ProgressPlay redefines 2025 success through partner‑driven strategic freedom

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AGBrief Editorial

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December 28, 2025

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ProgressPlay redefines 2025 success through partner‑driven strategic freedom

While many iGaming platforms chased a single, dominant market trend in 2025, ProgressPlay engineered a different kind of success: providing partners with the strategic freedom to choose.

This philosophy powered a year of robust performance, defined not by a single breakthrough but by balanced, scalable growth across all verticals.

The headline figures tell a story of deliberate expansion: the integration of new game providers, the onboarding of new operator partners, and a significant strengthening of the platform’s core in two of the industry’s most dynamic sectors. While maintaining leadership in traditional white-label casino and sportsbook, ProgressPlay’s growth was notably driven by powerful surges in its Standalone License solutions and its Sweepstakes vertical, proving the platform’s unique agility.

In a market often defined by rigid, one-size-fits-all solutions, ProgressPlay’s standout achievement was empowering partners with genuine choice through their twin engines of strategic growth, Standalone and Sweepstakes. The platform’s Standalone License solution emerged as a powerhouse for ambitious brands seeking full autonomy without the overhead of building from scratch.

Marina Nahhas, Head of B2B Sales and Marketing at ProgressPlay — _{Marina Nahhas}

“The Standalone offering isn’t just a product; it’s an empowerment tool,” said ProgressPlay’s Head of Sales and B2B Marketing, Marina Nahhas. “It can be used to launch distinct, fully-owned iGaming operations at remarkable speed, which we are showcasing at ICE Barcelona 2026 next month.”

Nahhas went on: “They get their own branded entity, complete control over the player journey, and full ownership of their data and revenue, all powered by our back-end engine. It’s the ultimate ‘own your destiny’ package.”

Parallel to this, the Sweepstakes vertical has been a focus throughout 2025. ProgressPlay’s dedicated sweepstakes solution can became the launchpad for social casino brands transitioning to real-money engagement models.

“Sweepstakes represents the perfect convergence of engagement and accessibility,” Nahhas added. “Our solution allows partners to tap into a vast player base with familiar, entertaining mechanics, creating a seamless bridge into regulated gaming. The growth here hasn’t been incidental; it’s the result of a focused build-out of tools, content, and frameworks specifically for this model.”

This dual focus provided partners with a clear strategic map: Standalone for brands demanding full ownership in mature markets, and Sweepstakes for capturing growth in evolving, engagement-driven territories. The success of these verticals was underpinned by foundational advancements across the entire ProgressPlay ecosystem in 2025, powering a cluster of over 130 brands.

“2025 was about proving our platform’s versatility,” ProgressPlay CEO Itai Lowenstein concluded. “We don’t believe in a monoculture. Our strength over the last 13 years is providing the robust, compliant, and richly featured infrastructure that allows diverse partners to execute their unique vision, whether that’s through full brand ownership with a Standalone license or capturing a new demographic with Sweepstakes. As we move into 2026, we’re not just scaling up; we’re scaling choice.”

ProgressPlay’s performance in 2025 demonstrated that the future of iGaming platforms lies not in dictating a single path to partners, but in architecting multiple, equally powerful ones. By deepening its Standalone and Sweepstakes solutions while strengthening its core platform, ProgressPlay has built an ecosystem where a sports media giant, a savvy social casino operator, and a traditional bookmaker can all find a tailored, high-performance path to growth.

Since 2018, the company has organised this large-scale initiative, aiming to promote workplace safety and healthy living through a variety of interactive methods, educational activities and on-site services, reflecting Sands China’s long-term commitment to the physical and mental well-being of its team members.

This year’s variety of activities at The Venetian Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Londoner Macao, and Sands Macao centred on five themes: Health Index, Healthy Eating, OSH Awareness, Exercise, and this year’s new Inner Wellness.

OSH Month 2025 brought back several popular elements – health screening roadshows, expert-led seminars, practical workshops, traffic safety education, vaccination services, and health check-ups – to encourage team members to reduce safety and health risks in the workplace and to exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and regularly self-monitor their health.

Sands China closes OSH Month 2025 with strong engagement and results

Sands China has also collaborated with Kiang Wu Hospital and the University of Macau to conduct health checks for chronic diseases. Personalised health management recommendations will be provided to team members to help them prevent illness. In addition, the newly added “Five Senses Healing” roadshow helped team members understand how to relax their minds and maintain positive emotions through their different senses.

