Indonesian immigration authorities have deported 92 Chinese nationals accused of involvement in an online gambling syndicate and investment fraud operation in Batam, with all of those removed also being placed on the country’s lifetime immigration blacklist.
The group was deported on 5th July via Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on a China Southern Airlines flight to Guangzhou following a request from Chinese authorities. According to Galih P. Kartika Perdhana, head of the Soekarno-Hatta Immigration Office, the deportation was carried out at the formal request of China’s Ministry of Public Security.
Chinese authorities coordinated the repatriation by dispatching a special escort team and covering the costs associated with the detainees’ accommodation and deportation. Indonesian immigration officials implemented special contingency procedures to manage the large-scale deportation without disrupting normal airport operations. Authorities said the process included separate immigration screening, biometric identity verification and escorted transfers directly to the aircraft.
Aristocrat will highlight its latest gaming technologies and customer-focused solutions at the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Show (OIGA) 2026, bringing together offerings across land-based gaming, digital gaming, sports betting, and analytics to help tribal operators enhance player engagement and business performance.
Exhibiting at Booth #242, Aristocrat Gaming, Aristocrat Interactive, Awager, and Gaming Analytics will present a comprehensive suite of products and services designed for both Class 2 and Class 3 gaming environments, alongside growing digital and omnichannel capabilities.
Advancing Performance in Class 2 and Class 3 Gaming
Among the key highlights will be the world premiere of the Marquis Core 24-inch cabinet for Class 2 gaming. The new hardware combines traditional mechanical reel gameplay with modern features and launches with titles including All Star Racer Wilds – Crazy Cherry, Lucky Ducky, and Polar High Roller. Additional Class 2 releases include Mr. Money Bags Makes Another Mint, Mr. & Ms. Money Bags, and Hot Red Ruby’s Wild Weekend New York.
Aristocrat will also expand its Crown Bartop offering with a four-game package featuring player favourites such as The Hunt For Neptune’s Gold, The Hunt For Aztec Riches, Silver Dollar Shoot Out High Noon, and Polar High Roller Lightning Wilds Deluxe.
For Class 3 operators, the company plans to showcase several new game families and franchise extensions, including Fo’ Mo’ Mummy, Bao Zhu Zhao Fu Supreme, and Thunder Legends, each introducing fresh titles and gameplay mechanics to established brands.
Gaming operations products will also feature prominently, with Tarzan Unleashed and TimberWolf Mega Stampede making their debut on The Baron Portrait cabinet. Meanwhile, Buffalo Mega Stampede Grand will expand onto the King Max cabinet and include a $1 million mystery progressive jackpot.
Bridging Land-Based and Digital Gaming
Beyond the casino floor, Aristocrat Interactive will demonstrate a range of solutions aimed at linking retail and digital gaming experiences. These include the Intelligent Card Reader Pro, which enables cashless and cardless gaming functionality, as well as OASIS Connect, PlayerMax, and OASIS Loyalty, helping operators modernize player engagement and loyalty programs.
The company will also spotlight its integrated iGaming and sports betting ecosystem, designed to allow operators to extend the value of their land-based operations into online channels through platform technology, content, and managed services. Its Mobile Class II offering will be featured as a digital growth solution tailored for tribal gaming operators.
Empowering Operators with Innovation and Analytics
Supporting the broader ecosystem, representatives from Awager and Gaming Analytics will provide demonstrations of tools focused on digital engagement and data-driven decision making. Awager’s solutions enable operators to offer interactive online casino experiences, while Gaming Analytics will showcase AI-powered technology for player insights, slot floor optimization, and marketing automation.
Together, the showcase reflects Aristocrat’s strategy of delivering an end-to-end portfolio spanning gaming content, hardware, casino systems, digital platforms, and analytics, providing operators with a unified approach to growth and customer engagement.
Pragmatic Play has expanded its popular Big Bass franchise with the introduction of Big Bass Blast, a high-energy new title featuring escalating rewards and action-packed bonus features.
