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Macau GDP recovery gains pace with 10% growth in 1Q26: think tank

Viviana Chan
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Macau GDP recovery gains pace with 10% growth in 1Q26: think tank

Macau’s gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to have risen about 10 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026 to roughly MOP108 billion ($13.38 billion), supported by strong performance in the gaming and tourism sectors, according to estimates by the Macau Economics Association (MEA).

The association said the city’s economic recovery continued to gain traction at the start of the year, with overall output reaching around 93 percent of pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019. Based on its statistical modeling, the MEA estimated a GDP range of MOP105 billion ($13.01 billion) to MOP112 billion ($13.88 billion) for the quarter, with growth between 8 percent and 12 percent.

Gaming remained a key driver. Gross gaming revenue (GGR) for the first quarter reached MOP65.87 billion ($8.16 billion), up 14.3 percent from MOP57.66 billion ($7.14 billion) a year earlier, reflecting continued recovery momentum in the sector. The rebound in gaming activity was supported by robust visitor arrivals, which exceeded 10 million during the quarter, alongside sustained high hotel occupancy rates.

The association noted that tourism-related industries continued to underpin broader economic activity, with the leisure sector maintaining a strong spillover effect on services and employment. Labor market conditions remained stable, with both total employment and unemployment rates holding at relatively favorable levels.

Financial indicators also pointed to improving conditions. Broad money supply (M2) rose 7.9 percent year-on-year to a record MOP863.65 billion ($107.02 billion), while the non-performing loan ratio declined for three consecutive months. Banking sector results in the first two months of the year increased 14.3 percent compared with the same period in 2025.

However, the MEA cautioned that underlying domestic demand and market confidence remained relatively weak. Indicators such as consumer sentiment, the loan-to-deposit ratio, and property prices continued to show limited recovery, suggesting cautious investment and spending behavior.

For the second quarter, the association expects Macau’s economic climate to remain stable, supported by continued tourism activity, although risks from high oil prices and subdued consumption may weigh on momentum.

The International Monetary Fund has previously projected Macau’s economy to grow 3 percent in 2026.

Macau gaming veteran Ng Man Sun reappointed Century Entertainment chairman

Viviana Chan
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Macau gaming veteran Ng Man Sun reappointed Century Entertainment chairman

Gaming veteran Ng Man Sun has been appointed chairman and executive director of Century Entertainment International, marking a leadership reshuffle at the Hong Kong-listed firm, according to a company filing on Wednesday.

The company operates VIP room businesses in Dara Sakor, Cambodia, and is expanding its online gambling operations into the Philippines.

The appointment took effect on April 15th, 2026, with Ng also assuming the role of chairman of the nomination committee. He replaces Tang Ho Ka as board chairman, while Tang will remain as chief executive officer and executive director.

Ng, 78, previously served as chairman and chief executive officer of the company from 2012 until his resignation in May 2025. Described as ‘a highly respected veteran of Macau’s gaming sector with over four decades of experience,’ he has been involved in VIP gaming, junket operations, and casino investment management.

According to the filing, Ng ‘played a significant role in the evolution of Macau’s junket intermediary ecosystem’ and contributed to the standardization of VIP gaming operations and cross-border facilitation practices.

The company has entered into a three-year service agreement with Ng, under which he will receive a monthly remuneration of HK$15,000 ($1,915), subject to annual review.

Following the leadership changes, Tang has stepped down as chairman but will continue to oversee the company’s operations as CEO. He confirmed there were no disagreements with the board regarding the transition.

Century Entertainment’s shares have been suspended from trading since June 26th, 2025, due to its failure to release audited financial results and various regulatory breaches, including unauthorised connected transactions and management’s lack of cooperation with investigations.

Digitain secures registration as a Gaming‑Related Supplier – Manufacturer in Ontario

AGBrief Editorial
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Digitain secures registration as a Gaming‑Related Supplier – Manufacturer in Ontario

This significant milestone marks an important step in Digitain’s strategic expansion into regulated markets. With this authorization, the company is now permitted to supply its proprietary gaming content within Ontario, further strengthening its global footprint and emphasizing its commitment to compliance and excellence.

Arshak Muradyan, Group Chief Compliance Officer at Digitain
Arshak Muradyan

Commenting on the milestone achievement, Arshak Muradyan, Group Chief Compliance Officer at Digitain, said: “Securing authorization in Ontario is an important step for Digitain’s growth. It reflects our strong commitment to regulatory compliance, high operational standards, and integrity. This milestone supports our goal of building trusted, long‑term partnerships and delivering safe, reliable, and fully compliant gaming solutions in regulated markets worldwide.”

