Maisy Ho, the daughter of late casino magnate Stanley Ho and an executive director of Shun Tak Holdings, has died at the age of 60, her family confirmed on April 12th.
According to a family statement, she “passed away peacefully… surrounded by family,” who were by her side at the time of her death.
The announcement was jointly issued by her siblings Pansy Ho, Daisy Ho, Josie Ho and Lawrence Ho, who described her as “our beloved sister” and expressed appreciation for condolences while requesting privacy during the period of mourning. No cause of death was disclosed.
Shun Tak Holdings also released a brief statement confirming her passing, noting that she was accompanied by family members in her final moments.
Born in 1966, Maisy Ho was the third daughter of Stanley Ho and Lucina Laam King-ying. She graduated from Pepperdine University in the United States with a bachelor’s degree, majoring in telecommunications and psychology.
As an executive director at Shun Tak Holdings, she played a role in overseeing the group’s diversified portfolio, which spans real estate, transportation, hospitality and investment businesses. The company has long been associated with the Ho family’s broader business interests in Hong Kong and Macau.
PAGCOR‑licensed online casino Casino Plus, a leading responsible gaming brands in the Philippines, marked a record milestone with a single jackpot payout of USD 4.53 million.
Recognized as one of the largest individual online gaming payouts in the country this year, the life-changing prize, at₱271,433,871.79 (USD 4.53 million), was won in the platform’s popular, uniquely Filipino-inspired Color Games.
In a simple yet meaningful awarding ceremony witnessed by officials from PAGCOR, Casino Plus CEO Evan Spytma formally handed over the check to the winner, who, for security and privacy reasons, goes by the name “Angel.”
Commenting on the landmark milestone, Evan Spytma, CEO of Casino Plus, said: “At CasinoPlus, we celebrate wins and take pride in creating life‑changing experiences through our distinctively fun, Filipino‑inspired games. But more importantly, we stand for self‑control, awareness, and smart decisions. This jackpot of over ₱271 million showcases the extraordinary possibilities on our platform while reinforcing our steadfast commitment to offering these opportunities responsibly, with player safety and fair, transparent digital gaming at the forefront.”
Upholding transparency and full regulatory compliance
The jackpot payout was processed in full compliance with PAGCOR requirements, including mandatory Know Your Customer (KYC) verification, anti-money laundering (AML) protocols, and robust encryption security measures. Casino Plus strictly adheres to the regulatory body’s responsible gaming framework, upholding the highest standards of player protection and operational integrity.
“Integrity and transparency remain at the core of our mandate at PAGCOR, and big moments like this reinforce the trust placed in the country’s gaming industry. Let us continue playing safe by supporting PAGCOR-licensed gaming sites and responsible gaming partners”, said Senior Compliance and Monitoring Officer Cheryl Dyoco.
Beyond the Colors, Uniquely Filipino
Color Game is one of Casino Plus’s most popular live game offerings on its online casino platform in the Philippines. Players place bets on one or more color combinations before a game host pulls a lever to reveal a randomized combination of results. Wins are determined by how a player’s chosen colors match the outcome and multiplier bonuses. Games are hosted live, often by prominent personalities, and streamed in real time to players nationwide.
Casino Plus emphasizes that sustainable gaming begins with informed players. Responsible gaming is a core principle, and the platform encourages users to set personal limits, play within their means, and approach gaming as entertainment. This ₱271 million payout stands as proof that regulated, responsible gaming delivers real, verified outcomes for Filipino players.
In August 2024, a ₱303 million jackpot was won on Casino Plus, marking one of the platform’s largest payouts to date. The win represents a significant milestone in its operations and underscores the growing popularity of its Color Game offering. Since its launch on August 31, 2023, the game has produced 76 millionaires across the Philippines, with total payouts reaching approximately ₱870 million. These outcomes reflect the platform’s expanding reach and its role in delivering meaningful, life-changing opportunities to players, underpinned by transparent processes and adherence to regulatory standards set by PAGCOR.
ArenaPlus has secured a multiyear collaboration with the National Basketball Association (NBA), becoming the league’s first official betting partner in the Philippines in a move that highlights the continued convergence of sports, gaming and digital entertainment in one of basketball’s most engaged global markets.
The partnership was unveiled at a star-studded launch event at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay, Metro Manila on Saturday, attended by local celebrities, brand ambassadors, and headlined by NBA star Derrick Rose, underscoring the commercial weight behind the deal.
ArenaPlus, a PAGCOR-licensed online sportsbook under DigiPlus, said the agreement marks a major milestone for the brand as it looks to strengthen its position in the country’s competitive online gaming sector. The Philippines remains a key international market for the NBA, with basketball deeply embedded in local culture and fan engagement among the highest globally.
