BIZ BUZZ: DigiPlus climbs the Fortune ladder

Three years ago, DigiPlus Interactive Corp. was still proving that online gaming could be a mainstream business. Today, it is climbing the ranks of Southeast Asia’s corporate elite.

The operator of BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and GameZone moved up eight places to No. 215 in this year’s Fortune Southeast Asia 500, marking its third straight appearance on the list of the region’s largest companies by revenue.

The rise reflects just how quickly DigiPlus has scaled up. Last year, the company generated P84.2 billion in revenue, up 12 percent, despite tighter regulations and intensifying competition in the online gaming sector.

Management credits product innovation, including the rollout of hundreds of new games. But investors may be paying closer attention to what comes next.

DigiPlus has been laying the groundwork for growth beyond its core platforms. It recently completed a P12-billion investment in International Entertainment Corp., giving it a potential offline presence to complement its digital network. At the same time, it is preparing to enter Brazil and South Africa.

For chair Eusebio Tanco, the Fortune ranking validates the company’s growth trajectory. The bigger challenge now is sustaining that momentum.