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IBIA reports 76 suspicious betting alerts in Q2 2026

The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) reported 76 suspicious betting alerts across nine sports during the second quarter of 2026, reinforcing the importance of global integrity monitoring as regulated betting markets continue to expand worldwide.

The latest report highlights the scale of integrity monitoring conducted by the association and its members, which collectively represent more than 90 companies and over 200 betting brands worldwide. IBIA monitors more than 1.5 million sporting events annually across 80+ sports and analyses betting activity covering over US$300 billion in global betting turnover every year.

IBIA Reports 76 Suspicious Betting Alerts in Q2 2026 as Football and Esports Lead Integrity Monitoring Efforts

Football remained the sport generating the highest number of suspicious betting alerts in Q2 2026, accounting for 25 alerts or 33% of the total. Esports followed with 16 alerts (21%), while basketball recorded 10 alerts (13%). Tennis generated nine alerts (12%), with additional cases reported across darts, greyhound racing, cricket, table tennis and volleyball.

Geographically, Europe accounted for the largest share of country-based alerts with 25 cases, representing 33% of all reported alerts. South America followed with 17 alerts (22%), while Africa recorded 11 alerts (15%). Global esports-related alerts accounted for 16 cases, reflecting the increasingly international nature of integrity monitoring in digital competitions.

IBIA Reports 76 Suspicious Betting Alerts in Q2 2026 as Football and Esports Lead Integrity Monitoring Efforts

The report also highlights the benefits of competitive and regulated betting markets. A dedicated Canada-focused section notes that Ontario’s regulated online sports betting market achieved channelisation rates exceeding 90% following market liberalisation, compared with only 5% prior to regulation. IBIA states that competitive regulation helps move betting activity into visible, monitored environments, providing greater transparency and consumer protection.

Alongside its monitoring activities, IBIA continues to invest in integrity education programmes for athletes. Through a CA$300,000 initiative supported by IBIA members bet365, Betway and FanDuel, the association has delivered integrity training to nearly 200 Canadian Premier League players and staff and expanded the programme to Canadian Football League athletes. The initiative is based on the principles of Rules, Responsibility and Reporting, helping athletes better understand betting regulations, integrity risks and reporting obligations.

According to the report, collaboration between athletes, sports organisations, regulated betting operators and integrity specialists remains critical to maintaining fair competition and public confidence in sport. By combining advanced monitoring capabilities, regulatory engagement and educational initiatives, IBIA says it is helping to strengthen integrity standards across global sports betting markets.

Sands China keeps $700M Macau EBITDA target as VIP share rises

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Las Vegas Sands (LVS) has retained its goal of generating at least $700 million in quarterly EBITDA from Macau and restoring Sands China‘s previous share of Macau market EBITDA, management said during the group’s second-quarter 2026 earnings call, held early Thursday in Asia.

Executives pointed to the operator’s gains among high-value customers, including an increase in its share of Macau’s rolling-chip volume to 26 percent. Sands China moved from fourth to first place in the segment within a year, according to Sands China president and CEO Grant Chum.

The target remains well above the $430 million in Macau adjusted property EBITDA reported for the second quarter, down from $566 million a year earlier, with the margin narrowing to 24.0 percent from 31.5 percent. At a normalized rolling win rate, the figure would have reached $517 million.

“Our target is still the $700 million,” LVS chairman and CEO Patrick Dumont said. “I think we have some work to do to get there.”

Chum said strategies introduced since May 2025 had produced “significant” gains at the top end of the market.

“We’ve come from a position where we were number four in the rolling segment a year ago, and now we’re number one with 26 percent volume share,” he said.

Rolling volume increased 73 percent year-on-year, while non-rolling table drop rose 15 percent and slot and electronic table game volume grew 30 percent.

Chum said May marked an all-time monthly high for Sands China’s mass-market gross gaming revenue (GGR), before business softened in June, which he said was partly affected by the FIFA World Cup. Dumont said the tournament reduced visitation by high-value patrons at both the Macau properties and Marina Bay Sands.

