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Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: DigiPlus aims for full O2O integration on IEC acquisition

AGBrief Editorial
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Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: DigiPlus aims for full O2O integration on IEC acquisition
Good Morning. Online-to-offline. The best of both worlds. That’s what Philippine online gaming giant DigiPlus is aiming for. Its Chairman says that the acquisition of the New Coast IR aims to leverage its massive consumer database, as its casino renovations on the property are expected to finish in January. Looking to Macau, the premium mass segment performed well this month, with average wagers topping CNY levels. Also in the SAR, the satellite casino closures will continue, even as further diversification is sought, continuing pressure on concessionaires.

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DigiPlus creating first PH O2O gaming ecosystem: Chairman

Philippines online gaming giant DigiPlus is aiming to create a fully integrated online-to-offline gaming ecosystem, leveraging its strong success in the online space alongside its new acquisition of the New Coast Hotel Manila. According to the company’s chairman, the group’s acquisition of a majority stake in the integrated resort complements the current operation of its online platform – using its customer database to improve loyalty, engagement and consumer value, leveraging its digital strengths for its new land-based IR.

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House of Dancing Water Premiere wins top honors at the 2025 TITAN Brand Awards

AGBrief Editorial
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House of Dancing Water Premiere wins top honors at the 2025 TITAN Brand Awards

Melco Resorts & Entertainment has announced that the House of Dancing Water Premiere project has been honored at the 2025 TITAN Brand Awards, earning two major distinctions: the Platinum Award for Best Brand Awareness Campaign and the Gold Award for Best Integrated Marketing Campaign.

These honors recognize Melco’s leadership in strategic marketing and reaffirm its dedication to positioning Macau as the ‘World Centre of Tourism and Leisure’.

Mr. Lawrence Ho, Chairman and CEO of Melco Resorts & Entertainment, said, “We are deeply honored by this recognition from the TITAN Brand Awards. It celebrates more than a successful relaunch; it validates the power of Melco’s global brand narrative and affirms our commitment to creating world-class entertainment experiences for our guests from across the globe. We extend our sincere gratitude to our teams and creative partners for their passion and excellence, and we will continue to set new benchmarks in entertainment that bring pride and enduring value to Macau.”

As an internationally-renowned spectacle that attracts audiences from across the globe, House of Dancing Water is an iconic once-in-a-lifetime aquatic show. Debuting in 2010, the show has continued to captivate millions of audiences and received rave reviews. Recreated under the artistic direction of Giuliano Peparini, Artistic Director of Peparini Studios, the reimagined show merges breathtaking aquatic stunts, advanced stage technology, and a 270-degree theater-in-the-round to deliver an immersive narrative that transcends traditional performance.

The involvement of a cast and crew of nearly 300 professionals from over 30 countries embodies Melco’s commitment to global storytelling and cultural resonance, which is core to its vision of creating truly global and inclusive guest experiences.

Melco Resorts & Entertainment celebrates the House of Dancing Water Premiere project’s success at the 2025 TITAN Brand Awards, winning Platinum for Best Brand Awareness Campaign and Gold for Best Integrated Marketing Campaign.
House of Dancing Water
House of Dancing Water
City of Dreams Macau debuts the stunning New 'House of Dancing Water'

Through an innovative and targeted brand campaign, the premiere of the reimagined House of Dancing Water has made substantial impact, capturing extensive attention globally. In the three days following the premiere, over 1.1 billion views across major social media platforms, including Weibo, WeChat, Rednote, Facebook and Instagram was achieved. Furthermore, engagement with associated social media content surpassed six million interactions. These results demonstrate the success of the campaign in enhancing visibility for the House of Dancing Water brand.

The TITAN Brand Awards, organized by the International Awards Associate (IAA), are among the industry’s most respected global recognitions celebrating excellence in brand strategy, creative innovation, and market impact. Submissions are evaluated by an international jury of experts based on creativity, execution, and measurable effectiveness, honoring campaigns that successfully elevate brand awareness and engagement across worldwide audiences.

