Former 888 and Playtech chair Brian Mattingley joins DigiPlus target IEC as director
Brian Mattingley, the former Chief Executive of 888 Holdings and until recently Chairman of Playtech, has been appointed as an independent non-executive Director of Hong Kong-listed International Entertainment Corp (IEC), which owns the Philippines’ LaVie Resort & Casino which includes New Coast Hotel Manila.
His addition to IEC’s Board of Directors comes with leading Philippines eGames supplier and operator, DigiPlus Interactive Corp, in the midst of obtaining a controlling stake in IEC via a subscription agreement.
The move is seen as providing DigiPlus with an opportunity to expand its influence across the growing Philippines gaming market by acquiring a substantial land-based operation.
IEC has committed to spending up to US$1.2 billion to convert New Coast, previously home to a PAGCOR-operated casino, into a full-scale integrated resort and recently rebranded the property as LaVie Resort & Casino as part of the revamp.
Mattingley, 74, served as non-executive Chairman of Playtech from April 2021 until he stepped down last May. He previously served as Chief Executive of UK-based sportsbook and poker operator 888 Holdings PLC, now known as Evoke, between February 2011 and March 2015 after which time he was redesignated as Executive Chairman – a position he held until March 2021.
According to information from IEC, Mattingley has entered into a letter of appointment with the company for an initial term of three years commencing from 23 March 2026 and is entitled to annual remuneration of US$80,000.
He has also been appointed a member of the Audit Committee of the Board, a member of the Nomination Committee and a member of the Remuneration Committee.
IEC recently issued a first tranche of Subscription Notes in the amount of HK$800 million (US$102 million)1 HKD = 0.1277 USD
2026-03-24Powered by CMG CurrenShift (US$102.5 million) to DigiPlus – part of a subscription agreement inked between the two companies in November for DigiPlus to assume a controlling stake in IEC and its primary asset – the recently rebranded LaVie Resort & Casino.
Upon issue of the entire HK$1.6 billion (US$204 million)1 HKD = 0.1277 USD
2026-03-24Powered by CMG CurrenShift (US$205 million) in subscription notes and full conversion, DigiPlus will hold a 53.89% stake in IEC.
DigiPlus stated previously that by assuming an interest in a land-based casino-resort, it would “strengthen DigiPlus’ omnipresent entertainment ecosystem by adding a strategic offline platform that seamlessly connects with its digital network, enhancing brand activation, player engagement, and customer experience across both physical and online touchpoints.”
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The Backstory
Why this board pick matters now
Brian Mattingley’s arrival on the board of Hong Kong-listed International Entertainment Corp comes at a pivotal moment for the company and its would-be parent, DigiPlus Interactive. IEC is in the midst of a multiyear transformation of New Coast Hotel Manila into the rebranded LaVie Resort & Casino, with plans to invest up to $1.2 billion to convert the former PAGCOR-casino site into a full-scale integrated resort. In parallel, DigiPlus has begun taking up to HK$1.6 billion in subscription notes that, on full conversion, would hand it a controlling 53.89% stake in IEC. Mattingley, a veteran of U.K. gaming boards and corporate turnarounds, joins as an independent nonexecutive director with committee seats across audit, nomination and remuneration.
The timing underscores the strategic bet DigiPlus is making on an omnichannel future. The operator behind BingoPlus and ArenaPlus is best known for online play, yet its move to secure a large Manila property signals a plan to blend land-based operations with its digital ecosystem. IEC’s rebrand to LaVie and its spending plan show the scale of the ambition. Mattingley’s governance credentials, forged at publicly listed operators, are likely to be tested as DigiPlus threads financing, construction and regulatory oversight while it expands at home and abroad.
From Playtech turbulence to a new mandate
Mattingley’s most recent chapter helps explain what he brings to IEC. As chair of Playtech, he navigated investor friction over pay and governance, culminating in a contested bonus plan and his decision to step down after roughly three and a half years. His departure was reported as shareholders weighed executive incentives exceeding $100 million and a period in which Playtech’s stock rose about 60 percent. That exit created space for succession planning and a fresh chair to steer the company’s next phase. The leadership handoff accelerated soon after, with DAZN executive John Gleasure named chair-elect. The appointment signaled Playtech’s push to deepen media and B2B credentials while formalizing Mattingley’s transition.
