IGT Continues Multi-Level Progressive Momentum with New Tiger and Dragon Game on the PeakCurve49 Cabinet
International Game Technology PLC announced that its new multi-level progressive (“MLP”) game, Tiger and Dragon, recently debuted on casino floors across the US.
Available on the sleek PeakCurve49 cabinet, Tiger and Dragon combines new and proven mechanics with high bonus frequencies for an action-packed entertainment experience.
“We made a commitment to advancing IGT’s game performance with strong multi-level progressive content and leveraged our extensive research and focus group capabilities to achieve this with the award-winning Prosperity Link and Mystery of the Lamp MLP games,” said Dubravka Burda, IGT SVP Global Studios.
“Bolstered by our strong momentum in the MLP space, we combined proven game mechanics with exciting new features and gameplay in the development of Tiger and Dragon. We’re excited to unveil this extremely fun and entertaining game with our casino operator partners and their players.”
The Tiger and Dragon MLP is available in two base games, Multiplier and Cash On Reels. Both games feature three unique bonuses: Tiger, Dragon, and the combined Tiger and Dragon bonus. The game introduces an entirely new lock-and-respin and reveal bonus structure featuring money ball symbols with credit values that can combine.
NuxGame, the experienced betting and iGaming software provider, has integrated the CRM system Solitics into its platform, scaling up its automation, data processing and analytics reporting.
Solitics, a powerful CRM tool, collects real-time data from multiple sources providing a comprehensive view of player activities. This integration enables NuxGame customers to utilize advanced tools for creating intelligent user journeys and personalized content, boosting player engagement and improving customer retention.
The collaboration with Solitics optimizes NuxGame’s platform functionality, boosting player satisfaction and driving business growth for its operator partners.
NuxGame has continued to broaden its platform capabilities recently through recent deals with Jumio and Apcopay, which have helped enhance its service as it continues to deliver a robust, scalable and comprehensive offering.
Denis Kosinsky, Chief Operating Officer at NuxGame, said: “Through our strategic partnership with Solitics, we are reshaping how our operators engage with players by utilizing live data feeds for informed decision-making and enhanced engagement strategies.
A Malaysian court has issued a gag order against a Malaysian politician and activist over his comments regarding a Bloomberg report about possible plans for a casino in Johor Bahru’s Forest City.
According to reports, the gag order means that Badrul Hisham Shaharin is restrained from commenting on the sedition case that was brought about by his comments on the Forest City piece.
This comes after a previous gag order was rejected, a move now overruled by the Johor Bahru High Court.
Badrul had been charged in April over comments on the Bloomberg report published via his Facebook account. The judge ruled that the gag order was necessary to avoid a repetition of other statements that could be deemed seditious, including statements against the country’s king. Badrul, also known as Chugubard, appeared in court for two charges of criminal defamation and sedition on April 29th, pleading not guilty. He had been arrested the previous day. He appeared again in court on April 30th.
The charges stem from comments on plans to build a casino in Forest City and revive the $100 billion project in the region.
The Malaysian Prime Minister and executives with the Berjaya and Genting Group (both named in the article) have all denied that there was a meeting to discuss the possibility of issuing a casino license for Forest City.
Genting Berhad holds the monopoly on casino gaming in the country, with the nation’s Prime Minister indicating there were no plans that monopoly is under threat.
Alice Guo, the mayor of Bamban in Tarlac, Philippines, is currently gripping the headlines in the country due to her alleged involvement in illegal activities.
The Philippines Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered proceedings to revoke “POGO Mayor” Alice Guo’s control over the local police within her jurisdiction.
According to the Philippine News Agency, Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. has ordered for the withdrawal of the mayor’s deputization, with a Philippine National Police spokesperson saying the PNP is now awaiting a formal approval of the order, to take effect immediately.
The Philippine Secretary has also recommended that the Office of the Ombudsman suspend Guo for grave misconduct and negligence, due to alleged links to offshore gaming operators (formerly known as POGOs).
The official says that the moves are aimed at preventing Guo from influencing investigations by the DILG or other government agencies.
The story of the “Pogo Mayor” has gripped the attention of the public recently, following a raid on a POGO compound in Tarlac. Guo is the mayor of Bamban, in Tarlac.
