Former Macau Secretary for Economy and Finance Tai Kin Ip has been appointed as a member of the Macau International Airport Company’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee, according to an executive order published in the Official Gazette on Wednesday.
Tai resigned on April 16th for ‘personal reasons’, just 16 months after taking office, and was later formally removed from the post by the State Council.
No successor has yet been appointed to the role of Secretary for Economy and Finance, which oversees Macau’s gaming industry through the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ).
The appointment was part of a broader reshuffle of the airport operator’s governing bodies.
The Macau International Airport Company also named former Legislative Assembly vice president Chui Sai Cheong as chairman of the Board of Directors, succeeding Ma Iao Hang.
Zhang Yun replaced Simon Chan as chairman of the company’s Executive Committee, although Chan remains a committee member. Pun Weng Kun, the former Sports Bureau president who coordinated Macau’s participation in the 15th National Games, has also joined the Executive Committee.
Macau’s Transport Bureau has launched a public tender for 14 ordinary taxi operation licenses, each valid for eight years and covering up to 700 vehicles in total, according to a notice published in the Official Gazette.
The bureau will accept bids until 5 p.m. on July 8th.
The government said the tender responds to the gradual expiry of fixed-term taxi licenses and continued public demand for taxi services. It is being conducted under Macau’s legal regime for light passenger transport vehicles and the administrative regulation governing public tender procedures for such licenses.
Each successful company may apply to operate up to 50 taxis under its license, bringing the combined fleet covered by the tender to 700 ordinary cabs.
Only companies registered in Macau and engaged solely in taxi passenger operations are eligible to bid. Each company may compete for one license only, and no bidder may hold more than 300 taxi permits.
The tender is the main component of a wider taxi fleet expansion outlined by the government in late 2025. Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raymond Tam said at the time that Macau would add 800 taxis to its existing fleet of more than 1,400, raising the total to over 2,000. Of those, 100 were to be deployed in the short term, while the remaining 700 would be awarded through the tender now under way.
The plan also comes as the government moves to establish a legal framework for ride-hailing services. Authorities have said they will amend the taxi law to provide a legal basis for such services, presenting them as a way to supplement existing transport capacity as Macau faces rising demand from mainland Chinese visitors.
People Inc.’s proposed takeover of MGM Resorts International is expected to have limited immediate operational impact on MGM China, but the deal’s funding structure has emerged as a key uncertainty, according to CreditSights, a credit research firm under Fitch Group.
The main issue is whether the transaction will rely heavily on debt, which could pressure MGM Resorts’ credit metrics and increase downgrade risk. That, in turn, could affect MGM China’s dollar bonds and revolving credit facility, both of which include change-of-control provisions.
MGM Resorts said on June 1st that it had received a takeover bid from People Inc., formerly IAC, which currently owns 26.1 percent of the US casino operator. The offer is priced at $48.30 per share and would increase People Inc.’s ownership of MGM Resorts to just over 50.1 percent.
CreditSights said People Inc. expects to fund the transaction through a combination of cash and additional debt and equity funding commitments. However, MGM Resorts has not disclosed how much debt would be used or provided a possible timetable for the transaction.
CreditSights analysts Nicholas Chen and David Bussey said the lack of detail on debt funding is the more relevant concern. ‘We think the former is more pertinent,’ they wrote, referring to the amount of acquisition debt. They said a largely debt-funded acquisition would likely stretch MGM Resorts’ credit metrics and could create rating downgrade pressure, although the limited transaction details make it difficult to assess the likelihood of a downgrade at this stage.
For MGM China, CreditSights said the direct operational impact should remain limited for now, as any incremental debt would likely be raised at the MGM Resorts level. However, MGM China’s dollar bonds differ from MGM Resorts’ dollar bonds because they include change-of-control protection.
Under the bond terms cited by CreditSights, a change-of-control event would require two conditions: a change in control and a ratings event. The ratings event would occur if Moody’s, S&P or Fitch downgraded MGM China by one notch or withdrew its rating.
CreditSights said People Inc.’s acquisition of more than 50 percent of MGM Resorts’ voting power would likely indirectly make it a beneficial owner of MGM China, given MGM Resorts’ 56 percent stake in the Macau operator. If this were combined with a ratings downgrade or withdrawal, it could trigger a $101 put for MGM China bondholders.
