Philippine-listed and licensed online gaming operator DigiPlus Interactive Corp says it supports the development of a “new, comprehensive regulatory framework” designed to “elevate standards” for the country’s online gaming industry.
As the nation’s Senate and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor) strengthen their oversight, DigiPlus said in a Wednesday press release that it is part of a “technical working group” tasked with “drafting legislation aimed at improving consumer protection and industry transparency”.
“This collaborative effort focuses on implementing tighter controls for payment channels and marketing restrictions, ensuring a fair, secure, and compliant gaming environment,” the company noted.
The announcement cited DigiPlus chairman, Eusebio Tanco, as saying: “As a licensed and leading online gaming operator, we continue to welcome collaboration and active participation in discussions with the Philippine government to achieve our shared goal of raising the standards of the industry.”
He added: “By reinforcing a market where only those who adhere to the highest standards of compliance operate, we ensure that the benefits of our industry – from job creation to essential tax revenues – are preserved for the Filipino people.”
In a press briefing on Wednesday, DigiPlus president Andy Tsui said regulatory changes for the online gaming industry in the Philippines remain a “key issue” for the company.
“We are part of it [the working group], and we are participating in that discussion,” Mr Tsui noted.
“We are quite comfortable that there will be no total ban, just stricter regulations for the sector,” he added. “These will be positive in establishing a long-term, sustainable industry.”
In the Philippines, DigiPlus runs BingoPlus, described as the country’s first government-approved online bingo platform. It also operates ArenaPlus, a sportsbook, and GameZone, a platform for casual and arcade gaming.
The firm has been taking what it describes as “proactive measures” to enhance player protection and customer service in the Philippines.
That included the launch in mid-September of a surety bond programme for online gaming players, as well as the expansion of “over-the-counter (OTC) or physical payment options” for players via partnerships with bills payment service provider Bayad and self-service payment kiosk operator Pay&Go.
In his Wednesday remarks, Mr Tsui also said Digiplus was looking at the potential of prediction markets as a new business segment. Prediction markets are platforms where people can bet on the outcome of events.
An October paper by lawyer Marie Antonette Quiogue, chief executive and founder of Arden Consult International Pte Ltd, suggested that prediction markets are considered a “legal gamble” in the Philippines.
“Under Philippine law, if you bet money on an outcome that involves any degree of chance, it’s gambling by definition,” the expert explained. “Unless authorised by law and licensed by Pagcor, any operation of this sort targeting Philippine users would be unlicensed and illegal,” she added.
Mr Tsui said DigiPlus was working with Pagcor regarding the possibility of launching a prediction market platform in the Philippines, but noted discussions were still in an initial phase.
“We are still testing it … but we haven’t seen it happen in the Philippines yet,” noted the DigiPlus president.
He added: “We hope it could be another kind of offering that we can develop in coming years.”
