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Asia Gaming eBrief: People Inc offers $18B to take MGM Resorts private

AGBrief Editorial
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Asia Gaming eBrief: People Inc offers $18B to take MGM Resorts private
Good morning. The casino chessboard is shifting. Media group People Inc. has moved a major piece, submitting an $18 billion bid to take MGM Resorts private after nearly six years as a major shareholder. The offer comes just days after another major U.S. casino takeover deal, putting consolidation talk firmly back in the spotlight. In Macau, Seaport says May’s GGR was dragged down by low VIP hold but supported by stronger underlying demand, with June forecast to be broadly flat year-on-year. And in Sydney, The Star has been fined $7.2 million over historical compliance breaches, even as regulators note some remediation progress.

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MGM Resorts International, lawsuits, People Inc seeks majority control of MGM Resorts in $18B offer

People Inc seeks majority control of MGM Resorts in $18B offer

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.

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How Crypto Adoption in Asia is Changing iGaming Payments

Yevhen Krazhan, CSO for GR8 Tech

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.

INTELLIGENCE | ASEAN | AWARDS | CAREERS | EVENTS

India’s Delta Corp reads a ‘favorable outcome’ into Supreme Court GST ruling

Viviana Chan
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India’s Delta Corp reads a ‘favorable outcome’ into Supreme Court GST ruling

Indian casino operator Delta Corp has told investors it expects the Supreme Court’s retrospective GST ruling to have a lighter impact on its casino business than on the country’s battered online gaming sector — an upbeat interpretation offered before the company had seen the full text of the order.

In a May 28th exchange filing, Delta Corp said that, based on the ‘limited information’ available, it understood that the chip-based revenue method it has applied since October 2023 would now also apply retrospectively to the July 2017–September 2023 period. The company described the interpretation as a ‘favorable outcome.’

That distinction sits at the heart of Delta Corp’s optimism. For physical casinos, the company argued, GST should apply to the amount players pay for chips, rather than to the gross value of every bet placed — a far larger figure that, in its words, has the effect of ‘notionally multiplying’ taxable revenue. The 28 percent levy on full bet value remains the heaviest burden for online real-money gaming operators, which the May 27th ruling explicitly reclassified as gambling.

The reassurance has done little to steady the stock, however, with Delta Corp shares sliding in the days following the ruling. Whether the casino read-through holds will depend on the detailed order, which is still awaited.

The stakes are considerable. Delta Corp’s 2023 tax demand of INR11,140 crore ($1.34 billion) amounted to roughly three times its market capitalization, while the group has already suspended its $285 million integrated resort project in Goa pending clarity on the tax treatment. The company said it would update the market once it had reviewed the full judgment.

Malaysia tightens social media controls to combat online gambling and scams

Frank Schuengel
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Malaysia tightens social media controls to combat online gambling and scams

Malaysia has introduced mandatory identity verification requirements for social media advertisers as part of wider efforts to combat illegal online gambling, financial scams and the misuse of public figures in fraudulent promotions.

The new rules, which came into effect on Monday, require individuals and businesses placing sponsored advertisements on major social media platforms in the country to verify their identities before their content can be published. The measure applies to licensed social media platforms with more than eight million users in Malaysia and forms part of the Risk Mitigation Code (RMC) introduced under the country’s Online Safety Act 2025.

Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the requirement aims to close a major enforcement gap that has allowed anonymous advertisers to promote illegal gambling platforms, fraudulent investment schemes and other suspicious online activities. Authorities have previously struggled to identify the individuals or groups behind such paid advertisements, with many campaigns using fake profiles, misleading content or the images of celebrities and public figures without permission to attract users.

Under the new framework, advertisers will have to provide verifiable information before purchasing sponsored placements, giving regulators and platform operators greater ability to trace those responsible for illegal content. The measure comes amid growing scrutiny of gambling-related advertising across digital platforms in Malaysia, where all forms of online gambling remain illegal except for limited licensed activities.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has significantly increased enforcement against harmful online content, including advertisements linked to illegal betting operators and scam networks. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil previously stated that a large proportion of online content removed by the regulator since January involved either scams or gambling-related activities, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing authorities.