Under the deal, ArenaPlus will integrate official NBA branding across its online platforms, execute localized marketing activations and feature across the league’s digital and social channels in the Philippines. The collaboration is also expected to include joint efforts around responsible gambling, with both parties emphasizing best practices and integrity safeguards.
The partnership will be supported by a range of fan engagement initiatives, including NBA-themed free-to-play games and promotions designed to drive interaction during the season. On the same day as the announcement, ArenaPlus also introduced a new PHP100 million ($1.67 million) MVP (Most Valuable Predictor) Bracket challenge as part of its ongoing playoffs campaign, offering fans a free-to-play prediction format centered on the NBA postseason.
ArenaPlus Head Erick Su described the agreement as a landmark moment for the company, noting that the NBA’s global reach and deep connection with Filipino fans provide a platform to deliver more immersive and interactive experiences.
For the NBA, the tie-up points to a broader strategy to expand its footprint in regulated betting markets through partnerships with licensed operators. Kuljeet Sindhar, the league’s Head of International Gaming and Data Distribution, said the collaboration will enable the NBA to engage Filipino fans in new ways while maintaining a strong focus on responsible gaming.
The deal comes as the Philippine gaming market continues to evolve, with operators increasingly leveraging partnerships with global sports brands to differentiate their offerings and capture a growing base of digitally active consumers.
For ArenaPlus, the agreement positions the operator at the center of the country’s basketball ecosystem, combining the NBA’s global scale with localized digital engagement. For the NBA, it provides a regulated entry point into the Philippine betting space, aligning with its international strategy of working with licensed partners in key markets.
As competition intensifies among local sportsbooks, the ArenaPlus-NBA collaboration signals further maturation of the Philippine market, where high-profile sports partnerships are becoming an increasingly important driver of growth.
ArenaPlus has launched a PHP100 million ($1.68 million) MVP Bracket challenge as part of its ongoing NBA Playoffs campaign, expanding its suite of free-to-play engagement tools aimed at basketball fans in the Philippines.
The initiative forms part of the operator’s “NBA Playoffs MVP: Battle for the Most Valuable Predictor” campaign and introduces a bracket-style competition built around the National Basketball Association (NBA) postseason. The format is designed to mirror traditional playoff prediction brackets, a structure widely familiar to basketball audiences.
Running from April 11th to April 18th, 2026, the challenge allows eligible ArenaPlus users aged 21 and above to submit predictions for all 15 NBA Playoffs matchups. Participants are provided with two free entries, with no deposit, betting or entry fee required.
NBA player Derrick Rose at the launch event in Manila on Saturday.
The top prize of PHP100 million ($1.68 million) will be awarded to the participant who achieves the highest number of correct predictions across the full bracket. In the event of a tie, the winner will be determined based on the earliest valid submission.
In addition to the main prize, ArenaPlus has introduced a PHP50 million ($840,000) shared prize pool for participants who achieve the next highest number of correct picks. This pool will be distributed among top-performing entrants below the grand prize winner, such as those correctly predicting 14 matchups or the closest tier, depending on overall results.
All valid entries will also be entered into a raffle draw, with additional prizes including PHP1 million ($16,700) for 10 winners and PHP100,000 ($1,700) for 100 winners, broadening participation incentives beyond the primary competition.
The launch event at Mall of Asia in Pasay, Metro Manila.
ArenaPlus Head Erick Su said the campaign reflects the way Filipino fans engage with basketball, emphasizing analysis and prediction as core elements of the viewing experience. He added that the bracket challenge is intended to deepen fan interaction with the playoffs while rewarding knowledge and intuition.
The MVP Bracket builds on ArenaPlus’ earlier PHP1 billion ($16.8 million) “MVP Dream” initiative, which similarly centered on predicting playoff outcomes, and represents the next phase of the operator’s strategy to integrate interactive, free-to-play mechanics into its sports offering.
Global betting company 1xBet has announced its participation in the Search iGaming Conference (SIC) on April 16 in Limassol, one of Europe’s leading platforms for professionals working with search traffic in the iGaming industry.
The conference brings together experts in digital and affiliate marketing, as well as representatives of top brands, helping them identify new growth opportunities and build strong partnerships.
The exhibition will be held at The Warehouse by IT Quarter, a modern venue that regularly hosts industry-focused events. This year, SIC will unite over 1,200 professionals and more than 40 exhibitors, making it a key platform for sharing expertise, building new business connections, and exploring potential partnerships. 1xBet views its participation as an opportunity to engage directly with the market, strengthen existing relationships, and find new formats for business collaboration.
The 1xBet team will welcome guests at booth E4, which will serve as a hub for productive networking, business meetings, and discussions on cooperation within one of the industry’s most dynamic segments.
