DigiPlus backs online gambling regulation, warns vs black market shift

July 17, 2025
3:52PM PHT

Insider Spotlight:

  • DigiPlus supports tighter regulation of online gaming in the Philippines.
  • New tools include affordability checks and access to mental health experts.
  • Company warns that bans drive players to illegal, unregulated platforms.

The country’s largest online gambling firm has thrown its support behind stronger regulation of the booming industry in the Philippines, calling it essential to player protection and industry accountability.

Driving the news:

As lawmakers and advocacy groups push for tighter rules, DigiPlus Interactive Corp.—operator of BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, and GameZone—said it supports “smart, balanced” regulation to protect consumers and sustain economic activity in the legal gaming sector.

“We believe regulation is the path to player protection. It’s the only way to safeguard players, preserve jobs, and close the door on illegal, underground platforms that operate without any oversight,” said DigiPlus chair Eusebio Tanco in a statement on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

What they’re doing:

DigiPlus said many of the reforms being proposed are already in place on its platforms. These include:

  • KYC protocols using government-issued IDs
  • Age gating mechanisms
  • Responsible gaming features such as deposit limits, self-exclusion, and cooling-off options, rolled out in November 2024
Eusebio Tanco
The Digiplus chair says regulation is the key to a more sustainable online gambling industry.

The company is expanding these efforts with:

  • Affordability checks
  • Behavioral nudges to curb excessive play
  • Referrals to licensed mental health professionals
  • In-app community support tools launching this July

DigiPlus is also updating its marketing policies, banning content that targets minors or promotes gambling through wealth imagery or urgency. It has partnered with civil society groups to offer financial literacy and promote digital responsibility.

The company line:

DigiPlus said these initiatives are part of a long-term strategy—not a reaction to pending regulation. It continues to invest in compliance technology and player support, believing that trust and transparency are key to the future of online gaming.

The big picture:

DigiPlus warned against the unintended consequences of a full ban on legal platforms.

“The experience of other countries has shown that banning licensed platforms does not eliminate demand for online gaming, but merely shifts users to unregulated black markets,” it said.

The firm noted that regulated gaming supports over 40,000 local jobs and contributes significantly to government revenues.

What’s next:

DigiPlus pledged to work with lawmakers and regulators on updated legislation, including clearer ad standards and tougher penalties for illegal operators.

“With the right rules in place, the Philippines can be a model for safe, transparent online gaming in Asia,” Tanco said. 

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