DigiPlus maps global growth, expands to non-gaming entertainment
DigiPlus Interactive Corp., a Philippine digital entertainment company, is preparing a broader strategic push that combines international gaming expansion with a growing slate of non-gaming digital entertainment content, executives said during a sit-down interview with local and international media, including SiGMA World.
DigiPlus President Andy Tsui outlined timelines for Brazil and South Africa, new product development plans centred on localisation, and the rationale behind the company’s move into land-based operations in Manila. Meanwhile, Jasper Vicencio, President of AB Leisure Exponent, Inc. (BingoPlus) and Total Gamezone Xtreme, Inc., subsidiaries of DigiPlus, also unveiled DigiPlus’ diversification into films and short-form digital content, underlining its intention to evolve beyond gaming into a complete entertainment ecosystem.
South Africa targeted for early 2027 after licensing
Tsui said progress is underway in South Africa, where DigiPlus expects to establish operations once licensing procedures are complete.
“We probably will adopt a similar approach. First, we get the licence and then we build a local team there. We also have to conduct market research to understand better what the product offering will be. I would say sometime in early 2027, we also would do a soft launch in South Africa,” he stated.
The company is exploring additional developing markets, but Tsui said it was “still early stage” to name other jurisdictions. He, however, noted that DigiPlus is avoiding mature markets due to heavy competition and high entry costs.
“We are not going into these mature markets like the UK or US because the cost of entry is much higher and is very competitive,” he said.
Brazil launch set for Q2 2026, focused on localisation
Tsui also confirmed that DigiPlus plans to enter Brazil after its ongoing market tests and soft launch phase.
“We plan to launch in the second quarter of 2026. After collecting a lot of data during our soft launch, we understand the players’ preferences, the games, and some of the market data,” Tsui said.
He emphasised that localisation will be central to the strategy. “We try to make a localised game for Brazil. As you know, bingo is also one of their favourite game. So, we [are] kind of copying the model we do well in the Philippines. We might launch some live streaming games in Brazil next year,” he explained.
The live-streaming model, already developed in the Philippines, will serve as the framework for their Brazilian offering. Tsui added that the market’s competitive landscape requires distinct positioning. “The market is quite competitive. We want to find a way to make [a] more unique proposition for DigiPlus. That’s why we decided to pause and then spend more efforts on game development.”
According to him, data from their soft launch indicated that e-games are not enough to penetrate the market, reinforcing the need for unique, localised content rather than a standard e-casino portfolio.
Domestic shift: Why DigiPlus is moving into land-based
On the domestic front, Tsui explained DigiPlus’ decision to invest in International Entertainment Corp. (IEC), parent of the New Coast Hotel. “People may have questions because DigiPlus focus on offering digital entertainment products to the mass market. We’re not targeting any of the high rollers or international tourists. We see that IEC is located in the heart of Malate and that is more well-suited with our strategies,” he said.
He contrasted this with developments in Entertainment City. “The competition in the Entertainment City is getting very intense, and the growth rates are declining as well. If we position ourselves in the Malate area, we could achieve much stronger growth.”
Funding, approvals, and timeline
DigiPlus expects to complete its arrangement with IEC in phases. “IEC needs to go through a shareholder meeting to approve the structures. This might take around eight to nine weeks. Once approved, we will make the first tranche sometime in early January, and then within the next three months, we will complete the second payment,” Tsui explained.
The company is also pursuing Philippine Competition Commission approval, which may take six to nine months. “We do expect to use our internal funding. As of September, the quarter end, we have a cash balance of over PHP19 billion (€279.6 million). There’s no plan to raise any equity financing for this deal.”
He added that DigiPlus is applying for a whitewash waiver through Hong Kong counsel.
Integration of online and land-based ecosystems
Tsui said the long-term vision involves a blended online-land-based model. “There’s an integration between the online and the land-based. We can offer our players a wide range of entertainment components. We can convert them and improve the retention rates.”
He added that perks such as hotels, dining, and events create value for players while also enabling cross-conversion between onsite and online audiences.
DigiPlus diversifies into films and short-form entertainment
Beyond gaming, DigiPlus is expanding into non-gaming entertainment. Vicencio said the company has already completed eight Filipino films. “We finished filming eight films already. We launched already one, you’ll see on Facebook, [it’s] about a two-minute cut for about a 40-episode type,” he noted.
The first title, A Masked Billionaire Stole My Heart, has been soft-launched on the BingoPlus app and is being promoted with GMA Network artists. Vicencio said that while subscription pricing is being finalised, BingoPlus users currently have free access.
When asked whether this marks a deliberate shift beyond gaming, Vicencio said, “It’s more like non-gaming entertainment.” Tsui reinforced this strategic direction: “Our player [does] not just need the gaming elements. We want to offer an ecosystem of digital entertainment. This will attract another group of users who [will] come into our platform.”
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