Heading back to the lake for another adventure, players join the famous fisherman in a charged-up 5×3 slot that introduces fresh mechanics to one of the supplier’s most popular game series.
In the base game, wilds on reels 1 and 5 can randomly carry a 2x-10x multiplier, boosting wins, while landing 3-5 scatter symbols triggers the bonus game with 5-9 free spins, where at least one wild is guaranteed to hit on every spin.
During both the base and bonus game, fisherman wilds collect the value of all fish money symbols that land, awarding prizes of up to 500x. Every seventh wild collected in the bonus game grants five additional free spins and increases the win multiplier, progressing from 2x to 3x before the maximum of 10x.
The action continues throughout the feature thanks to special hook and bazooka mechanics, which can reel in money symbols and wilds or transform landed symbols on any spin.
Sharon McHugh, Director of Public Relations at Pragmatic Play, said: “One of the strengths of the Big Bass franchise is its ability to explore fresh creative territory while staying true to the core gameplay that players love. Big Bass Blast achieves this with its electrified reels and new bonus game experience.”
Sands China has been recognized as the leading recipient at the Employee Experience Awards Hong Kong 2026, collecting 14 awards in recognition of its human resources strategy, talent development initiatives, and commitment to employee wellbeing.
The integrated resort operator received the event’s highest distinction, the Grand Winner award, alongside the Triple Crown of Employee Excellence, four gold awards, seven silver awards, and one bronze award. The awards spanned multiple areas, including corporate culture, employee engagement, workplace wellbeing, talent development, and recruitment.
The accolades highlight Sands China’s ongoing focus on cultivating talent in Macau and enhancing the employee experience through comprehensive training, career development, and workplace inclusion programs. The company said its human resources approach is aligned with Macau’s broader goal of developing local talent and supporting long-term economic growth.
Paulo Cheong, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Sands China Ltd., described the recognition as validation of the company’s people-first strategy and its continued efforts to foster an inclusive and supportive workplace environment.
He noted that talent development remains central to both corporate success and Macau’s future development, adding that the awards serve as encouragement for Sands China to further invest in employee growth and professional advancement opportunities.
Organized by Human Resources Online, the Employee Experience Awards recognize organizations that excel in creating positive workplace experiences. Entries are assessed by a panel of senior HR leaders across four key areas: leadership, learning, engagement, and talent acquisition. The awards program is held annually across several Asian markets, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.
The latest recognition adds to a growing list of HR-related achievements for Sands China. Earlier, the company secured its second consecutive Top Employer certification from the Top Employers Institute, a globally recognized authority on human resources standards. The certification underscored the company’s adherence to international best practices in talent management and workplace development.
As Macau’s largest private employer, Sands China has long positioned employee development at the center of its corporate strategy. Through competitive benefits, structured career pathways, and extensive training programs, the company aims to strengthen workforce capabilities while supporting the SAR government’s talent development objectives.
By the end of 2025, Sands China had provided more than 22.6 million hours of training to its workforce. The company employs over 28,000 team members, with more than half having served for at least a decade, reflecting strong employee retention and engagement levels.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has committed Php60 million to fund scholarships for 2,000 students from low-income families in Bulacan, releasing an initial Php10-million grant to the provincial government on July 6.
The fund will support the Ayudang Hatid ay Tagumpay (AHT) Scholarship Program aimed at expanding access to higher education and technical-vocational training for deserving Bulakenyo students.
During the turnover of the first Php10 million at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium, PAGCOR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro H. Tengco said the initiative helps ensure that revenues from regulated translate to programs that directly benefit Filipinos.
Of the Php60 million allocation, Php40 million will fund scholarships for 1,000 incoming college freshmen enrolled in four-year degree programs, while Php20 million will support 1,000 students pursuing technical-vocational education.
Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando welcomed the assistance and said it would enable more students to pursue their studies despite financial constraints.
“We thank PAGCOR for its continued support in the education of the Bulakenyo youth. This scholarship program will help expand access to quality education and create opportunities for deserving students across the province,” Governor Fernando said.
