The Cambodian Interior Ministry has firmly rejected misleading reports from the Thai news outlet Khaosod English, which alleged that Thai Marines had seized a significant cache of Cambodian arms at the Thmor Da Casino.
In an official statement, the ministry’s spokesperson dismissed the assertions made by Khaosod English, clarifying that the images and location referenced in the article do not correspond to the Thmor Da Casino area, The Khmer Times reported.
Instead, the location in question is identified as “Gate 56 of Border Patrol Police,” part of the Border Protection Police Battalion 825, under the jurisdiction of the Pursat Provincial Police. This area is entirely located within Cambodian territory.
The ministry highlighted that the circulation of such inaccurate information betrays a malicious intent and directly contradicts the principles outlined in Paragraph 8 of the Joint Statement from the recent meeting of the Special General Border Committee (GBC) between Cambodia and Thailand, held on December 27th, 2025.
This paragraph emphasizes a mutual agreement to avoid spreading false information to ease tensions and promote a constructive dialogue.
Moreover, the Interior Ministry pointed out that claiming the seizure of weapons from a Cambodian police facility amounts to an act of plunder, highlighting what they term a violation of sovereignty by Thai authorities and military personnel.
The ministry stressed that Thailand must take responsibility for its actions under international law.
It reiterated its complete rejection of Khaosod English’s report and urged Thai officials to cease all aggressive actions. The ministry called for adherence to the principles outlined in the Joint Statement, advocating for a peaceful resolution grounded in mutual respect, goodwill, and trust.
Malaysian company Mega Fortris Bhd has scrapped plans to build a new playing card facility in Macau, opting instead to expand its Shah Alam operations with a second manufacturing line to cut costs.
According to a bourse filing on Tuesday, RM45 million ($11.25 million) of the RM99.07 million ($24.77 million) raised from its IPO—originally earmarked for the Macau plant—will now be allocated to the Shah Alam expansion, a warehouse in Macau, and working capital. The revised use of proceeds requires shareholder approval.
The new line will lift annual output to 44 million decks from 19 million, with installation targeted by 3Q2026 and operations beginning in 4Q2026. The Macau warehouse is scheduled to open in 2Q2027.
Beyond casino and distributor supply, Mega Fortris plans to diversify into collectible cards, including sports and entertainment, leveraging automated machinery capable of printing, cutting, laminating, inspecting, and packaging multiple card types.
The company cited difficulties securing industrial space in Macau and rising rental costs as reasons for the pivot, estimating RM11.2 million ($2.80 million) in capital savings by concentrating production in Malaysia.
Of the IPO proceeds, RM37.42 million ($9.36 million) will now support the card printing business—including the Macau centre setup—while RM7.58 million ($1.90 million) will cover working capital such as staff salaries.
Mega Fortris also terminated its memorandum of understanding with VS International Group Limited, which had been slated as its subcontractor in Macau, with no claims arising.
Good Morning. Where the game goes, attention follows. The NBA will return to Macau this October, with the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks set to play two pre-season games at the Venetian Arena. Beyond the basketball itself, the visit shows how Macau operator Sands China continues to use major international events to broaden its entertainment offering. It is another example of the city’s appeal to global sports and entertainment brands. Meanwhile, in Australia, gaming remains a key source of public revenue, with New South Wales reporting steady growth in club and hotel gaming machine profits, even as authorities consider tighter regulatory controls.
The NBA will stage two pre-season games between the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks in Macau this October, continuing a five-year partnership with Sands China. Beyond basketball, the event supports Macau’s broader push to diversify into non-gaming entertainment, with week-long fan activities, youth programmes, and community initiatives aimed at strengthening the city’s profile as an international sports and events hub.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) reported a near 20 percent increase in World Pool turnover on non-Hong Kong races in 2025, driven by an expansion in the number of racedays and jurisdictions included in the commingled betting platform.