MGM Cotai, MGM China, Macau
MGM China’s revolving credit facility could also be affected. CreditSights said the company had about $663.3 million outstanding under the facility, which has a total size of HK$23.4 billion ($3 billion). If MGM Resorts ceases to directly or indirectly own more than 50 percent of MGM China, the outstanding loan amount would become immediately due and payable, while the entire facility would be canceled.
The report also noted that MGM China recently refinanced its $750 million 5.875 percent May 2026 bond with a new $750 million 6.25 percent May 2033 bond. As of March 31st, 2026, MGM China had about $918 million in unrestricted cash and about $2.7 billion in total debt, including $2 billion in dollar bonds and $663 million under the revolving credit facility.
CreditSights said MGM China’s liquidity would be insufficient to service the full debt stack, meaning People Inc. would need to put in place a refinancing plan, through debt or other means, to address MGM China’s obligations. The firm maintained its ‘Outperform’ recommendation on MGM China.
Good morning. The plot thickens. People Inc.’s proposed MGM takeover has cracked open a bigger question: what happens to MGM China and Osaka if Barry Diller’s group takes control? Analysts say both assets could come under review, with Seaport pointing to MGM China and the Osaka project as potential divestment candidates, while CBRE sees the bid as likely to move forward, possibly at a higher price. Meanwhile, International Entertainment closed its second $102 million tranche of DigiPlus convertible notes, a deal that could eventually hand DigiPlus a 53.89 percent stake. And in South Korea, Paradise Co.’s casino sales jumped 21.2 percent in May to $65.2 million.
Media group People Incorporated, led by Barry Diller, has launched an $18 billion bid to take MGM Resorts International private, offering $48.30 per share for the stock it does not already own and seeking control of the company. People said the offer reflects its view that MGM’s assets and digital growth prospects remain undervalued. MGM said its board would review the bid but cautioned there was no assurance it would lead to an agreement.
Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech, explores how surging crypto adoption across Asia is revolutionizing iGaming payments, stating: “When I look at what’s changing fastest in Asia, it’s payment behavior,” as wallets, stablecoins, and seamless cross-border transfers become deeply ingrained in player habits. The winning operators will be those that offer fast, reliable, and local deposits and withdrawals. To make sense of it, Yevhen breaks Asia into two crypto realities.
Illegal offshore gambling operators are increasingly using social media platforms to target young people in Hong Kong, with lawmakers and support groups warning that deceptive online advertising campaigns are pushing vulnerable users into severe gambling debt.
The warnings come as the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, with illegal betting networks expected to increase promotional activity targeting football fans across Asia. According to sources familiar with illicit gambling operations, offshore syndicates are exploiting major social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, through short-lived advertising campaigns designed to bypass moderation systems.
The strategy, known as “flash advertising”, involves creating temporary accounts that promote gambling products disguised as investment advice, lifestyle content, health information, or free entertainment offers. Once detected, the accounts are shut down and replaced with new ones. The operators, many of which are reportedly based in Southeast Asian countries including Cambodia and the Philippines, use sign-up bonuses, free credit offers, and other incentives to attract younger users before drawing them into continued gambling activity.
Local reports highlighted several cases of young Hong Kong residents accumulating significant debts through illegal betting platforms. One family said their son, who is in his early twenties, built up debts through illegal baccarat, football, and horse racing betting, eventually forcing his parents to use their savings to cover repayments. After repeated borrowing from finance companies and harassment from debt collectors, the family said bankruptcy became the only option.
Another case involved a 29-year-old man who accumulated HK$3 million ($385,500) in gambling-related debt through illegal basketball betting. The man reportedly shifted from football wagering to NBA betting because live matches were broadcast during convenient morning hours in Hong Kong. His gambling escalated into losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars per session before he sought professional counseling and applied for bankruptcy protection.
The spread of illegal gambling advertising has also reached university campuses, where students searching for free sports streams are frequently exposed to embedded betting promotions. Students have reported classmates suffering financial and mental stress after becoming involved with illegal platforms, with some forced to take on additional part-time work to repay gambling-related debts.