The scholarship program forms part of the Bawat Buhay Mahalaga Caravan, which brings government services and assistance closer to local communities, including initiatives that promote greater access to education.
Mr. Tengco also announced that PAGCOR will fund the construction of 10 three-story school buildings in Bulacan and the establishment of the Bulacan Sports Academy for aspiring young athletes.
Macau casino operators face limits in rebuilding VIP gaming without the junket networks that once supplied high-end players, credit and private services, while non-gaming offerings have yet to become a stable replacement for the old VIP value chain, according to a study published in the latest issue of Macao Polytechnic University’s Global Gaming & Tourism Research
The study, by Li Qiang and Ji Chunli, says operators are trying to combine VIP services with hotels, entertainment, culture, dining, leisure and other non-gaming products to improve customer loyalty. However, it notes that high-end customers have not yet formed stable consumption habits around those experiences, limiting their ability to provide stronger support for VIP recovery.
The paper says Macau’s VIP sector has entered a new stage led by ‘direct VIP and high-end mass’ after the collapse of the traditional junket-led model. But direct VIP rooms are not a simple replacement for junkets, as concessionaires must now rebuild customer sourcing, due diligence and relationship management themselves.
Non-gaming test
The study says non-gaming business has become an important direction for concessionaires as they restructure VIP operations under Macau’s revised gaming framework. Direct VIP rooms have sought to combine gaming with resort, hotel, entertainment and cultural experiences to strengthen customer loyalty.
However, the paper says the impact remains limited. It states that non-gaming projects are still largely concentrated in hotels, dining and retail, with limited extension value for high-end VIP customers.
Six Macau concessionaires generated about MOP70.8 billion ($8.76 billion) in non-gaming revenue in 2023 and 2024. Sands China had the highest non-gaming revenue share, at 24.5 percent of total revenue, followed by Wynn Macau at 17.8 percent and Galaxy Entertainment at 15.96 percent. MGM China and Melco Resorts each stood at 13.1 percent, while SJM Holdings was at 6.69 percent.
The study says the six operators committed more than MOP118.8 billion ($14.70 billion) under the new concession contracts, with actual investment expected to exceed MOP140.5 billion ($17.39 billion). About 93 percent is directed to non-gaming projects.
Despite that investment, operators face challenges including resource integration, limited cross-sector operating experience and uncertain short-term returns. The paper warns that Macau must avoid ‘surface diversification’ if non-gaming is to provide real support for the VIP market.
Direct VIP shift
Macau’s former VIP business was built around ‘VIP rooms, junkets and credit services,’ with junkets acting as the key link between casinos and high-net-worth players. The model supported rapid growth after the 2002 liberalization of the gaming market, with VIP baccarat revenue accounting for 73.2 percent of Macau’s gaming revenue at its 2011 peak.
The model has since been reshaped by tighter mainland enforcement against cross-border gambling, stricter capital controls, the collapse of major junket groups and Macau’s revised gaming law, which took effect in June 2022. VIP gaming’s share of Macau’s gross gaming revenue had fallen to 26.7 percent in the first half of 2025.
Under the new rules, junkets can only work with one concessionaire, cannot share gaming revenue with operators, cannot lease dedicated casino areas, and can only receive commissions for introducing gaming activity. The number of licensed junkets in Macau has fallen from 235 in 2013 to 31 in 2025.
Direct VIP rooms have become the main replacement model, with casino operators taking direct control of client acquisition, screening and service design. Some company rooms set entry thresholds at MOP200,000 to MOP300,000 ($24,800 to $37,100).
However, the study says the model faces limits. Without junkets’ extensive client networks, operators may struggle to quickly build a stable base of high-net-worth customers. Some VIP players may also have doubts about the flexibility of credit, privacy protection and personalized services in the new direct system.
Compliance costs
The study says the new model improves compliance and reduces risks linked to opaque credit, money flows and third-party debt collection. But it also shifts more responsibility to concessionaires.
After the implementation of the new gaming law, operators must directly handle customer identification, source-of-funds checks, anti-money laundering controls and counter-terrorist financing obligations. The study says VIP gaming remains a high-risk area and now faces stricter audits and supervision, raising operating and compliance costs.