Throughout the day, attendees will have the opportunity to consult with company representatives on current partnership models, strategies for increasing traffic conversion, and approaches to building effective collaboration frameworks in a rapidly changing digital landscape. The booth’s comfortable and relaxed atmosphere will facilitate open dialogue about prospects for further collaboration.
1xBet invites all attendees booth at SIC Cyprus 2026 and take the opportunity to build new business connections and engage in productive dialogue with the global brand’s team.
INSPIRE Entertainment Resort confirmed it will stage the ‘LCK Team ROADSHOW: 2026 T1 HOME GROUND’ eSports festival at INSPIRE Arena from April 24–26, alongside exclusive fan experiences.
Taking place over three days at INSPIRE Arena, T1 HOME GROUND will feature LCK matches from T1’s League of Legends (LoL) team as well as LCK CL matches from LoL’s second-tier league. T1 is scheduled to take on Hanjin Brion on April 25 and BNK FearX on April 26.
LCK event zone in 2025
On the opening day, April 24, a pre-festival called ‘Eve Festa’ will be held to build excitement ahead of the matches, while special opening ceremonies for T1 fans are planned on April 25 and 26. Fans can also look forward to a range of interactive events, including a light stick cheering session, zone battle and FAN MEET, where players and fans can interact on site.
Hosting T1 HOME GROUND for the second consecutive year, INSPIRE plans to extend the excitement of eSports beyond the Arena. The resort aims to create an immersive festival atmosphere where fans can experience its full ‘Playcation’ offering through food, entertainment and more.
First, INSPIRE’s signature space ‘Aurora’ will showcase media art content inspired by T1’s universe on its massive LED screen, drawing the attention of eSports fans. At MICE facilities including INSPIRE Ballroom, T1’s official branded booth will be joined by other experiential booths and programs from various companies, further energizing the event. Photo booths inside the Arena will also allow fans to take photos using player themed frames, adding to the fun.
Fans can also enjoy T1 collaboration F&B menu, prepared to keep the excitement going after the matches. The premium American-style sports pub ‘MJ23 Sports Bar & Grill’ will serve T1 Burger and T1 Burger combo menus, while Quick Bites inside INSPIRE Arena will offer a range of game-day favorites including spicy jumbo chicken, dakgangjeong, lemon cream shrimp and churros.
In addition, INSPIRE has launched a hotel package that combines match viewing with an overnight stay, leveraging its strengths of the Playcation resort. The ‘T1 Home Ground: Exclusive Package’ includes one night in an INSPIRE guestroom, two R-seat tickets to T1 Home Ground on the check-in date, and complimentary access to the fitness center and indoor swimming pool (once per night), promising a highly satisfying experience for fans visiting to watch the matches.
Commenting on the initiative, Hyunmyung Lee, Director of Entertainment at INSPIRE, stated, “INSPIRE is delighted to host T1 HOME GROUND this year again. We will continue to attract top-tier sports and entertainment events from both the domestic and international stages, showcase the strengths of an entertainment venue centered on fan communities, and deliver INSPIRE’s uniquely differentiated Playcation experience.”
Since opening its Arena, INSPIRE has become a hub for diverse entertainment, regularly staging sports, eSports, and music events. Highlights include the international table tennis competition WTT Championships, the mixed martial arts showcase Black Combat, the 2024 Valorant Championships, and T1 HOME GROUND. By integrating these programs with its broader resort offerings—such as MICE facilities, hotels, and media art—INSPIRE has positioned itself as a premier destination for indoor sports and live entertainment.
Further details on T1 HOME GROUND promotions and hotel package are available on INSPIRE’s official website.
Wazdan has strengthened its top-performing Hot Slot portfolio with the launch of Hot Slot: Diamond Coins, its latest release combining the series’ retro aesthetic with mechanics drawn from the flagship Coins collection.
Maintaining the recognisable format that defines the Hot Slot range, the game is played across 15 reels and integrates the popular Cash Infinity and Hold the Jackpot features, alongside additional Bonus symbols designed to drive feature engagement.
During the Hold the Jackpot Bonus Game, players can compete for a Grand Jackpot of up to 3000x.
Wins are also attainable through the Hot Slot standard symbols, which are always present on any reels without a Bonus symbol. The Hot Slot symbols use two paylines to award prizes and pay out only in the base game.
The Chance Level feature additionally provides new opportunities for immersive gameplay and adds an element of customisation, presenting players with a higher chance of entering the Hold the Jackpot Bonus Round.
As the latest addition to Wazdan’s Hot Slot series, Hot Slot: Diamond Coins blends its retro theme with the brand’s established Coins mechanics, delivering a format designed to perform strongly across global markets.