Brightstar Lottery expands retail reach in Malaysia with 1,200 new terminals

AGBrief Editorial
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Brightstar Lottery expands retail reach in Malaysia with 1,200 new terminals

Brightstar Lottery has entered into a contract with Pan Malaysian Pools SDN BHD (“PMP”), a licensed numbers forecast operator in Malaysia, to deliver 1,200 Retailer Pro S2 terminals as part of PMP’s infrastructure enhancement program.

The Retailer Pro S2 offers high performance, reliability, and a variety of options and peripherals to meet the current and future needs of lotteries and retailers.

“Brightstar’s Retailer Pro S2 represents the next-generation evolution of our industry-leading Retailer Pro terminal, now more compact, powerful, and flexible,” shared Marco Tasso, Brightstar Chief Operating Officer International and Italy Operations. “Designed for dynamic retail environments like those in Malaysia, the S2 redefines player engagement by offering a range of interactive options that elevate the experience for PMP’s players.”

Retailer Pro S2 by Brightstar Lottery

Engineered for speed and reliability, the Retailer Pro S2 features a 15.6″ full HD clerk-facing touchscreen and is powered by a high-performance processor that ensures rapid transaction processing. Its ergonomic, modular design supports multiple player-facing displays and a broad range of peripherals – including barcode scanners, fingerprint readers, NFC technology, and webcams – enabling flexible and engaging player interactions.

Pan Malaysia Pools, Da Ma Cai

“Deploying Brightstar’s Retailer Pro S2 terminals will provide several added benefits for PMP, our retailers, and players,” said Tan Kong Han, PMP Managing Director. “The many components of this sophisticated terminal will support PMP in our efforts to offer modern experiences for our players, reliable solutions for retailers, and enhance productivity and profitability in our business that continuously funds The Community Chest, which establishes and develops schools throughout Malaysia.”

This next-generation terminal reflects Brightstar’s commitment to innovation and operational excellence across diverse retail environments.

Fast Track secures Great Place to Work certification for fourth year running

AGBrief Editorial
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Fast Track secures Great Place to Work certification for fourth year running

Fast Track, a leading SaaS technology company, has been certified by Great Place to Work for the fourth consecutive year, achieving an exceptional 91% Trust Index score based on feedback from all employees participating in this year’s Great Place to Work Survey.

This remarkable result places Fast Track among the world’s best employers and reflects the company’s unwavering commitment to maintaining a high-trust workplace. 

The Great Place to Work certification is based entirely on employee feedback, making it one of the most credible workplace recognitions globally. Fast Track’s sustained performance across four years — culminating in this record-breaking Trust Index — reinforces its position as an employer of choice in the global technology industry. 

Simon Lidzén, CEO, Fast Track
Simon Lidzén, CEO, Fast Track

“Fast Track is fundamentally a culture-centric business, and our employees remain the driving force behind everything we achieve,” shared Simon Lidzén, Co-Founder and CEO of Fast Track. “Reaching a 91% Trust Index while navigating another year of rapid growth demonstrates our dedication to fostering an exceptional and resilient organisational culture. Achieving this certification for the fourth year running reaffirms my belief in developing leaders from within and empowering our teams to thrive in an environment built on trust, transparency, and continuous growth.” 

The 91% Trust Index represents a significant milestone, placing Fast Track among the top tier of certified workplaces globally. Research by Great Place to Work shows that sustaining high employee trust during periods of rapid expansion is exceptionally rare, as growing organisations often face challenges maintaining a consistent culture as they scale. 

“Our fourth Great Place to Work certification reflects our relentless dedication to being a world-class employer that attracts and retains exceptional talent, but also our belief that trust is what enables us to move fast and succeed,” added Jenny Arnell, Chief People Officer at Fast Track. 

“High-trust workplaces are more productive, energised and resilient – they experience less stress, fewer sick days, and lower burnout. In a highly agile environment like ours, where uncertainty is constant, trust becomes the foundation that allows people to take ownership, collaborate with confidence, and adapt quickly. As we continue to scale the company and its culture, our focus will be on deepening alignment across the team around how we work, who does the work, when and where it’s done, and how it’s valued. Maintaining this level of trust is what will keep us moving forward together.” 

