By popular demand, and to better accommodate patrons’ requests, organizers Asia Gaming Brief have the pleasure to announce the dates of the ASEAN Gaming Summit, taking place on May 6th, 7th and 8th of 2026. The 2027 edition will return to the traditional calendar slot of March 15th -17th, 2027.
Join us at ASEAN 2026 where over a three-day event the industry explores the relevant developments across new and emerging markets, regulatory changes, and the innovations that drive us forward.
The theme of the 8th edition of the international conference focuses on the reversal of roles, as Asian companies now lead the way in investments and expansion to emerging and global markets.
Leading stakeholders from across the industry will discuss success stories of Westbound Asian companies seeking opportunities in other burgeoning markets, particularly in South America.
Engage with established Regulators, Operators, Suppliers and Service Providers in this exclusive networking opportunity, for insights into your planning for the ever-evolving industry trends.
This is the moment to seize our Early Bird Special! Register now and take advantage of discounted rates, available for a limited time only.
Join us at the Asia Gaming Awards 2026 Ceremony, on Wednesday, May 6th, where the industry comes together to celebrate achievements, growth and innovations with their peers.
Stay tuned for more details on the 8th edition of the ASEAN Gaming Summit and the 2026 Asia Gaming Awards.
Hann Reserve is holding a soft opening for the first of three golf courses scheduled for its massive Hann Reserve project today, as it advances its 450-hectare development in New Clark City, Tarlac, Philippines.
The 18-hole golf course is designed by Nicklaus Design and will feature a golf and country club and the first stage of a public park. It’s scheduled to officially open in March.
The opening schedule was outlined by Hann Philippines Vice-President Agnes A. Liwanag in a briefing on Wednesday, with the executive indicating that the group was hoping to finalize Hann Reserve’s next phase “in 2030”, depending on the market.
“Building on what we have achieved in Clark, Hann Reserve represents the next phase of our growth,” stated Liwanag, as reported by Business World.
The second phase of development is set to include a river golf course designed by pro golfer Nick Faldo, alongside residential, retail and golf entertainment amenities, its next segments of a public park and an international school. Hann Reserve will also include an integrated resort, complementing its expansions at Hann Casino Resort in the Clark Freeport Zone.
Hann Resorts, operated by Hann Philippines Inc., has invested more than PHP50 billion ($873 million) to date in its Clark integrated resort. Hann Reserve is its largest undertaking so far, with total investment projected at around $4 billion.
Konami’s Gaming and Systems division saw a strong decrease in profit for the nine months ended December 31st, 2025, affected by US tariff measures and ‘customers’ reluctance in purchasing’ ahead of its new cabinet launch.
Business profit for the segment amounted to nearly JPY1.82 billion ($11.89 million), down by 61.4 percent, despite revenue falling by just 5.7 percent yearly, to nearly JPY28.71 billion ($187.62 million).
Speaking of markets, the group noted that North America and Australia ‘remained stable’ during the period yet ‘continue to experience the constant introduction of new products by competing slot machine manufacturers’.
To help face the competition, the group introduced its ‘first new cabinet model in approximately six years’, the Solstice series.
Boosting the segment is the new installation of the group’s SYNKROS casino management system at ‘several casino facilities, including those in California in the US, as well as at cruise ships’. The group also notes that it has expanded the feature of its player facial recognition solution for slot machines to table games.
In regards to iGaming, the group launched its Konami Online Interactive brand, with hopes to expand its market share.
Konami notes that the current competitive gaming market requires ‘stronger product appeal’, noting that it is ‘engaged in developing new slot machines, new gaming content, and new features for the casino management system. We will also expand our efforts in the Specialty Markets and iGaming’.
Looking ahead, it highlights its gaming-related vendor license in the UAE, referencing the opening of Wynn Al Marjan Island in 2027 and indicating the group will continue efforts ‘to seize new market opportunities.’
Looking at the group’s performance during the nine-month period, Konami notes that ‘total revenue, business profit, operating profit, profit before income taxes, and profit attributable to owners of the parent all reached record highs for two consecutive fiscal years, mainly driven by the continued strong performance of key titles in the Digital Entertainment business.’
Revenue for Konami was up by 13.6 percent overall in the nine-month period, to JPY353.02 billion ($2.3 billion), with a 16.3 percent increase in revenue from its Digital Entertainment arm, which hit JPY266.2 billion ($1.74 billion). Profit was up 17.8 percent yearly, to JPY74.34 billion ($485.86 million).
Looking ahead, the group is expecting revenue to reach JPY468 billion ($3.06 billion) for the 12-month period ending March 31st, 2026, up by JPY38 billion ($248.33 million) from its previous estimate and an increase of JPY46.4 billion ($303.23 million) year-on-year. Profit attributable to owners is expected to reach JPY86 billion ($562.01 million), JPY11 billion ($71.89 million) ahead of its initial guidance and rising by JPY11.3 billion ($73.85 million)yearly.