Radka Bacheva, Head of Sales and Business Development at Wazdan, said: “Hot Slot: Diamond Coins is an incredibly exciting milestone for us and a fantastic next step in the evolution of the Hot Slot series. We wanted to provide our partners with something that stood out immediately, a release that blends what players already love with the proven performance of our Coins mechanics. The addition of Cash Infinity, Hold the Jackpot, and Chance Level creates a dynamic experience that truly resonates well with players and builds clear excitement from the very first spin.”
Yggdrasil has announced the expansion of its partnership with Admiral into a third market, launching its games portfolio with Admiral Serbia following successful rollouts in Croatia and Italy, earlier this year.
The integration, completed via the Bragg Gaming Group platform, gives Admiral customers in Serbia access to Yggdrasil’s latest releases, alongside a selection of titles from studios within the YGG Masters program. The launch includes a portfolio of more than 100 titles, featuring popular games such as Vikings Go Berzerk, Raptor 2 and Valley of the Gods.
Giovanni Fodera, Regional Manager at Yggdrasil mentioned: “Admiral has become a key partner for Yggdrasil. Building on strong momentum in Croatia and Italy, expanding into Serbia was a natural next step. We look forward to further strengthening our collaboration and continuing to grow our presence across Admiral’s markets.”
Bogdan Miladinovic, Head of Online Casino at Admiral Serbia, added: “We are delighted to introduce Yggdrasil’s games to players in Serbia. As one of the leading operators in the market, partnering with a proven content provider like Yggdrasil supports our strategy of delivering high-quality games and a premium player experience.”
ZingBrain AI, the iGaming AI engine, helped Hondubet achieve significant player engagement and revenue increases after replacing its manually managed casino lobby with a fully personalized, API-driven experience.
The successful integration means Hondubet can automatically deliver personalized sections featuring games that reflect each player’s behaviour and preferences.
The results, drawn from a A/B trial comparing the personalized lobby against the existing manual setup, demonstrate clear uplift across both new and existing player segments:
25% increase in GGR and turnover for newly-registered players
10% increase in total bets made by existing players
25% increase in unique games tried by players
“Before working with ZingBrain AI, a lot of our time was spent manually managing lobby sections and constantly updating collections,” said Hondubet’s Julian Pareja Garcia. “Now the system adapts automatically to each player’s behavior, which means our team can focus on strategy instead of maintenance. It fundamentally changed how we operate the lobby.”
Oleg Smolerov, Chief Product Officer at ZingBrain AI, added: “We genuinely enjoy working with partners who care deeply about what they build and who are not satisfied with ‘good enough’. Hondubet is exactly that kind of team. Our discussions are never just status updates. They’re always about how to improve the product, how to make the lobby smarter, and how to give players something that truly fits their preferences and feels natural to them.”
The integration also addresses commercial priorities. Using Zing’s Game Promotion tool, Hondubet can surface priority titles within personalized sections ranked to each player. If a promoted game fails to generate engagement, it fades out and is replaced by more relevant content, keeping commercial goals and player experience aligned.
Reinforcing its position as the top aggregator in emerging markets, QTech Games has expanded its offering once again through a fresh integration with Sneaky Slots, Evolution’s latest up‑and‑coming studio.
This new studio was created to combine the powers of some world-class digital slot brands, spearheaded by the likes of Nolimit City, Red Tiger, NetEnt, and Big Time Gaming, alongside the development of some non-traditional titles and themes which challenge convention via quick-fire, cheeky, and character dense gameplay with a distinctive modern take on art direction. Such hit releases already include Gopnik, Freak Show Revelation, and Nip Tuck.
Significantly, selected Sneaky Slots releases will also feature Nolimit City’s proprietary xMechanics, including player-favourites xBomb® and xNudge®, bringing proven features into new experiences. This portfolio has been optimised for mobile, a cornerstone of QTech’s RNG model, which is founded on its fully-owned and customised technical platform, affording games providers and operators the fastest integration available.
Through this leading platform, which has sealed its definitive status as a global gaming one-stop shop, clients enjoy the best performance and customer support available, localised to every region across both developing and more mature markets.
The deal organically broadens Sneaky Slots’ international footprint, unlocking untapped jurisdictions for diversified growth from Asia to Africa and Eastern Europe to Latin America.
Philip Doftvik, QTech Games’ CEO, said: “Sneaky slots is known for its bold visual identity and high-impact mechanics, producing titles that stand out in competitive lobbies. By going live with QTech, the studio gains streamlined access to high-growth markets where mobile-first gameplay and strong engagement mechanics are central to operator performance.
“As ever, we’re dedicated to launching first-class content that drives revenue for our partners. So, teaming up with Sneaky Slots reflects our dedication to curating standout content from every niche of the industry. This deal extends our impressive sequential pipeline for 2026 – and we’re excited to now have Sneaky Slots aboard our dominant aggregation platform for emerging markets.”