The quarter was also affected by a 1.35 percent VIP rolling win rate, which reduced EBITDA by an estimated $87 million. Dumont described it as “the largest hold adjustment we’ve ever had in the history of Macau.”

The Venetian Macau, Sands China

Venetian renovation runs through early 2028

LVS is relying on additional premium accommodation and gaming products to support its EBITDA target. Renovation of The Venetian Macao’s rooms and suites began in March and will continue through early 2028.

“Our target is to have all 2,900 rooms and suites completely refurbished and reintroduced by Chinese New Year 2028,” Dumont said.

The project will also introduce new premium-focused gaming salons and related amenities. Chum said the benefits should become more visible as a larger number of renovated suites return to inventory during 2027.

Around 400 rooms at The Venetian were unavailable during the second quarter. Sands China expects between 400 and 500 rooms to remain out of inventory during each quarter into 2027.

Chum said performance at The Londoner Macao and the Grand Suites at Four Seasons was already above 2019 levels on a normalized basis. He cited the comparison as evidence that upgraded products could support revenue growth and market-share gains.

Sands China launches rebranded Londoner Grand Hotel

Reinvestment and operating-cost growth

Sands China also plans to continue optimizing player reinvestment, referring to spending used to attract and retain customers. Reinvestment remained broadly unchanged from the first quarter after adjustments for gaming hold and business mix, but was higher year-on-year following a more aggressive strategy introduced in the second half of 2025.

“There’s no change in either our approach or the reinvestment levels when you look at it sequentially,” management told analysts.

The operator has also invested in longer table operating hours, expanded sales and distribution networks, and higher service levels. Management expects the pace of operating-expense growth to slow in the second half of 2026 and remain more moderate into 2027.

Chum said Sands China would remain alert to changes in the market environment while seeking “to earn a higher gross margin from this higher level of revenue.”

Sands China 2Q26 profit halves YoY as low Macau hold cuts earnings

Sands China’s net income fell 50 percent year-on-year to $107 million in the second quarter of 2026, after what Las Vegas Sands (LVS) chairman and CEO Patrick Dumont described as “unusually low hold in rolling play” in Macau.

The casino operator’s consolidated net revenue declined 0.8 percent to $1.78 billion, according to financial results released by parent company Las Vegas Sands (LVS). Adjusted property EBITDA fell 24 percent to $430 million, while the EBITDA margin narrowed to 24 percent from 31.5 percent.

Sands China recorded a rolling-chip win rate of 1.35 percent, down 221 basis points from the prior-year period. The unfavorable result reduced adjusted property EBITDA by an estimated $87 million.

By comparison, favorable rolling play added $7 million to EBITDA in the second quarter of 2025. At a normalized win rate, Macau EBITDA would have reached approximately $517 million, with a margin of 26.7 percent.

Poor luck therefore accounted for much of the reported decline, but not all of the pressure on profitability. Hold-normalized EBITDA was approximately $559 million in the prior-year quarter, with a margin of 31.3 percent.

The weaker earnings came despite what LVS described in its presentation as gaming volume growth in ‘every segment’. Rolling-table volume increased 73 percent, non-rolling table volume rose 15 percent and slot and electronic table game volume grew 30 percent.

Non-rolling table win increased 7 percent to $1.47 billion, while slot win rose 21 percent to $222 million. Rolling win fell 35 percent to $102 million because of the low hold.

Sands China estimated that its share of Macau’s mass-market gaming revenue increased to 25 percent from 24 percent a year earlier. Its combined mass table and slot revenue rose 8 percent to approximately $1.69 billion.

LVS said Macau’s revenue growth remained ‘highly skewed toward the premium segment’, which ‘remains deeply competitive’. The company has continued investing in premium suites, hospitality products and service levels across its Macau portfolio.

The Londoner Macao, Sands China, Macau, Las Vegas Sands

Londoner leads Macau property revenue

The Londoner Macao was Sands China’s highest-revenue property during the quarter, surpassing The Venetian Macao. Its net revenue increased 10.6 percent year-on-year to $710 million, compared with $591 million at The Venetian.

