“We are not asking for special treatment. We are simply asking to be judged by our actions, not by perception, nor by association with those who break the law. Regulation works best when it uplifts what is working, not when it dismantles it,” the online gambling leader said in a statement on Wednesday.
The company said it has been ahead of many proposed rules, having enforced Know-Your-Customer checks, mandatory age verification, self-exclusion tools, and responsible-gaming prompts across its platforms since November 2024.
DigiPlus added that every peso on its sites is taxed, audited, and remitted to PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue, funding healthcare, infrastructure, and disaster relief.
Thousands of jobs at stake
“Tell us what more we must do,” DigiPlus chair Eusebio Tanco said,
“And we will do it without hesitation. Just grant us the fairness owed to any lawful Filipino enterprise,” he added.
Tanco warned that the crackdown feels more punitive than regulatory.
DigiPlus said banning licensed operators will only drive players to unregulated, unsafe sites. The company added that over 3,000 direct employees and 50,000 workers across its network — including IT and cybersecurity teams, multimedia artists, call center agents, security personnel, and housekeeping staff — now face uncertainty.
“We are open to evolving and improving wherever needed,” he said.
“If there are new standards to meet, or better ways to protect players, we will act swiftly and responsibly. But please, do not condemn an industry, and the 50,000 Filipino families who rely on it, without hearing the facts first,” he added.
Illegal gaming sector stands to gain
DigiPlus directly appealed for reason and clarity in the debate, saying:
“We are appealing to the government: Let us approach this rationally,” the company said.
“If we study the issue with clear eyes, we will see that the social ills being blamed on online gaming stem from the illegal market. That is where underage gambling happens. That is where financial abuse thrives. Target that, and the harm disappears,” it added.
—Edited by Miguel R. Camus