Malaysia has been increasing pressure on social media operators to take a more active role in policing harmful content, with regulators arguing that stronger platform accountability is needed to prevent digital advertising systems from being exploited by criminal groups. The Online Safety Act 2025 forms part of broader government efforts to tighten oversight of online platforms, strengthen user protection measures and improve enforcement capabilities against illegal digital activities.

Macau May GGR weighed down by low hold, June forecast flat YoY: Seaport

Viviana Chan
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Macau May GGR weighed down by low hold, June forecast flat YoY: Seaport

Macau’s gross gaming revenue rose 6.7 percent year-on-year in May to MOP22.61 billion ($2.83 billion), coming in above recent market expectations but below Seaport Research Partners’ initial forecast due to low VIP hold, according to a June 1st industry update by the firm.

Seaport said May’s result was negatively affected by low VIP hold, following a similar trend in April, while underlying demand appeared stronger. The firm estimated that hold-adjusted growth would likely have exceeded 12 percent to 13 percent.

Macau posts strongest May since the pandemic, GGR up 6.7% to $2.8B

‘May GGR came in better than recent expectations,’ Seaport analyst Vitaly Umansky wrote, adding that the month saw ‘strong premium play but VIP softer, largely due to low hold.’

The firm estimated that MGM China and SJM Holdings were the largest market share gainers compared with the first quarter, while Sands China and Melco Resorts likely lost share. 

Seaport said Sands was likely affected by VIP hold below the broader market level.

For June, Seaport forecast Macau GGR to be broadly flat year-on-year, at a decline of 0.3 percent, and down 7 percent month-on-month. The firm estimated June GGR at about MOP21.00 billion ($2.63 billion), based on average daily GGR of around MOP700 million ($87.5 million).

The firm expects second-quarter GGR to grow 3.9 percent year-on-year, with VIP revenue down 16 percent to 17 percent and mass revenue up 7 percent to 8 percent.

Growth is expected to decelerate in the second half of 2026 due to more difficult year-on-year comparisons and hold comparisons. Seaport said GGR growth could slow to below 4 percent in the second half unless demand improves or liquidity conditions strengthen.

For full-year 2026, Seaport forecasts Macau GGR growth of 6.2 percent, with VIP up about 1 percent and mass up about 6 percent.

A separate Deutsche Bank note also pointed to stronger-than-expected May GGR, saying the result represented a 13.7 percent sequential increase from April and was 740 basis points better than historical May trends. 

Deutsche Bank forecast June GGR of about $2.63 billion, up 1.0 percent year-on-year.

People Inc. submits $18B bid to take MGM Resorts private

Viviana Chan
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People Inc. submits $18B bid to take MGM Resorts private

People Incorporated, the media company formerly known as IAC, has submitted a non-binding proposal to acquire all outstanding shares of MGM Resorts International that it does not already own, offering $48.30 per share in cash in a bid that values the casino operator at more than $18 billion, including debt.

In a letter sent to MGM’s board on Monday, June 1st, People Incorporated — which already holds 26.1 percent of the company — said the all-cash offer represents a premium of 10.6 percent to MGM’s most recent closing price, 24.1 percent to the volume-weighted average price over the 30 trading days ending May 29th, and more than 30 percent to the 90-day average.

The proposal would take MGM private. People Incorporated said it expected to own just over 50.1 percent of the company’s equity after closing and to control the business, with minority interests held by other investors that may include current MGM shareholders. It added that it would fund the deal through existing cash at both People Incorporated and MGM, alongside additional debt and equity commitments, and that the transaction would not be subject to any financing condition.

Barry Diller, chairman and senior executive of People Incorporated, People Inc.
Barry Diller, chairman and senior executive of People Incorporated

“We began investing in MGM nearly six years ago because we believed it represented a rare kind of business: one with real world assets that AI cannot easily replicate or disintermediate and exceptional digital growth opportunities,” said Barry Diller, chairman and senior executive of People Incorporated. “We continue to believe the market materially undervalues the power and durability of MGM’s assets.”

Diller, who said he would recuse himself from any MGM board deliberations on the matter, added that People Incorporated had no intention of selling its existing stake or supporting any transaction that would transfer control to another party.

MGM Resorts confirmed it had received the offer for all outstanding shares that People Incorporated does not already own. The company said its board would review the proposal ‘in consultation with its financial and legal advisors’ to determine the course of action in the best interests of all shareholders, adding that shareholders ‘do not need to take any action at this time.’

