Philippine online gaming operator DigiPlus Interactive Corp. has cleared its next major hurdle for global growth, winning regulatory approval to launch its online gaming platforms in South Africa.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the company said on Thursday, April 16, that it received three operator licenses from the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board, including a national manufacturer license and two bookmaker permits.

The move grants DigiPlus access to the Western Cape, a region that serves as South Africa's primary gaming hub and accounted for roughly 31 percent of the country’s total online gaming revenue in 2025.

The expansion comes as the South African market experiences a rapid digital shift, with total gaming revenues estimated at $4.9 billion last year. 
Western Cape is also a top destination for international operators like DigiPlus due to its transparent regulatory processes and digital readiness.

“South Africa is set to be DigiPlus' second international market after the Company's entry into Brazil. Brazil targets to start full commercial operations within the first half of 2026,” the company said.

In November last year, DigiPlus President Andy Tsui said they are targeting the soft launch of the firm’s operations in South Africa in early 2027, on optimism that the South African license would be secured in eight months (by July 2026), 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 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.

Meanwhile, Tsui said DigiPLus is monitoring other developing countries with licensing opportunities and carefully selecting new ones, 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 or US 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, “Together, these developments (Brazil and South Africa) actualize the company’s vision of becoming a leading digital entertainment provider for the world’s most dynamic emerging markets.”