Guo has also been the subject of a Senate hearing into her alleged involvement with two illegal POGOs in region: Hongsheng Gaming Techology Incorporated and Zun Yuan Technology Incorporated.
The Senate has been investigating whether allegations that Guo could potentially be a Chinese asset, with the Philippine President, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., even weighing in on the issue over the weekend.
“There’s […] an ongoing investigation by the Senate. So let’s allow the executive side and the legislative side to do the work and continue our investigation. So far there are no definitive conclusions yet,” the President noted.
The top official was also responding to questions over photos taken with the Bamban Mayor, noting the large number of selfies he takes with individuals while on the campaign trail.
The DILG has recommended that Guo be placed on preventive suspension and a seven-person task force has been created to investigate her alleged links to illegal POGO operations in her area.
A report was submitted on May 17th to the Office of the Ombudsman, which indicate that “there are troubling findings of serious illegal acts which may have severe legal implications,” according to the DILG Secretary.
The DILG does not have the power to suspend or dismiss local officials directly.
Guo was directly elected as the first female mayor of Bamban, but questions have surfaced about her background which she appears unable to answer.
Numerous inconsistent responses to the Senate inquiry and an apparent inability to remember much of her own background have stoked concerns over Guo’s suitability for the role.
The mayor maintains that she has no involvement in the illegal POGO operations and that her links to Chinese nationals purely relate to business and her hog-raising enterprise.
The Star Entertainment Group has refuted reports that it had received a takeover bid from US-based Hard Rock, but indicates that other parties have reached out, including a local partner of the operator.
In a Monday statement, the company noted that ‘it has not received a proposal directly from Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos […] however, the company has received inbound interest from a number of other external parties regarding potential transactions including a consortium of investors which includes the entity Hard Rock Hotels & Resorts (Pacific)’.
The group notes that ‘at this stage, none of the approaches has resulted in substantive discussions’.
The group furthers that ‘the nature of the interest to date has been confidential, unsolicited, preliminary and non-binding’.
The Star is Australia’s second-largest operator and is still embroiled in the middle of remediation activities in both the state of New South Wales and Queensland – including its participation in the Bell Two Inquiry into its suitability to hold a Sydney casino license.
The group on May 17th announced that it had seen its gaming licenses for The Star Gold Coast and Treasury Brisbane casinos extended from May 31st to December 20th, to ‘allow the Queensland Government to consider the outcomes of the Second Bell Inquiry into The Star in New South Wales and better assess The Star’s remediation progress, before making further decisions’.
The extension goes beyond the already extended term of the Special Manager, appointed to oversee the Queensland properties, which will end on December 8th.
The final report for the Bell Two Inquiry is expected on July 31st.
Speculation has been rife as to whether The Star will be able to hold on to its licenses in both states – particularly in New South Wales, due to the Second Bell Inquiry, prompting questions of whether rival Crown Resorts would be interested in a possible takeover of the group’s gaming license, if that were allowed by authorities.
Speaking to AGB previously, Crown Resorts CEO Ciarán Carruthers did not indicate whether Crown now held a competitive advantage over The Star in New South Wales, as indicated by some analysts. The executive noted that the group’s success in its remediation efforts – demonstrated by being found suitable to maintain its casino license in (both Melbourne and) Sydney “helps us competitively in terms of rebuilding trust within the local community and allows us to speak more authoritatively in terms of what we’re doing as we engage with the community”.
The news of a possible takeover of The Star caused shares in the firm to soar by some 20 percent in Monday trading.
Good Morning. Problem gambling is a difficult issue. A study by the Macao Polytechnic University found that while most frontline casino employees in Macau have a clear understanding of responsible gambling, several challenges hinder their effective intervention in problematic gambling behaviors. As for the industry as a whole, in the first quarter of 2024, Sands China and Galaxy Entertainment Group controlled 41.8 percent of Macau’s total gross gaming revenue among the city’s six gaming concessionaires, down from 45.7 percent in the same period of 2023. Meanwhile, the Chairman of Genting Group, Lim Kok Thay, expressed that the company is open to pursuing an IR opportunity in the United Arab Emirates and is pondering if doing the same in Thailand.
What you need to know
Gaming employees in Macau are finding challenges in intervening to stop problematic gambling behavior, according to a study.
