DigiPlus Interactive Corp. expects a full recovery by the second half of the year as the country’s leading digital gaming provider successfully migrates users to its internal platforms following the regulatory crackdown on e-wallet integrations.

In an interview, Andy Tsui, DigiPlus president, said the company is working to regain its player base, which was disrupted last year when the government mandated the “delinking” of gaming platforms from popular mobile wallets.

The move, prompted by public concern over the ease of access to online gambling, forced operators to rethink how they process transactions and engage with customers.

“The delinking actually happened in mid-August. We saw a steady recovery over the last six months. What we have done is we increased our engagement with our long-term, high-value users… We have prioritized our efforts to recall users,” he noted.

By shifting these users away from third-party e-wallet interfaces and onto DigiPlus’s proprietary website and mobile applications, Tsui said the company aims to insulate its operations from future payment-channel disruptions.

The recovery effort is gaining momentum as the company expands its focus to mid- and low-value users. Tsui noted that more than 50 percent of the company’s user base has already migrated to its proprietary platform.

To facilitate this transition, DigiPlus has launched a series of credit promotions and new game titles while diversifying its cash-in options. This includes a partnership with Bayad Center, a payment service with approximately 800 physical outlets across the archipelago, designed to provide players with more convenient ways to deposit funds.

Despite the headwinds in the latter part of last year, DigiPlus reported a resilient financial performance. The company maintained a full-year profit of ₱12.5 billion, as a robust performance in the first half of the year cushioned the impact of the second-half slowdown.

Revenue for the period climbed 12 percent to ₱84.2 billion, up from ₱75.2 billion in 2024. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, or Ebitda, rose 2 percent to ₱14.2 billion.

The company is also positioning itself as a key partner in government efforts to overhaul the domestic gaming industry. DigiPlus is currently part of a technical working group collaborating with the Senate and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to draft new legislation. The proposed framework seeks to elevate industry standards through tighter controls on marketing and more rigorous oversight of payment channels.

Chairman Eusebio Tanco said the firm welcomes the shift toward a more disciplined regulatory environment. He emphasized that by adhering to higher compliance standards, the industry can better protect essential tax revenues and job creation.

DigiPlus remains committed to investing in responsible gaming safeguards as it navigates the transition toward a more transparent and secure digital entertainment market in the Philippines.