The Ontario market represents one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing regulated iGaming jurisdictions in North America. Digitain’s entry into this market opens new opportunities for collaboration and partnership with local and international operators seeking high-quality, certified gaming solutions.

Digitain remains committed to expanding its regulated market presence, supporting partner success, and upholding the highest standards of compliance and data protection.

PAGCOR flags oil price surge as drag on Philippine gaming sector

Frank Schuengel
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PAGCOR flags oil price surge as drag on Philippine gaming sector

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has warned that rising oil prices driven by ongoing tensions in the Middle East are beginning to impact the Philippines gaming sector, with broader implications for operators and industry stakeholders.

Speaking at an industry event on April 14th, PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said the surge in fuel costs is already affecting both business activity and consumer behavior, two key drivers of gaming performance.

“This is not a good time for everyone,” Tengco said, noting that the impact of the oil crisis is being felt across global gaming jurisdictions. He added that even more mature markets such as Singapore, Macau and the United States have not been spared.

[Read more: Can Asia’s gambling industry weather the fuel crisis the way it rode out the pandemic?
Alejandro H. Tengco, Chairman PAGCOR, Philippines

Tengco emphasized that the effects extend beyond gaming operators, with suppliers, partners and other stakeholders across the ecosystem also facing pressure as higher fuel costs ripple through the wider economy.

Despite these challenges, he highlighted the importance of maintaining strong industry collaboration, particularly during periods of economic uncertainty.

“It is important that we come together, that we continue these conversations, and that we support each other as an industry.”

Alejandro H. Tengco

He added that PAGCOR remains prepared to adapt to evolving market conditions, stressing that responsible gaming will remain central to the regulator’s approach even as it responds to external pressures.

Tengco also provided an update on the long-discussed proposal to separate PAGCOR’s regulatory and commercial functions, confirming that the matter remains under review by the Governance Commission for Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations. “Many are asking for the decoupling, and we are awaiting the decision of the GCG,” he said. “If we get the approval to privatize, it will be a game changer.”

PopOK Gaming launches Money Tree Series

AGBrief Editorial
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PopOK Gaming launches Money Tree Series

PopOK Gaming has announced the release of its new Money Tree series, featuring three titles: Money Tree, 40 Money Tree Lucky Coin, and Money Tree Buy Bonus—each designed to deliver engaging gameplay and rewarding mechanics.

Money Tree offers a premium slot experience set in a world of luxury, where Expanding Wilds and Scatter features drive consistent action. The highlight is the Progressive Jackpot Game, giving players the chance to unlock Mini, Minor, Major, and Mega jackpots through an interactive bonus round.

40 Money Tree Lucky Coin brings a dynamic twist with Expanded Wilds, Dual Scatters, and a Boosted Mode that enhances winnings with multipliers. Its Lucky Coin Jackpot Feature adds extra excitement, offering respins and increasing chances to collect valuable rewards and jackpots.

Money Tree Buy Bonus focuses on flexibility and control, allowing players to customize their experience with a Buy Bonus feature. With Expanding Wilds across key reels and persistent features during Free Spins, the game boosts winning potential in a classic 5×3 format.

Available on Web and Mobile and supporting multiple languages, the Money Tree series is built to captivate players worldwide.

With this release, PopOK Gaming continues to deliver innovative and high-performing titles to the global iGaming market.

Fincore partners with Sportradar to deliver real‑time AI intel to operator platforms

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Fincore partners with Sportradar to deliver real‑time AI intel to operator platforms

The modular gaming technology platform, Fincore, and Sportradar, a leading global sports technology company, have announced a strategic integration that enables operators to act on AI-driven insight in real-time within their existing platforms.

Fincore’s TRI ecosystem is purpose-built for the realities of modern gaming infrastructure. Modular by design, it exposes only the components an operator needs, plugs into existing PAM, gaming and bonus systems without requiring wholesale replacement, and meets the rigorous audit and access-control requirements of regulated markets worldwide. Whether an operator runs a legacy stack or a greenfield platform, Fincore’s architecture adapts, not the other way around.

Into that execution layer, the partnership now brings Sportradar’s VAIX: a suite of AI models delivering deeply personalised Recommenders and Player Insight predictions across the full breadth of sports and casino. VAIX operates in real-time – monitoring player behaviour as events unfold and triggering contextually relevant recommendations and rewards during live play, across any sport. Within days of a player’s first activity, VAIX produces high-accuracy forecasts of lifetime value, churn risk, deposit likelihood and bonus recommendations, enabling operators to act on intelligence precisely when it matters most.