Despite the revenue growth, The Londoner’s adjusted property EBITDA fell 6.3 percent to $192 million. Its EBITDA margin narrowed to 27 percent from 31.9 percent.

The Venetian recorded a 10.9 percent decline in revenue, while EBITDA fell 30.1 percent to $165 million. Revenue at The Parisian Macao increased 12.4 percent to $218 million, although EBITDA declined 13.6 percent to $38 million.

The Four Seasons Hotel Macao and Plaza Casino posted the steepest decline. Revenue fell 29.4 percent to $137 million and EBITDA dropped 69.7 percent to $20 million.

Sands Macao was the only property to record growth in both measures. Revenue rose 33.8 percent to $95 million, while EBITDA increased 22.2 percent to $11 million.

At group level, LVS reported a 28.1 percent decline in net income to $373 million. 

Consolidated adjusted property EBITDA fell 16.1 percent to $1.12 billion, while net revenue slipped 0.7 percent to $3.15 billion.

LVS repurchased $787 million of its shares during the quarter. Its board subsequently increased the remaining share-repurchase authorization to $6 billion and extended the program through July 2029.

Marina Bay Sands (MBS), Las Vegas Sands, Singapore

Singapore retreats from recent highs

Marina Bay Sands (MBS) generated adjusted property EBITDA of $689 million, down 10.3 percent from $768 million a year earlier. Its EBITDA margin declined to 49.9 percent from 55.3 percent.

The result marked a retreat from the property’s recent highs. Marina Bay Sands generated EBITDA of $788 million in the first quarter of 2026, after reaching a record $806 million in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Higher-than-expected rolling hold added $37 million to second-quarter EBITDA, compared with an $80 million benefit a year earlier. On a normalized basis, EBITDA would have been approximately $652 million.

Mass gaming revenue rose 5 percent to $886 million. Non-rolling table win increased 6 percent to $595 million, while slot win rose 3 percent to $291 million. Rolling volume grew 4 percent to $9.3 billion, with a win rate of 4.74 percent.

SkyCity Auckland hotel could fetch up to $146 million: investment firm

SkyCity Entertainment Group could raise between NZ$200 million and NZ$250 million ($117 million to $146 million) from the proposed sale of The Grand Hotel in Auckland, according to investment firm Forsyth Barr.

Forsyth Barr valued the property at approximately NZ$200 million in a July 20th research report. The firm said industry checks and recent comparable transactions indicated a sale price of up to NZ$250 million could be achievable.

As AGB reported on Wednesday, SkyCity has entered into a non-binding heads of agreement for the sale. The financial terms and prospective buyer remain confidential.

Forsyth Barr said the transaction, together with SkyCity’s NZ$74.5 million ($43.6 million) sale of its 99 Albert Street office building and nearby investment properties, would take the operator above its NZ$200 million asset-sale target.

The firm said completing the program could return SkyCity’s gearing to within the board’s target of below two times EBITDA. It could also support the removal of S&P Global Ratings’ negative watch and provide scope for dividends to resume in the 2027 financial year.

SkyCity plans to use the proceeds to repay debt and increase its financial flexibility.

The proposed hotel sale remains subject to due diligence, binding documentation and consent from New Zealand’s Overseas Investment Office. SkyCity expects to receive the proceeds in late 2026.

Google to expand programmatic gambling advertising to 37 markets, tighten Google Ads certification

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Google will expand the range of markets in which authorized buyers can serve online gambling and social casino advertising through its programmatic network from August 10th, while separately imposing stricter certification requirements on gambling advertisers using Google Ads from September 14th.

The company notified AdSense publishers of the Authorized Buyers change in a mandatory service email sent on July 20th. Under the update, authorized buyers will be permitted to promote online gambling and social casino gaming content across an expanded list of geographies, and the certification step that currently applies to end advertisers in the programmatic channel will be removed in those markets.