According to a report from the Racing Post, turnover on overseas races rose to HK$9.3 billion ($1.19 billion), up from HK$7.8 billion ($1.00 billion) a year earlier.
The growth was underpinned by a rise in the number of international meetings commingled into World Pool from outside Hong Kong, which increased from 48 in 2024 to 57 in 2025, representing an 18.75 percent year-on-year increase. The additional fixtures broadened World Pool’s global footprint and helped lift betting volumes across multiple markets.
A key highlight of the year was a record-breaking single-race turnover, fueled by the participation of Ka Ying Rising, widely regarded as Hong Kong’s top horse, in The Everest at Randwick Racecourse. The race generated HK$83 million ($10.65 million) in World Pool bets, surpassing the previous record of HK$66.2 million ($8.50 million) set during the 2023 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, when Hong Kong sprinter Wellington competed.
Andrew Harding, executive director of racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said the platform had delivered a strong performance over the past year. “It’s been a very positive year for World Pool. We’ve had more racedays and jurisdictions involved than ever before, and we’ve seen turnover records broken too,” he said.
Harding added that World Pool’s expansion has supported the globalization of horse racing by creating additional revenue streams for racecourses and rights holders, contributing to higher prize money. Looking ahead, he said the club expects further growth in 2026, with plans to expand the fixture list and reach more racing fans worldwide.
In 2025, all of Hong Kong’s Group 1 races were included in World Pool for the first time, generating HK$1.6 billion ($205 million) in turnover. This brought total World Pool turnover across all races to HK$10.9 billion ($1.40 billion) for the year. Overall, 329 races were run under the World Pool banner across ten jurisdictions.
New South Wales clubs and hotels generated nearly AU$4.9 billion ($3.28 billion) in net gaming machine profits in the third quarter of 2025 according to state data released this week, representing an 8.7 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Data published by the Liquor & Gaming NSW shows that licensed clubs recorded about AU$2.71 billion ($1.81 billion) in net profit from electronic gaming machines between June 1 and August 31, 2025 (an 8.9 percent increase over 2024), while hotels earned roughly AU$2.19 billion ($1.47 billion) in the three months to September 30, 2025 (an 8.5 percent increase).
Taxes paid to the state government from gaming machines totalled more than AU$1.4 billion ($937.14 million), a 10.2 percent rise year-on-year.
Clubs contributed around AU$566 million ($378.87 million), up 10.6 percent, and hotels AU$835 million ($558.94 million), up 10 percent, reinforcing gambling revenue as a major source of public funding.
In the clubs sector, Fairfield in western Sydney posted the highest net profit at approximately AU$128 million ($85.68 million), an 8.4 percent increase from the previous year.
This was followed by Canterbury-Bankstown with about AU$112 million ($74.97 million), up 6.4 percent, and Cumberland on roughly AU$78 million ($52.21 million), up 9.2 percent. Other high-earning areas including Blacktown, Liverpool and Penrith also reported growth in quarterly gaming profits.
Hotel gaming revenue was led by the City of Sydney, which recorded net profits of just over AU$102 million ($68.28 million), a 5 percent increase from 2024.
This was ahead of Canterbury-Bankstown at around AU$90 million ($60.24 million), up 5.9 percent, and Cumberland with about AU$63 million ($42.17 million), up 2 percent. Strong results were also reported in Parramatta, Blacktown and Liverpool, reflecting sustained demand across metropolitan Sydney.
The figures show that gaming revenue remains heavily concentrated in a small number of local government areas, particularly in western and south-western Sydney. Several councils recorded more than 400 electronic gaming machines per 100,000 residents, significantly above the state average, according to the data.
Electronic gaming machines remain one of the largest sources of gambling revenue in Australia, and the latest figures come as state authorities continue to review harm-minimisation measures, including cashless gaming trials, tighter advertising rules and limits on machine numbers.
