniences,” while Deputy Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong underscored the need for strict regulatory standards.
Other lawmakers, including Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and CIBAC Party-List Rep. Eddie Villanueva, commended the BSP but urged vigilance against illegal payment workarounds and called for stronger measures, with Villanueva insisting, “Removing app icons is just a start. The only real solution is abolition.”
The Young Guns affirmed they stand with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in finding effective solutions to curb online gambling and safeguard Filipino families.
(USE PHOTO OF ONLINE GAMING APPS)
BANNER PHOTO CAPTION:
House ‘Young Guns’ laud BSP’s move to block in-app gambling on mobile payment platforms, warning that easy e-wallet links to betting sites fuel addiction and financial distress among Filipinos.