Sands China and Galaxy Entertainment Group controlled about 42 percent of total Macau GGR in the first quarter of 2024.
Genting’s Chairman says the group is open to IR possibilities in the UAE and Thailand, but is firmly focused on its Singapore upgrade.
While most frontline casino employees in Macau understand responsible gambling, several challenges impede their ability to effectively address problematic gambling behaviors, a study showed. These obstacles include cognitive biases, role ambiguity, fear of offending clients or making errors, and a lack of support and guidance. The study interviewed 49 casino employees from six gaming companies and found that many employees wrongly believe responsible gambling initiatives primarily target local residents and staff, excluding tourists. This misconception, along with the limited responsible gambling information available to foreign gamblers, exacerbates the issue, especially since most of Macau’s gaming revenue comes from mainland tourists.
CDNetworks, the APAC-leading network to deliver edge as a service, announced it rapidly expanded its global network of scrubbing centers in 2023, offering services with a capacity exceeding 15 Tbps, helping organizations boost availability, enhance resiliency, and secure the digital experience.
Football passion reached fever pitch in Macao as over 4,000 roaring spectators saw a glamorous Portugal Icons side beat the GBA Flying Dragon 11 – 4 in the late afternoon on 19 May in the “In Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao SAR.
SJM Five-a-side Football Friendly: Portugal Icons vs. GBA Flying Dragon,” a marquee match presented by SJM Resorts, S.A. in collaboration with the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, supported by Macao Government Tourism Office and technically supported by the Macao Football Association.
This friendly match marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the SAR and showcases SJM’s dedication to hosting top-tier international football stars, offering diverse sports tourism experiences for residents and visitors in the city.
With the Portugal Icons side featuring legendary players including Luis Figo, Tiago, Bosingwa, Maniche, Nuno Gomes, Pauleta, Hélder Postiga, and others, and a select GBA Flying Dragon team comprising players from the Greater Bay Area and the Hong Kong Star Football Team, fans were treated to a five-a-side sporting spectacle at 4:00 p.m., at the Macao East Asian Games Dome.
Nail-biting Twists and Turns during the Match
Within the first two minutes of the game, Luis Figo netted the opening goal, followed by two goals each from his teammates Pauleta and Maniche. Wong Chin Hung then scored the first goal for the GBA Flying Dragon with a powerful shot, bringing the half- time score to 5 – 1 amidst loud cheering from the entire stadium.
In the second half, the GBA Flying Dragon swiftly closed the gap, as Hu Zhijun demonstrated exceptional shooting prowess by scoring twice within a span of just 30 seconds.
Portugal Icons captain Figo executed a skillful twist in front of the goal, passing the ball to teammate Hélder Postiga for a successful assist.
The Portugal team’s offensive pressure persisted, while the GBA Flying Dragon stood firm, with goalkeeper Chan Tat Sun consistently thwarting their advances.
To enliven the atmosphere of the match, a team of dragon and lion dancers embodying Chinese traditions, an ensemble of young dancers from popular reality show Street Dance of China, and iconic Hong Kong rock band Tai Chi entertained the crowd before the game and during half-time with their dynamic performances.
Throughout the match, both sides wowed fans with fancy footwork, close control and individual brilliance, as well as some intricate teamwork that is a hallmark of the beautiful game. At the final whistle, the match ended 11 – 4 to the Portuguese Icons.
To the delight of fans across Macao and around the world, the game was also streamed live on SJM’s Facebook and YouTube. SJM also invited over 300 underprivileged students, grassroots families, disadvantaged groups and college football team members from Macao to the game to experience the vibrant football carnival atmosphere.
The eagerly anticipated event was graced by the presence of notable guests, included:
Mr. Ho Iat Seng, Chief Executive of the Macao SAR Government;
Ms. Ao Ieong U, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government;
Mr. Wan Sucheng, Director of the Department of Publicity and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR;
Mr. Gao Yuan, Counselor and Director of the Department of Information and Public Diplomacy of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR;
Mr. Manuel Ricardo da Silva, Chancellor of Consul General of Portugal in Macao and Hong Kong;
Mr. Pun Weng Kun, President of the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government;
Ms. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office; Mr. Lai Pak Leng, President of the Administrative Board of Macao Football Association
Before the match, a group of distinguished guests performed the eye-dotting ceremony to kick off the event, including Ms. Daisy Ho, Managing Director of SJM; Mr. Timothy Fok, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SJM; Ms. Angela Leong, Director of SJM; Mr. Eric Fok, Director of SJM; Ms. Maisy Ho, Director of SJM; Mr. Benjamin Toh, Chief Operating Officer of SJM; and Mr. Christopher Ip, Chief Financial Officer of SJM.