For its Gaming & Systems segment, revenue is expected to match initial guidance, at JPY43 billion ($281.01 million), up by JPY300 million ($1.96 million) yearly. Profit from the segment is expected to drop by JPY2.4 billion ($15.68 million) yearly, to JPY5 billion ($32.68 million), down by JPY2.5 billion ($16.34 million) compared to its initial expectations.
International iGaming brand 1win has announced the upcoming launch of 1win Token, a native crypto asset designed to grow alongside the 1win ecosystem. The token to be deployed on both Solana and BNB Chain, offering benefits from both blockchain environments.
The airdrop criteria tasks are officially announced. It is available exclusively to users of the 1win Token TMA (Telegram Mini App) — a tap-to-earn mini-game that has attracted millions of participants since launch.
“The bigger the platform gets, the more revenue it generates, the more tokens are bought back and burned”, said Alex Filkin, Head of Crypto at 1win. “It’s a transparent model directly linked to real product usage and platform growth.”
1win Token was developed for iGaming-related utility and is designed for use across the 1win platform.
Play-based usage: $1WIN can be used within games, sports wagering features, and lottery-style modes available on the platform.
Cashback mechanics: Periodic cashback distributions are facilitated in tokens through an automated repurchase mechanism.
Network compatibility: The token is supported across both Solana and BNB networks, allowing use with different tools and wallets.
To maintain long-term balance and utility, 1win Token uses two independent mechanisms: Weekly Buyback (for Cashback) and Daily Token Burn.
The mechanics of the Weekly Buyback are simple. Every week, 1win allocates a portion of platform-generated revenue, derived from both fiat and digital asset activity, to repurchase tokens from the open market. Repurchased tokens are then allocated to users who elect to receive $1WIN cashback.
When platform activity is conducted directly using 1win Token, cashback distributions are sourced from existing token-related platform allocations, and no repurchase activity occurs within that cycle.
Daily Token Burn works differently.Every day, 10% of all 1win Tokens spent on the platform — in games, lotteries, BattlePass, etc. — are burned forever. This helps reduce the total supply over time, making the remaining tokens scarcer.
The total supply is limited to 10 billion tokens, split between BNB Chain and Solana. This amount is locked in the smart contracts and can never be increased. All mechanics — buybacks, burns, and cashback payouts — are automated and fully transparent, handled by audited smart contracts on both blockchains.
Key Benefits for Users and Token Holders
For Players:
Crypto-based deposit bonus programs with defined limits
Expedited deposit and withdrawal processing, typically under 90 seconds
Access to lottery-style features for 1win Token holders
Eligibility for participation in a TMA-based airdrop mechanism
For DeFi users:
Ongoing token demand mechanisms supported by weekly repurchase activity
Dual-chain access across decentralized exchanges and liquidity pools
Staking and reward mechanisms designed for on-chain participation
Vesting frameworks intended to manage token distribution dynamics
The project has already received interest from participants across the crypto and gaming communities.
Kambi Group has completed its transition into the contractual lead for OLG’s multi‑channel sportsbook, finalizing a novation agreement with FDJ Gaming Solutions France (FDJ) and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).
The completion follows the announcement in 2025 that Kambi had been selected by FDJ to take over FDJ’s role as OLG’s long-term sports betting partner, with OLG’s consent and pending the satisfaction and completion of specific conditions.
With these conditions now met, Kambi has officially assumed responsibility for the provision of sports betting services to OLG across both its retail and digital channels, with OLG recently going live with its Kambi-powered sportsbook on 27 January.
OLG offers sports betting through PROLINE (retail) and PROLINE+ (online), with 100 per cent of its profits reinvested into Ontario. Powered by Kambi’s Turnkey Sportsbook, OLG’s sports betting operations will benefit from Kambi’s market-leading technology and services, designed to deliver a scalable, compliant, and engaging betting experience for players.
Commenting on the deal, Kambi Group CEO Werner Becher said: “We are delighted to have officially completed this transition and to begin this next chapter of our partnership with OLG. Having met the necessary conditions of the novation agreement, Kambi is excited to become the official sportsbook provider and to have launched with one of the world’s most respected lottery operators. We value our partnership with OLG and look forward to leveraging our proven technology to help them drive sustainable growth and provide a safe and entertaining betting product for their customers in Ontario.”
“OLG strives to provide a market-leading PROLINE sports betting experience for our players,” added Duncan Hannay, OLG President and CEO. “We look forward to working alongside our new partner, Kambi, who offers a proven track record of product excellence and reliability, as we deliver on our commitment to give back to the people and communities of Ontario. This is an exciting step forward for both organizations.”
