#senate bill vs gambling

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has filed a new bill (Senate Bill No. The bill proposes to ban the linking of e-wallets (GCash, Maya, BPI Vybe, BDO Pay) and online banking accounts (GoTyme, RCBC, UnionBank, etc) to gambling sites. Likewise, the bill seeks to ban endorsements and promotions of online gambling by celebrities and influencers. The bill requires regulators to allocate part of the fees collected from gambling operators to fund rehabilitation centers for gambling addiction. Gatchalian emphasized that the bill does not seek a total ban on online gambling to avoid pushing the industry underground, but aims to address the social and financial harms caused by easy access to digital betting platforms, especially via e-wallets. The Senate has approved the People’s Freedom of Information Act, a bill that expands public access to government records beyond the Executive branch to include Congress, the Judiciary, constitutional bodies, LGUs, GOCCs, and SUCs. 1432, the bill was passed in the Senate plenary yesterday, May 4, 2026. Read more in our articles including "Sen. Gatchalian files bill vs. Scatter, online gambling" and "Senate passes FOI Bill (Freedom of Information Act, SB 1432)".