The paper describes the broader shift as a move from a ‘profit-driven’ model to a ‘compliance service-driven’ model.
Regional competition is another challenge. The study says some VIP customers may choose other gaming jurisdictions because they can no longer access Macau’s old model of flexible credit and private services.
For operators, the next phase will depend on their ability to source high-end customers directly, expand international VIP networks and build differentiated services within a tighter compliance framework.
SOFTSWISS wrapped up a successful appearance at iGB L!VE London 2026, giving partners their first in-person look at the company’s new positioning and refreshed visual identity following its digital debut on 1 July 2026.
Rather than presenting a new visual identity alone, SOFTSWISS transformed its presence at iGB L!VE into an immersive brand experience that reflected the company’s evolving role as a long-term technology and growth partner for operators in regulated markets. Every element was designed around one idea: creating the right environment for meaningful conversations, stronger partnerships, and long-term business growth.
“Our new positioning ultimately reflects the way we work with our partners,” said Miranda Guliashvili, Head of Regional Growth at SOFTSWISS. “iGB L!VE became the first opportunity to bring this philosophy to life face to face. We wanted every interaction – from the moment partners left their hotel until their final meeting – to reflect our approach to partnership: personal, thoughtful, reliable, and focused on long-term success.”
As part of this approach, SOFTSWISS provided a Ferrari transfer service between partner hotels and ExCeL London.
Away from the busy exhibition floor, the company welcomed partners to its private Networking Lounge, featuring a secluded balcony that quickly became a popular meeting spot. The dedicated space provided a calm setting for strategic discussions, giving partners more time to explore growth opportunities, regulated markets, and future collaboration.
On the second day of the exhibition, SOFTSWISS hosted a Healthy Morning Breakfast, giving partners an opportunity to recharge and continue conversations in a relaxed atmosphere.
The company also strengthened its relationships with DELULU Gaming by co-hosting an evening networking event for operators, partners, and industry leaders.
Alongside the networking activities, SOFTSWISS brought together leading voices from across the industry for a set of conversations recorded during iGB L!VE, exploring one key question: what drives sustainable growth in today’s iGaming market?
Among the participants were Robin Harrison, Global Content Director B2B at WorldGaming, Fernando Saffores, CEO and Founder of Focus Gaming News, Levon Nikoghosyan, the CEO and founder of AffPapa and other industry experts, sharing their perspectives on market maturity, regulation, innovation, and the qualities that define successful long-term partnerships.
For SOFTSWISS, iGB L!VE London 2026 marked more than another industry exhibition. It became the first opportunity to introduce the company’s next chapter in person, demonstrating that its updated positioning extends beyond visual identity into every interaction with partners.
As the iGaming industry continues to mature, SOFTSWISS remains focused on helping operators navigate complexity, build resilient businesses, and achieve sustainable growth across regulated markets.
Macau police have arrested 2 mainland Chinese men suspected of using modified clothing to livestream casino betting activity and place wagers on behalf of offshore clients at 2 local casinos.
According to Macao Daily News, casino staff alerted the Judiciary Police after detecting suspicious behavior in separate incidents early on July 5th. Officers seized HK$78,000 ($10,000) in gaming chips, HK$19,350 ($2,480) in slot-machine cash vouchers, 2 sets of modified clothing, 4 mobile phones and 2 sets of earphones. Including these 2 incidents, Macau police have detected 3 suspected proxy betting cases in local casinos recently.
In the first case, police were called to a Cotai casino at around 1 a.m. after one suspect was seen repeatedly adjusting his clothing at a baccarat slot-machine table. Officers found a small hole and a hidden pocket in his modified shirt, allegedly used to place a phone for livestreaming the game.
Police said the suspect was believed to have received instructions through an earphone to place about HK$8,000 ($1,030) in bets. He denied receiving payment, claiming he was only ‘testing’ the equipment.
A second, similar case was reported about 30 minutes later at a casino in the city center, where police detained another mainland man. Police said the individual refused to cooperate and deleted communication records, leaving the betting amount and any commission unclear.
