DigiPlus targets soft launch in South Africa by early 2027
DigiPlus Interactive Corp., the leading online gaming company in the Philippines, is targeting the soft launch of its operations in South Africa in early 2027, although it has yet to secure its license.
In an interview, DigiPlus President Andy Tsui said the company is optimistic of obtaining its South African license in eight months, and this will be followed by market research and product development before the soft launch.
For its operations in South Africa, DigiPlus will be leveraging on its experience in building its online gaming business in Brazil, which is currently under retooling after obtaining market data from its test launch this year.
“We probably will adopt a similar approach [to Brazil]. First, we get the license and then we’ll build a local team there, and we also have to conduct market research to better understand what would be the product offering,” said Tsui.
DigiPlus formally filed an application for three licenses in South Africa’s Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board (WCGRB)—national manufacturer license, bookmaker license, and bookmaker premises license.
This move advances DigiPlus’ entry into one of the most promising regulated online gaming markets globally. WCGRB is regarded as the preferred jurisdiction for international operators like DigiPlus due to its transparent regulatory processes and digital readiness.
South Africa’s online gambling sector, valued at over 28.97 billion South African rand (about $1.6 billion) in 2023 and 2024, is widely regarded as the African continent’s flagship market.
Meanwhile, Tsui said DigiPlus is monitoring other developing countries with licensing opportunities, carefully selecting new opportunities, though it still has no specific country to announce at this time.
“We only go for the licensed markets as we’re a listed company. We look for a developing country which has more opportunities. We’re not going into these mature markets like the UK [United Kingdom] or US [the United States] because the cost of entry is much higher and it’s very competitive, so we are carefully selecting those new opportunities,” Tsui said.
DigiPlus Chairman Eusebio Tanco said earlier that, “The filing of our online gaming license in South Africa marks another milestone in DigiPlus’ global growth journey, as we bring our proven track record of innovation, responsible gaming, and player protection, together with our strength in localizing games for diverse markets, to one of Africa’s most dynamic economies.”
“Together, these developments [in Brazil and South Africa] actualize the company’s vision of becoming a leading digital entertainment provider for the world’s most dynamic emerging markets,” said DigiPlus.