“Employees are the most valuable asset of any enterprise.”
Paulo Cheong

Commenting on the initiative, Paulo Cheong, SVP of Human Resources for Sands China added, “Sands China firmly believes that the safety and health of our 27,000 team members is the driving force behind the company’s sustainable development. As the largest private employer in Macao, we prioritise team members’ well-being through a focus on safety, health, and prevention.

We continuously enhance the work environment through diverse initiatives like OSH activities, actively promoting a healthy workplace, and fostering the physical and mental health of our team members. We sincerely thank the Labour Affairs Bureau, the Health Bureau, the Social Welfare Bureau, and all sectors of society for their thoughtful guidance and strong support over the years. We look forward to continuing to work hand in hand to build a safer, healthier, and warmer workplace.

“OSH is the cornerstone of sustainable corporate development and a core value in safeguarding employee well-being,” said Chan Tze Wai, Deputy Director of the Macao Labour Affairs Bureau. “We are pleased to see that Sands China has long regarded OSH as a top priority in its operations, demonstrating the leadership and responsibility of a leading enterprise through concrete strategic planning and resource investment.

In its comprehensive and systematic management processes, the company has continuously strengthened its ‘self-regulation’ policies on OSH, not only ensuring compliance with laws and regulations but also actively pursuing internationally recognised standards of excellence. The Labour Affairs Bureau fully affirms Sands China’s commitment to OSH. I sincerely thank Sands China for its outstanding contributions to advancing OSH in Macao.”

As Macao’s largest private employer, Sands China regularly disseminates OSH information through its intranet and internal publicity channels to encourage team members to practise good health measures in their daily work and lives. The company established a cross-departmental OSH Committee to strengthen its internal systems and foster a safe and healthy working environment through three key strategies: effective supervision, ongoing education, and scientific management, with several departments having obtained ISO 45001 occupational health and safety management system certification.

Sands China continues to invest resources to promote occupational safety and the physical and mental well-being of team members, aligning with the policies of the Macao SAR government and carrying out its corporate social responsibility to build a healthier and safer work environment.

SJM was recognised with the “ESG Environmental Innovative Technology Award” and the “ESG Special Recognition Award” at the “TVB ESG Awards 2025” held last week. Among these achievements, the self-developed “Cooling Tower Wind Energy Recovery Power Generation System” at Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau successfully integrates innovative elements into energy-saving facilities, marking a “first” in Macau’s integrated tourism and leisure industry.

Moreover, this project earned the Silver Award in the “Innovative Technology Category” at the “Intelligent Energy Saving Contest for Buildings in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”.

Additionally, the “Water Resource Recycling System” at Grand Lisboa Macau won the Gold Award in the “Sustainability Category” at the same event.

SJM is dedicated to researching and implementing innovative technologies, energy conservation, and carbon-reduction initiatives, contributing to Macau’s development into a low-carbon smart city and promoting sustainable growth in an urban environment.

The agreement details an increased monthly license fee, which rises from the current 1.75 percent (of MGM China’s adjusted consolidated net monthly revenue) to 3.5 percent. The group notes that ‘the fees will be subject to an annual cap determined by certain variables […] the most significant being business volumes of MGM China’.

MGM Resorts will receive ‘approximately 66.6 percent of the license fee’.

The license agreement grants MGM China ‘a revocable, non-assignable and non- transferable sublicense to use the Subject Marks owned by MGM Head Licensor in connection with the marketing and operation of the MGM China Group’s casino, resort, and hospitality businesses at any legally permissible location within the Territory’.

The group further noted that ‘In addition to any expansion of MGM Macau and MGM Cotai, any future resort, casino, and hospitality projects or sites that the MGM China Group may develop in the Territory will use the Subject Marks’.

The group notes that the historical license fees paid under previous agreements amounted to $55.18 million in 2023, $70.39 million in 2024 and $56.43 million in the first nine months of 2025.

An annual cap of $188.3 million has been set for FY26, with the group to thereafter set annual caps yearly.

MGM Resorts indicated in a release that the move ‘secures an important right for MGM China as the MGM brand has served it well, which is reflected in the significant gains in market share and increased profitability since the end of the pandemic,’ pointing to a pre-pandemic market share of 9 percent, which as of the end of 3Q25 was ‘approximately 16 percent’.

