Good Morning. An unavoidable future. AI has become essential in sports betting, enhancing fan engagement, optimizing odds, and providing valuable data insights, as highlighted by Behshad Behzadi, Chief Product, Technology, and AI Officer at Sportradar. In an interview with AGB, Behzadi underscores its role in improving transparency, coaching, and user experiences while emphasizing the importance of ethical AI governance. Meanwhile, Wynn Resorts has indicated that its UAE Wynn Al Marjan Island construction has already reached its full height and is topping out. In Macau, Casino Ponte 16 has officially closed after more than 17 years of activity, as satellite casino closures continue in the SAR.
AI has transformed into a pivotal force in sports betting, enhancing fan engagement, optimizing betting odds, and providing vast data insights for teams, scouts, and punters. In an interview with AGB, Behshad Behzadi, Chief Product, Technology, and AI Officer at Sportradar, emphasizes the crucial role of AI in processing information that supports various facets of the sports industry, from coaching to game analysis. With pioneering initiatives like the AI-powered Content Studio and self-learning foundational models for player simulation, Sportradar exemplifies how AI can forecast player actions and improve betting accuracy.
Wynn Resorts has provided a significant construction update on its ambitious Wynn Al Marjan Island project, the first integrated resort in the United Arab Emirates.
As construction progresses, the resort’s main tower, projected to soar to 305 meters, is nearing completion, currently standing at the 70th floor, and with its topping out said to have been finished by the end of November. Additionally, the exterior facade installation has reached 73 percent, with 19,206 out of 26,247 panels successfully fitted.
Meanwhile, construction on the low-rise buildings is nearing completion, with concrete and steel work approximately 97 percent finished.
The expansive site covers more than 60 hectares and will feature 1,217 resort rooms, 297 enclave suites, ten Marina Estates, four garden townhomes, and two royal apartments. Planned amenities include 22 restaurants, lounges, and bars; a beach club; a spa; beauty facilities; a shopping area showcasing international luxury brands; and the Coral Court event venue.
Additional attractions will comprise The Showroom theatre, 12 pools, a 420-meter beach with white sand, and a deep-water marina designed to accommodate superyachts from around the globe.
Hotel arrival at Wynn Al Marjan IslandMain hotel lobby at dusk at Wynn Al Marjan IslandView from the poolscape at Wynn Al Marjan Island
Structural construction has been completed 1,526 of the planned 1,530 units, representing approximately 99.7 percent of total accommodations. Interior fit-out activities are currently underway in around 1,504 units, with ongoing mechanical and electrical installations across the site.
The resort is slated to open its doors in early 2027, as the first integrated resort in the UAE.
Located approximately 50 minutes from Dubai International Airport, the IR is being developed in collaboration with Marjan Properties and RAK Hospitality Holding, Wynn Al Marjan Island represents a $5.1 billion investment.
ALEC Engineering and Contracting, a subsidiary of the Investment Corporation of Dubai, was awarded the primary construction contract in 2023, with German firm Bauer International has been contracted for essential piling and enabling activities.
Stretch Network has announced significant upgrades to its Spin & Go tournaments, effective December 2, designed to deliver a faster, more engaging experience for both players and operators.
These updates are designed to create a more dynamic gameplay environment while offering operators a streamlined and flexible tournament structure.
Key improvements to Spin & Go include a refined blind structure, lower rake at 7%, new buy-in tiers ranging from €0.5 to €100, and optimized overall game flow to boost player engagement and retention.
Players will benefit from faster action thanks to a 20BB starting stack, 2-minute blind intervals, and a Hold’em-exclusive format, ensuring clear and consistent gameplay. Meanwhile, operators will enjoy simplified navigation and a more flexible tournament setup, helping them manage their platforms more efficiently.
The enhancements aim to improve speed, clarity, and overall tournament dynamics, creating a more exciting experience for players while supporting operators in driving stronger engagement and long-term results. With improved liquidity, smoother gameplay, and flexible buy-in options, Spin & Go tournaments are better equipped to keep players returning and participating consistently.
Stretch Network continues to demonstrate its commitment to providing high-quality B2B poker solutions that deliver measurable value for operators and enhance the player experience across their platforms.
