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Blask introduces a real-time global casino game ranking platform

AGBrief Editorial
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Blask introduces a real-time global casino game ranking platform

Blask, the AI-driven market intelligence ecosystem, has launched Global Games, a real-time dashboard that ranks more than 26,000 online casino games by brand coverage and country reach.

Debuting at the top of the charts is Pragmatic Play blockbuster Gates of Olympus 1000, which features across a remarkable 606 operator brands. Gate of Olympus Super Scatter and Aviator complete the top three, with Pragmatic Play holding seven of the top 10 positions.

AI transforming chaos into clarity in iGaming analytics: Blask CEO
Max Tesla, co-founder and CEO of Blask

Max Tesla, CEO of Blask, said: “Our industry has been operating in the dark for too long. With Global Games, we’re shining a light on which titles are succeeding in a real-time, global context. It is just the latest step in Blask’s mission to build the first truly comprehensive, data-driven picture of iGaming worldwide, with plenty more to come.”

The Global Games dashboard covers 17 countries where Blask Games Analytics is live, with more markets and metrics to be added soon.

For game providers, distributors and operators, understanding where a title is surfaced has become a competitive edge. Until now, assembling that picture meant manual checks or partial reports, but Global Games has consolidated every market signal in one place, cutting time‑to‑insight from hours to seconds.

This includes a global list view, which ranks titles by brand and country coverage; a per-game global page, which break down brands, lobbies and average lobby visibility; and a selection of power tools so users can search games by name and filter by provider or genre.

David Beckham receives knighthood for service to sports and charity

Kelsey Wilhelm
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David Beckham receives knighthood for service to sports and charity

Soccer celebrity David Beckham has been knighted by the UK’s King Charles for his contributions to sports and charity.

The sports icon became Sir David Beckham at a ceremony at Windsor Castle on Tuesday. Speaking to media, the 50-year-old noted that “I’m very proud to have such a special honor given to me”.

Beckham has been the leading celebrity face of Sands China in recent years, present at most of the key major sports events hosted by the Macau integrated resort operator, including the most recent NBA event where he sat courtside next to actor Jackie Chan.

David Beckham, Sands China
David Beckham and Jackie Chan at the Phoenix Suns vs. Brooklyn Nets NBA game in Macau

Beckham has described himself previously as a “royalist”, being a strong supporter of the British Royal Family.

After his knighthood, the former athlete noted that he “grew up in a very humble background in the East End of London; always wanted to be a professional footballer; and then I’m stood here at Windsor Castle with the most important monarchy in the world”.

He furthered, “it doesn’t get any better”.

Kangwon Land sees revenue improvements during 3Q25

Nelson Moura
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Kangwon Land sees revenue improvements during 3Q25

South Korea’s Kangwon Land has posted sales and net income improvements during the third quarter of 2025, despite a yearly drop in operating income.

Kangwon Land’s sales for the third quarter of 2025 reached KRW383.7 billion ($265.5 million), a 6.4 percent rise from the previous quarter’s KRW360.7 billion ($249.2 million). Year-on-year, sales increased by 2.2 percent from KRW375.5 billion ($259.8 million) recorded in Q3 2024.

Operating income for the third quarter amounted to KRW71.9 billion ($49.7 million), marking a 24.2 percent increase compared to the previous quarter. However, it declined by 22.7 percent when compared to KRW93 billion ($64.3 million) from the same period last year.

Kangwon Land’s net income surged by 83.5 percent, reaching KRW112.3 billion ($77.5 million). This represents a significant year-on-year increase of 24.1 percent, compared to KRW90.4 billion ($62.5 million) in Q3 2024.

The company’s income before tax saw a strong 77.7 percent jump, totaling KRW143.9 billion ($99.3 million) in 3Q25, compared to the previous quarter. This also represents a 22.9 percent increase from KRW117.2 billion ($81.0 million) in 3Q24.

For the year-to-date period, Kangwon Land reported KRW1.11 trillion ($767.4 million) in sales, a 2.7 percent growth compared to KRW1.08 trillion ($745.5 million) recorded in the first nine months of 2024.

Kangwon Land introduced a dedicated foreigner-only gaming zone in February 2025, following government approval in September 2024 for a broader set of operational changes, including expansions to its casino area and adjustments to betting restrictions.