The extension of the agreement from three years to 20 years also ‘protects MGM China’s shareholders by securing its most important intangible asset after the concession itself and provides MGM Resorts with fair compensation for the use of its industry leading brand’.

Vietnam proposes full ID disclosure for football bettors, keeps daily betting cap at $380

Vietnam

Viviana Chan

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December 28, 2025

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Vietnam proposes full ID disclosure for football bettors, keeps daily betting cap at $380

Vietnam’s Ministry of Justice has proposed requiring full personal identification from individuals placing legal bets on football, horse racing, and dog racing, while the Ministry of Finance has rejected calls to raise betting limits, maintaining a daily cap of $380 per person at a single licensed operator, according to local media outlet Tuoi Tre News.

The measures are set out in a draft decree being prepared by the Ministry of Finance to replace Decree 06, issued in 2017, which regulates betting on horse racing, dog racing, and international football. The finance ministry recently published a summary of feedback and official responses from public and inter-agency consultations on the draft.

According to the consultation document, the Ministry of Justice recommended adding detailed requirements on the personal information bettors must provide when opening betting accounts. The proposed disclosures include full name, nationality, occupation, phone number, address, and place of residence. The justice ministry said the requirement is necessary to ensure consistency with the 2022 Law on Anti-Money Laundering.

In response, the finance ministry said it has accepted the recommendation and revised the draft decree to include comprehensive identity verification requirements, making full identification a core condition for participation in regulated betting activities.

Finance ministry rejects proposal to raise betting limits

On betting limits, however, the finance ministry rejected a proposal from the Ministry of Science and Technology to substantially raise the maximum daily betting cap.

The proposal suggested allowing bets of up to VND100 million ($3,800) per person per day, or VND10 million ($380) per day for each betting product, rather than applying a single daily aggregate cap. The ministry argued that a higher ceiling would help licensed operators attract high-spending customers and compete more effectively with illegal betting markets, with risks managed through measures such as bettor identification, cash-flow monitoring, and risk warnings.

The finance ministry disagreed, stressing that betting activities are intended to meet demand for regulated, recreational gambling rather than encourage high-stakes wagering. Citing Vietnam’s current average income of about $5,000 per capita per year, the draft decree maintains a maximum betting limit of $380 per person per day at a single licensed operator.

The ministry said the cap reflects income realities and is designed to prevent excessive betting that could affect public order and social security. The draft was therefore submitted to the government with the limit unchanged.

It is also worth noting that in September, the Ministry of Finance proposed raising the daily limit for legal international football betting to VND10 million ($380), a tenfold increase from the current ceiling of VND1 million ($38), citing Vietnam’s rising per capita income.

Eligible football competitions expanded under revised draft

The consultation process also addressed the scope of football competitions eligible for legal betting. Several ministries called for clearer criteria to expand the list of international football matches and tournaments permitted under the regime. The finance ministry noted that existing rules limit eligibility to tournaments announced by FIFA, resulting in only about four to eight tournaments per year, each lasting between 10 and 30 days, reducing the sector’s attractiveness to investors.

In response to comments from the Ministry of Public Security, the revised draft broadens eligibility to include major, reputable, and highly professional tournaments widely followed by Vietnamese fans. These include competitions organized by UEFA, AFC, CONMEBOL, and CONCACAF. National leagues and cup competitions from countries ranked in FIFA’s Top 10 as of the previous December would also be included.

For international football betting, the draft allows a pilot program with a maximum of three licensed companies. The finance ministry said that because football betting is a sensitive business with nationwide public order implications and money-laundering risks, the authority to select pilot operators rests with the prime minister under the Law on Investment.

The decision marks the end of the venue’s status as a satellite casino, coinciding with the conclusion of Macau’s three-year transition period which finishes at the end of this year. Casino L’Arc Macau will be the only satellite casino to successfully transition to a self-operated model, as all other satellite casinos have ceased operations.

According to the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), SJM had submitted a formal request to terminate Casino L’Arc Macau’s operation as a satellite casino, with effect from 1:59am on December 30th. Citing commercial reasons, the concessionaire simultaneously applied to manage and operate the casino directly. After reviewing the relevant legal documentation and supporting materials, the government concluded that the application met all legislative requirements and granted the authorization.

