Philippine gaming operator DigiPlus Interactive Corp. has withdrawn from New Zealand’s online casino licensing auction, ending a bid it began with an expression of interest in August. The company confirmed the decision in an October 14 disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange.
The Department of Internal Affairs completed its auction after 10 rounds, attracting 32 bidders. Eleven entities secured rights to apply for 15 licences, each carrying a fee of NZ$15 million. Successful participants must undergo further regulatory assessments before receiving permission to operate. Applicants include companies associated with SkyCity Entertainment Group, Entain and Stake.
DigiPlus shifts focus to South Africa
DigiPlus said the withdrawal would have “no impact on the company’s businesses or deviation from the company’s international expansion strategy.” In the disclosure it stated: “After further market analysis and determination of market values, the company has decided to abstain from the final rounds of the New Zealand auction on the right to apply for an online gaming license.”
Its international plans now centre on South Africa. DigiPlus has secured a gaming licence from the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board and aims to enter the market by the third quarter of 2027. Management is considering partnerships with local third-party providers for the launch, and is assessing other African jurisdictions.
Elsewhere, DigiPlus is dealing with a provisional measure in Brazil that prohibits the operation and advertising of fixed-odds betting and online gaming, which the company described as “fluid and is not final.”