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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider The Stock Market devider DigiPlus targets New Zealand license in global iGaming expansion

DigiPlus targets New Zealand license in global iGaming expansion

Published Aug 4, 2026 04:26 pm
Amid growing challenges in the Philippines, leading online gaming firm DigiPlus Interactive Corp. is seeking a gaming license in New Zealand as it expands its footprint in Brazil and South Africa.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the firm announced that its board of directors approved the “filing of Expression of Interest to apply for a gaming license in New Zealand.”
“It's good that the company is actively exploring new markets abroad, but what's critical is successful execution. Investors need to see that the overseas expansion is translating into actual earnings,” said Chinabank Capital Corp. Managing Director Juan Paolo Colet.
Reyes Tacandong & Company Senior Adviser Jonathan Ravelas noted, “DigiPlus is wisely widening its growth runway. Brazil remains the biggest opportunity, but pursuing New Zealand and South Africa shows management is not putting all its eggs in one basket.”
He added, “The key now is execution. Winning licenses is the easy part; turning them into profitable market share is where the real test begins.”
DigiPlus reported stronger second-quarter results compared to the first quarter, driven by higher monthly average depositors and bettors (MABD), improved user cohorts, stronger returns on advertising and promotional expenses, better tax and operational efficiencies, and sustained investments in research and development.
Reported net income surged 124 percent quarter-on-quarter to ₱6.98 billion, largely due to a fair value gain recognized from the company's investment in International Entertainment Corp.’s (IEC) convertible notes.
Excluding this non-operating gain, core net income reached ₱2.35 billion for the second quarter of 2026—up eight percent from the preceding quarter, though 44 percent lower than the ₱4.2 billion reported in the same period last year.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) rose seven percent quarter-on-quarter to ₱2.84 billion, but remained down 37 percent from the ₱4.5 billion registered in the second quarter of 2025.
EBITDA margin expanded to 18.2 percent in the second quarter of 2026 from 15.3 percent in the first quarter, buoyed by operational efficiency and disciplined cost management.
Aggregate monthly active users (MAU) averaged 5.75 million in the second quarter of 2026, driven by continuous user growth across DigiPlus’ digital gaming platforms. MABD rose significantly by 26 percent quarter-on-quarter to 4.68 million.
This substantial MABD growth reflects the quality of DigiPlus' iGaming experience, its product development capabilities, and the effectiveness of its refined user acquisition strategies.
Gross Gaming Revenues (GGR) slipped nine percent quarter-on-quarter to ₱15.61 billion, primarily attributed to aggressive user acquisition initiatives alongside broader macroeconomic headwinds.
Net Gaming Revenue (NGR) after tax crept up 0.9 percent quarter-on-quarter to ₱5.52 billion. Post-tax NGR margin reached 35 percent, which on a pre-tax basis stands higher than global industry peers. This reflects improved marketing yields and reduced tax costs following the IEC transaction.
"As our business evolves, we believe the MAU base and MABD growth reflect our market share, our strength in product development, and the overall quality of our Gaming-as-a-Service strategy,” said DigiPlus President Ping Chen.
He noted, “Our net gaming revenue after tax is the key metric we use to assess operational performance, as it captures not just the growth and scale of our user base, but also measures efficiency and return on capital spend."
"The growing user base, improved cohorts, and higher returns on capital will contribute to significantly higher GGR, NGR, and overall profitability in the coming quarters," Chen added.
“Looking ahead, DigiPlus is evolving beyond a traditional online gaming operator into a Gaming-as-a-Service ecosystem powered by proprietary content, data-driven personalization, and continuous product innovation. This evolution strengthens our ability to deliver higher-quality earnings, deepen customer lifetime value, and create long-term value for our shareholders," he said.

Related Tags

Digiplus Interactive Corporation Ping Chen Jonathan Ravelas Reyes Tacandong & Co. Juan Paolo Colet Chinabank Capital Corporation
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