The transition follows government approval granted on December 12th — signed by Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raymond Tam — for the transfer of the hotel and casino units of L’Arc Hotel to SJM and its subsidiary. The transfer covers more than 86,000 square meters of space from developer Arc Of Triumph Development Company Limited, which is owned by SJM Executive Director Angela Leong.

The acquisition was finalized on December 15th, when independent shareholders of SJM Holdings voted overwhelmingly in favor of a HK$1.75 billion ($224 million) deal. The transaction also includes the repayment of most of the target company’s HK$1.93 billion ($247 million) debt.

The move at L’Arc comes as SJM continues to streamline its portfolio on the Macau peninsula. While the operator has successfully integrated L’Arc, it recently abandoned plans to acquire Casino Ponte 16, which officially ceased operations on November 28th.

Macau sets new tourism record with 39.41M visitor arrivals

Macau

Viviana Chan

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December 28, 2025

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Macau sets new tourism record with 39.41M visitor arrivals

Macau has surpassed its pre-pandemic tourism record, with cumulative visitor arrivals reaching 39.41 million as of 11am on December 27th, exceeding the full-year total of 39.4 million recorded in 2019, according to the Public Security Police.

Data released by the police show that mainland Chinese visitors accounted for 72.4 percent of total arrivals, followed by visitors from Hong Kong at 18.3 percent, Taiwan at 2.5 percent, and other regions at 6.8 percent.

Authorities said visitor numbers are expected to rise further ahead of New Year’s Eve, with additional police deployments already in place to ensure orderly border crossings and the safe operation of countdown events across the city.

Multi-entry visa policy for Macau-Hengqin challenges hotels

A separate update issued on December 28th highlighted growing cross-border movement through Hengqin. As of 1pm, the Hengqin Port recorded over 30 million passenger crossings for the year, with an average daily flow of 83,000, representing a 32.6 percent year-on-year increase.

Among those crossing the port, Macau residents accounted for 26.9 percent, tourists 38.9 percent, non-local tertiary students 17.9 percent, foreign workers 15.7 percent, and others 0.6 percent.

Located adjacent to the Cotai Strip, where most of Macau’s integrated resorts are concentrated, Hengqin Port has become an increasingly popular entry point since the opening of its upgraded passenger terminal in August 2020, particularly for visitors traveling between mainland China and Macau.

The latest figures align with earlier projections from the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), which forecasted between 38 million and 39 million visitors in 2025. MGTO director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes previously said authorities remain confident in achieving the target, citing sustained regional travel demand and steady tourism flows into the city.

Good Morning. Round 2! Japan has not given up on setting up another IR in the nation, announcing its plans for prefectures to submit proposals in 2027. But the brevity of the timeline and apparent lack of interest by the central government in coordinating a masterplan could cause a repeat of the follies seen in the first bidding round, which caused an exodus of investor interest. Looking to Macau, the imminent closure of all satellite casinos is going well, with employees relocated to new roles. And in the Philippines, beleaguered PH Resorts is still assessing its options, after indicating that its previously raised capital was all spent on the stalled Emerald Bay IR.

What you need to know

Japan could be facing a repeat of the first IR bidding process, as timelines and uncertainty over a masterplan cause concern for hopeful investors.
Satellite casino phase-out in Macau advances steadily, says government, as thousands of staff move into new roles.
PH Resorts: All proceeds from prior capital raisings were used for Emerald Bay, strategic options are still being assessed.

On the radar

Hubert Wang departs as MGM China COO, Kenneth Feng new CEO.
Visitor arrivals to Macau rise 14.4% to nearly 36.5M in Jan–Nov.
Macau Legend relocates legal base to Bermuda, targets loss offset.
Newport World Resorts parent raises $18.7M via warrants issuance.

AGB Intelligence

JAPAN

Concerns over second round of casino licensing

Japan is forging ahead with its second round of casino licensing, with authorities announcing a 2027 date for interested prefectures to submit their proposals. But the short timeline and apparent disinterest in participation or support by the central government are cause for concern for investors, potentially leading to a repeat of the troubles experienced in the first round of bidding. Author and expert Daniel Cheng evaluates what steps are being made, and how they compare to Singapore’s IR setup process.

Industry Updates

SOFTSWISS reports 45% growth with LatAm momentum in 2025 outlook.
Arena Racing Company secures UAE Gaming‑Related Vendor License.
Stretch Network debuts KISS‑Edition Mystery Weekend Series for Winter.