Interblock, a leading developer and supplier of gaming products, will present its latest innovations at ICE Barcelona 2026 from 19–21 January, inviting attendees to explore new AMUSE, slot machine, and ETG offerings at Stand 3E70.
Interblock will introduce AMUSE in Europe for the first time within an enclosed section of its stand. Designed for players of legal age, AMUSE blends arcade-style play with real-money wagering to create a new category of casino entertainment that is intuitive, interactive, and built for high engagement.
Casino floors have historically centered around three core segments: slots, table games, and ETGs. AMUSE is emerging as a fourth category, built around randomized titles that are easy to learn and immediately familiar, while delivering a distinctly different style of play.
At ICE 2026 Interblock will highlight several AMUSE titles at ICE, including:
FreeFall – a vertical ball release through a pinball-inspired path;
Battle for Earth – a crash game that’s out of this world;
Avalanche Roulette – a spin on roulette with multi-ball action;
Dragon Bonus Wheel – a glowing wheel with dragon-themed bonus rounds;
Showtime Frenzy – a reimagined classic with the opportunity to multiply winnings each round;
Destroyer: Naval Strike – a casino-floor adaptation inspired by the popular board game.
The AMUSE product line was recently voted Most Innovative Technology at G2E 2025 in the Eilers-Fantini Vendor Survey, earning nearly a quarter of all operator submissions among more than 400 exhibitors. The category is expected to generate similar excitement at ICE Barcelona, driven by its ability to broaden appeal, deepen engagement, and support incremental revenue opportunities.
John Connelly, Global CEO of Interblock
“ICE Barcelona is a global hub for innovation, and it’s where the industry comes to preview what’s next,” said John Connelly, Global CEO of Interblock. “We’re excited to bring AMUSE to market as operators recognize a growing interest in experiences that bridge entertainment and wagering. Alongside AMUSE, we’re showcasing a broader portfolio that gives casinos more ways to diversify their offering and increase engagement.”
Expanded Slot Offering
Interblock will also present a new collection of slot machines enabled by its strategic acquisition of Zuum Limited. The expanded lineup supports a wider range of property types and operating models, including multi-game configurations for Spanish arcade and bar markets.
Products from the slot portfolio on display at ICE include:
Dra Dra Dragon
Dra Dra Dragon – a dragon-themed slot game with an expanded display;
Aztec Riches – a slot experience inspired by the Aztec world and its treasures;
Opera and Melody Cabinets – an enhanced multi-game format featuring 4K visuals and high-quality sound, well suited for land-based and cruise ship environments.
The addition of slots expands Interblock’s presence across the casino floor while reinforcing its long-standing role in electronic table games. For years, Interblock has helped establish ETGs as a core casino category by delivering table-style gameplay paired with premium design, scalable configurations, and experiences that are practical to operate and compelling for players.
ETGs That Operators Trust
Interblock continues to advance ETGs through four distinct portfolios: Stadium, Smart Pit, Standalones, and Universal Cabinets. Each portfolio is designed to address real operational needs while preserving authentic table gameplay.
At ICE, Interblock will feature key ETG solutions, including:
Grand Crystal 2 Roulette
Smart Pit – a live dealer pit offering Blackjack, Baccarat, and now Poker, using real dealers and physical game elements, with digital bet placement for accurate payouts and stronger game protection;
Reel Roulette – a blend of traditional single-zero roulette with slot-style payout potential, featuring upgrades tailored for the Spanish arcade market, including an updated player interface inspired by Interblock’s Organic line and a new Dual Roulette interface on BlackPearl that enables automated and virtual play simultaneously;
Grand Crystal 2 Roulette – a premium, single-zero electronic game featuring bonus moments that can deliver up to 1000x on a straight bet;
Vertical Roulette – a single-player cabinet featuring Grand Crystal 2 Roulette.
Roulette remains one of Europe’s most played games, and Interblock’s roulette portfolio includes a title that has ranked as the EMEA’s number one top-indexing ETG. This performance reflects sustained player demand and strong operator results.
