7 Key Insights from Study on Filipino Online Gambling Shift After E-Wallet Ban

A new study by sociocultural research firm The Fourth Wall reveals that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) recent move to cut e-wallet links to regulated gambling apps has unintentionally driven players toward unregulated platforms.

Here are the highlights from the findings:

1. Regulated platforms lost players overnight
After the e-wallet unlinking order took effect on August 16, regulated gambling platforms saw a 70% decline in users. Unregulated sites, on the other hand, recorded a 40% surge, suggesting that migration, not reduced activity, is the bigger trend.

2. Players trust e-wallets more than gambling platforms
Survey results show that players with high trust in e-wallets are 2.3 times more likely to shift to unregulated sites than those with low trust. Since e-wallets remain available on unregulated platforms, many players mistakenly interpret their presence as a stamp of legitimacy.

3. Age verification signals safety to gamblers
The study noted that players who value e-wallet age verification are 2.4 times more likely to move to unregulated platforms. The logic is simple: if e-wallets are integrated, they assume the site has some level of compliance, even if it lacks regulation.

4. Dependence on e-wallets drives migration
For many players, e-wallets like GCash and Maya are essential to their gambling experience. Those who rely heavily on them are twice as likely to transfer to unregulated platforms, keeping their preferred payment option intact.

5. Senate hearings and BSP action triggered the shift
The Senate Committee on Games and Amusement held hearings on August 14 about the negative effects of online gambling. Two days later, BSP mandated e-wallet providers to sever links to gambling apps. GCash and Maya quickly complied, reshaping player behavior almost immediately.

6. Unregulated sites pose higher risks
The Fourth Wall warns that unregulated platforms lack PAGCOR oversight, Know Your Customer (KYC) checks, and reliable customer support. They also deploy aggressive marketing tactics, increasing exposure to scams, fraud, spam texts, and heavy financial losses.

7. Players still see e-wallets as tools for responsible play
Earlier research by The Fourth Wall revealed that 73% of e-wallet users trust their age and ID checks, while 64% believe they help manage spending responsibly. Preferences remain strong, with 92% favoring GCash, followed by 6% for Maya.

The study highlights how payment channels shape gambling behavior more than regulation alone. As John Brylle L. Bae, Research Director at The Fourth Wall, explained, the removal of e-wallet links did not shrink gambling activity but redirected it to riskier spaces. Policymakers are now urged to rethink strategies, focusing not only on bans but also on how trusted tools like e-wallets influence perceptions of safety and legitimacy.