Leading with a ‘people-first’ approach, MGM China earned six national and international HR honors, distinguishing itself as the only company in Macau to receive the ATD Excellence in Practice Award this year.
Often described within the industry as the “Oscars” of talent development, the Association for Talent Development (ATD) awards recognize outstanding practices that align learning and talent development strategies with business objectives and deliver measurable results.
Standing out among a highly competitive international field, MGM was honored in the categories of Career Development, Customer Service Training, and Learning and Development, becoming one of only 47 award-winning organizations worldwide.
MGM was also recognized at the 5th National Human Resources Innovation Competition with three HR Lead honors, acknowledging its leadership in employer branding, talent development, and human resources leadership.
Kenneth Feng, CEO and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited, said: “Receiving these six honors reflects MGM’s long-term commitment to nurturing local talent in Macau and demonstrates that our efforts are being recognized at both international and national levels. We will continue to uphold our core principles while embracing innovation, translating this approach into action by establishing clear career development pathways that support the long-term growth of our team members. We are also sincerely grateful for the strong support from government departments and the wider community, whose valuable resources and guidance across multiple training programs have helped our employees enhance their professional competitiveness.”
MGM firmly believes that talent is a cornerstone of long-term business success. In 2025, team members participated in more than 1.2 million hours of training, averaging 88 hours per employee—placing MGM well ahead of industry benchmarks.
Supported by a forward-looking human resources strategy, MGM has earned widespread recognition through international and national awards over the years, securing 39 accolades in the past year alone and accumulating more than 260 honors in the field of human resources to date.
Looking ahead, the MGM Academy will continue to foster a strong learning culture, work closely with community and industry partners, and translate training outcomes into day-to-day operations to support long-term talent development in Macau and the Greater Bay Area.
SOFTSWISS has introduced a new Notification Center within its Casino Platform, designed to help operators communicate with players more effectively directly inside the casino interface, improving engagement, retention, and overall gaming experience.
The new feature addresses one of the industry’s long-standing challenges – ensuring that important messages actually reach players. The Notification Center acts as a centralised in-site inbox where all communications are stored in one place, allowing players to easily access messages whenever they return to the platform. Unlike email or web-push notifications, which are often missed or limited by user activity, the inbox ensures that no messages are lost.
The Notification Center also supports multiple message types and works seamlessly across both desktop and mobile devices, along with a wide range of scenarios, including promotional campaigns, feature updates, system and security-related messages. This unified approach closes common communication gaps by making notifications consistently visible, even for players who seldom check their email inbox.
By strengthening direct, in-platform communication with players, the Notification Center delivers measurable value for operators, including:
Detailed player segmentation with more relevant and targeted messages;
Clearer, more organised communication that encourages repeat visits;
Improved player awareness of feature updates and system changes;
More reliable delivery of compliance-critical messages, including KYC updates;
Higher player retention and lifetime value over time.
Together, these improvements are expected to increase deposit attempts and drive GGR growth within the first three months after launch.
Alexander Lupych, Deputy Chief Product Officer at SOFTSWISS, commented on the release: “The Notification Center is another step towards a true player-first approach. It allows players to receive real-time notifications and provides operators with more accurate analytics on their communication campaigns. Players now have an inbox with convenient categorisation of incoming messages, including real-time websocket notifications and Customer.io messages, all accessible within the platform.”
Play’n GO introduces Piggy Blitz Casino Gold, a vibrant sequel delivering an immersive gaming experience on a 6×4 grid. Featuring 4,096 ways to win, the title brings the ‘Gold Piggy’ feature and ‘Blitz Spinz‘ to the forefront, all set within a meticulously designed neon casino stage
With our debonair Casino Host Piggy as your guide past the velvet ropes, the gleaming Gold Piggy mascot keeps a cheeky watch over the cabinet. Piggy Blitz Casino Gold is casino nightlife distilled into a single experience: it’s polished, playful, and primed for every center-stage moment.
A playful wink runs through the presentation: purple felt, chrome trims and chunky symbols – bells, cards, crowns and more – all tuned to the razzle of a live show. Between quickfire coin scoops from Piggy Bank cameos and the ever-teasing presence of that Gold Piggy, momentum builds naturally while the room crackles with possibilities. A visible Bonus Game Multiplier also grows during base play and later powers the headline bonus, amplifying the sense of theatre without breaking the flow.
Moving beyond a simple list of mechanics, the game creates a narrative loop where players transition from buzzing base play into Blitz, Free, or Mystery Spinz, while the persistent Gold Piggy above the reels swells with uncollected coins—a character-led flourish that reinforces the spectacle on both desktop and mobile through a clean, readable UI.
“Piggy is a natural showman,” said Magnus Wallentin, Games Ambassador at Play’n GO. “We built the pacing around his charisma – from that growing multiplier to the way coins take centre stage – so the whole game buzzes with character.”