The email named 37 territories: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, the Philippines, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Advertising served under the expanded policy must comply with applicable local laws, regulations and industry standards in each market. The policy covers online casinos, sportsbooks, bingo and slot websites and applications, online lottery products, sports betting, and games involving virtual currencies or in-game items with real-world value.

Google’s existing Authorized Buyers gambling policy includes a country table governing how gambling creatives may serve across auction types. Creatives targeting countries outside that table are disapproved, other than where a creative is served through preferred deals or programmatic guaranteed arrangements with a publisher block override enabled. The full revised policy language is scheduled for publication on the Authorized Buyers policy page on August 10, the date the change takes effect.

The company said the update applies specifically to the Authorized Buyers policy and does not alter other advertising frameworks, including the Google Ads Gambling and Games policy. Publishers in the newly added markets may see a higher volume of gambling-related display advertising as a result, though they retain the ability to block individual advertisers, restrict specific authorized buyers, and block sensitive or general advertising categories through the Ad Review Center.

A separate set of changes to the Google Ads Gambling and Games policy takes effect on September 14. Those changes concern which advertisers are permitted to use Google Ads rather than the jurisdictions in which gambling advertising may run. Advertisers will need to meet expanded certification standards and maintain what Google describes as good policy health to retain approval, with the company weighing both licensing status and a record of compliance with platform rules.

Operators with repeated violations or weak compliance histories may be denied certification or have existing approvals withdrawn. Marketing agencies managing multiple advertising accounts face additional scrutiny, with repeated breaches across manager accounts potentially affecting certification eligibility. Taken together, the two updates widen access to Google’s publisher network for programmatic gambling demand while raising the compliance threshold for advertisers buying directly through Google Ads.

Kambi secures PAM platform deal with MHA Nation’s 4 Bears Casino & Lodge

Kambi Group has announced an agreement to supply its proprietary player account management (PAM) solution to the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara (MHA) Nation’s 4 Bears Casino & Lodge in New Town, North Dakota.

The agreement will enable 4 Bears Casino & Lodge to add reservation-wide mobile sports betting for the first time, building on its successful on-property sportsbook launch with Kambi in March and underscoring Kambi’s status as the sportsbook provider of choice for tribal operators across North America.

Werner Becher CEO Kambi Group
Werner Becher, CEO, Kambi Group

Kambi’s PAM provides the account-based technology infrastructure required to support areas such as player onboarding, identity verification and payments, enabling operators to deliver a seamless sports betting experience for their customers.

Werner Becher, Kambi Group CEO, said: “We are pleased to expand our partnership with the MHA Nation and 4 Bears Casino & Lodge following the launch of their on-property sportsbook earlier this year. The addition of Kambi’s PAM solution will support the next phase of their sports betting journey, enabling an engaging reservation-wide mobile experience while giving the operator greater control across the player lifecycle.”

The new agreement marks Kambi’s first commercial PAM partnership since its acquisition of PAM source code in November 2025 and underlines its ability to offer operators greater flexibility with the option of a single Turnkey Sportsbook and PAM solution.

“Kambi has already proven to be an excellent partner for 4 Bears Casino & Lodge, and we are pleased to build on that momentum with the integration of Kambi’s PAM and launch of reservation-wide mobile sports betting,” added Patrick Packineau, 4 Bears Casino & Lodge General Manager. “Kambi’s PAM solution gives us the technology foundation to provide guests with a convenient, account-based experience while supporting our long-term ambitions for sports betting growth.”

Resorts World New York opens expanded floor with 1,400 new slots

Genting-operated Resorts World New York City has added 1,400 slot machines on its reopened first-floor gaming area. The addition increases the property’s slot inventory to 3,900 as it continues the phased rollout of New York City’s first full-scale commercial casino.

The operator said its slot machines generated more than $230 million in gross gaming revenue (GGR) during the first 11 weeks of commercial casino operations.

Separately, New York State Gaming Commission data show that live table games generated approximately $87 million over the period, taking the property’s total commercial casino GGR to about $317.3 million.

“With these 1,400 new games, we will be able to accommodate more patrons and generate even more in taxes for the state,” Robert DeSalvio, president of Genting Americas East, said in a company release.