Social service organizations have also reported a sharp increase in gambling-related problems among younger users. The Sunshine Lutheran Center said requests for assistance from people under the age of 30 had risen by around 10 percent compared with pre-pandemic levels. The organization said online gambling cases among young help-seekers had increased significantly, rising from 6 percent in 2019 to 49 percent.
Support workers said gambling syndicates continue to adapt their marketing strategies, using social media and messaging platforms to distribute promotions, betting rebates, and incentives aimed at retaining players. The rise in online gambling content has prompted calls for stronger regulation of digital platforms and influencers.
Hong Kong lawmaker Nixie Lam Lam has urged authorities to increase scrutiny of influencers promoting illegal gambling through content presented as gaming, investment advice, or entertainment.
Meanwhile, lawmaker Duncan Chiu Tat-kun has pointed to gaps in Hong Kong’s legal framework regarding platform responsibility, suggesting that authorities consider stronger cybersecurity and digital content rules similar to approaches adopted in mainland China and the United Kingdom. Meta has said its Community Standards and Advertising Standards prohibit unauthorized gambling promotions and that violating content is removed when detected.
The company has also responded to previous reports regarding revenue from non-compliant advertising, stating that internal estimates cited publicly were broad preliminary assessments rather than confirmed figures, and that later reviews found many flagged advertisements did not breach its policies.
Meta said it continues to invest in fraud prevention, advertising review systems, and cooperation with external stakeholders to combat illegal gambling and scam-related activity.
Everi has announced the latest rollout of its Vi® mobile gaming solution at Prairie Band Casino & Resort, strengthening its footprint in the U.S. market.
The Everi Vi platform is delivered through Everi BeOn™ mobile services and combines Everi Digital games, CashClub Wallet® technology, the Everi Compliance Anti-Money Laundering (AML) solution, and Trilogy™ loyalty platform in one seamless experience.
Backed by proven omnichannel content, Everi’s Vi extends gaming beyond the casino floor, enabling play across Prairie Band Casino & Resort, from hotel rooms and the RV park to pools and conference spaces. As a result, Vi stands out as the only turnkey Class II on‑property mobile gaming solution on the market.
Hector Fernandez
Commenting on the launch, Hector Fernandez, IGT CEO, shared: “Deploying Everi Vi with Prairie Band Casino & Resort reflects our continued focus on delivering differentiated Class II gaming experiences that entertain unique player audiences with compelling content and technology to enhance the integrated resort experience. By combining mobile gaming, payments, loyalty, and compliance in a single solution, Everi Vi delivers a seamless on-property mobile experience unlike anything else available in the Class II market.”
With built-in mobile enrolment, Vi integrates smoothly into existing casino systems and drives additional engagement via loyalty programmes and, where available, self-service kiosks for funding, rewards, and promotions.
“The launch of Prairie Band Mobile Casino is a testament to our team’s dedication and forward-thinking approach to gaming technology,” added Chris Garrow, Director of Gaming at Prairie Band Casino & Resort. “We put an incredible amount of hard work into implementing Everi Vi to deliver this modern experience. This mobile solution allows us to look ahead and expand entertainment beyond the traditional tribal casino floor to our entire resort, providing an innovative avenue to elevate the guest experience and drive revenue property-wide.”
Players can now download the Prairie Band Mobile Casino app on the Apple App Store and Google Play, giving them access to 30 popular Everi Class II titles, including Cash Machine Jackpots™, Atomic Meltdown™, and innovative non‑reel experiences like Lightning Zap™.
MGM Resorts International could eventually sell its 56 percent stake in MGM China and its interest in the MGM Osaka project in Japan if People Inc.’s proposed takeover of the US casino operator is completed, according to analyst reports following the non-binding offer.
People Inc., formerly IAC, has proposed acquiring the MGM shares it does not already own for $48.30 per share in cash. The company is MGM’s largest shareholder, with a 26.1 percent stake, and expects to own just over 50.1 percent of MGM after the transaction, with the remainder held by minority investors.
