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Goa finalizes long-awaited rules to tighten control over casinos

Viviana Chan
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Goa finalizes long-awaited rules to tighten control over casinos

The Goa government has approved a new set of regulations designed to significantly strengthen oversight of the state’s casino industry, addressing long-standing gaps in monitoring and enforcement.

According to local media outlet Times of India, the Goa Public Gambling Rules were cleared by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday and will now undergo final vetting by the law department before undergoing formal notification later this month.

Under the new framework, the Gaming Commissioner will assume control over the issuance of entry tickets, a function previously managed by casino operators. The commissioner will maintain daily records of visitor entries, allowing authorities to verify the exact number of patrons entering casinos each day and providing a transparent audit trail for the first time.

The rules also grant the commissioner sweeping powers to enforce compliance, including the authority to order the closure of a casino, seal operations within a five-star hotel, or take custody of a casino vessel in the event of violations. Penalties for non-compliance can reach as high as INR7.5 million ($81,315).

Currently, authorities have no mechanism to verify the profiles of casino patrons or trace the source of their funds, raising concerns about money laundering. There is also no system to monitor how much money visitors spend inside the establishments. Once enacted, the rules will empower the state’s Gaming Commissioner—a position created in 2020 but previously lacking operational authority—to implement strict daily supervision of both onshore and offshore casinos.

The regulatory overhaul comes amid mounting pressure from residents and activist groups in Panaji, who have staged public protests against the expansion of offshore casinos. Protesters cite environmental damage to the Mandovi River, rising addiction rates, and the transformation of the state into a “sin city” as primary concerns.

In addition to public pressure, the regulations aim to address significant financial non-compliance, as eight casinos currently owe the government over INR3.14 billion ($34.4 million) in outstanding dues, with some arrears dating back to 2018. By making the Gaming Commissioner fully functional, the government hopes to introduce transparency and accountability to an industry that operates around 12 onshore and six offshore casinos in the state.

GKL February casino sales rise 17.3% year-on-year to $25.8M

Viviana Chan
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GKL February casino sales rise 17.3% year-on-year to $25.8M

Grand Korea Leisure Co. (GKL), a Korea Tourism Organization subsidiary, reported a 17.3 percent year-on-year increase in casino sales for February, driven by robust growth in both table and machine game revenue.

According to the company’s latest financial disclosure, total casino sales for the month reached KRW38.08 billion ($25.8 million), up from KRW32.46 billion ($22 million) in the same period last year. The February performance also represents a 4 percent sequential increase from January’s KRW36.60 billion ($24.8 million).

Table games, which account for the majority of GKL’s casino revenue, generated KRW34.75 billion ($23.6 million) in February, marking a 15.9 percent increase from KRW29.99 billion ($20.3 million) a year earlier.

Month-on-month, table game sales grew 5 percent from January’s KRW33.08 billion ($22.4 million), despite February having three fewer days than the previous month.

Gaming machine sales showed even stronger year-on-year momentum, rising 35 percent to KRW3.32 billion ($2.3 million) from KRW2.46 billion ($1.7 million) in February 2025. However, this segment experienced a 5.4 percent decline compared to the previous month.

On a cumulative basis, GKL’s total casino sales for the first two months of the year reached KRW74.67 billion ($50.6 million), an 11.8 percent increase from KRW66.80 billion ($45.3 million) during the same period last year. 

Cumulative table game sales rose 10.5 percent to KRW67.84 billion ($46.0 million), while gaming machine revenue jumped 26.8 percent to KRW6.84 billion ($4.6 million).

GKL operates foreigner-only casinos in South Korea under the Seven Luck brand and is regarded as a key beneficiary of the rebound in inbound tourism.

YOHO Group invests $3.7M for food court at former Greek Mythology Casino site: report

Viviana Chan
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YOHO Group invests $3.7M for food court at former Greek Mythology Casino site: report

YOHO Group will invest at least MOP30 million ($3.71 million) to develop a food court at the former Greek Mythology Casino site in Taipa. The project forms part of the overhaul of the long-shuttered New Century Hotel, now rebranded as the YOHO Gold Coast Hotel.

