Casino investor International Entertainment Corp says it has a formal agreement to enter the Philippine online gaming sector through a cooperation deal with a unit of Philippines-licensed online gaming operator DigiPlus Interactive Corp.
International Entertainment is the controller of a Manila Bay, Philippines, casino hotel with a provisional gaming licence from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor). The property, long known as New Coast Hotel Manila, is currently being promoted as LaVie Resort & Casino Manila (pictured).
The Hong Kong-listed firm announced in a Tuesday filing that its indirect Philippine subsidiary, New Coast Leisure Inc (NCLI), had signed a cooperation agreement with Total Gamezone Xtreme Inc (TGXI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of DigiPlus, to collaborate on the integration, aggregation, provision and operation of online gaming content.
The agreement, signed on Tuesday, covers online games and related content linked to the operations of LaVie Resort & Casino Manila, subject to approval from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor), and compliance with applicable regulations.
The deal has an initial term of two years and will automatically be renewed annually unless either party gives notice of non-renewal.
The partnership will make possible the start of International Entertainment’s online gaming business, following the group’s announcement in April that it intended to enter the segment.
Under the arrangement, NCLI will maintain the licences and accreditations required for online gaming operations, oversee regulatory compliance, track gaming performance and conduct revenue audits.
TGXI will provide gaming software support, game aggregation services, certified game content, technical integration and related operational assistance.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The filing stated that any revenue sharing, commissions or economic benefits arising from the cooperation would be agreed by the parties based on their respective contributions.
International Entertainment said it had obtained a legal opinion from a Philippine counsel confirming that the proposed online gaming operations would comply with local law.
The company also received advice that the business would not contravene Hong Kong’s Gambling Ordinance because the platform will be accessible only within the Philippines through Internet-protocol blocking measures required by Pagcor regulations.
NCLI operates LaVie Resort & Casino Manila and holds several Pagcor-issued permits. That includes an electronic (e-Casino) games operator licence; certificate of accreditation as a Gaming System Administrator of Pagcor-licensed gaming venues for electronic games; and a certificate of accreditation as a game content provider.
TGXI is described as an “experienced” online gaming operator. Its parent, DigiPlus, is also the holder of HKD1.6 billion (US$204.2 million) in convertible bonds issued by International Entertainment. The filing noted that TGXI and DigiPlus are regarded as independent third parties for listing-rule purposes.
International Entertainment said the Philippine online gaming market was benefiting from supportive government policies, technological advances and growing consumer demand.
The firm cited industry forecasts suggesting the country’s gaming market could reach nearly US$9.9 billion by 2033, “representing a compound annual growth rate of 8.29 percent for 2025 to 2033”.
“The directors are of the view that the online gaming sector in the Philippines is undergoing rapid expansion,” the company said, adding that participation in the segment would “broaden the group’s revenue base, improve operational scalability, and create new growth drivers”.
“This structure allows the group to capitalise on TGXI’s established online gaming infrastructure, significantly reducing the time and resources required to build a platform from the ground up,” International Entertainment added.
