DigiPlus chairman doubles down on growth with 63.1 million share buyback
The Chairman of Philippine operator DigiPlus Interactive, Eusebio Tanco, has increased his stake in the company by buying 63.1 million additional shares.
DigiPlus said the acquisition underscores Tanco’s bullish outlook as the operator continues to expand in the Philippines and worldwide, according to the Daily Tribune.
Tanco said the company was entering an exciting phase of growth, based on innovation, adding, “I firmly believe in our ability to capture the significant opportunities ahead and deliver enduring value to our shareholders. The fundamentals of the digital entertainment industry remain strong, and DigiPlus is well-positioned to lead.”
The share purchase comes as the company increases investment in research and development, as well as working on overall gaming and player protection.
DigiPlus is also planning to expand internationally, most notably in South Africa. It has applied for licences with the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board to gain a foothold in South Africa’s online gambling sector, which was worth over ZAR28.97 billion (US$1.8 billion)1 ZAR = 0.0606 USD
2026-03-03Powered by CMG CurrenShift in 2023 – 2024.
Elsewhere, DigiPlus is looking to expand into Latin America with a planned launch in Brazil. The operator postponed its launch in October last year but expects to debut early 2026.
In the first nine months of 2025, DigiPlus posted revenues of PHP66.8 billion (US$1.1 billion)1 PHP = 0.0171 USD
2026-03-03Powered by CMG CurrenShift, up 30%, and net income rose 16% to PHP10.1 billion (US$173 million)1 PHP = 0.0171 USD
2026-03-03Powered by CMG CurrenShift, despite a weak Q3.
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The Backstory
What’s driving the chairman’s bet
DigiPlus Interactive’s share buyback lands after a year of aggressive repositioning at home and abroad, suggesting the company is shoring up confidence as it presses into new markets and navigates shifting rules in the Philippines. The operator behind BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and GameZone has been telegraphing an expansion arc that runs from Southeast Asia to Latin America and Africa, backed by upgraded tech infrastructure and a public stance in favor of tighter oversight. The capital signal arrives as the company leans into product development and player protection while preparing for regulatory reviews overseas and payment workarounds at home.
The timing aligns with a growth narrative DigiPlus has outlined since midsummer: a staged international rollout, local compliance by design and incremental brand launches aimed at building familiarity market by market. The move also follows resilient operating metrics despite a softer third quarter, a backdrop that can make insider buying read as a conviction that execution — not just exposure — will determine whether the next leg of expansion creates durable earnings.
Building beachheads: Brazil first, Africa next
DigiPlus has prioritized Brazil as its first large-scale international market, targeting a September debut and tailoring content to local demand. In July, the company said it would enter the country’s regulated market in September, citing a multibillion-dollar opportunity and a roadmap that starts with online casino formats and localized features supported by its migration to Amazon Web Services. The plan included on-the-ground leadership and a dedicated team for legal and cultural fit, positioning the company to scale as rules mature and competition intensifies. See DigiPlus announces Brazil launch for September at Complete iGaming.
By late summer, the rollout gained definition. DigiPlus set a Sept. 22 soft launch for GamePlus, its first international brand, with more than 150 titles spanning free-to-play and real-money options and a pipeline for content inspired by Brazilian folklore and sports. A second brand, BingoPlus, is slated to follow in 2026, creating a portfolio approach that can capture different segments without diluting identity. The company framed the debut as a standard-setter on safety and localization rather than a race to volume. Read DigiPlus prepares to enter Brazil at Complete iGaming.
Parallel to Latin America, DigiPlus has moved to establish a foothold in South Africa, applying for three licenses with the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board. The applications — for a National Manufacturer License, a Bookmaker License and a Bookmaker Premises License — start a process of probity checks, board reviews and platform testing that could run at least six months from submission. Management cast South Africa as both Africa’s largest online gaming market and a gateway to the continent, where mobile-first engagement and live sports betting have underpinned sector growth. Details are in DigiPlus global expansion continues with South Africa launch at Complete iGaming.
Domestic headwinds and the case for stricter rules
While pushing abroad, DigiPlus has argued forcefully that tighter regulation — not prohibition — is the right path for the Philippines. The company warned that an outright ban on igaming under consideration would push activity to unregulated channels and put tens of thousands of jobs at risk. Instead, it has moved to align with recent guidance on advertising, including limits on billboards, and emphasized measures already in place such as know-your-customer checks, deposit limits, cooling-off periods and self-exclusion. The company’s framing is that compliance is not just a license to operate but a point of differentiation as scrutiny rises. For context, see DigiPlus backs stronger regulation in the Philippines igaming market at Complete iGaming.
That stance dovetails with the company’s international messaging, which leans on “responsible innovation” and local compliance as core to market entry. The consistency matters as regulators in Brazil and South Africa weigh new applicants on technical readiness and consumer safeguards as much as on commercial plans. It also provides a through line for investors parsing how regulatory risk at home interacts with the company’s growth ambitions abroad.
Payments pivot to keep cash flowing
The execution risk is not theoretical. In August, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas ordered the removal of gambling-related apps from major e-wallets, cutting off access to GCash and Maya for igaming operators. DigiPlus responded by bringing Bayad Center on as a new cash-in channel for its platforms, with withdrawals to follow in stages. The deal gives users access to more than 800 branches and affiliated outlets in malls and convenience stores, creating a physical network to replace the lost digital rails. Details are in DigiPlus partners with Bayad Center after e-wallet ban at Complete iGaming.
The workaround underscores how operational resilience fits into the investment case. Keeping domestic payments functioning helps sustain user activity and brand engagement while the company prioritizes higher-growth markets abroad. It also shows the value of diversified channels in a sector where rule changes can arrive fast and with material impact on customer behavior.
Financial footing and what to watch next
DigiPlus closed the first nine months of 2025 with PHP66.8 billion in revenue, up 30 percent, and net income of PHP10.1 billion, up 16 percent, despite a weak third quarter. Those figures support a narrative of scale and cash generation that can fund research, development and market entry costs. They also set a baseline for judging whether Brazil and, later, South Africa can add incremental growth without compressing margins.
In Brazil, the near-term checklist includes user acquisition for GamePlus, the pace of content localization and the conversion from free-to-play to real money. Longer term, the planned addition of BingoPlus in 2026 will test whether the company can stack brands without cannibalization. In South Africa, the gating factor is regulatory: the timeline for license approvals, any additional conditions and the results of platform testing. Each step has implications for capital allocation and the cadence of international revenue contribution.
At home, two variables bear watching. First, the evolution of regulatory proposals and advertising rules and how they shape marketing spend and user funnels. Second, the durability of the Bayad partnership and whether additional payment channels emerge to restore the convenience users lost with e-wallets. Both will influence the stability of domestic cash flows as international bets scale up.
Taken together, the buyback reads as a signal that management sees the current mix of regulatory adaptation, payments recalibration and international openings as an investable inflection. The coming quarters will test that view across three fronts: sustained compliance leadership in the Philippines, disciplined execution in Brazil and measured, license-led progress in South Africa.