This achievement stands out not only for Fast Track’s continued growth across its offices in Malta, Spain and Sweden, but for the company’s ability to sustain a culture where trust, collaboration, and accountability remain as strong as ever, proving that scaling and staying people-centred can go hand in hand. 

“Earning Great Place to Work certification for the fourth consecutive year, especially with a 91% Trust Index during such significant growth, truly sets Fast Track apart in the technology sector,” said Linda Löfman, Senior Consultant at Great Place to Work. “This level of employee trust and satisfaction during expansion demonstrates exceptional leadership and a genuine commitment to workplace culture. Fast Track’s consistent focus on fairness, transparency, and developing talent from within continues to make them a standout employer in the industry.”

As Fast Track continues to grow, the company remains deeply committed to nurturing its world-class culture while expanding its innovative SaaS solutions to new markets. 

QTech Games hits another milestone with VA Gaming integration

AGBrief Editorial
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QTech Games hits another milestone with VA Gaming integration

QTech Games, the leading game aggregator for all emerging markets, has announced another premier provider partnership with VA Gaming, allowing its platform clients access to another igaming catalogue of over 70 titles.

Integrating content from one of the more innovative and creative digital slots providers adds yet more muscle to QTech Games’ aggregation platform, which is taking the widest range of online games to emerging territories with established names sitting alongside the industry’s most exciting up-and-coming providers.

VA Gaming’s portfolio has been optimised for mobile, a cornerstone of QTech’s offering, which is founded on its fully-owned and customised technical platform, affording games providers and operators the fastest integrations available. Through this leading platform, which has sealed its definitive status as a global gaming one-stop shop, clients enjoy the best performance and customer support available, localised to every region across both developing and more mature markets.

David Yu, Head of AM at VA Gaming, said:  “VA Gaming is artfully blending creativity and technology to craft unique, engaging online slots with distinctive graphics and features, generating a high-quality gaming experience. This integration is a key part of our unfolding worldwide distribution strategy, especially as we expand our focus in emerging markets, and we look forward to a long and successful collaboration.”

This collaboration naturally broadens VA Gaming’s international scope, unlocking untapped regions for diversified growth, above all in Africa and Latin America, where QTech Games continues to consolidate its firm foothold.

Philip Doftvik, QTech Games’ CEO, added: “Each new integration enriches our offering, and it’s particularly rewarding to support game providers who are actively expanding into ‘margin markets’ such as Latin America and Africa. These emerging markets are enjoying an irresistible momentum at present, so we’re excited to help VA Gaming bring their popular titles to market across many previously uncharted territories for them.”

DigiPlus already operating New Coast online platform, no rebrand planned: Chairman

Viviana Chan
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DigiPlus already operating New Coast online platform, no rebrand planned: Chairman

The Philippines’ leading online gaming operator, DigiPlus Interactive Corp., is already running the online gaming platform of New Coast Hotel Manila, Chairman Eusebio H. Tanco confirmed in an interview with AGB.

House of Dancing Water
DigiPlus Chairman Eusebio H. Tanco

The arrangement gives DigiPlus direct insight into player behavior, positioning the company to drive seamless online-to-offline integration once it becomes the controlling shareholder of the property’s parent firm. Tanco added that there are currently no plans to rebrand New Coast as the integrated resort project progresses.

DigiPlus has become the Philippines’ largest online gambling platform; the company now has more than 40 million users.

Tanco said DigiPlus’ digital operations have long provided a substantial user base and deep data on engagement patterns across its online bingo, sportsbook, and digital entertainment offerings.

“Under the existing management agreement, DigiPlus already operates New Coast’s online gaming platform, giving the company direct insight into player behavior, digital preferences, and engagement patterns,” he said. These insights, he noted, will support a coordinated rollout of loyalty alignment, personalized offers, and integrated customer journeys across both digital and land-based channels.