Both men will be referred to prosecutors on suspicion of ‘illegal operation of online games of chance or online mutual betting’. Police said they had not confirmed whether the cases involved organized activity, but added that this would be one line of investigation.
Blueprint Gaming has expanded its collaboration with NetBet through the integration of its flagship Rapid Fire Jackpots™ progressive jackpot network.
Since partnering in 2025, NetBet has expanded its offering with a range of Blueprint Gaming titles, including Fishin’ Frenzy™ Lure ‘Em In, Eye of Horus, and King Kong Cash, while also seeing strong performance from Rapid Fire Jackpots™ releases such as Fishin’ Frenzy™ Big Catch 3, The Goonies™ Quest for Treasure 2, and Fishin’ Frenzy™ Even Bigger Fish 2.
The extension to the collaboration will see the entire Rapid Fire Jackpots™ portfolio integrated into NetBet’s casino lobby over time, with the initial batch of titles now available to NetBet’s player pool, further strengthening Blueprint’s leading footprint across the UK.
Since launching the jackpot mechanic in June 2024, Rapid Fire Jackpots™ has served as a complementary offering to Blueprint’s industry-renowned Jackpot King™, introducing more frequent pot wins and captivating sessions to accompany its revered branded and proprietary titles.
The agreement simultaneously allows NetBet to enhance its content offering, while Blueprint Gaming™ continues to enhance its commanding UK presence as a trusted supplier capable of consistently delivering captivating, data-driven gaming experiences for players to enjoy.
Jack Lawson, Senior Account Manager at Blueprint Gaming, said: “Rapid Fire Jackpots™ has added a new dimension to our portfolio since launch, giving players access to more frequent jackpot drops alongside the premium gameplay experiences our content is known for. Expanding the rollout of the mechanic with NetBet allows us to build on the strong momentum already generated through our partnership, while further cementing our position as a leading supplier in the UK market.”
“Blueprint Gaming’s titles have proven to be a strong addition to our casino lobby over the past year, and the integration of Rapid Fire Jackpots™ is set to further boost that offering,” shared Claudia Georgevici, PR Manager at NetBet Casino. “The mechanic’s combination of achievable, frequent jackpot wins and engaging gameplay delivers exactly the type of experience that resonates with our players, making it a valuable addition to our growing content selection.”
Xpoint has introduced a proprietary pattern-analysis engine designed to help operators identify and prevent sophisticated fraud schemes.
Currently rolling out with partners in North America, Xpoint’s new solution has been built to catch fraudulent behaviour against betting and gaming operators, which is increasingly becoming more organized, including coordinated groups that cycle the same devices, accounts, and locations to farm sign-up bonuses and exploit promotions.
Staying a step ahead of traditional geolocation checks that evaluate each login in isolation, the engine analyzes historical location activity to surface patterns that emerge over time, the tell-tale signs of coordinated fraud that any single check would miss.
For example, the engine can identify groups of users who repeatedly appear together across locations, particularly where some of those individuals have previously been linked to location spoofing. That combination is a strong signal of a ring working together to abuse operator bonuses.
These analyses are computationally intensive and hard to run in real-time, making it easy for bad actors to slip past conventional detection. Xpoint’s engine works in the background against historical data, catching organized abuse without adding any friction to the player journey.
This means no extra checks and no false positives blocking legitimate players, giving operators a clearer picture of coordinated threats while keeping the experience seamless for genuine customers.
The roll-out of the new engine comes after Xpoint secured a new investment round earlier this year, which was dedicated to accelerating growth and enabling further differentiation from competitors through continuous product enhancement.
Commenting on the innovation, Manu Gambhir, CEO of Xpoint, said: “Attempts to defraud operators are becoming ever more coordinated and advanced, so operators need the best possible tools to spot areas of concern early. Our pattern-analysis engine examines historical data to uncover unusual patterns that an operator needs to be aware of, without in any way adding friction to the player journey. It further underlines our commitment to innovative, adaptable compliance solutions for operators.”