Trial operations are slated to begin in the third quarter of this year. The integrated development will feature two hotels with approximately 700 five-star rooms and 240 additional rooms. The property is located next to Melco’s Altira Hotel and casino.

According to a report from Macau Business, the food court—branded as a Macau-specialty dining hub—will comprise 17 stalls, nearly 260 indoor seats, and about 50 outdoor seats. 

YOHO will allocate stalls through a public tender/competition open to Macau residents, with priority given to first-time entrepreneurs and local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

“This site was once a landmark in Macau’s illustrious history of gaming and tourism”, YOHO stated. “We are determined to create not just a dining venue, but a social hub that fosters creativity and community bonds.”

Winners will receive design and fit-out subsidies covering 25 to 100 percent of costs, plus one year of rent-free tenancy. Applications open this Friday and will run through the end of the month.

The property opened in 1992 as the New Century Hotel with around 500 rooms. It was rebranded as the Beijing Imperial Palace Hotel in 2013 before closing in 2016 amid ownership disputes. YOHO began renovations last year.

YOHO Group is an operator of the YOHO Treasure Island Resorts World Hotel, across from Wynn Macau on the Peninsula, and the YOHO Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Taipa, located next to the former Macau Jockey Club.

PAGCOR sets March 29th launch for nationwide bingo event

AGBrief Editorial
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PAGCOR sets March 29th launch for nationwide bingo event

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) will host its nationwide linked bingo event on March 29th, offering a total of PHP2.9 million ($51,785) in tax-free prizes. 

PAGCOR

The PHP1K for PHP2M Nationwide Linked Bingo Games will be hosted by Casino Filipino Angeles and played simultaneously at participating Casino Filipino sites across the country.

Players from Luzon to Mindanao will be linked through venues in Bacolod, Cebu, Fuente, Grand Regal, Ilocos Norte, Iloilo, Mactan, Olongapo, and Tagaytay.

Each PHP1,000 ($17.86 USD) ticket provides four bingo cards valid for 10 games. The first nine games feature PHP100,000 ($1,785) prizes each. The final round guarantees a PHP2 million ($35,714) “must-go” jackpot. By electronically linking multiple Casino Filipino branches, the corporation pools resources to create larger prize pools than single venues could offer alone.

PAGCOR’s linked bingo history dates back to at least 2012. Recent iterations have included the “Good Vibes on Five” event in 2023 and the “Big Time Bingo Milyonaryo” series in late 2025.

Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: Sportradar sees record FY25 revenue of $1.5B

AGBrief Editorial
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Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: Sportradar sees record FY25 revenue of $1.5B
Good Morning. For the love of the game. Sports technology firm Sportradar saw record revenue in FY25, reaching $1.5 billion, as its fourth quarter results bolstered an already-strong year. Betting tech and solutions 4Q25 revenue was up by nearly a quarter as betting and gaming content increased nearly 30 percent, boosting expectations for this year’s revenue to reach up to $1.58 billion. Looking to Macau, Galaxy’s success story is far from over, with analysts highlighting its strong liquidity as a solid footing for increased earnings throughout this and next year.

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RESULTS

Sportradar

Sportradar achieves record $1.5B in FY25 revenue

Sports technology group Sportradar saw record revenue in FY25, reaching $1.5 billion. The yearly results were bolstered by the fourth quarter, with its Betting Technology & Solutions revenue up 24 percent yearly to $354 million in 4Q25. Betting & Gaming Content 4Q25 revenue was up by 29 percent yearly to $287 million, improved by its recent acquisition of IMG Arena. The group is expecting further growth this year, forecasting revenue can reach up to $1.58 billion.

