DigiPlus users surge to 40 million
Filipinos continued in 2024 to flock to online gaming platforms last year as DigiPlus Interactive Corp. doubled the number of its registered users, proving that the competitive digital market remained attractive.
DigiPlus chair Eusebio Tanco told reporters during a media roundtable on Thursday that as of the end of last year, the company’s registered users reached 40 million, representing a 100-percent increase from 20 million in 2023.
According to Tanco, DigiPlus’ customer base will continue to increase following the company’s entry into the Brazil market.
Slower growth
“It will improve to a certain extent, but maybe not at the rate we have now,” he said on the sidelines of DigiPlus’ launch of its responsible gaming advocacy campaign in Quezon City.
DigiPlus officially made its foray into the Brazil online gaming, or iGaming, market last Jan. 1.
The Brazilian government granted DigiPlus a federal license to operate sports betting and other online games in the South American country.
Earier, DigiPlus president Andy Tsui said they had applied for a five-year license worth around $6 million.
Last November, the company’s board of directors approved an initial funding of P660 million to cover license fees, minimum capitalization, financial reserves and other operational expenses related to a possible presence in Brazil.
With 87 percent of its 200-million population exposed to the internet, Brazil is seen as a key market for iGaming.
DigiPlus, which operates locally popular games like BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and GameZone, saw its earnings in the first nine months of 2024 balloon by more than fourfold as strong demand for digital games fueled the rapidly growing sector.
This meant a surge of 314 percent to P8.75 billion, buoyed by the retail games segment and new product offerings.