Macau’s hotel establishments recorded an average occupancy rate of 89.3 percent in October, up 0.9 percentage points year-on-year, according to new figures from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).
The growth came as the city welcomed 1.21 million hotel guests during the month, a 3 percent increase compared with October last year.
International visitors were the strongest contributors to the rise in hotel stays. DSEC data showed that international guests climbed 20.8 percent to 118,000, with arrivals from South Korea (34,000), Thailand (9,000), Japan (8,000), and India (8,000) all posting significant year-on-year growth. Guests from mainland China totaled 885,000, up 1.6 percent, while Hong Kong visitors fell slightly by 1.9 percent to 140,000. The average length of stay increased marginally to 1.7 nights.
Macau had 147 operating hotel establishments at the end of October, one more than the same month last year. The city’s total supply of guest rooms expanded 3.4 percent to 45,000. Five-star hotels posted the strongest performance, with occupancy at 93.5 percent, rising 1.8 percentage points year-on-year. Four-star hotels followed at 83.7 percent. Three-star properties recorded a decline, with occupancy slipping 2.6 percentage points to 82.4 percent.
In contrast to hotel guest growth, inbound package tour numbers dropped sharply. Macau received 158,000 package tour visitors in October, a 20.6 percent decline from a year earlier, driven by a 31.3 percent fall in mainland Chinese tour groups. International tour visitors, however, increased 18.8 percent to 22,000 and jumped 53.1 percent month-on-month.
For the first 10 months of 2025, Macau’s hotel occupancy rate averaged 89.3 percent, up 3.6 percentage points year-on-year. Total hotel guests reached 12.12 million, while the average length of stay remained at 1.7 nights.
Inbound package tours totaled 1.54 million for the period, down 9.5 percent year-on-year, though international tour visitor numbers rose 16.2 percent.
HKEX- listed Century Entertainment International Holdings has reported a sharp return to profitability for the six months ended September 30th, 2025 (1H26), marking what the Board described as a ‘remarkable turnaround’ driven by newly launched business lines, debt-settlement gains, and the reversal of prior impairment losses.
The Group posted revenue of HK$5.76 million ($736,000), its first top-line contribution since last year, after entering into a joint venture with Philippines-based World Platinum Technologies (WPT) on July 9th. The deal established Konphil Technology Company Limited (KTC), a non-wholly owned subsidiary focused on sub-licensing an online gaming platform in the Philippines, with the company holding 51 percent and WPT 49 percent.
KTC contributed HK$5.1 million ($652,000) in revenue during the period and operated at a high gross margin of 80.7 percent, generating HK$4.1 million ($524,000) in gross profit. Management said the shift away from the Group’s previous physical VIP-room model reflects its belief in the ‘huge market potential’ of online gaming platforms.
Century Entertainment reported a net profit of HK$26.37 million ($3.37 million) for the half-year, compared with a net loss of HK$11.42 million ($1.46 million) a year earlier. The result was boosted by a HK$3 million ($384,000) gain from offsetting assets and liabilities linked to a settlement agreement with former director Ng Man Sun, as well as the reversal of HK$30.2 million ($3.86 million) in previously recognized impairment losses on other receivables.
The Group’s new camellia oil trading business in mainland China added HK$690,000 ($88,000) in revenue, though it recorded a segment loss of HK$900,000 ($115,000). Management said the product line remains in its early stage but is expected to support broader diversification in the long term.
Beyond its online platform push, Century Entertainment said it continues to seek opportunities in gaming operations across the region. Work to reopen gaming tables in Cambodia remains underway, and on July 28th the company signed a letter of intent with a casino operator in Vietnam to explore potential expansion in the country.
The company ended the period with net liabilities of HK$98.6 million ($12.6 million). Directors noted that going-concern conditions remain subject to financial support from the Group’s major shareholder and the continued scaling of new revenue-generating business lines.
Myanmar’s authorities have intensified efforts to dismantle illegal structures in the Shwe Kokko and KK Park areas, which have become notorious for telecom fraud and online gambling activities.
According to The Star, joint task forces – comprising security personnel, administrative bodies, and local authorities – are actively raiding establishments and demolishing buildings that have been constructed unlawfully.
As of November 29th, the operation in Section 3 of KK Park recorded the demolition of 122 out of 425 illegal structures, contributing to a total of 270 demolitions across the KK Park area.