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Zitro secures Eilers & Krejcik Gaming’s LATAM Top-Performing Game Award for a third straight year

AGBrief Editorial
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Zitro secures Eilers & Krejcik Gaming’s LATAM Top-Performing Game Award for a third straight year

Zitro has announced that it has once again been recognized with the Eilers & Krejcik Gaming (EKG) Award for Top-Performing Game in Latin America, marking the third consecutive year the company has been honored with the distinction. This year’s accolade was awarded to the King Fu Frog game.

PAGCOR

The award also highlights the company’s strong, sustained performance in the region, as consistently reflected in Eilers & Krejcik – Fantini monthly reports, where it is always at the top of the many category rankings within the year.

“We are truly honored to receive this recognition for the third year in a row,” said Alejandra Burato, Zitro’s Regional Director for Latin America. “It reflects the dedication and hard work of the entire Zitro team, and we are sincerely grateful to our Latin American clients for their continued trust and support. With new titles on the horizon, we look forward to many more years of creating games that truly resonate across the region.”

PH central bank increases cash withdrawal limit before increased due diligence to $17K

Kelsey Wilhelm
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PH central bank increases cash withdrawal limit before increased due diligence to $17K

The Philippines’ central bank has raised the cash withdrawal threshold that triggers enhanced due diligence from PHP500,000 ($8,560) to PHP1 million ($17,120).

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas indicated on Tuesday that a circular from February 27th was aimed at focusing efforts on high-risk activity rather than legitimate and recurring transactions.

“The increase follows consultations with banks and industries, which showed a large number of legitimate cash transactions above the original threshold. These covered payouts, such as payroll, loans, and project-based disbursements,” indicated the BSP, according to the Philippine News Agency.

The initial PHP500K limit was set in the wake of the flooding control projects scandal in September of last year, with the new limit allowing withdrawals of up to PHP1 million without enhanced due diligence.

The measure only applies to cash, with ‘no threshold for non-cash withdrawals’.

The authority notes that financial institutions supervised by the BSP may still impose lower thresholds on reporting based on their own risk assessments. The enhanced due diligence will be applied on a per customer basis for clients with regular large transactions, rather than on a per-transaction basis.

SOFTSWISS launches Casino and Betting Terms Glossary 

AGBrief Editorial
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SOFTSWISS launches Casino and Betting Terms Glossary 

SOFTSWISS has unveiled its Casino and Betting Terms Glossary, a new industry resource that simplifies complex terminology and empowers professionals to navigate iGaming with greater confidence.

The SOFTSWISS Casino and Betting Terms Glossary includes over 35 iGaming definitions, with core formulas for fundamental metrics, such as Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR), Click-Through Rate (CTR), Most Valuable Guest (MVG), and others. The glossary is clearly structured, allowing users to easily understand the mechanics behind the numbers.

In addition to this new glossary, the SOFTSWISS iGaming Glossary is already available, and it offers in-depth guides and practical insights into the fundamentals of online gambling. It brings transparency to industry processes by answering the most common questions, such as:

  • How do sports betting odds work?
  • What is the role of gamification in player retention?
  • What are the essential legal frameworks for Sweepstakes Casinos?

These resources are curated to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.

“As a full-scale partner with strong industry expertise, we recognise that market insight is a vital asset at every stage of business growth. That’s why we focus on creating targeted materials to support our partners from initial launch to the most advanced operational stages. The iGaming Glossary is designed to align professional terminology and empower industry players to turn ambitions into measurable success,” said Alexandra Kavelich, Deputy CMO at SOFTSWISS

Together, the SOFTSWISS Casino and Betting Terms Glossary and the SOFTSWISS iGaming Glossary provide a solid foundation for professionals entering or advancing in iGaming.

Building on this commitment to industry knowledge, SOFTSWISS has also published the Sportsbook KPI Guide for Smarter Betting Analytics. The company continues to strengthen its commitment to industry-wide analytics by delivering deeper insights and results-oriented resources.

By offering these high-value resources, SOFTSWISS empowers industry newcomers and experienced professionals to develop their expertise through actionable use cases and core business insights. 