Commenting on the collaboration, Mateja Popovic, CEO at Fincore, said: “The technology landscape in gaming is evolving and operators are increasingly seeking to embed best-of-breed innovation directly into their core operations. Our partnership allows Sportradar customers to act on powerful AI-driven insights instantly, closing the gap between prediction and execution. By enabling personalised and automated recommendations and rewards without disrupting existing platforms, we are helping operators unlock greater engagement and more efficient promotional strategies that help them stand out.”

Together, the two platforms close the gap between prediction and action. Sportradar provides best-in-class intelligence; Fincore provides best-in-class execution, wherever in the operator’s ecosystem it is needed. The result is personalisation and bonusing that is faster, more precise and commercially measurable, without the integration overhead or internal development effort that has historically made that ambition out of reach.

Andreas Hartmann, VP Personalisation at Sportradar, shared: “Our AI platform gives operators a decisive edge in player engagement and retention, delivering highly accurate predictions on player activity, lifetime value, churn risk, deposit behaviour, and more per user, in real-time. With Fincore’s TRI platform supporting real-time and deep personalisation, integration was a natural fit, allowing us to turn our industry-leading AI models into measurable commercial impact for the operator, across the user journey.”

Internet Vikings powers RubyPlay’s U.S. expansion into West Virginia

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Internet Vikings powers RubyPlay’s U.S. expansion into West Virginia

Internet Vikings, a licensed in-state hosting provider for the U.S. iGaming and online sports betting industry, has announced the continued expansion of its partnership with RubyPlay, as the tier-one studio partner enters the West Virginia market.

Building on a successful collaboration that began with RubyPlay’s U.S. debut in New Jersey in 2025, the company has once again selected Internet Vikings as its trusted hosting partner. This latest expansion reaffirms its confidence in Internet Vikings’ infrastructure, bringing its studio-based content ecosystem to operators within the Mountain state.

Rickard-Vikstrom-l-Founder-and-CEO-of-Internet-Vikings

As part of this setup, Internet Vikings is delivering a robust environment ensuring data integrity and uninterrupted operations for RubyPlay in the state. As RubyPlay grows its presence in the US, Internet Vikings will continue to provide the infrastructure and support needed to succeed across multiple states.

“We’re pleased to continue supporting RubyPlay as they grow in the U.S. market,” said Rickard Vikström, CEO and Founder of Internet Vikings. “Their decision to expand with us into West Virginia reflects our ability to consistently deliver reliable hosting solutions.”

As RubyPlay grows its presence, Internet Vikings will continue to provide the infrastructure and support needed to succeed across the U.S.

Evoplay rolls out new “Season of Legends” campaign with €512K in spring rewards

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Evoplay rolls out new “Season of Legends” campaign with €512K in spring rewards

Evoplay has unveiled Season of Legends, a new year-long network campaign designed to drive sustained player engagement through a four-part seasonal structure, kicking off with a €512,000 spring edition.

Building on the success of its previous Big Adventures campaign, which delivered strong engagement across a nine-month period, Season of Legends introduces a more dynamic, seasonal format.

Season of Legends campaign – How does it work?

The campaign is split into four distinct three-month phases, each bringing refreshed mechanics, new prize pools and renewed opportunities for operators and players alike.

The spring edition, which launched in March, has been strategically timed to capitalise on post-winter reactivation trends, helping operators rebuild player momentum and establish early-year growth.

At the core of the new campaign is the introduction of the debut mechanic, Infinity Prize Drops. Running continuously throughout each month, Infinity Drops deliver daily cash rewards without being tied to traditional tournament phases, ensuring uninterrupted engagement.

Alongside this, the spring edition combines a multi-layered structure featuring a Tournament and Wheel of Fortune, each operating across four phases per month. These run from the 1st– 5th, 9th– 13th, 17th– 21st, and 25th– 29th, creating regular peaks of activity, while Infinity Drops maintain consistent player participation between phases.

The €512,000 spring prize pool will be distributed across March, April and May, with a consolidated leaderboard spanning all participating operators.

Players earn points through every qualifying spin across a portfolio of Evoplay’s most popular titles, including Hot Triple Sevens, Piggy Bank: 3 Pots Bonanza, and the Penalty Shoot-out series.

Diana Larina, Head of Marketing at Evoplay, said: “Season of Legends marks the next evolution of our network campaigns. With Big Adventures, we saw just how effective long-term engagement can be, and this new format takes that even further. By introducing seasonal structure and mechanics like Infinity Drops, we’re giving operators the tools to maintain consistent player activity, rather than relying on short-term spikes. This is just the beginning, and we’re excited to build momentum throughout the year.”

eGaming Integrity shortlisted for Services Rising Star at the EGR B2B Awards 2026

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eGaming Integrity shortlisted for Services Rising Star at the EGR B2B Awards 2026

The Isle of Man compliance specialist eGaming Integrity has announced that it has been shortlisted for the EGR B2B Awards 2026 in the Services Rising Star category.