The foreigner-only floor was designed to attract more international visitors and align Kangwon Land with foreigner-exclusive casinos operating elsewhere in South Korea and the region. Kangwon Land is the only casino in South Korea that allows local residents to gamble.

Operating income for the first three quarters of 2025 totaled KRW204.3 billion ($141.0 million), a decline of 15.7 percent from KRW242.2 billion ($167.5 million) in the same period last year.

Cumulative net income amounted to KRW249.2 billion ($172.2 million), down by 27.7 percent from KRW344.6 billion ($238.3 million) registered in the first three quarters of 2024.

HK Express launches intermodal pass linking Macau to Hong Kong Airport via HZMB

Nelson Moura
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HK Express launches intermodal pass linking Macau to Hong Kong Airport via HZMB

Hong Kong Express Airways has unveiled a new cross-border travel initiative aimed at streamlining passenger journeys between Macau and Hong Kong International Airport, through a partnership with Shun Tak-China Travel Ship Management Limited.

The new “HK Express Intermodal Pass” allows travelers to book both flight and shuttle bus tickets in a single transaction via HK Express. The service, which begins operations on November 28th, will utilize shuttle buses crossing the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB), offering a direct 45-minute connection between the Macau port and the airport.

In a statement on Tuesday, HK Express said bookings for the service opened on November 4th.

The Intermodal Pass also enables upstream check-in at the Macau port, allowing passengers to receive boarding passes and check in their luggage before departure. This eliminates the need for additional immigration, customs, or boarding procedures upon arrival at the airport.

Kee Keat Ong, Commercial Director of HK Express, called the Macau extension “a significant milestone” in achieving seamless connectivity across Hong Kong, Zhuhai, and Macau.

Alan Wong, Commercial Director of Shun Tak-China Travel Ship Management, said the collaboration would enhance Macau’s access to global destinations via Hong Kong and reinforce the city’s status as a leading international aviation hub.

He added that the initiative supports the broader integration of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area with the rest of the world.

The shuttle service will operate 36 trips daily—18 in each direction. Buses from the airport to Macau will run from 8:30am to 9:30pm, while those from Macau to the airport will operate from 7:30am to 8:30pm. HK Express advises passengers departing from Macau to arrive at least 90 minutes before their scheduled bus departure.

Currently, travelers can check in at Macau’s departure points or at the SkyPier Terminal within Hong Kong International Airport. Eighteen airlines – including Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, and Emirates – support upstream check-in from Macau.

Shun Tak-China Travel Ship Management also operates the TurboJET ferry service. The company is jointly owned by Shun Tak Holdings—chaired by Macau business magnate Pansy Ho Chiu King—and China Travel International Investment Hong Kong Limited.

Taiwan seizes $146.4M in assets in probe of Cambodia’s Prince Group

Nelson Moura
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Taiwan seizes $146.4M in assets in probe of Cambodia’s Prince Group

Taiwanese prosecutors have seized NT$4.53 billion ($146.4 million) in assets and detained 25 suspects in a sweeping investigation into Cambodia’s Prince Holding Group, which was sanctioned by the United States last month for transnational fraud and money laundering.

The Taipei District Prosecutors Office said Tuesday that the group, led by China-born Cambodian tycoon Chen Zhi, allegedly ran large-scale online scams from Cambodia and laundered proceeds through shell companies and business networks spanning multiple countries.

US federal prosecutors indicted Chen and his associates on October 8th, and the Treasury Department later sanctioned three Taiwanese nationals and nine Taiwan-registered firms linked to the group.

According to Focus Taiwan, Taiwanese authorities launched a joint task force on October 15th involving the Investigation Bureau and the National Police Agency to trace the group’s financial flows. On Tuesday, investigators conducted 47 raids across Taipei, targeting homes and offices of Prince Group affiliates, including Taiwan Prince Real Estate Investment Co. and Alphaconnect Investments Co.

Taiwan

Among the seized assets were 18 properties — including 11 luxury apartments and 48 parking spaces in Taipei’s upscale Peace Palace complex — valued at NT$3.81 billion ($123.17 million).

Authorities also confiscated 26 luxury vehicles, including Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, and Lamborghini models, worth NT$477.58 million ($15.45 million), and 60 bank accounts holding NT$235.87 million ($7.63 million).