In Shwe Kokko, where operations began on November 18th, authorities conducted thorough inspections, identifying 135 illegal buildings. They sealed off 37 of these structures, including numerous multi-story buildings, to prevent their further use in criminal activities.
The crackdown has also led to the apprehension of 2,042 foreign nationals who entered Myanmar illegally.
Authorities have seized a significant amount of equipment associated with online gambling, including 3,310 computers and 21,870 mobile phones. These items are being systematically destroyed as part of the ongoing effort to dismantle the criminal operations.
Detained foreign nationals are being held in a designated facility in the Shwe Kokko area while their personal records are collected for repatriation. From January 30 to November 29, 2025, a total of 12,915 foreign nationals were detained, with 10,029 already deported to their respective countries through Thailand.
The Government of Myanmar said it is resolute in its commitment to combat telecom fraud and online gambling, coordinating efforts not only within its borders but also with neighboring countries to eradicate these illegal activities.
Victoria’s gambling regulator (VGCCC) has urged clubs and hotels to ensure they comply with trading restrictions ahead of the Christmas holidays, after issuing fines and censures totallng AU$58,000 ($37,700) to nine venue operators for breaches earlier this year.
Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) chief executive Suzy Neilan said venues must check their permitted hours before December 25th.
“The festive season is just around the corner, and we appreciate it is an extremely busy time for clubs and hotels. That is why it is so important to check your trading hours are compliant now”, Neilan said in a VGCCC announcement.
The warning follows investigations into breaches on Good Friday and ANZAC Day, when poker machines were found operating outside permitted hours at 12 venues.
Nine venues were fined and three censured. Clayton RSL received the largest penalty — AU$15,000 ($9,750) — after allowing gaming activities beyond its liquor license hours on Good Friday, generating a net turnover of AU$2,444 ($1,590).
Neilan said restrictions on significant days reflected community expectations. “It is important that we reflect community expectations surrounding these days and ensure that venues comply with the law”, she said.
Last year, the VGCCC fined 11 venues a total of AU$180,000 ($117,000) for similar breaches.
The venues penalized were The Bridge Hotel (BH01 Pty Ltd), Clayton RSL Sub-Branch Inc, Freccia Azzurra Club, Kerang Bowling Club Inc, Lakes Entrance RSL Sub-Branch Inc, Mansfield Golf Club Inc, Murray Downs Golf & Country Club Ltd, Sebastopol Bowling Club Inc, Sunbury Bowling Club Inc, Sunbury United Sporting Club Limited, The Brunswick Club, and The Moonee Ponds Club Inc.
Macau’s casino Ponte 16 officially ceased operations at 11:59pm on Friday, November 28th, ending more than 17 years of activity.
The closure marks a key step in Macau’s restructuring of satellite casinos ahead of the year-end deadline requiring all properties operating inside hotels not owned by concessionaires to comply fully with amended gaming laws.
Under the revised framework, satellite casino venues must transition to direct management by license holders or cease operations. SJM opted to shutter Ponte 16 for commercial reasons rather than convert it into a self-operated casino.
Macau’s gaming watchdog, the DICJ, said the shutdown proceeded in an orderly manner with interdepartmental coordination. Immediately after closure, the regulator suspended all gaming tables and machines and supervised the removal of the equipment within the venue.
The Labor Affairs Bureau deployed staff on-site to brief affected workers and provide information via a dedicated assistance hotline, while the Public Security Police and the Judiciary Police maintained order around the premises.
As reported by AGB, regulators are overseeing the redeployment of more than 1,000 employees from the long-running satellite property operated under SJM Resorts.
The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Department (DICJ) said the 1,025 affected staff will be guaranteed relocation opportunities within SJM, with protections for salaries, benefits, and working conditions.
Local media reported that sizeable crowds gathered outside the casino on Friday to witness the final moments of Ponte 16, with visitors and employees taking photos as gaming tables closed one by one before midnight.
The closure coincides with SJM’s move to advance its acquisition of L’Arc Hotel, with the operator undergoing the conversion of the property into a fully self-managed gaming venue, according to a company announcement issued on November 21st.