MGM cautioned that there was no assurance the proposal would result in an agreement, and said it ‘remains focused on advancing its position as the world’s premier gaming entertainment company.’

Caesars agreed to a $17.6 billion all-cash takeover by Fertitta Entertainment at a 49 percent premium to shareholders.
Caesars Entertainment

Second casino takeover bid in a week

The offer marks the second takeover bid in the U.S. casino industry within a week. On Thursday, the firm of Tilman Fertitta — Wynn Resorts’ largest individual shareholder — announced the acquisition of Caesars Entertainment in a $17.6 billion deal.

MGM shares surged 14.5 percent to $50 following the announcement, trading above the offer price.

MGM China, Macau
MGM COTAI, Macau

Diller’s bet on MGM, and its Macau exposure

For Diller, the deal offers a way to diversify beyond a core media business that includes People magazine and Food & Wine. He has invested in travel and leisure before, acquiring Expedia in 2002 and building it into a global travel company under IAC before spinning it off.

MGM owns properties that account for roughly 40 percent of the Las Vegas Strip but has faced sluggish foot traffic in Las Vegas and has leaned on growth from its China assets and digital operations.

The operator’s holdings include a 56 percent stake in Macau-based MGM China Holdings, while its BetMGM venture has become one of the leading online sportsbooks in the United States.

People Incorporated recorded $34 million in unrealized gains from its MGM investment in the March quarter, compared with a loss of about $324 million a year earlier.

NOVOMATIC celebrates major milestone at G2E Asia 2026

AGBrief Editorial
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NOVOMATIC celebrates major milestone at G2E Asia 2026

NOVOMATIC’s participation at G2E Asia 2026 underscored its commitment to innovation, with a full portfolio of advanced gaming solutions supporting its continued leadership in Asia.

NOVOMATIC’s booth drew significant traffic from operators, partners and industry peers, many of whom were particularly engaged by the company’s newest ETG innovations and standout linked progressive offerings.

NOVOMATIC celebrates major milestone at G2E Asia 2026
Novo Unity™ Pro

A major focus of the presentation was the award-winning Novo Unity™ Pro ETG solution, which impressed attendees with its flexibility, advanced gameplay features and scalable setup options. The showcase included enhanced Baccarat side bets as well as flexible stadium configurations integrating both automated and live table solutions.

Significant interest was also generated by the debut of the standalone ETG version, presented in the DIAMOND X™ 3.32 cabinet. This solution featuring Roulette, Baccarat, Blackjack and Sic Bo within a single terminal configuration attracted strong attention from operators across the region.

In the slot segment, NOVOMATIC introduced the latest VISION LINK™ linked progressive titles to the Asian market, including Hot Pot™ and Ghost Party™, both making their regional debut at the show. Presented in the award-winning DIAMOND X™ QUATTRO 1.55J cabinet, the games received highly positive feedback from visitors, particularly due to their fresh entertainment concepts, modern presentation style and dynamic feature mechanics.

NOVOMATIC
VISION LINK™
NOVOMATIC
XTENSION LINK™

XTENSION LINK™, one of NOVOMATIC’s most successful and well-established linked progressive product families, also continued to generate strong interest among operators, further underlining the company’s international product strength.

Kenan Bajram, Deputy Director, Global Sales at NOVOMATIC AG
Kenan Bajram

“G2E Asia once again provided an excellent platform to engage directly with customers, partners and industry stakeholders from across the region,” said Kenan Bajram, Deputy Director, Global Sales at NOVOMATIC AG. “The extremely positive feedback we received – especially for our ETG portfolio – clearly demonstrates the strong demand for flexible, high-performance gaming solutions tailored to Asian market requirements. Asia remains a strategically highly important growth market for NOVOMATIC and we are committed to continuously strengthening our presence and long-term partnerships throughout the region.”

The exhibition also provided valuable opportunities for in-depth discussions with existing and potential customers regarding current market developments, future product requirements and upcoming opportunities across Asia’s evolving gaming landscape.

Fueled by strong product demonstrations, high attendee engagement, and overwhelmingly positive customer responses, G2E Asia 2026 proved to be a significant milestone in NOVOMATIC’s Asian expansion.

