DigiPlus Withdraws from New Zealand Online Casino Licence Auction

Philippine gaming operator DigiPlus Interactive Corp. has withdrawn from the final rounds of New Zealand’s online casino licensing auction after reassessing the market and the potential value of obtaining a licence. The decision adds another obstacle to the company’s overseas expansion plans following regulatory disruption in Brazil.

In a regulatory filing dated 14 October 2026, DigiPlus said that further market analysis and an assessment of market values had led it to withdraw from the remaining rounds of the auction for the right to apply for an online gaming licence. The company had announced its expression of interest in entering the New Zealand market on 4 August.

DigiPlus said the withdrawal would not affect its existing businesses or represent a departure from its international expansion strategy. The decision concerns its participation in the New Zealand auction and does not amount to a broader withdrawal from overseas markets.

New Zealand’s auction concluded on 12 October, with 11 entities securing the right to apply for a total of 15 online casino licences. The final auction price reached NZ$15 million per licence, equivalent to approximately US$8.4 million. The successful bidders must still complete the regulatory application and assessment process before licences can be granted.

The new framework is being introduced under New Zealand’s Online Casino Gambling Act 2026. The legislation establishes a licensing system for online casino operators, with the regulated market expected to become fully operational in 2027. The Department of Internal Affairs is overseeing the licensing process and the transition to the new regime.

DigiPlus’s withdrawal comes amid uncertainty surrounding another overseas market targeted by the company. In September, Brazil introduced a provisional measure prohibiting online betting and online casino operations, disrupting the market shortly after DigiPlus had relaunched its activities there.

Brazil’s measure, signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on 25 September, required affected betting websites and applications to cease operating from 6 October. The measure took immediate effect but remains subject to the legislative process in Congress.

Following the announcement, DigiPlus said it was taking steps to comply with the Brazilian restrictions, prioritising customer withdrawals and the return of player funds. The company stated that it did not expect the developments to have a material effect on its overall financial or operating position, while acknowledging that the situation remained subject to ongoing legal and legislative developments.

The New Zealand and Brazilian developments have complicated DigiPlus’s efforts to expand beyond its domestic market in the Philippines. The company operates online gaming platforms including BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and GameZone and has been pursuing opportunities in other jurisdictions.

South Africa remains among the overseas markets in which DigiPlus has sought to establish a presence. The company has continued to describe international expansion as part of its longer-term strategy, despite the withdrawal from New Zealand and the uncertainty affecting Brazil.

The New Zealand decision also illustrates the investment considerations facing operators entering newly regulated online gambling markets. Winning the right to apply for a licence requires a substantial financial commitment, while successful bidders must subsequently satisfy regulatory requirements before being authorised to operate. Companies must therefore assess both the cost of market entry and the commercial prospects of operating under the new regime.

For DigiPlus, the withdrawal removes the immediate cost and commitment associated with continuing in the New Zealand auction. The company has not announced a replacement plan for entering that market, nor has it indicated that the decision will change its broader international expansion objectives.

By fLEXI tEAM