Philippines' largest legal online gambling operator DigiPlus Interactive recently called for a "fact-based public dialogue" on online gambling issues with the government and legislative bodies, emphasizing that the industry should not be collateral damage due to the social sentiment against illegal gambling. DigiPlus stated that the company will fully cooperate with any new regulatory measures, but strongly opposes the unfair treatment of "retaliation in the name of rectification."
DigiPlus operates several well-known platforms including BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, and GameZone. The company's chairman, Eusebio Tanco, stated in the announcement that the legal gambling industry is being wrongly included in the framework of social issues discussions. "We never seek privileges, we only hope that the public judges us based on facts, not prejudices. Please do not deny a legally operating industry that supports 50,000 families due to misunderstandings."
DigiPlus further pointed out that since November 2024, all its platforms have fully implemented a series of compliance measures including KYC (Know Your Customer), mandatory age verification, player self-exclusion mechanisms, and responsible gambling reminders. All financial transactions on the platforms are regulated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue, with taxes and revenue sharing used for national health insurance, public construction, and disaster relief.
Tanco warned that if the government decides to implement a total ban, it will not only directly impact the 3,000 employees at DigiPlus but also threaten 50,000 jobs throughout the industry, covering fields such as IT technology, software development, customer service, and security operations. He pointed out, "The root of the problem is not with the legal licensed operators, but with those illegal platforms operating in the shadows. The real social harm, such as underage gambling addiction and player asset exploitation, occurs precisely in these unregulated gray areas."
Currently, the controversy over online gambling in the Philippines is escalating, with some legislators and religious groups calling for a complete ban, believing it harms social morals and public safety. The Presidential Office has also begun policy research on this issue, with future directions still highly uncertain.
DigiPlus calls for a rational view of the economic and social value of the gambling industry, and while combating illegal gambling, urges not to "cut with one knife" and mistakenly harm compliant businesses. "We support stricter regulation and are willing to accept comprehensive scrutiny, only hoping that reforms are based on facts, protect employment, and maintain market justice," Tanco stated.
