DigiPlus Interactive Corp., a leading digital entertainment and gaming firm, announced a P6-billion share buyback plan to enhance shareholder value and signal long-term confidence in the business amid recent market volatility.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) on Monday, the company said its Board of Directors has approved the repurchase of up to P6 billion worth of common shares, funded entirely by internally generated cash flows.
The program will run for 12 months and may be renewed, subject to board approval.
DigiPlus Chairman Eusebio Tanco said the initiative reflects the company’s “firm confidence” in its long-term growth trajectory and underlying fundamentals. “By strategically deploying our capital through this buyback, we are sending a clear signal that DigiPlus is committed to delivering sustainable returns for shareholders while remaining well-positioned to pursue expansion and innovation,” Tanco said.
The move comes just days after DigiPlus suffered a steep fall in share price, plunging 23.9 percent on Friday, July 4, to close at P29.50 per share.
The decline followed a wave of market speculation surrounding potential policy shifts, including proposed legislation in both chambers of Congress that seek to regulate or prohibit online gambling platforms.
While DigiPlus issued a statement dismissing the talk as speculative, the company’s stock was among the most heavily traded in recent sessions, underscoring heightened investor sensitivity to regulatory developments.
DigiPlus runs several digital gaming platforms including BingoPlus—the Philippines’ first government-licensed online bingo service—and ArenaPlus, a digital sportsbook. It also owns GameZone, a casual and arcade gaming portal.
The timing of the share buyback is widely seen as a tactical move to restore investor confidence following last week’s sharp losses.
The company emphasized that its financial position remains strong, with ample resources to balance disciplined capital management alongside continued investments in technology and market expansion.
The broader equities market remained under pressure to start the week, but DigiPlus shares staged a strong recovery.
The stock closed 14.58 percent higher at P33.80 per share on Monday, recouping a large portion of Friday’s losses.
The rebound was widely attributed to the buyback announcement, which investors often interpret as a vote of confidence by management in the company’s future performance and current valuation.
“DigiPlus remains well-capitalized, and the launch of this buyback program is a clear indication of our commitment to long-term shareholder value,” the company said in its filing.
Adding a broader industry perspective, technology firm DFNN Inc., a licensed provider of digital gaming infrastructure, cautioned lawmakers against sweeping regulatory changes that may unintentionally drive players away from legitimate platforms.
In a regulatory filing, DFNN said, “Well-intended restrictions, if not carefully calibrated across distinct gaming formats, may unintentionally create incentives for certain segments of the population, particularly casual or lower-income players, to seek alternatives from unlicensed or offshore platforms.”
The company warned that such grey market operations, which often lack player protections and regulatory oversight, could “undermine the very safeguards the legislation seeks to reinforce.”
DFNN was referring in part to Senate Bill 2704 filed by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, which proposes stricter online gaming controls — including raising the minimum legal gambling age from 18 to 21, requiring a P10,000 minimum cash-in, and instituting a P5,000 top-up threshold.
The company urged policymakers to account for the diversity of gaming operations in the Philippines, distinguishing between digital-first platforms and regulated, land-based operators.
“Our gaming network, composed of licensed, physical outlets nationwide, operates under close regulatory supervision and adheres to strict compliance standards, including but not limited to robust face-to-face KYC protocols, national ID-grade facial recognition, and enforcement of the minimum legal age of 21,” DFNN said.
“These community-based outlets provide secure, supervised environments for responsible gaming and continue to generate meaningful economic benefits such as job creation, local business partnerships, and direct fiscal contributions to their host communities,” it added.