Seaport Research Partners said the bid appears genuine but may be too low at the current price. MGM closed at $50.69 after the proposal, 4.9 percent above the offer, suggesting investors expect a higher price. Seaport said ‘the bid price seems low’ when considering MGM China, the Osaka project and MGM’s 50 percent interest in BetMGM.
CBRE Equity Research took a more constructive view on deal completion, saying it believes the take-private transaction ‘will get done,’ potentially at a ‘slightly higher price’ than the initial proposal. CBRE downgraded MGM to Hold and raised its price target to $50 from $49.
MGM Cotai, MGM China, Macau
MGM China’s future becomes central
MGM China is likely to become one of the most closely watched assets if People Inc. gains control of MGM Resorts. Seaport said MGM China and the Japan project would be the two most prominent ‘non-core’ assets under a People-owned MGM, as Barry Diller could seek to reduce MGM’s global bricks-and-mortar footprint and focus more on digital gaming.
CBRE estimated MGM’s stake in MGM China at $3.3 billion, with the Macau business contributing about $316 million in annual cash flow, including $201 million in dividends and $115 million in management fees. It said People could, over time, divest all or part of the MGM China stake to help finance the proposed acquisition, fund the Osaka equity commitment, or return equity to minority partners.
Pansy Ho, chairperson of MGM China
Seaport described Pansy Ho, chairperson of MGM China and holder of more than 24 percent of the company, as ‘the natural buyer’ for the Macau stake. However, the firm said she would likely need partners to acquire MGM’s 56 percent holding. One possible structure would allow Ho and partners to build a 50.1 percent stake while maintaining MGM China’s Hong Kong listing and leaving a 49.9 percent public float.
If MGM China were sold outright, Seaport said Galaxy Entertainment Group and Sands China are the only existing Macau concessionaires with the financial capacity to buy the company. Galaxy could be more likely to receive approval because it is a local operator with ample liquidity and a need for additional tables. Sands China also has the balance sheet capacity, but Seaport said an acquisition by Sands could be more problematic for the government because it would further increase the operator’s scale in Macau.
A sale to a third-party buyer is also possible, but Seaport said any buyer would likely need to be Chinese or a friendly Asian investor approved by the Macau and Chinese governments. The 2032 concession renewal was identified as a major hurdle for any new buyer.
Seaport also upgraded MGM China to Buy from Neutral, with a price target of HK$14.30 ($1.83). The firm said MGM China has retained market share in the high 15 percent to low 16 percent range and is expected to deliver a strong second quarter.
MGM Osaka IR project render
Osaka stake also under review
MGM’s Japan exposure could also come under review in a successful People Inc. takeover. Seaport said MGM could likely find a buyer for its 42.5 percent stake in the Osaka integrated resort project, although it noted that contractual details around replacing MGM as developer remain unclear.
The firm identified Las Vegas Sands, Galaxy and Hard Rock as potential buyers with the capital and development experience to suit the government and MGM’s Japan partner. Wynn Resorts, Genting and Melco Resorts & Entertainment could also be interested, but Seaport noted each faces liquidity constraints or commitments to other projects. It also said current China-Japan political tensions could limit appetite from Chinese investors.
CBRE Credit Research said MGM’s funding structure remains an important consideration, with ‘material unknowns’ including whether the offer will be accepted, whether higher bids emerge and what the financing package will look like. It also noted that MGM’s Japan capex will be nearly $400 million in 2026 and almost $1 billion annually in 2027 and 2028, before potential offsets such as non-core asset sales or higher dividends from MGM China.
For Macau, Seaport said a sale to an existing concessionaire could bring ‘some rationalization of competitive behavior,’ including lower promotional activity, player reinvestment and commissions. Such consolidation, it said, would be positive for the broader Macau market and all operators.
Tech Race Summit, organized by SOFTSWISS, has announced former Google leader Andrey Doronichev as the first keynote speaker for its debut event in Warsaw on 10 September 2026.
The ex‑Google leader and Optic founder will join a cross-industry conference tackling how major tech companies are preparing for the next wave of change in AI, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and digital product development—and what lies ahead for the IT industry.
