DigiPlus Interactive, the country’s dominant online gambling player, is stepping squarely onto casino turf with a bold move into land-based gaming that could shake up the Philippine market. According to InsiderPH, the BingoPlus owner is eyeing a ₱12-billion (≈US$210m) takeover of the parent company behind New Coast Manila, an integrated resort on Manila’s bayside gaming strip.
Why gaming giant DigiPlus is eyeing a strategic partner for its move to Brazil.
The deal would mark a defining pivot for DigiPlus, which already controls nearly 50% of the Philippine online gambling market through its BingoPlus platform and e-games network. Moving into bricks-and-mortar gives the Eusebio Tanco-backed group a physical flagship in Metro Manila and positions it as a direct challenger to established casino giants such as Bloomberry (Solaire), Tiger Resort (Okada Manila) and Newport World Resorts. Strategically, the timing is no accident. The country’s e-gaming boom is now facing a much tougher regulatory climate: the central bank has ordered the removal of gambling links from e-wallets, advertising rules have tightened and policymakers continue to debate further restrictions on online play. Acquiring a land-based property would diversify DigiPlus’ revenue mix and hedge against any future squeeze on its digital business.
Industry watchers note that New Coast Manila has long been seen as an underutilised asset with room for repositioning in a market that is adding new supply, including Solaire North and other integrated-resort projects. A DigiPlus takeover could unlock cross-selling between BingoPlus’ tens of millions of online users and a refreshed on-property offer in Manila.
If the ₱12B deal moves forward, it would confirm DigiPlus as a hybrid powerhouse in both online and land-based gambling, and send a clear message to incumbents: the battle for the next phase of Philippine gaming growth will not be fought online alone.