Spintec introduces new Baccarat side bets at G2E Asia 2026

AGBrief Editorial
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Spintec introduces new Baccarat side bets at G2E Asia 2026

For more than a decade, Spintec has been an active driver of innovation in the electronic table games market. It has established itself as one of the industry’s most celebrated providers, earning prestigious awards across the globe.

Most notably, the company has been recognised with the title of Best Table Gaming Solution at the Asia Gaming Awards; a distinction that keeps them motivated to show up with ever better and more attractive products.

Spintec introduces new Baccarat side bets at G2E Asia 2026

At this year’s G2E, the focus was therefore on innovation, specifically tailored for the Asian market. For example, their super popular Baccarat game was introduced with no less than eight side bets this year. The existing Lucky 6 was accompanied by Big and Small Lucky 6, Lucky 7, Big and Small Lucky 7, and Super Lucky 7. What is more, their solution also features the latest side bets, recently approved in Macau: Pairs+, Monkey/No Monkey, and 4/5/6 cards.

Spintec also spotlighted their flagship game Galactic Spin, which has received an extremely interesting upgrade this year. Spintec introduced a release which integrates no less than three roulette games: a classic version, a version with multipliers, and Galactic Spin with free spins. All three are available to the player to choose from, but the choice is rarely simple as they are all extremely immersive and fun.

Spintec introduces new Baccarat side bets at G2E Asia 2026

To support this dynamic playing environment, Spintec also premiered their MultiView game platform. It allows players to seamlessly display and participate in up to four different games simultaneously on a single screen, with the option to expand any game to full screen directly from the split view. Dipping in and out of different games has never been so simple and intuitive.

A built-in lobby allows players to browse and filter available games by type and choose the one they like best. The MultiView platform currently supports roulette and baccarat, with other games coming soon. As a special mode of operation, the platform also features a fast-switching game functionality, specifically developed for multi-table baccarat.

Eye shaped roulette and dice had a debut in Asia at G2E and garnered a lot of attention. It accommodates up to 12 players engaging in three different games simultaneously: roulette, Sic Bo and craps. It delivers an exceptionally rich gameplay through a wide range of betting options. In this special edition it also featured Spintec’s flagship game Galactic Spin and Dragons Jackpot, the amazing three-level progressive jackpot. 

Spintec introduces new Baccarat side bets at G2E Asia 2026

The visitors at G2E Asia also had an opportunity to experience first-hand what Spintec’s dedicated tournament experience can do. Its player-focused design serves a single purpose: to keep players engaged for longer while sustaining the excitement and competitive spirit that tournaments are known for.

It features a LED wall showcasing dynamic content for both players and spectators, presenting live information across individual roulette and baccarat games while supporting live, automated, and virtual formats. Game graphics are tailored specially for LED walls, including a reimagined implementation for baccarat. The entire setup was extremely well received at the G2E, as these types of gaming experiences are becoming more and more popular across the globe.

Over 4M Thai Gen Z users drawn into online gambling: police

Viviana Chan
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Over 4M Thai Gen Z users drawn into online gambling: police

More than 4 million Thai Gen Z users aged 15 to 25 had become involved in online gambling by early 2026, according to statistics and analysis by the Information Technology Crime Suppression Center under the Royal Thai Police, as reported by local media outlet The Nation.

Authorities said many of them were new gamblers.

Police found that online gambling platforms have increasingly used hidden advertising through influencers, live broadcasts and short-form videos to reach young people, particularly those facing economic pressure. Authorities warned that these platforms often present gambling as a way to earn quick money but can lead users to lose large sums.

The center also found that online gambling networks have evolved beyond traditional mule accounts, using juristic-person accounts, PayPal, cross-border intermediary accounts and cryptocurrency to move money.

Pol Lt Gen Trairong Phiwphan, deputy inspector-general and deputy director of the Information Technology Crime Suppression Center, said police units have continued taking action against people involved in the online gambling ecosystem, including influencers who promote gambling.

From October 1st, 2025, to May 20th, 2026, the Royal Thai Police and related agencies blocked 717,425 URLs across websites and social media platforms, including Facebook, Line and TikTok.

Between May and June, the center targeted 309 online gambling websites. Authorities are also preparing tougher monitoring and enforcement ahead of the World Cup in June 2026, with artificial intelligence being used to help detect online football betting activity.