INTELLIGENCE | ASEAN | CAREERS | EVENTS

“This listing is about building a future where we can continue to grow and lead with purpose. It reflects our belief that sustainable success comes from continuous innovation, from partnering with the right institutions and growing businesses that uplift communities and contribute to nation building,” noted Tan of the warrants issue.

ProgressPlay redefines 2025 success through partner‑driven strategic freedom

While many iGaming platforms chased a single, dominant market trend in 2025, ProgressPlay engineered a different kind of success: providing partners with the strategic freedom to choose.

Table of Contents

Sands China closes OSH Month 2025 with strong engagement and results

Macau gaming operator Sands China recently wrapped up its successful Occupational Safety and Health Month 2025. Held from Oct. 17 to Nov. 28, the six‑week initiative included an OSH Month Showcase on Nov. 4 at The Venetian Macao’s back‑of‑house team member area.

“Employees are the most valuable asset of any enterprise.”

Table of Contents

SJM Resorts secures multiple awards highlighting its ESG initiatives

Table of Contents

Stretch Network rolls out its latest platform updates

Following the major updates introduced earlier this month, Stretch Network is closing the year with another batch of platform enhancements.

Mission System implementation

For Cash Games and Sonic Tables, the available calculation types are:

For Tournaments and Spin & Go, the calculation types include:

Button Blind game option

Run It Twice (RIT) feature

Table of Contents

Vietnam proposes full ID disclosure for football bettors, keeps daily betting cap at $380

Finance ministry rejects proposal to raise betting limits

Eligible football competitions expanded under revised draft

Table of Contents

SJM authorized to directly operate L’Arc Macau Casino from December 30th

The Macau Government has authorized SJM Resorts, S.A. to operate Casino L’Arc Macau under direct management from 2am on December 30th, 2025.

Macau sets new tourism record with 39.41M visitor arrivals

Macau has surpassed its pre-pandemic tourism record, with cumulative visitor arrivals reaching 39.41 million as of 11am on December 27th, exceeding the full-year total of 39.4 million recorded in 2019, according to the Public Security Police.

Table of Contents

Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: Concerns over Japan’s second casino licensing round

What you need to know

On the radar

AGB Intelligence

JAPAN

Concerns over second round of casino licensing

Industry Updates

Table of Contents

Newport World Resorts parent company raises $18.7M via warrants issuance

The parent company of Newport World Resorts, Alliance Global Group (AGI), has announced that it has raised PHP1.1 billion ($18.71 million) from the sale of stock warrants, to further expand its integrated resort developments.

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While many iGaming platforms chased a single, dominant market trend in 2025, ProgressPlay engineered a different kind of success: providing partners with the strategic freedom to choose.

Table of Contents

Macau gaming operator Sands China recently wrapped up its successful Occupational Safety and Health Month 2025. Held from Oct. 17 to Nov. 28, the six‑week initiative included an OSH Month Showcase on Nov. 4 at The Venetian Macao’s back‑of‑house team member area.

“Employees are the most valuable asset of any enterprise.”

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Following the major updates introduced earlier this month, Stretch Network is closing the year with another batch of platform enhancements.

Mission System implementation

For Cash Games and Sonic Tables, the available calculation types are:

For Tournaments and Spin & Go, the calculation types include:

Button Blind game option

Run It Twice (RIT) feature

Table of Contents

MGM China has inked a new branding agreement with its parent company MGM Resorts, for a period of up to 20 years and under an increased monthly license fee.

Finance ministry rejects proposal to raise betting limits

Eligible football competitions expanded under revised draft

Table of Contents

The Macau Government has authorized SJM Resorts, S.A. to operate Casino L’Arc Macau under direct management from 2am on December 30th, 2025.

Macau has surpassed its pre-pandemic tourism record, with cumulative visitor arrivals reaching 39.41 million as of 11am on December 27th, exceeding the full-year total of 39.4 million recorded in 2019, according to the Public Security Police.

Table of Contents

What you need to know

On the radar

JAPAN

Industry Updates

Table of Contents

The parent company of Newport World Resorts, Alliance Global Group (AGI), has announced that it has raised PHP1.1 billion ($18.71 million) from the sale of stock warrants, to further expand its integrated resort developments.

ENQUIRIES & SUBSCRIPTIONS

CONTACTS