DigiPlus Chief Pushes Public Listing Rule For Online Operators
DigiPlus Interactive Corp chairman Eusebio Tanco has called on Philippine authorities to consider requiring all licensed online gaming operators in the country to be publicly listed companies. He said the move would help create a more level competitive environment and could also help steer players away from illegal operators.
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Call For Equal Standards
Tanco raised the proposal during DigiPlus’ annual stockholders meeting on Friday while discussing industry regulation and competition. The standards for transparency, corporate governance, and taxation are much higher for listed companies compared to private companies.
In his explanation, he noted that DigiPlus Company is a listed company, it is very transparent, it reports on time, adheres to good corporate governance, and it pays the right amount of taxes. He then argued that the regulator should require all licensed online operators in the Philippines to be listed, saying that is the only way to level the playing field.
DigiPlus Portfolio In Focus
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. One of the group’s other units operates casino slot arcades in the Philippines.
The chairman said extending listed-company standards across the licensed online gaming sector would improve transparency and accountability. He added that such a requirement would also ensure that all operators face comparable regulatory scrutiny.
Illegal Operators And Player Shift
Tanco also linked the idea to the government’s wider effort to move players away from illegal gambling platforms and toward regulated offerings. He said authorities should focus on strategies that help transfer players from illegal operators to legal, licensed ones.
His remarks place listing status within a broader discussion about regulation, competition, and player protection in the online gaming market. The proposal is aimed not only at raising standards among licensed operators but also at improving the sector’s ability to compete with unlicensed platforms.
Wider Industry Debate
The comments add another layer to the ongoing debate over how the Philippine online gaming sector should be structured and supervised. Tanco’s position is that public listing would help address both market fairness and compliance, while also making it easier for regulators and players to distinguish between licensed and unlicensed operators.
With DigiPlus already operating across several gaming segments, the chairman’s remarks highlight the company’s view that higher disclosure and governance standards should apply across the industry. The proposal now places more attention on whether listed status could become part of the country’s broader licensing framework.
Source: GGR Asia
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