DigiPlus is set to enter the Philippines’ land-based casino sector after striking a deal to acquire a controlling stake in International Entertainment Corp. (IEC), the parent company of New Coast Hotel Manila. As disclosed in a filing last week, DigiPlus will subscribe to HK$1.6 billion ($206 million) in convertible notes. Once fully converted, the company will hold a 53.89 percent interest in IEC based on the enlarged share capital.

The move to secure a controlling stake in IEC marks a firm step toward diversifying its business amid regulatory uncertainty in the online gaming sector.

Under a provisional license issued by PAGCOR in 2023, IEC committed to transforming New Coast into a full integrated resort, pledging at least $1 billion in development spending. Tanco said DigiPlus will contribute to this requirement through its planned subscription of convertible bonds.

“Part of the proceeds of the CB (convertible bonds) will go towards funding the required $1 billion IR investment,” he said. “It will be complemented by DigiPlus’ core strengths in online gaming operations, technology, customer acquisition, and digital entertainment.”

Tanco emphasized that DigiPlus brings substantial value through its scale in digital entertainment and advanced capabilities in payments, engagement, and platform management. “DigiPlus brings a large and highly engaged digital user base, along with proven capabilities in player engagement, payments, and platform management,” he said. These strengths, the company believes, will underpin what could become the Philippines’ first fully integrated online-to-offline (O2O) gaming ecosystem.

“DigiPlus aspires to set the standard for a fully integrated online-to-offline gaming ecosystem in the Philippines.”

By combining its digital reach with a physical property, the company aims to drive stronger loyalty, higher engagement, and greater customer value across channels.

International Entertainment, New Coast Hotel

No rebranding planned for New Coast Hotel

Despite the major transition underway, DigiPlus has no immediate plans to change the casino-hotel’s identity. “There are no rebranding plans at this stage,” Tanco said. For now, the focus remains on phased enhancements to the casino floor and key operational areas. “Completion of renovation works for the casino is expected by January 2026,” indicated the executive.

New Coast Hotel Manila currently offers 203 rooms and operates 96 table games, 495 slot machines, and a range of other gaming amenities, according to corporate information.

IEC’s latest filing indicates that the future New Coast integrated resort will span at least 250,000 square meters and include a minimum of 800 five-star hotel rooms, along with retail, dining, leisure, and gaming space covering at least 20,000 square meters.

Philippine police on standby after request for Interpol Red Notice for former presidential spokesperson linked to POGO

Kelsey Wilhelm
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Philippine police on standby after request for Interpol Red Notice for former presidential spokesperson linked to POGO

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is on standby as the government has submitted a request for an Interpol Red Notice against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

PNP teams have been mandated to maintain continuous communication with Interpol’s National Central Bureau in Manila, with acting PNP chief Let. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr noting that “We will be the primary enforcement arm if the notice is approved”.

Roque is facing charges of inciting to sedition and human trafficking, among others.

Many of these stem from his alleged relationship with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator Operator (POGO) Lucky South 99.

Just last week, “POGO mayor” Alice Guo was handed a life sentence for human trafficking linked to the Lucky South 99 compound in Bamban, north of Manila. The compound held hundreds of workers who were forced to carry out scams under the threat of torture.

While Guo was caught after fleeing the country, Roque left the country last year and has reportedly been seen in Germany.

Roque claims political persecution by Philippine authorities, however investigators say that the former official was head of lucky South 99’s legal department – representing the firm in its failed reapplication for a Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) license.

Criminal cases were filed against Roque and 48 others in April of this year.

South Korean authorities arrest over 5K people in year-long cyber gambling crackdown

Kelsey Wilhelm
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South Korean authorities arrest over 5K people in year-long cyber gambling crackdown

Authorities in South Korea have arrested some 5,196 people over the course of a year-long cyber gambling crackdown, with most suspects being in the 20s and 30s.

According to ChosunBiz, the National Office of Investigation (NOI) of the Korean National Police Agency conducted the crackdown from November of 2024 to October of this year.

During the crackdown some 314 individuals were further detained and authorities recovered some KRW123.5 billion ($83.6 million) in gambling revenue.

According to the NOI, gamblers in their 20s made up about one-quarter of the total, together with punters in their 30s – the two age groups made up over 50 percent of those arrested.