Taiwan’s Investigation Bureau said the Prince Group operated forced-labor scam parks in Cambodia focused on cryptocurrency and online gambling fraud. The illicit gains were funneled through shell companies and laundered via luxury goods and real estate to conceal their criminal origins.

The Taipei District Court confirmed the asset seizures in a ruling issued October 27th.

Multiple different authorities across Asia, including South Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore, have already advanced with investigations into entities connected to the Cambodia-based group.

Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: Paradise Co.’s casino revenue hit $53M in October

AGBrief Editorial
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Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: Paradise Co.’s casino revenue hit $53M in October
Good Morning. They say every roll of the dice counts — and for Paradise Co., the odds are clearly improving. The Korean casino group saw revenue climb 18.5 percent year-on-year to $53.2 million in October, reflecting the return of foreign gamblers and a continued rebound in tourism. Meanwhile, SkyCity Entertainment has finally taken control of the New Zealand International Convention Centre in Auckland, a landmark venue set to transform the country’s tourism and events landscape next year.

What you need to know

On the radar

AGB Intelligence

SOUTH KOREA

Taiwan

Paradise Co. keeps momentum

Paradise Co. recorded $53.2M in casino revenue in October, up 18.5% from a year earlier, with table play surging across its integrated resorts. Total earnings for the first ten months of 2025 reached $539M, as South Korea’s relaxed visa rules and tourism recovery continued to bolster foreigner-only gaming venues.

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90-Day Playbook for Winning Asia’s Gaming Market | GR8 Tech

GR8 Tech, Kate Pozdnysheva

Every operator can launch, but few can lead. In Asia, leadership is won in the 90 days after go-live, when payments feel effortless, content resonates locally, and every touchpoint builds trust.

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Paradise Co. casino revenue rises 18.5% in October, reaching $53.2M

AGBrief Editorial
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Paradise Co. casino revenue rises 18.5% in October, reaching $53.2M

South Korea’s foreigner-only casino operator, Paradise Co. Ltd., recorded another strong month in October, with casino revenue climbing 18.5 percent year-on-year to KRW73.58 billion ($53.2 million), according to the company’s latest filing on November 4th.


The October figure also represents a 16.7 percent month-on-month increase from KRW63.07 billion in September, reflecting continued demand from foreign visitors and a solid recovery in tourism-driven gaming activity. The rebound follows a mixed performance in September 2025, when Paradise Co.’s overall casino sales rose 4.3 percent year-on-year to KRW64.03 billion ($46.6 million) but fell 20.4 percent from August due to a seasonal slowdown after the summer peak.

Table game revenue surged 18.3 percent month-on-month to KRW68.71 billion ($49.8 million) and grew 19.2 percent year-on-year, driven by stronger play at Paradise’s integrated resort properties. In contrast, machine game revenue slipped 2.9 percent month-on-month to KRW4.87 billion ($3.5 million), though it remained 9.4 percent higher compared with a year earlier.

For the first ten months of 2025, Paradise’s cumulative casino revenue totaled KRW746.33 billion ($539 million), up 10.2 percent from KRW677.51 billion ($489 million) in the same period last year. Table games accounted for KRW701.7 billion ($507 million) of the total, while machine games contributed KRW44.62 billion ($32.3 million).

Paradise Walkerhill, South Korea, Paradise Co.
Walker Hill Casino
Paradise City, South Korea
Incheon Paradise City

Paradise Co. operates four casinos in South Korea exclusively for foreign visitors — Walkerhill in Seoul, Paradise City in Incheon, Busan Casino, and Jeju Grand. The company’s performance aligns with the country’s ongoing post-pandemic rebound in tourism, particularly from Japan and Southeast Asia.

Starting from September this year, South Korea launched a visa-free policy for Chinese tour groups, which has the potential to further boost the country’s gaming revenues.

Aristocrat Gaming strengthens market position with rollout of Buffalo Mega Stampede

AGBrief Editorial
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Aristocrat Gaming strengthens market position with rollout of Buffalo Mega Stampede

Following the success of Buffalo Ultimate Stampede, Aristocrat Gaming has unveiled the all-new Buffalo Mega Stampede, now live across North America and already resonating with players on casino floors.