Ms. Daisy Ho, Managing Director of SJM, shared her excitement right after the event, “Football is a universal language that transcends boundaries.
This friendly match was a success on both sporting and cultural levels, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao SAR and centuries of Sino-Portuguese ties in Macao.
It is the latest in a series of events presented by SJM, who have for years been committed to supporting the Macao government’s goal of diversifying its leisure and tourism portfolio by hosting major sporting events, and to leverage on the ‘Sports + tourism’ model which has served the SAR well in enriching its tourism landscape. We are heartened by the raucous reception of our fans which goes on to show how showpiece events can serve as a platform to reinforce Macao’s burgeoning status as a ‘City of Sports’ for international visitors.”
Luis Figo, captain of the Portugal Icons was overwhelmed by the reception of the fans.
“Macao has always been a place that reminds me of home, with its deep Portuguese roots. We knew about the passion for football here, and were able to experience the electric atmosphere first-hand the moment we touched down, and with all the friendly staff and amazing fans we met in the bus tour and football clinic. We are happy to have brought joy to the fans, and would like to congratulate our wonderful opponents, the GBA Flying Dragon, who showed heart and skill in equal measure in an enjoyable game.”
His teammate Hélder Postiga echoed his sentiments, “The hospitality extended to us from Macao and SJM has been impeccable – everything from hotel reception to food is easily one of the best we have experienced. I’m impressed by Macao’s vibrant cityscape it exudes an energy and aura that set it apart from other Asian cities.”
Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng announced on Sunday that Macau’s gaming industry accounted for 36.2 percent of the Special Administrative Region’s (SAR) gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023, a figure aligning with the government’s economic diversification targets.
Speaking at a press conference following the seven-day visit of the top Beijing official overseeing Macau and Hong Kong affairs, Ho emphasized the importance of maintaining a balanced economic structure.
Ho noted that while the gaming industry’s gross added value is expected to rise in 2024, the goal is to keep its contribution below 40 percent, consistent with the 2024-2028 economic diversification blueprint unveiled last November.
The new gaming concession contracts for the next ten years came into force on January 1, 2023 and require the six operators in the SAR to significantly reinforce their focus on non-gaming elements and attracting foreign visitors.
Ho outlined the government’s strategy to attract more international tourists by intensifying efforts in developing foreign tourist markets. The plan includes promoting Macau’s unique blend of Chinese and Western cultural elements and organizing large-scale promotional activities.
Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng
The government also aims to boost non-gaming sectors such as the conference and exhibition industry, the entertainment industry, and other elements of the “tourism+” strategy.
Efforts will focus on transforming Macau into a “city of performing arts” and a “city of sports,” enhancing its reputation as a vibrant international metropolis.
Macau’s economy rebounded to 80 percent of its 2019 output last year, following a three-year pandemic-induced hiatus, with gross gaming revenue (GGR) reaching MOP183 billion ($22.9 billion).
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts a 13.9 percent GDP growth rate for Macau in 2024, with the government projecting a total GGR of MOP216 billion ($27 billion) for the year.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) announced the return of the “Mas Pinasayang Bingo Big Time Milyonaryo” linked bingo games, with a total of PHP12 million ($207,435) in prizes.
Scheduled for June 16, 2024, the event will be held at the Le Pavillon Metropolitan Park in Pasay City, offering millions in cash prizes.
A grand prize of PHP2 million ($34,572) is up for grabs in Game 10, while each of the winners from Games 1 to 9 will receive PHP1 million ($17,286), with the same value reward available in the local games.
Participants can join the excitement by purchasing a ticket for PHP3,000 ($52), which entitles them to play four cards per game across 10 games.