Interblock’s momentum across Europe and beyond continues, with total seats installed up nearly 200% since 2023 and double-digit growth projected through 2026. The innovations on display at ICE Barcelona reflect what operators are prioritizing today: authentic table play, modern interfaces, scalable configurations, and experiences that encourage repeat play.
Award Recognition Heading Into ICE
Interblock enters ICE Barcelona with seventeen (17) combined nominations across four prestigious award shows. Finalist recognition spans categories including Casino Supplier of the Year, Product Launch of the Year for AMUSE, Global Gaming Company of the Year, Innovator of the Year for AMUSE, Most Innovative Supplier, and Best New Innovative Product. These nominations underscore a standout year of innovation and continued momentum.
Looking Ahead
Interblock’s presence at ICE Barcelona comes as the company continues expanding its land-based portfolio while preparing for the launch of its new online platform in 2026. In the United States, nearly 90% of Las Vegas Strip operators are committed to AMUSE, signaling strong confidence in the category and its potential to scale across global markets. With AMUSE, an expanded slots lineup, and continued ETG innovation, Interblock is positioned to deliver a unified entertainment experience across the casino floor and, soon, online.
Break The ICE at Stand 3E70
Interblock invites industry professionals to visit Stand 3E70 at ICE Barcelona 2026 to see its latest innovations on display and to meet with the team to discuss the future of gaming across land-based and online environments.
To schedule a private booth tour, contact a dedicated Interblock representative or [email protected]. Media tours and interviews may be requested through [email protected].
GR8 Tech, a high-performance sportsbook and iGaming solutions provider, will present Champions Club at ICE Barcelona 2026 (booth 1C50), introducing an ecosystem built to develop and connect iGaming champions.
Sergey Ghazaryan, CRO at GR8 Tech
Built on the Heavyweight Club legacy, it moves beyond boxing to celebrate champions across sport, business, and technology—for operators who perform under pressure and refuse all things average.
“Last year, Heavyweight Club really landed because it was honest. Performance is earned,” said Sergey Ghazaryan, CRO at GR8 Tech. “For ICE 2026, Champions Club is the next step. It’s bigger than boxing. It’s about what makes champions in this industry: strong teams, smart execution, and the platform that helps you win consistently.”
What’s On Show: Live Demos Across The Platform For Champions Portfolio
GR8 Tech will bring Champions Club to life with hands-on, live demos built for operators who want to see performance in practice. Visitors at booth 1C50 will be able to explore how GR8 Tech’s solutions connect across sportsbook, casino, affiliate operations, and turnkey delivery, with product specialists walking through real scenarios and operator-relevant use cases.
The full Platform for Champions portfolio will be on show, including Hyper Turnkey, ULTIM8 Sportsbook, Infinite Casino Aggregation, Aff.Tech, and more—giving teams a clear view of how to launch faster, scale smarter, and run with more control in competitive markets. Visitors will also get a first look at a new solution GR8 Tech is presenting for the first time at ICE Barcelona 2026.
Acceler8 Lab: A Space Built For Learning And Execution
At ICE Barcelona 2026, GR8 Tech is setting up Acceler8 Lab—an educational space within the Champions Club where expertise meets execution. The company’s in-house experts and partners will share exclusive, practical know-how designed to shape how operators think, perform, and scale. In collaboration with Gaming Operations Academy, the Lab will deliver sessions focused on operational challenges and performance drivers, giving visitors insights they can apply immediately. More details will be available as registration for the sessions opens on January 13.
Lee McFarland Brings The Champion Mindset To The Floor
Lee McFarland
The Champions Club will also see the return of Lee McFarland, a British military veteran, iGaming consultant, and founder of the Behind the Gloves initiative.
He will run short, pad-based boxing sessions at the stand, bringing training energy into the experience, reminding the attendees that Champions are built by showing up, putting in the work, and performing under pressure—exactly the mindset GR8 Tech builds in its tech and partnerships.