Jeju Dream Tower May casino sales rise 19.5% to $33M on stronger table games

Viviana Chan
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Jeju Dream Tower May casino sales rise 19.5% to $33M on stronger table games

Casino sales at Jeju Dream Tower rose 19.5 percent year-on-year in May to KRW49.42 billion ($32.75 million), according to figures disclosed by operator Lotte Tour Development.

The May figure compares to KRW 41.36 billion (US$27.41 million) recorded in the same month last year.

On a month-on-month basis, casino sales increased 1.0 percent from KRW48.94 billion ($32.43 million) in April.

Table game sales accounted for most of the total, rising 19.3 percent year-on-year to KRW47.00 billion ($31.14 million). Machine sales increased 23.6 percent to KRW2.43 billion ($1.61 million).

Casino drop also increased in May, reaching KRW256.77 billion a($170.15 million), compared with KRW216.33 billion ($143.35 million) a year earlier and KRW237.67 billion ($157.49 million) in April.

Casino visitor volume stood at 63,192 in May, up 23.4 percent from 51,207 in May 2025 and 8.0 percent from 58,534 in April 2026.

For the first 5 months of 2026, casino sales reached KRW216.99 billion ($143.79 million), up 36.7 percent from KRW158.79 billion ($105.22 million) in the prior-year period. Table game sales totaled KRW206.54 billion ($136.86 million), while machine sales reached KRW10.45 billion ($6.93 million).

Hotel sales at Jeju Dream Tower came to KRW7.50 billion ($4.97 million) in May, down 5.4 percent year-on-year but up 1.7 percent from April.

The May result came as Jeju Dream Tower is expected to benefit from several growth factors cited by local brokerage Hana Securities. These include the launch of a new rolling chip program, which the brokerage said could add more than KRW100 billion ($66.27 million) in annual revenue for Lotte Tour Development, as well as additional gaming tables and slot machines and a higher allocation of hotel rooms for casino complimentary use.

The Star Sydney fined $7.2M over historical compliance breaches

Viviana Chan
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The Star Sydney fined $7.2M over historical compliance breaches

The Star Sydney has been fined AU$10 million ($7.19 million) by the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) over historical compliance breaches, including financial crime risk management failures, gambling harm matters and other regulatory breaches.

The penalties, announced on June 1st, also include an enforceable undertaking requiring the casino to set aside a further AU$5 million ($3.6 million) to strengthen technology supporting its financial crime risk management operations.

The action followed investigations by Liquor & Gaming NSW into thousands of breaches at The Star, which were outlined in 4 separate disciplinary matters and referred to the NICC for enforcement action.

The largest penalty was AU$5 million ($3.6 million) for systemic failures in financial crime risk operations between July 2023 and September 2025. The same matter also led to the enforceable undertaking, with the dedicated remediation fund intended to support upgrades to The Star Sydney’s technological capability.

The regulator also imposed an AU$3 million ($2.16 million) penalty for allowing casino reward points to be converted to cash involving at least 1,898 patrons between December 2018 and November 2023.

The Star Entertainment, Sydney, Australia_

The Star Sydney was also fined AU$1.5 million ($1.08 million) for allowing customers to gamble continuously without breaks longer than prescribed time limits between May 2024 and April 2025, and AU$500,000 ($359,700) for failing to prevent an excluded patron from entering the casino on 9 occasions between February and May 2024.

NICC Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford said the disciplinary matters were “disappointing” but noted progress under new leadership.

“While we are optimistic about The Star’s remediation progress, the casino’s recent poor compliance history has also factored into the Commission’s decision,” Crawford said.

He added that the fines and enforceable undertaking reflected “the seriousness with which the NICC considers any breaches that leave customers vulnerable to gambling harm or casinos vulnerable to criminal infiltration.”

The Star CEO and Managing Director, Bruce Mathieson Jr., said the company takes its regulatory obligations seriously and welcomed the ability to pay the penalties progressively until June 30th, 2027.

“We will continue to engage constructively with the NICC in respect of The Star Sydney as we work through our remediation program. I am confident that we are making progress,” Mathieson said.

The Star Sydney’s casino license remains suspended, with NICC-appointed manager Nick Weeks continuing to oversee casino operations until September 30th, 2026. The venue is allowed to continue operating gaming facilities during the suspension period under the management of the NICC-appointed manager.

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