Hub88 partners with LuckyDraw to enhance player experience and loyalty capabilities

AGBrief Editorial
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Hub88 partners with LuckyDraw to enhance player experience and loyalty capabilities

Hub88 has partnered with LuckyDraw, a provider of an innovative prize draw player engagement and retention gamification platform that leverages proven reward psychology, to improve player loyalty and increase lifetime value.

The collaboration enables Hub88’s extensive operator network to integrate LuckyDraw’s technology with their existing offerings to feature highly customisable and engaging prize draws, including raffles, scratch cards and instant win games. The integration with LuckyDraw offers Hub88 an entirely new channel to drive increased player engagement and retention.

Launched in early 2026, LuckyDraw’s platform is designed to seamlessly integrate into existing operator environments, ensuring a fully branded, native experience. By enabling operators to host interactive raffles and instant win games, the provider can offer an enhanced customer experience that drives higher brand loyalty.

The integration of LuckyDraw’s dynamic gamification tools, which comes at a time when prize draws continue to grow in popularity with players, represents a unique opportunity for Hub88’s operators to diversify their engagement and retention strategy, while optimising bonusing and players’ monetization.

Ollie Castleman, Managing Director of Hub88, said: “Over the past year, we’ve heavily invested in jackpots, bonusing, and loyalty solutions across our platform. LuckyDraw’s fully branded raffles, instant wins, and scratch games are a valuable addition to this, helping operators engage their players in new and compelling ways, all while increasing lifetime value and strengthening brand loyalty.”

This partnership enhances Hub88’s top-rated offering, aligning with the aggregator’s commitment to providing innovative, quality solutions that drive quantifiable results and improved returns.

Yaniv Spielberg, CEO and co-founder at LuckyDraw, added: “With our many years of experience as online gaming operators, we have a deep understanding of how to enhance the player experience to generate higher engagement and loyalty for operators. As a leading online gaming aggregator, we are excited to partner with Hub88 to bring our prize draw experiences to wider audiences while helping their operators offer something truly unique in the industry that increases engagement, retention, acquisition, brand loyalty and lifetime value.”

Play’n GO reports record‑setting rollout of Book of Dead GO Collect

AGBrief Editorial
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Play’n GO reports record‑setting rollout of Book of Dead GO Collect

Play’n GO said that its latest release Book of Dead GO Collect has delivered record performance across players, bets, and GGR in regulated markets worldwide.

The title was released on 26 February and is an evolution of the iconic Book of Dead franchise – widely regarded as the world’s most iconic and influential online slot.

This standout success of Book of Dead GO Collect underscores the enduring strength of both the Rich Wilde universe and the industry‑leading craftsmanship that defines Play’n GO games.

The performance of Book of Dead GO Collect reinforces Play’n GO’s position as the leading supplier of entertainment‑driven iGaming content and is now available with operators worldwide.

Ebba Arnred, Chief Marketing Officer of Play’n GO, said: “Ten years after Rich Wilde first stepped into the tomb, Book of Dead still commands the biggest stage in regulated markets — and GO Collect proves why. This launch didn’t just break records; it showed that truly great IP doesn’t age, it evolves. When you pair world‑leading game innovation with a franchise players already love, you get this level of unstoppable commercial momentum.”

More than a decade after Rich Wilde first appeared, player appetite for the Dead series remains unmatched. Which is a testament to both the franchise’s cultural relevance and Play’n GO’s continued ability to evolve beloved IP without losing what makes it special.

The launch was supported by one of Play’n GO’s most ambitious marketing efforts to date. Months of pre‑release excitement were driven by:

  • Comic‑book‑style artwork inspired by the franchise’s adventurous tone;
  • A never‑before‑seen Sand Art installation, creating a striking physical centrepiece for the campaign;
  • A limited‑edition Rich Wilde brickbuild figurine, produced as a collectible tribute to the franchise’s 10‑year legacy.

As the industry becomes more competitive, these results highlight the company’s ability to consistently deliver games that resonate with players at scale, combining narrative depth, instantly recognisable characters, and mechanics that stand the test of time.

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