The record shows Mattingley is no stranger to corporate resets and portfolio moves. During his tenure, Playtech also crystallized value through transactions, including the sale of Snaitech at a healthy multiple. Before Playtech, he led 888 Holdings, now Evoke, through executive and chair roles during periods of product expansion and regulatory change. For IEC and DigiPlus, that mix of investor relations, remuneration scrutiny and deal execution is relevant as they court lenders, contractors and regulators to bring LaVie to market and integrate it with DigiPlus’ online platforms.
For further context on the Playtech transition, see the report on Mattingley’s decision to resign as chair in Playtech Chairman Brian Mattingley to resign and the follow-on leadership update in Playtech announces John Gleasure as Non-Executive Director and Chairman Elect.
DigiPlus pivots to an omnichannel play
DigiPlus has been explicit about the rationale for adding a land-based engine to its operations: to stitch together physical and digital touchpoints for brand activation and customer engagement. The IEC tie-up is the clearest expression of that strategy. It gives DigiPlus a flagship Manila resort that can feed its online brands with loyalty loops, cross-promotions and localized content, while opening new revenue lines in hospitality and on-premise gaming.
That pivot comes as the company adapts to a changing payments and compliance landscape in the Philippines. In August, a central bank directive led e-wallets to remove gambling-related apps, cutting off popular digital rails. DigiPlus responded by striking a distribution and cash-handling alliance with Bayad, adding more than 800 physical outlets for deposits and planning staged withdrawals. The partnership shores up cash-in liquidity for BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and GameZone while reinforcing the operator’s pitch on player protection and regulated payments. The deal also reflects a broader theme: when digital pathways narrow, physical infrastructure and trusted over-the-counter networks become more valuable, which in turn strengthens the case for a bricks-and-clicks footprint.
Details of the payments shift and the Bayad rollout can be found in DigiPlus partners with Bayad Center after e-wallet ban.
Testing scale in Brazil and South Africa
While DigiPlus builds a Manila hub, it is also pressing into new regulated markets. In Brazil, the company plans a soft launch on Sept. 22 with GamePlus, its first international brand. Management has framed Brazil as a high-velocity entry point, citing a half-year gross gaming revenue tally of $3.2 billion following regulation. The debut catalogue will lean on more than 150 local titles in free-to-play and real-money modes, with plans for regionally tailored content and a second-phase launch for BingoPlus in 2026. The Brazil entry will test DigiPlus’ ability to translate its Philippines playbook to a crowded, compliance-heavy market and to build brand equity without the benefit of a large land-based partner.
In South Africa, DigiPlus is pursuing three licenses in the Western Cape, including a national manufacturer license and bookmaker permissions. The process, which includes probity checks, board reviews and platform testing, is expected to take at least six months from submission. The market is attractive: online betting was valued at nearly ZAR 29 billion in 2023–24, with mobile-led growth and live sports betting driving digital’s share of revenue. If approved, South Africa would give DigiPlus a second regulated beachhead outside Southeast Asia and a pathway to pan-African expansion anchored by compliance and localized content.
For more on these moves, see DigiPlus prepares to enter Brazil and DigiPlus global expansion continues with South Africa launch.
What’s at stake at LaVie Resort & Casino
The IEC-DigiPlus alignment centers on converting LaVie into a flagship integrated resort that can anchor a regional brand. The planned $1.2 billion redevelopment posits a more competitive Manila leisure cluster and a physical gateway to DigiPlus’ online universe. Success will hinge on execution: securing the remaining tranches of subscription notes, managing construction risk, calibrating the resort mix, and building regulatory confidence that the online and on-property businesses reinforce responsible play.
Mattingley’s role intersects with each of those points. His committee posts position him to influence audit rigor, board composition and pay structures at a time when investors will scrutinize capital allocation and incentives tied to project milestones. His experience communicating through governance disputes may prove useful as IEC courts institutional backing and as DigiPlus balances growth targets with evolving compliance expectations at home and in its new markets.
If the strategy lands, DigiPlus will emerge with a Manila showpiece synchronized with digital brands that now have more resilient payment rails and expanding international reach. If it stumbles, the company could face higher financing costs, longer payback periods and intensified competition from rivals pursuing similar omnichannel models. The next year will be defined by financing cadence at IEC, the early read from Brazil, the licensing trajectory in South Africa, and the measurable lift in customer engagement between LaVie and DigiPlus’ online platforms.
