Daven Tamayo

DigiPlus expanding overseas amid calls to ban online gambling

Article (news)

Jekki Pascual

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Publicly-listed firm DigiPlus Interactive Corp. continues its international expansion and its plan to add non-gaming features, as it also urges the Philippine government to focus on the fight against illegal online gambling. </p><p>At a press conference following the company’s Annual Stockholders’ Meeting, DigiPlus Chairman Eusebio Tanco said they will begin the Brazil operations this year, and the board has just approved to get licenses to operate in South Africa. </p><p>DigiPlus, operator of BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, and GameZone, is also pursuing its plan to expand its services to include non-gambling component amid calls to ban online gambling in the Philippines </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/17/digiplus-ok-with-stricter-regulations-vs-online-gambling-to-protect-users-2321"><strong>DigiPlus OK with stricter regulations vs online gambling to protect users</strong></a> </div><p>“It’s not only gaming. We’re creating a whole ecosystem of entertainment and not just gaming. It’s an entertainment site and gaming is a part of it,” Tanco said on the new entertainment app it is improving. </p><p>There have been calls from various groups to ban online gambling in the country due to the ill effects of gambling on Filipinos. </p><p>But for Tanco, the blame should go to the illegal online gambling sector which comprises 70 percent of the industry. He said the illegal operators should be sanctioned and not the legal ones like them. </p><p>“We’re behaving. We’re following rules. We’re legal. We follow all the rules and regulations. We are a listed company. We have good corporate governance. We report every single cent of our revenue. We pay all the taxes we need to pay. Why us?” said Tanco.</p><p>Tanco said he welcomes added regulation to the industry; however, he also cautions against overregulation. He added that a total ban on online gambling will not be good as it only expands the illegal operations without revenues to the government. </p><p>“The minute we’re out, everybody will migrate to the illegal segment. That’s where all the foolishness happens,” said Tanco. </p><p>DigiPlus President Andy Tsui also reacted to proposals to increase the minimum cash-in to P10,000 to make it harder for those having less money to gamble. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/3/digiplus-to-launch-in-brazil-by-september-1508"><strong>DigiPlus to launch in Brazil by September </strong></a> </div><p>But he also cautioned that if the minimum top-up amount is set too high, some players may be pushed to the black market. </p><p>&quot;This is not good for the government,” Tsui added. </p><p>When asked if President Marcos would ban online gambling during the State of the Nation Address on Monday, similar to the announcement on the ban of POGO last year, Tanco said the President will listen to his team of economic advisers.</p><p>“I think he will try to increase the market share of the legal gamer as against to what you have now.” </p><p>DigiPlus reiterates its push for responsible gaming and to operate under rigorous standards in the industry. So far, amid calls to ban online gambling, the company said there is no effect yet on its operations; however, there is an impact on its stock prices.</p><div> <span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x15QKXCJBeE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div>

<p>Publicly-listed firm DigiPlus Interactive Corp. continues its international expansion and its plan to add non-gaming features, as it also urges the Philippine government to focus the fight against illegal online gambling.</p>

Publicly-listed firm DigiPlus Interactive Corp. continues its international expansion and its plan to add non-gaming features, as it also urges the Philippine government to focus the fight against illegal online gambling.