With online gaming under attack from various fronts, market leader DigiPlus Interactive Corporation appealed to lawmakers to hear them out as they are willing to make reasonable changes amid the wave of congressional proposals to regulate the sector.

“We are open to evolving and improving wherever needed. If there are new standards to meet, or better ways to protect players, we will act swiftly and responsibly. But please, do not condemn an industry, and the 50,000 Filipino families who rely on it, without hearing the facts first,” said DigiPlus Chairman Eusebio Tanco.

The company expressed deep concern that responsible, law-abiding operators are being swept up in a tide of suspicion intended to catch those who have never complied with regulations in the first place.

It noted that many of the measures now being debated in Congress, such as rigorous Know-Your-Customer (KYC) checks, mandatory age verification that bars minors and vulnerable players, self-exclusion tools, and responsible-gaming prompts, have been in place on DigiPlus platforms since November 2024.

DigiPlus emphasized that it has consistently strived to align its operations with regulatory expectations from PAGCOR and other relevant government agencies.

Every peso flowing through its platforms is taxed, audited, and remitted to Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue, funding healthcare, infrastructure, and disaster relief.

“Tell us what more we must do. And we will do it without hesitation. Just grant us the fairness owed to any lawful Filipino enterprise,” Tanco said.

The company says the current atmosphere feels less like regulation and more like retribution. “We stand licensed, audited, and transparent, yet we are made to answer for the crimes of illegal operators who respect neither law nor livelihood,” Tanco noted.

DigiPlus directly appealed for reason and clarity in the debate, saying that, “We are appealing to the government: Let us approach this rationally. If we study the issue with clear eyes, we will see that the social ills being blamed on online gaming stem from the illegal market. That is where underage gambling happens. That is where financial abuse thrives. Target that, and the harm disappears.”

It pointed out that the consequences of a total ban go far beyond corporate risk. More than 3,000 direct DigiPlus employees, and an estimated 50,000 jobs across the online gaming industry’s nationwide network, including those in information technology, cybersecurity, software development, as well as multimedia artists, call center agents, security personnel, and housekeeping staff are now at risk.

Tanco noted that, “In every city, in every province, our people are asking: are we no longer welcome, even when we’ve done everything right?”

DigiPlus warned that banning licensed operators will not make online gaming go away. It will only drive players toward illegal, unregulated sites with no safeguards.

As the national debate unfolds, DigiPlus calls for fact-based dialogue, grounded not in fear or stigma, but in the shared goal of building a stronger, safer, and more accountable gaming industry.

As a proudly Filipino company, DigiPlus reaffirmed its commitment to full compliance, cooperation with regulators, and proactive reform.

Digiplus appeals to lawmakers and the public: “We are not asking for special treatment. We are simply asking to be judged by our actions, not by perception, nor by association with those who break the law. Regulation works best when it uplifts what is working, not when it dismantles it.”