DigiPlus earnings hit by regulatory shifts, global fuel crisis
Tanco-led DigiPlus Interactive Corporation, the Philippines’ pioneer and leading online gambling firm, reported that its net income was 33 percent weaker at ₱2.8 billion in the first quarter of 2026.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the firm blamed the lower earnings to the delinking of e-wallet in-app access to online gaming platforms as well as to the tempered consumer sentiment from the ongoing global fuel crisis.
Total revenues for the quarter dropped 25 percent to ₱17.2 billion from the same period last year, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization contracted 42 percent to ₱2.6 billion.
On a quarter-on-quarter basis, revenues dipped only slightly from ₱17.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025. Net income, on the other hand, increased 15 percent, primarily driven by derivative gains related to the investment in International Entertainment Corporation's convertible bonds while EBITDA slid 15 percent owing to higher non-recurring manpower-related expenses.
“Our first quarter performance reflects the softness following the delinking of licensed gaming platforms from e-wallet access points, which has affected user activity and transaction flows," DigiPlus Chairman Eusebio H. Tanco said.
He added that, "Nonetheless, our fundamentals remain intact, and we remain confident in the long-term growth trajectory of the business as we adapt our payments ecosystem, strengthen player engagement, and continue to lead with responsible, innovative digital entertainment.”
DigiPlus maintained a strong balance sheet as of end-March, with operational cash flows replenishing its net cash position after paying the first tranche of approximately ₱6.0 billion for the subscription to convertible bonds issued by International Entertainment Corporation (IEC).
The Company's cash and cash equivalents stood at ₱20.5 billion, while total debt load is minimal at only ₱745.8 million. Debt-to-equity ratio remained healthy at 0.02. (James A. Loyola)