The Senate is set to summon e-wallet giants GCash and Maya in its next hearing on online gambling, zeroing in on how these platforms may be fueling the industry’s growth and the social harm that comes with it.

During the first hearing of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, chaired by Sen. Erwin Tulfo, lawmakers raised concerns that e-wallets are not just providing payment channels for online gambling sites but also making gambling more accessible, especially to minors and vulnerable groups.

Sen. Win Gatchalian presented evidence showing that illegal platforms still use GCash and Maya for deposits and withdrawals, despite the BSP’s 48-hour order to remove in-app gambling links. He warned that weak KYC measures make it easy for underage users and those already in debt to create accounts and continue gambling.

Tulfo and Senate President Migz Zubiri stressed that the social costs, such as addiction, family breakdowns, financial ruin, and even suicide, far outweigh any economic benefits. They argued that the seamless integration of gambling into e-wallet apps accelerates these harms by removing payment friction.

BSP Deputy Governor Memerto Tangonan admitted the current order only covers in-app access and not payment processing for gambling transactions, adding that cutting off payment links entirely would require new legislation. Senators said the upcoming hearing will demand clear answers from e-wallet executives on their compliance, monitoring systems, and responsibility in curbing gambling-related harm