The EGR B2B Awards recognise the companies that power the iGaming industry behind the scenes, celebrating outstanding suppliers, technology providers and service firms across the sector. Judged by independent industry professionals, the awards are widely regarded as one of the most credible forms of external validation available to B2B businesses in iGaming.

eGaming Integrity provides independent compliance, audit and supply chain assurance services to operators and suppliers across the gambling sector. The business is earning recognition for its work on non-intrusive supply chain assurance frameworks. The focus is on helping businesses strengthen governance in practical ways without adding extra pressure to operational teams.

Lee Hills, CEO of eGaming Integrity
Lee Hills, CEO of eGaming Integrity

Commenting on the achievement, Lee Hills, CEO of eGaming Integrity, said: “Being shortlisted for Services Rising Star at the EGR B2B Awards is a meaningful recognition of the work we have been doing to raise standards in iGaming compliance. Our focus has always been on developing practical, non-intrusive frameworks that deliver real outcomes for the businesses we work with. To have that recognised independently by EGR and its judging panel is a strong endorsement of the approach we are taking.”

The winners will be announced at the EGR B2B Awards on 3 June 2026 at City Central at the HAC, London.

Macau casino margins to remain tight; SJM an outlier: Jefferies

Viviana Chan
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Macau casino margins to remain tight; SJM an outlier: Jefferies

Macau’s gaming operators are expected to face continued pressure on adjusted EBITDA margins through 2026, with profitability likely to remain at levels similar to the fourth quarter of 2025 due to intense competition, according to analysts at Jefferies. 

The brokerage added that geopolitical tensions are also weighing on market sentiment, further clouding the outlook.

In a research note on Wednesday, analysts Anne Ling and Jingjue Pei said that while gross gaming revenue (GGR) growth remains resilient, the recovery continues to be driven by VIP play, which typically involves higher promotional activity and tighter margins. ‘Promotions and competition remain,’ the analysts noted.

For the first quarter of 2026, Macau’s GGR rose 14 percent year-on-year to MOP66 billion ($8.2 billion), supported by a strong January performance linked partly to the timing of the Chinese New Year holiday. Growth moderated in February and March, but Jefferies maintained its full-year forecast of 6.8 percent GGR growth, slightly ahead of market expectations of 6 percent.

Macau’s Ponte 16 casino ends 17-year run

Satellite closures to lift SJM profitability

SJM Holdings stands out as a potential exception. The brokerage expects the operator to benefit from the closure of satellite casinos, which is anticipated to improve cost efficiency and support margin expansion. 

Jefferies forecasts SJM’s adjusted EBITDA to grow by 13 percent, 14 percent and 8 percent in 2026, 2027 and 2028, respectively, with margins rising from 14 percent to 16 percent over the same period. The firm also expects SJM’s flagship property Grand Lisboa Palace to capture around 3 percent market share by 2026, providing an additional earnings driver.

Galaxy Entertainment Group, Galaxy Macau

Galaxy pushes for table expansion 

Among operators, Galaxy Entertainment remains a top pick for Jefferies, supported by its capacity expansion and positioning in the premium segment. The company is seeking to differentiate through higher-end offerings, including increasing room sizes in its Phase 4 development, reducing total keys to about 1,350 from 1,500, with completion targeted in 2027.

A key focus is capacity expansion. Jefferies indicates that Galaxy is lobbying the Macau government for additional gaming tables to support its upcoming Phase 4 of Galaxy Macau, highlighting constraints on table allocation as it scales up operations. The company is targeting a 20 to 22 percent market share ahead of the project’s completion.

Macau-GGR-March-2025

Sands, Wynn and MGM emphasize EBITDA and premium segments

Sands China and Wynn Macau, meanwhile, are pursuing strategies centered on earnings growth and premium positioning. Sands China continues to prioritize absolute EBITDA generation over margin expansion, maintaining a target run rate of $2.7 billion despite potential quarterly volatility.

Wynn Macau is similarly focused on premium mass customers, with investments aimed at enhancing high-end offerings, including upgrades to gaming areas and hotel inventory. The operator maintains an emphasis on EBITDA and margin rather than market share growth.

MGM China is also maintaining a focus on premium mass, targeting stable mid-teen market share and EBITDA margins in the mid- to high-20 percent range. Management has described competition as ‘rational’ in recent quarters, with reinvestment levels remaining broadly stable, while the group continues to expand its premium offerings, including additional suites at MGM Cotai.

Across the sector, market share trends remain fluid. Jefferies expects Sands China and Wynn Macau to post sequential gains in the first quarter, while Galaxy, MGM China and SJM may see modest declines.

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