Fans of Play’n GO’s personality-driven slots will feel at home here. Piggy Blitz Casino Gold blends clarity, colour and a touch of mischief, creating a cohesive world where the host drives the tempo and the room responds in kind. The result is an experience that feels curated rather than chaotic.
Cebu’s attractiveness to Chinese tourists has been significantly enhanced by the Philippines’ visa-free entry policy, according to the Chinese Consul General in Cebu, who said the measure has lowered travel barriers and strengthened the country’s competitive position against other Asian destinations targeting the Chinese market.
Speaking to the media on January 27th, as cited by news website FLW PH, Chinese Consul General Zhang Zhen said the visa-free arrangement allows Chinese travelers to visit the Philippines, including Cebu, in a more convenient and seamless manner. She described the policy as a constructive and positive step that gives the Philippines an edge over rival destinations also seeking to attract Chinese visitors.
Zhang said Cebu is particularly well placed to benefit from the policy, noting that it is one of the Philippines’ key tourism gateways outside Metro Manila. As competition for Chinese tourists intensifies across Southeast Asia, she said Cebu’s ability to further strengthen its appeal could translate into tangible gains for the local tourism economy. Chinese tourists, she added, are highly valued not only within the region but globally.
According to Zhang, Cebu’s core advantage lies in the character of its people, whom she described as warm, open-minded, and hospitable—qualities that align closely with the expectations of Chinese travelers. She said this social and cultural openness is a distinctive strength of the Philippines and a major reason the destination resonates with Chinese visitors.
However, Zhang cautioned that fully realizing the benefits of the visa-free policy will require continued improvements to infrastructure and service quality. Key areas include air connectivity, ground transportation, public safety, and the availability of Mandarin-language services, all of which directly shape the visitor experience.
As part of the broader tourism ecosystem, Cebu is also home to integrated resorts such as NUSTAR Resort & Casino and the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino, which offer gaming, dining, and entertainment facilities and add to the destination’s diversified visitor appeal.
Deutsche Bank has raised its earnings estimates and price target for Las Vegas Sands Corp (LVS) following the group’s 4Q25 results, citing stronger-than-expected performance at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) that more than offset softer trends in Macau.
The revisions were described as ‘modest’, with gains driven entirely by Singapore and partially offset by lower forecasts for Macau, according to the bank’s latest research note.
In its post-results assessment, Deutsche Bank analyst Steven Pizzella said LVS delivered upside to expectations at MBS, while Macau once again fell short of forecasts. MBS generated property-level EBITDA of $761 million on a hold-adjusted basis, around $85 million above Deutsche Bank’s estimate and roughly $76 million ahead of consensus. By contrast, Macau property EBITDA of $576 million, after hold adjustments, missed consensus by about $45 million.
As a result, Deutsche Bank lifted its price target on LVS and reaffirmed its buy rating. It added that the target increase reflects higher forecasts and a higher multiple applied to MBS, which it views as the group’s largest EBITDA contributor, highest-multiple asset, and wholly owned business.
Two speeds across LVS’s portfolio
Deutsche Bank outlined several positive factors underpinning its view. It noted that MBS continues to expand, with hold-normalized EBITDA up about 36 percent year-on-year in the fourth quarter, following similarly strong growth in the previous two quarters. Management remains confident in the outlook for MBS, citing potential for further growth if macroeconomic conditions remain supportive.
In Macau, the Londoner Macao continued to ramp up, with adjusted EBITDA rising about 40 percent yearly in the quarter and moving toward an estimated $1 billion run-rate EBITDA. The bank also pointed to ongoing capital returns, highlighting another $500 million of LVS share repurchases in the fourth quarter and additional buybacks of Sands China shares.
On the negative side, Deutsche Bank flagged continued margin pressure in Macau. Macau EBITDA again missed consensus despite net revenue coming in slightly above expectations, reflecting weaker flow-through, incremental event expenses, and higher payroll costs. Hold-normalized margins in Macau were down about 405 basis points year-on-year, while LVS’s Macau hold-adjusted EBITDA declined around 2 percent despite overall market gross gaming revenue growth of roughly 15 percent.
CLSA: focus remains on absolute EBITDA growth
In a separate report focused solely on Sands China, CLSA also pointed to margin pressure in Macau but emphasized management’s longer-term priorities.
CLSA analyst Jeffrey Kiang noted that EBITDA margins contracted due to higher operating expenses and a heavier mix of premium gaming segments. However, the brokerage said management remains focused on growing absolute EBITDA rather than near-term margins.
‘Going forward, Sands China’s key focus is still on growing the absolute EBITDA, though the company sees some stability in the promotional intensity,’ CLSA said, adding that this approach reflects a more normalized competitive environment in Macau.
Despite the headwinds in Macau, CLSA continues to rate Sands China as Outperform.