AI has become a convenient tagline for attracting attention. But in the world of sports betting, it is an essential component, driving not only fan engagement, but betting odds, user interfaces and providing insane amounts of data for teams, scouts and punters to know exactly what their preferred players could do at any given time. Sportradar’s Behshad Behzadi breaks down how and why AI should be implemented, and what it can bring to the table.
Imagine knowing what every player will do before they even do it. Imagine being able to train a team, calculate odds, even know when a player is likely to pass the ball – the possibilities are endless. And the sports technology group Sportradar has that capacity in their hands. Chief Product, Technology, and AI Officer Behshad Behzadi tells AGB exactly how important this data (when processed properly) is, while examining the advantages and limits of AI.
Behshad Bezhadi, Chief Product, Technology and AI Officer, Sportradar
“I had been at Google for 18 years before joining Sportradar,” notes Behzadi.
And his contributions to the company were not few: Co-founder of Google Assistant, Co-founder of Google Lens, Co-founder of Google Smart Display. The list goes on and on.
But the executive saw in Sportradar something exciting. A chance to step away from the managerial toil that inevitably comes with success in a massive company, and to focus on his true love of data – and all that can be done with it.
It’s no coincidence that Behzadi holds the title of not only Chief Product, Technology Officer, but also that of AI Officer. The inclusion of the AI component espouses Sportradar’s approach to its services, leveraging AI to process information that fuels not only sports betting, but coaching, talent scouting, optimization of user interfaces, fan engagement, advertising, back-end support and streaming, among others.
AI is essential, but customers need reassurance
When asked whether Sportradar could operate at its current scale without the use of AI, Behzadi unequivocally answered “no”. But that doesn’t mean that it is rampantly deployed across all areas of the business.
Computer Vision, deployed in early 2023, allowed the company to collect “100 times more data than a human”, meaning that without it “you would not be at the same level at all when it comes to predictive analytics and creation of the odds and prices”. This has further evolved and integrated into a myriad of services it provides. “The gold mine is always data. And Sportradar has, I think, more than anyone else in the world, sports-related data”.
Moving to integrity, “we need to prevent fraud and cheating, because otherwise this industry will not survive. So that is also machine learning and AI”.
But these are the more “classical, traditional AI examples”, notes the expert. Generative AI is becoming a key component of future operations, not just for Sportradar.
One such example is Content Studio, an AI-powered platform using real-time data to generate sports articles, videos and audio content in seconds.
“It takes one game and then creates hundreds of different stories, formats, target to different audiences, in different languages. If you don’t have this scale, and scale matters […] you couldn’t have that,” notes Behzadi.
But looking more at the betting side, the generation of odds can be of concern to punters wishing to know exactly how such odds were calculated.
Enter the world of Bet Concierge – a chatbot designed to provide answers to match-related questions and smart betting suggestions directly linked to the betmakers’ bookslips.
“If you can’t explain why this odd is this number […] your people will leave because they think you are cheating them”.
“AI governance that we have at Sportradar is trying to help us on where to apply and where to not apply,” notes Behzadi, highlighting a key part of the concern around AI use.
For example, allowing AI programs themselves to define bonuses and bonus frequency, discounts and reductions is a slippery slope – and could potentially hurt their sportsbook customers if rampantly applied. “We would not know their business logic or policy for that,” highlights the executive.
AI models and practicality
“We do both,” notes Behzadi, in regards to purchasing AI models or developing them in-house.
Sportradar has some fully home-grown AI models, but “we use models from Amazon, we use open models from Google and others,” noted the executive. “We kind of expand it with our data […] and then try to improve it better for our use cases”.
“We also have built something quite relevant,” notes Behzadi, “a foundational model for basketball, where we […] took all the data that we have from NBA videos – all the tracking data that we have which is practical, for every single player. “We have 29 body points and 60 times per second […] Now we have a model which can simulate every single player, very similar to the players. For example, this player in such situation is passing, is looking this way but giving their pass that way”.
But the model isn’t static, it’s self-learning. “We didn’t give any indication to the model, but the model learned”. By providing the “foundational model”, the system can self-teach.
This means that you can “build 10 times, 10,000 times the simulation of the game. And you can compute lots of different statistics. What is the expected possession value in this very specific case, including the direction of the head and hands, the angle of the body, and what is good in that situation.”