The reopened floor includes a Dragon Den gaming area featuring 114 Aristocrat games, including 48 Dragon Link units. The zone also offers a $1 million progressive jackpot.

Resorts World New York City previously operated as a video lottery terminal facility at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens. The New York State Gaming Commission approved its commercial casino license in December 2025, alongside licenses for Bally’s Bronx and Hard Rock Metropolitan Park.

The property ended its video lottery operations on April 27th and began operating as a commercial casino on April 28th, initially offering more than 2,500 slots and over 240 live tables.

Under rates approved by the regulator, Resorts World’s slot and electronic table game revenue is taxed at 56 percent, while table game revenue is subject to a 30 percent rate.

The casino rollout is part of a planned $5.5 billion expansion. By 2030, Resorts World intends to operate a 350,000-square-foot gaming floor with 6,000 slots and 800 live tables, alongside 2,000 hotel rooms, a 7,000-seat entertainment venue and more than 10 acres of public green space.

1xBet congratulates Spain on their World Championship triumph

The American football forum, which had kept millions of fans around the world in suspense for several weeks, ended in triumph for Spain. In the final, Luis de la Fuente’s team beat Argentina 1-0 and rose to the top of world football again, winning their second global title in their history.

Even before the opening whistle, New York New Jersey Stadium was awash with the noise from the stands. Supporters of both sides filled the arena with their team colors, and the tension was evident long before the match began. From the very first minutes, Spain took control of the ball, but Argentina set up a solid defense and left almost no space in front of their goal. Neither side was in any hurry to take risks – the cost of a mistake was too high – so the score remained 0-0 at half-time.

During the break, the tension of the football match gave way to the first halftime show in the history of the global forum finals. Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, and BTS took to the stage, greeted by thunderous applause from the stands. The performance was one of the highlights of the evening and further fired up the atmosphere ahead of the second half.

After the break, Spain gained momentum and began to threaten their opponents’ goal with increasing frequency. Argentina held out against the pressure for a long time, but were reduced to ten men in stoppage time following a second yellow card. The game ended goalless after regular time, with 30 minutes of extra time still to play, and the title could be decided by a single moment.

It happened in the 106th minute, when Spain finally found a way through to the opposition goal and took the lead. Argentina threw everything they had at saving the match, but La Roja withstood La Albiceleste’s onslaught and repeated their 2010 success, becoming world champions while already being the strongest team in Europe.

Spain_World_Cup_2026 Winners

Spain finished the World Championship in much the same way as they had played for almost the entire tournament – with composure, confidence, and no unnecessary mistakes. After a draw against Cape Verde in their opening match, Luis de la Fuente’s men won seven games in a row, beating Austria, Portugal, Belgium, and France in the knockout stage and conceding just one goal in eight matches.

La Roja’s victory in the final marked the last chapter of the biggest global forum in history, with teams from 48 countries playing 104 games and stadiums attracting over 6.8 million spectators. Several action-packed weeks treated fans and 1xBet users to unexpected results, tense knockout stage battles, and a final that was decided in extra time.

The high level of interest in the tournament opened up new opportunities for the media and affiliates. 1xPartners makes it much easier to engage with sports audiences through up-to-date promo materials, support from personal managers, and flexible partnership models such as RevShare, CPA, and Hybrid.

On that decisive evening, Spain brought their almost flawless campaign to a close and, 16 years on, returned to the top of world football. The victory over Argentina was the highlight of the tournament, in which Luis de la Fuente’s side remained true to their style from the very first match right to the final whistle.

South Korean casino association calls for rethink of proposed levy hike

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The Korea Casino Association has called for the withdrawal of proposed changes that would raise the tourism fund contribution ceiling for foreigner-only casinos and introduce five-year license renewals.

In a statement issued on July 22nd, the association warned that the measures could weaken casino operators’ finances, restrict long-term investment and threaten employment as regional competition intensifies.