Doronichev spent more than a decade at Google, where he helped build products used by billions of people worldwide. He played a key role in the growth of YouTube Mobile and later led virtual reality initiatives, including Google Cardboard and Daydream. Today, he is the founder of Optic, an AI company focused on drug discovery and the use of large-scale computing in pharmaceutical research.
At Tech Race Summit, Doronichev will deliver a keynote session focused on how AI is changing industries and work. His participation reflects the summit’s aim to bring leaders into open discussions about the technical and business decisions influenced by AI adoption.
Sergey Kastukevich, Chief Technology Officer at SOFTSWISS, shared: “Tech Race Summit was created to bring together people solving difficult technology problems and to explore what the future of technology holds. Andrey Doronichev has worked on products used daily by billions of people and has seen several major shifts in consumer technology from inside the industry. His perspective fits the kind of practical and forward-looking conversations we want this event to create.”
Tech Race Summit is organized by SOFTSWISS and gathers engineers, technology executives, infrastructure specialists, and product teams to discuss how companies respond to growing technical complexity, cybersecurity challenges, and the rapid adoption of AI across business operations and consumer products.
The event will feature three conference stages:
Vision Track – keynotes and discussions about AI, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and technology strategy.
Solution Track – technical sessions and case studies from engineers and architects working on modern digital systems.
The organisers expect around 1,000 attendees from across the technology and business sectors. The programme already includes speakers and contributors from companies such as AWS, Oracle, Cloudflare, Google, Fastly, Gcore, ScyllaDB and others.
Tech Race Summit will take place in Warsaw on 10 September 2026. Early bird tickets are available now through the event website.
Zitro Digital, the online division of Zitro, continues to strengthen its presence in Brazil through a new partnership with Brazino777, one of the country’s most prominent online operators.
Brazino777 players now have access to Zitro Digital’s full portfolio, spanning slots and Video Bingo titles that combine the company’s proven land-based heritage with content developed exclusively for the digital space.
“At Brazino777, we are focused on delivering high-quality, top-performing games to our players,” shared Andre Medeiros, country manager for Brazil at Brazino777. “Zitro Digital’s portfolio strengthens our offering, and we’re confident it will resonate strongly with our Brazilian audience as we continue to grow and evolve our platform.”
José Javier Martí, CCO at Zitro Digital, added: “Brazil is an important market for us, one where we see a strong connection with players and the local gaming culture. Launching our portfolio with Brazino777 gives us the opportunity to bring our content to a new segment of players, as part of our continued growth in the Latin American digital gaming scene.”
With this agreement, Zitro Digital continues to strengthen its operator network in Brazil — a market where the company has long-standing roots — reaffirming its long-term commitment to both the region and its players.
International Entertainment Corporation completed the second tranche of its convertible notes subscription agreement on June 2nd, issuing HK$800 million ($102 million) in notes to DigiPlus Interactive Corp., according to a Hong Kong Stock Exchange filing.
The company said all conditions precedent for the second completion had been fulfilled. The issuance marks the second HK$800 million ($102 million) tranche under a broader HK$1.6 billion ($204.1 million) convertible notes agreement reached on November 17th, 2025. The first tranche was completed on March 3rd, 2026.
International Entertainment said all net proceeds raised from the first subscription had been used to fully repay promissory notes and secured bank borrowing.
After deducting related costs and expenses of about HK$2 million ($255,000), net proceeds from the two tranches were previously estimated at about HK$1.59 billion ($202.8 million).
The convertible notes carry an initial conversion price of HK$1.00 per share. The company said DigiPlus has not exercised its rights to convert the first subscription notes since their issuance on March 3rd.
If all notes are converted at the initial conversion price, DigiPlus would hold 1.6 billion shares, representing about 53.89 percent of International Entertainment’s enlarged issued share capital. The company currently has 1,369,157,235 shares in issue, which would rise to 2,969,157,235 shares upon full conversion.
Under that scenario, the stake held by Excite Opportunity Fund L.P. — in which International Entertainment chairman, chief executive and executive director Ho Wong Meng is deemed interested — would decline from 18.99 percent to 8.76 percent.
Eriska Investment Fund Ltd.’s holding would fall from 9.63 percent to 4.44 percent, while the stake held by other public shareholders would decline from 71.38 percent to 32.91 percent.