“You can use it absolutely for betting,” notes the executive, but it goes far beyond – especially relevant for coaching and “how to improve a player”.
This is particularly relevant in the Synergy Coaching & Scouting platform– focused on basketball’s coaching staff and professional scouts – which can take that data and – instead of needing to attend far-away games, or study endless game reels, evaluate the data points and use it to coach or procure the best players out there. Truly a game changer, as all teams in the NBA, WNBA and NCAA utilize the platform.
But these models cost money and punters only want a certain amount of options to bet on.
“People, at the end of the day, still bet on a few number of more popular things. When it’s pre-game or during the game, there are certain bets which (are main stead)”. Offering thousands of betting options simply because the technology can do so doesn’t mean it will increase punter uptake.
UI and AI/reading the mood
“VIP players are the people that every bookmaker cares about, and you don’t want to touch it and potentially risk that your VIP decides to go somewhere else. But the cost of not changing might mean losing a new generation of users.”
Behshad Bezhadi
To get around this, the User Interface (UI) can be tailor-made, particularly now that you can use AI to help build a solid user interface that is bespoke to each punter.
“You have to build an experience,” indicates the executive.
This covers multiple areas: “you should look into what’s the journey of the fan using the product,” notes the expert, “you make it engaging but make it easy, make it pleasant”.
One highly interesting component is understanding how and when to advertise.
“The idea is to try and improve advertisement for your brand by knowing how the emotions of people are changing in different moments […] When a local team is winning and the city is happy, that day is a good day to spend a bit more money on advertising […] Targeting the right time, right person, right message – and that message can be different for you or me despite it being about the same game – you’ll be optimized for the fan experience, for the success of that advertising campaign”.
AI native
“We have tried to become an AI native, become an AI-first company. And the biggest change is really about that […] We are one of those smaller number of companies to whom AI was important enough that we called someone a Chief AI Officer. And that is how we want to internally operate […] The fact that for the past 20 years something has been sold somehow else is not a good reason to continue to do it that way,” solidifies Behzadi.
This approach has guided Sportradar’s growth and rampant success in its partnerships with top sports brands worldwide – utilizing a bespoke approach to AI that acts as a facilitator rather than a catchphrase, a valuable tool when selectively applied within distinct parameters, with readily visible results.
SOFTSWISS, a global iGaming technology leader with 15+ years’ experience, shared a video tackling 2026’s key challenge: building a winning strategy. CMO Valentina Bagniya outlines concrete steps, drawing on insights from the 2026 iGaming Trends report.
Valentina emphasises the growing importance of strong and data-driven market research and explains how the 2026 iGaming Trends report helps professionals take a closer look at the key trends shaping the year ahead. CMO answers the main questions defining 2026, including AI role in the tech industry, the most effective marketing channels and the real impact of responsible-gambling communication.
SOFTSWISS approaches research with clarity and precision, aiming to give businesses a foundation they can confidently rely on when creating and developing their own strategies. That’s why each trend in the report is supported by clear adaptation paths and practical, actionable steps that show how companies can respond to market changes in real operations, not just observe them from the sidelines.
“Trends themselves don’t change industries – people do.”
“A trend only becomes valuable when you can translate it into real decisions, actions, and measurable results. The sooner you see trends as tools for foresight rather than reaction, the closer you are to leading the market instead of chasing it,” shared Valentina Bagniya, CMO at SOFTSWISS.
The 2026 iGaming Trends report is the fourth edition of SOFTSWISS’ annual flagship ebook. Its third release earned strong industry recognition, with over 13,000 downloads and features across more than 100 pages. The 2026 edition continues to meet a clear market demand – less speculation and more actionable, data-backed substance.
The 2026 iGaming Trends report is based on in-depth interviews with more than 350 iGaming professionals,two waves of quantitative market research conducted by Kantar, and extensive market analysis covering over 120,000 media headlines. Presented at SiGMA Central Europe and discussed during the 2026 iGaming Trends Marathon, the report has already attracted strong industry attention.
Recognized as Marketer of the Year at the EGR Marketing & Innovation Awards and leader of the Marketing Team of the Year, with multiple Best Campaign wins, Valentina emphasized that the report highlights what is real, proven, and already creating value in the market.