South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is considering raising the statutory ceiling for contributions to the Tourism Promotion and Development Fund from 10 percent to 15 percent of casino sales.

The association argued that the contribution is particularly burdensome because it is calculated on revenue rather than operating profit. Casinos must therefore make payments even when they record losses, while also paying individual consumption tax, corporate tax, local taxes and other charges.

It warned that a higher contribution could disrupt the industry’s recovery from the pandemic, weaken operators’ credit ratings and lead to major investments being reduced or canceled.

Paradise City, Paradise Co., South Korea

The association also cited the planned opening of the MGM Osaka integrated resort in 2030, arguing that South Korean operators need continued investment to compete for international customers.

It separately opposed the proposed introduction of five-year casino license renewals. South Korean casinos have operated without fixed license terms since 1994, although existing legislation allows regulators to suspend or revoke licenses for violations.

The association said periodic renewals would increase regulatory and financing uncertainty, potentially affecting large integrated resort investments and employment.

The ministry defended the proposed changes, noting that total revenue generated by foreigner-only casinos had increased 10.3-fold since the fund contribution system was introduced in 1995. Average revenue per operator had risen 7.8-fold, while the contribution structure had remained unchanged for about 30 years.

However, the ministry clarified that the proposed 15 percent rate would not be applied to all casino revenue. The higher rate would apply only to a new, yet-to-be-determined bracket covering part of the revenue generated by higher-sales properties.

It also rejected reports that three major casino operators would face approximately KRW90 billion ($60.8 million) in combined additional payments, saying those estimates incorrectly assumed that the 15 percent rate would be applied broadly.

The applicable revenue threshold and contribution rate will be determined through amendments to the enforcement decree following consultation with the casino industry, academics and other experts. The proposals are due to be discussed at a National Assembly forum on July 23rd.

RubyPlay partners with Betnacional to accelerate Brazil expansion

Premium casino content provider RubyPlay has reinforced its foothold in Brazil’s regulated iGaming market through a new partnership with Flutter-owned brand Betnacional.

Founded in 2021, Betnacional has firmly established itself as one of the leading online betting brands in Brazil and this latest launch is set to propel RubyPlay’s studio content to a brand-new audience.

The strategic partnership was facilitated by Flutter Brazil, the recently formed Brazilian arm of global giant Flutter Entertainment. Established following the acquisition of the NSX Group, the original creators of Betnacional, Flutter Brazil seamlessly combines deep local roots and management with world-class global expertise.

As one of the country’s most prominent regulated operators, the partnership represents an important milestone in RubyPlay’s ongoing expansion strategy across LatAm.

Betnacional also benefits from the addition of highly unique, LatAm-popular slots from Koala Games—one of the fastest-growing studios in RubyPlay’s ecosystem—including the top-performing Brazilian title Voltage Blitz® Zeus Up and other releases from the Voltage Blitz® series

Together with additional content in the pipeline from its localised Brazilian studio, Mad Hat Games, as well as the xSlots and Firerose studios, RubyPlay’s layered ecosystem continues to enable operators to access a broader portfolio of market-focused experiences tailored to different player preferences.

Dima Reiderman, Chief Commercial Officer at RubyPlay, said: “Betnacional is a major player in Brazil’s regulated market, and this partnership represents an important milestone in our continued growth across LatAm. Partnering with one of Brazil’s leading operators further strengthens our position in one of the industry’s most dynamic regulated markets and reinforces our commitment to delivering content that resonates with local audiences. Our layered studio ecosystem allows us to combine speed to market, localised content and a broad range of player experiences, making us a strong long-term content partner for leading operators such as Betnacional.”

Launching with Betnacional reaffirms RubyPlay’s strong reputation for supplying high-performing, localised content to operators in Brazil and beyond, while showcasing the speed-to-market capabilities enabled by its studio ecosystem.

Frederico Cunha, Head of Games at Flutter Brazil, added: “We are always looking for opportunities to enhance our casino proposition and diversify the content available on our platform. Bringing RubyPlay’s games to Betnacional supports that goal and provides our players with access to additional entertainment options.”