DigiPlus Pauses Brazil Launch for Refinement
DigiPlus Interactive Corp., a prominent Philippine digital entertainment company, has announced a temporary halt to its operations in Brazil. The decision comes after a three-week soft rollout of its first Brazilian brand, GamePlus, which commenced on September 22, 2025. The pause, effective October 10, 2025, is intended to allow the company to refine its offerings and better align them with local player preferences and cultural habits, as reported by Newsbytes.PH.
Ambitious Entry into the Brazilian Market
DigiPlus Interactive Corp., known for its online gambling platforms such as BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, and GameZone in the Philippines, had marked its entry into Brazil as its first international expansion. The company had secured a federal license for its subsidiary, DigiPlus Brazil Interactive Ltda., to operate sports betting, electronic games, and live game studios in the South American nation. Brazil's iGaming market was identified as a significant growth opportunity, with an estimated value of $4.6 billion. In preparation for its launch, DigiPlus appointed industry veteran Graham Tidey as country manager for its Brazil operations in March 2025.
Strategic Pause to Enhance Local Relevance
The three-week trial period for GamePlus served as a 'live learning laboratory' for DigiPlus, providing valuable insights into Brazilian player behavior and entertainment dynamics. Eusebio H. Tanco, Chairman of DigiPlus, stated, 'We are taking the strategic step to pause GamePlus in Brazil so we can come back stronger with a digital entertainment offering that resonates deeply with Brazilian culture.' This temporary step back is part of the company's long-term strategy to prioritize quality, cultural resonance, and sustainability in the market.
Looking Ahead to a 2026 Relaunch
DigiPlus plans to utilize this pause to channel efforts into the research and development of a fully localized and innovative product offering. The company's local team, led by Graham Tidey, will continue to develop a self-produced lineup of games and digital entertainment content. A full-scale relaunch of its Brazil operations is anticipated in early 2026. This strategic decision also comes as DigiPlus faces increasing scrutiny and legislative efforts in its home country, the Philippines, regarding the social impact of online gambling.
5 Comments
Africa
It's commendable that they're prioritizing cultural resonance, but a three-week trial seems incredibly short to gather meaningful data for such a large market. I hope their 2026 relaunch is based on more thorough research.
ZmeeLove
Wasted time and money. Poor market research from the start.
Habibi
Takes courage to hit pause and get it right. Respect!
Comandante
This shows real commitment to the Brazilian market.
Donatello
Maybe the real issue is the ethics of online gambling, not culture.