Interested players can register and participate either at the host site or at any of the participating Casino Filipino branches, including locations in Angeles, Bacolod, Cebu, Grand Regal, Ilocos Norte, Iloilo, Mactan, Mandaue, Olongapo, Tagaytay, Tagum, and Talisay.
The Philippines’ Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently urged regions to intensify efforts to crack down on illegal gambling, in particular, Bingo.
An academic study has uncovered that while the majority of frontline casino employees in Macau possess a clear understanding of responsible gambling, they encounter a series of challenges that hinder their ability to effectively intervene in problematic gaming behaviors.
The study, conducted by the Centre for Gaming and Tourism Studies at Macao Polytechnic University, concludes that ‘most frontline casino employees understand responsible gambling clearly, but a few employees have significant cognitive biases. Employees are generally able to identify problems but rarely proactively intervene in problem gambling behavior.’
The study also finds that ‘role ambiguity and conflict, fear of offending clients or getting themselves into trouble, fear of misidentification, and lack of support, guidance, or knowledge were the main barriers preventing staff from proactively intervening in problem gambling behavior.’
The authors of the study are Manian Wongkun and Liu Shuang, both scholars from the Centre for Gaming and Tourism Studies at Macao Polytechnic University.
Manian WongkunLiu Shuang
The study used semi-structured questions to conduct multiple rounds of interviews with 49 frontline casino employees from 6 gaming companies in Macau. The study, titled “The Perceptions and Practical Dilemmas of Responsible Gambling Faced by Frontline Casino Employees in Macao”, was published in Global Gaming & Tourism Research, an academic publication of Macao Polytechnic University.
“The study concluded that the problem of problem gambling has not been significantly reduced.”
Non-resident gamblers
The study indicates that many employees still believe that Macau’s responsible gaming plan only applies to local residents and casino employees, and does not include tourists. The majority of Macau’s gaming revenue comes from mainland tourists, followed by Hong Kong residents. It can be inferred that problematic gambling may be more common among overseas gamblers.
Although the Macau government has established a Responsible Gambling Working Group since 2009 to coordinate and promote responsible gaming policies in Macau, most promotion activities are concentrated in areas where Macau residents gather, including mobile applications and other networks. Most forms of promotion are aimed at Macau residents.
‘The responsible gambling information that foreign gamblers are exposed to may be limited to a few signs inside the casino and leaflets at responsible gambling promotion booths. Therefore, the main group of problem gamblers — Mainland gamblers — may not have received relevant information effectively, which may also have caused a bias in casino employees’ understanding of responsible gambling to a certain extent,’ it concludes.
The scholars mention that twenty years ago, when Macau first liberalized its gambling industry, the city faced a very serious problem gambling situation.
According to the University of Macau’s survey on the gambling behavior of Macau residents (University of Macau Gambling Research Institute, 2003, 2007, 2022), the prevalence of problem gambling among Macau residents increased from 4.28 percent in 2003 to 6.01 percent in 2007, and then declined year by year. However, ‘few studies have specifically analyzed problem gambling among non-resident gamblers in Macau.’
Through on-site observations of frontline employees in Macau casinos, ‘the study concluded that the problem of problem gambling has not been significantly reduced, whether from the perspective of gamblers as a whole or as a group of non-resident gamblers. If not handled properly, the problem could jeopardize the long-term viability of Macau’s gaming industry.’
“Macau can also learn from foreign practices and impose legislative requirements on the industry.”
Macau needs to learn from others
The study suggests that Macau should learn from others, including training for casino employees, as well as legislation.
It notes that some foreign gambling jurisdictions, such as Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and some Swiss states, have legislation requiring the industry to develop corresponding policies, training, and strategies to identify people who may encounter gambling difficulties and provide appropriate assistance.
Therefore, ‘Macau can also learn from foreign practices and impose legislative requirements on the industry. The content of the legislation, implementation standards, clear responsibilities of all parties, and whether casino employees can appropriately intervene with problem gamblers. If not, how to implement it requires extensive and in-depth discussion.’
In this context, gaming scholars believe that continuing to increase responsible gambling training for casino employees, clarifying the intervention responsibilities and scope of relevant parties, and strengthening responsible gambling education for gamblers, especially non-resident gamblers, will help improve Macau’s responsible gambling practices.
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