The company has offered a multibillion-peso investment for the property, which was built by Japan’s Shimizu Corp. and operated by a Japanese group in 1992 before being acquired by Ang, the chair and CEO of San Miguel Corp., as part of his private portfolio, several insiders confirmed.
DigiPlus, behind popular gambling platforms such as BingoPlus and ArenaPlus, has been lining up financing for the transaction.
Recent talks have centered on pricing, with the potential deal giving Ang a windfall over his purchase price, although one insider said he has rebuffed several offers for the five-star hotel, which sites on a seafront lot with with 480 rooms.
Scaling up beyond New Coast footprint
DigiPlus’s interest in the Malate property comes as it moves to close its investment in New Coast Hotel Manila, once called the Hyatt Regency Hotel & Casino Manila, directly across Diamond Hotel.
New Coast, home to La Vie Casino, is run by International Entertainment Corp. (IEC), the Hong Kong-listed firm that DigiPlus plans to acquire for about P12 billion.
IEC also holds a provisional license from state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to develop and operate an integrated casino resort in Manila until 2033, and it has since committed to invest $1–1.2 billion to expand operations.
This makes the acquisition of an adjacent property like Diamond Hotel a logical move, as it consolidates operations into one contiguous Manila Bay site, with New Coast and Diamond Hotel connected by a roof bridge.
Cash strength backs expansion push
DigiPlus Interactive Corp. is one of the country’s most profitable gaming firms.
It posted full-year 2025 net income of P12.6 billion, stable from 2024, while revenue rose 12 percent to P84.2 billion.
Its expansion plans are supported by a growing cash position that rose nearly 70 percent to P23.4 billion as of end-2025.
Big picture
The Philippines’ land-based casino sector is expected to remain resilient despite near-term market volatility, with major groups continuing to invest.
Philippine-listed Belle Corp. confirmed a Manila Standard report on Monday that it secured a provisional license from Pagcor for a $300 million integrated resort in Clark, about an hour and half north of Metro Manila.
Belle is also in ongoing talks with foreign operators, underscoring how how brick-and-mortar casinos remain a key growth business alongside digital gambling.
Belle shares rose 2.31 percent to P1.33 each while DigiPlus surged 9.72 percent to P14.90 each on Monday
Miguel R. Camus has been a reporter covering various domestic business topics since 2009.