Authorities indicate that they intend to extend the crackdown on cybercrime through October of 2026.

This includes organizations running illegal sites based overseas. According to the Korean National Police Agency, some 97 individuals were caught, including those operating gambling sites worth KRW530 billion ($358.8 million), based in Cambodia, China, the Philippines and Vietnam. They also caught 23 members of an organization operating a gambling site based on servers in the Philippines.

James Packer takes aim at regulators/officials, criticizing state of Australia’s gaming industry

Kelsey Wilhelm
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James Packer takes aim at regulators/officials, criticizing state of Australia’s gaming industry

In a scathing interview, former Crown Resorts owner James Packer has criticized the New South Wales Independent Casino Commission head Philip Crawford, claimed unfair treatment for Crown compared to Star Entertainment and blasted casino regulations.

Packer made the claims in a wide-ranging interview with Rampart’s Joe Aston, a close friend of the executive.

Regarding Crawford, Packer claimed that Crawford nearly derailed Crown’s acquisition by Blackstone in 2022 for AU$8.9 billion ($5.74 billion). Packer claimed that rival Star Entertainment “was behaving far worse than Crown ever behaved, highlighting charges leveled by the nation’s financial watchdog ASIC against Star which Crown was not subject to.

Packer also expressed an extreme dislike for Victorian regulators and the state’s former Premier Daniel Andrews, going so far as to call the official “human filth”.

The executive stated that Andrews “is about my least favorite person in the world. I think Daniel Andrews not only ruined Victoria, he almost ruined my life”.

Packer was speaking specifically about the change in taxation rates on Crown, “with three weeks to go” on the sale to Blackstone.

Overall, the executive stated: “I think it’s outrageous what’s happening to the casinos in Australia. The pubs and clubs are booming,” he stated. Packer highlighted the fact that casinos have been obliged to turn cashless, while pubs and clubs can still accept cash, noting that “casino operators pay hundreds of millions of dollars to get their licenses in the first place […] to differentiate themselves from the clubs and the pubs.”

“It’s as though they’re trying to bankrupt the businesses,” he opined.

Overall, the executive, who has been out of the casino industry since his 2022, evaluated his business savvy as a “5 out of 10”, indicating that the sale to Blackstone and sale of his Macau operations were some of his better business moves.

“I arguably sold Macau well and I arguably sold Crown well to Blackstone,” indicated Packer.

The former Crown boss has had a tumultuous few years, trying to overcome mental health and substance abuse issues. He had largely stayed out of the spotlight until the recent interview.

Grand Hyatt at Paradise City to hold soft opening in March 2026: report

Kelsey Wilhelm
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Grand Hyatt at Paradise City to hold soft opening in March 2026: report

The Grand Hyatt Incheon at Paradise City is expected to hold a soft opening in March of 2026 and be fully ramped up by Golden Week in May.

Paradise had announced its acquisition of the Grand Hyatt Incheon West Tower in September for KRW210 billion ($151 million), expecting to close the deal by October 31st. However, the acquisition was delayed until December 19th to align with a revised progress schedule on pre-closing requirements.

According to a report by Hanwha Investment & Securities, the Hyatt’s soft opening will begin operations on March 8th of next year, as the operation contract for the property expires on March 1st. After the soft opening, Paradise will operate the hotel directly.

Hanwha analyst Park Su-young indicated that the opening will allow for an expansion of comping, ease criteria for comps and drive solid growth in casino drop as well as revenue.

Paradise had previously indicated that the acquisition was intended to strengthen its competitiveness as an integrated resort operator and to expand demand from overseas tourists, thereby securing a foundation for sustainable growth.

Paradise Co. is the number one operator of foreigner-only casinos by market share in South Kore, with the majority of its casino sales coming from Paradise City.

Paradise City operates 178 tables (131 baccarat, 18 blackjack and 29 others) and 332 slots at its 8,727 square meter casino. Japanese VIP play is the main contributor in regards to casino drop. After the Hyatt acquisition, Paradise City will operate 1,270 hotel rooms.

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