The activity will be held each day:
11 am—12:30 pm — Sparring & Pads
1 pm—2:30 pm — Pads
3 pm—3:30 pm — Sparring
Register for the boxing sessions in advance, as slots are limited.
Meet GR8 Tech at ICE 2026 in Barcelona (19–21 January), booth 1C50
Secure your meeting in advance and experience the Champions Club—where expertise and performance come together to help operators scale smarter and compete at the highest level.
The premier game aggregator platform QTech Games has announced its latest provider partnership with Speedy Tomatoes, giving its platform clients access to a new, multifaceted video‑poker and card‑game catalogue.
Speedy Tomatoes is an emerging force in video-poker solutions, bringing much-needed innovation and novelty to the non-slots gaming vertical with an aim to attract and captivate new audiences by offering new playing experiences via premium video poker and other well-known card games.
At the heart of such innovation is its Powerpoker™ collection—featuring a modern take on classic video poker. These games will now provide QTech partners with streamlined gameplay via unique features that deliver an unparalleled mobile gaming experience. Familiar titles, like Jacks Or Better, or Deuces Better are now imbued with PowerPoker, features like Swap-A-Card or SideBet, which elevate the gameplay and online dwell-time for both new and seasoned players.
Speedy Tomatoes focuses on card games that are easy to learn and fun to play, with rewarding paytables which are now underpinned by this disruptive PowerPoker functionality. Through intuitive game flow and time-on-device design, a new era of familiar card games has now also been optimized for mobile portrait to drive higher engagement.
As a result, Speedy Tomatoes is reimagining this gaming vertical so it can reclaim its former glories. Proven to have a positive impact on activity, retention and bottom-line, these omnichannel variants deliver benefits across any number of KPIs – particularly as reliable cross-selling techniques and user-engagement have become ever more elusive in the tightening grip of industry regulation.
Asko Heiskanen, CEO & Founder at Speedy Tomatoes, said: “Speedy Tomatoes Entertainment is a dynamic game studio on a mission to rejuvenate the online video poker and wider card-game scene. With a focus on creating simplified, feature-rich games, we will exceed player expectations and raise the bar in this domain.
“Video poker is enjoying a resurgence and this offering with its PowerPoker variants is taking this igaming vertical to the next level, priming players for a new level of engagement. This deal with QTech Games naturally broadens Speedy Tomatoes’ geographic footprint, targeting emerging markets from Africa to Asia and Latin America, thereby creating new sources of revenue. It’s a thrill to see that our titles are now riding on the back of the top aggregator for emerging markets.”
As the defining aggregator for growth markets, QTech’s platform boasts the broadest gaming portfolio around, localised for each region, with native mobile apps, powerful reporting and marketing tools, and 24/7 local-language support. The combined mission of Speedy Tomatoes and QTech Games is to create resourcing efficiencies for global operators by providing them with the flexible card-game software solutions necessary for complementing a successful online casino offering with the improved engagement and retention metrics of poker and other card games.
Incorporating this ever-evolving production line emphasizes QTech Games’ diverse range of gaming options, providing a definitive one-stop shop, which has quickly become the “go-to” solution for international operators across developing territories.
QTech Games CEO, Philip Doftvik, added: “We can’t wait to see how this new breed of card game performs across a range of untapped markets which, in most cases, break new ground for Speedy Tomatoes. They appeal to high-value player segments — players who also care about skill, control, and strategy, and who historically represent the deepest pockets in online gambling. Rewarding payout structures and decision-making moments result in high retention, strong average bets and solid business to operators.
“This multi-faceted portfolio will help any platform partner ensure a complete brand experience that players enjoy and return to, driving deeper engagement and reliable revenue opportunities. These games now all form part of the progressive portfolio made available to QTech Games, our partners, and the culturally varied proclivities of their players across a swathe of greenfield territories.”
The Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and Greece emerged as the standout rising markets of 2025, according to a comprehensive analysis of global iGaming from market intelligence ecosystem Blask.
The diverse trio of jurisdictions were the biggest climbs on the proprietary Blask Index, a real-time tracker that measures shifts in player attention and search volumes across more than 100 markets.
Saudi Arabia was 2025’s most improved performer on the index, up nine places to twentieth following a sharp uptick in iGaming interest across the Middle East.
The Philippines was up four places to twelfth as regulator PAGCOR introduced a new iGaming licensing framework last year. Strong growth from operators including OPAP helped Greece up four places to seventeenth.
The top five was unchanged from 2024, with the United Kingdom leading the ranking once again.
Max Tesla, co-founder and CEO of Blask
Max Tesla, CEO and co-founder of Blask, said: “The global iGaming landscape is shifting faster than ever, with momentum often building in places many would not expect. That is why having a real-time, data-led understanding of player attention and market signals is now essential. Operators that can spot emerging trends early, and understand what is actually driving interest on the ground, are far better positioned to navigate uncertainty and capture new growth opportunities as they appear.”
Xtremepush has acquired US‑based loyalty platform Scrimmage, expanding its offering with a market‑first unified platform powered by a native, real‑time loyalty engine alongside its established CDP, CRM, and F2P products.
This strategic move accelerates and enhances the launch of XP Loyalty, which will offer operator customers the seamless delivery of a dynamic engine which integrates directly into the same data layer on its platform. This positioning allows for live personalisation at the granular level, raising the bar of loyalty offerings from useful “bolt-ons” to key engagement and retention drivers, both critical at a time when taxation and regulation are posing brand differentiation and marketing challenges.
Dan Taren, Head of Loyalty Product at Xtremepush
Dan Taren, Scrimmage’s CEO, has already joined the Xtremepush team as Head of Loyalty Product, where he is utilising his expertise in igaming loyalty technology to ensure the smooth progress of the integration, which will see every line of code audited to fit with the brand’s best practice approach of a unified ecosystem, agnostic to partner product requirements, size, or complexity.
Once Scrimmage’s technology is fully deployed, Xtremepush expects to solve a core industry problem of generic programmes that function in isolation and do little to attract and retain players. Moving from basic points-based functions to a dynamic engine – which utilises points, missions, challenges, and levels, as well as operator currencies and personalised widgets – will ensure a faster return on lifetime value.
XP Loyalty is sector’s first solution fully controlled by CRM and marketing teams, and will plug directly into Xtremepush-influenced customer journeys, allowing for real-time iteration and cost efficiencies through minimising the cost of generosity, ensuring the right reward or loyalty nudge reaches the right player at the right moment.
Tommy Kearns, CEO and co-founder at Xtremepush
Tommy Kearns, CEO and co-founder at Xtremepush, commented on the acquisition: “We endeavour to be the ‘experts in the room’ to give our customers the best opportunity to realise the full potential of their brands from a CRM, gamification, and now loyalty point-of-view. Bringing Scrimmage into the Xtremepush fold, along with its key innovator Dan Taren, will ensure we cement that position when it comes to retention conversations, and we’re already hugely satisfied by the initial progress.
“Through all of our products, we want to move the industry away from static legacy schemes and instead connect operators to their players in real-time and at the most personal level possible. With Scrimmage underpinning our incoming XP Loyalty launch, we’re raising the bar once again in this regard, in turn giving operators the best chance of success both now, and in a few years’ time.”
“Joining Xtremepush is a major milestone for us at Scrimmage,” added Dan Taren, Head of Loyalty Product at Xtremepush. “This is the natural next step for our technology and a great synergistic step for both parties. Xtremepush is the only market player successfully unifying the key areas of CRM, F2P, and now loyalty in one platform, working with one data layer. That is critical in the optimal rollout of these solutions, and our partners will be able to realise their benefits, to better engage and differentiate in the lead up to this year’s World Cup and beyond.”