Buffalo Mega Stampede on the Baron Portrait by Aristocrat Gaming

Making its debut on the Eilers & Krejcik Gaming U.S. & Canada Report as the #1 New Top Premium Lease Game, the game is reporting an impressive 3.9 Zone Average. The early success of the game further demonstrates player affinity for the iconic Buffalo brand, along with the game’s new dynamic game features, vibrant graphics and sounds, presented on The Baron Portrait cabinet.

Buffalo Mega Stampede features the popular Stampede Bonus meter, enhanced with three Stampede Feature levels: Bonus, Super, and Mega. In the Stampede feature, players may unlock additional rows by landing cash-on-reel prizes during the Hold & Spin.

When a Stampede feature is upgraded to Super, vertical buffalo stampedes will award additional cash-on-reel prizes. When upgraded to Mega, horizontal buffalo stampedes will also award multipliers. The new Gold Buffalo Reel feature-in-feature may be awarded in any Stampede bonus and will award a mega spin with large prizes.
 
“We herd players loud and clear with their excitement for Buffalo Ultimate Stampede, and based on the recent Eilers report, we have exceeded those expectations with the arrival of Buffalo Mega Stampede,” said Kurt Gissane, Chief Revenue Officer for Aristocrat Gaming. “We are proud to continue the legacy with Buffalo Mega Stampede and look forward to seeing it continue its expansion across casino floors.”

Buffalo Mega Stampede is the second premium lease game available on The Baron Portrait cabinet, joining the new Millioni$er game.

SkyCity Entertainment takes control of New Zealand International Convention Centre

Nelson Moura
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SkyCity Entertainment takes control of New Zealand International Convention Centre

SkyCity Entertainment Group has formally taken possession of the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) in Auckland, a long-awaited venue expected to boost the country’s tourism and events sector.

Jason Walbridge, SkyCity CEO
Jason Walbridge, CEO, SkyCity Entertainment

The handover from Fletcher Construction marks a ‘major milestone,’ SkyCity chief executive Jason Walbridge said Tuesday, adding the company was ‘delighted to finally have the keys’ to the facility, which is set to open in February 2026.

Located between Hobson and Nelson streets in Auckland’s central business district, the NZICC will be the country’s largest conference and events venue when it opens. It will have capacity for up to 4,000 people, including a 2,850-seat theatre – the biggest in New Zealand – and banquet facilities for 3,300 guests.

Walbridge said the centre would act as a ‘powerful catalyst for growth’ for Auckland and the wider economy, creating more than 300 jobs and generating benefits for tourism, hospitality, retail and local suppliers.

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston welcomed the handover, saying the venue would help attract international conferences and concerts. ‘This world-class venue will help bring more visitors and events to New Zealand, boosting tourism and our economy’, she said in the statement.

More than 100 events have already been confirmed for 2026, including major conferences for the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists.

The NZICC will be the only convention centre in the country to carry the New Zealand FernMark, a government-recognised symbol of national branding.

Tourism and social welfare gain $837M from Macau gaming taxes in 2024

AGBrief Editorial
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Tourism and social welfare gain $837M from Macau gaming taxes in 2024

Macau’s government reported that gaming tax revenues allocated to tourism promotion and social security reached MOP6.69 billion ($837 million) in 2024, marking a 34.1 percent increase from MOP4.99 billion ($624 million) in 2023.

The figures were released in the city’s latest public finance report on Tuesday, reflecting a robust post-pandemic rebound in the gaming sector.

According to the data, Macau’s gross gaming revenue (GGR) totaled MOP226.78 billion ($28.35 billion) in 2024, up 23.9 percent year-on-year. The two main revenue streams derived from GGR—the “Special Gaming Tax” and the allocation for “Urban Development, Tourism Promotion, and Social Security”—rose by 35.2 percent and 34.1 percent, respectively.

The “Special Gaming Tax” generated MOP79.53 billion ($9.94 billion), an increase of MOP20.71 billion ($2.59 billion) from 2023. Meanwhile, allocations for urban development, tourism promotion, and social security totaled MOP6.69 billion ($837 million), up MOP1.70 billion ($213 million) year-on-year.

In total, public revenue from these gaming-related sources amounted to MOP87.96 billion ($10.99 billion) in 2024, a 35 percent rise compared with MOP65.09 billion ($8.14 billion) in 2023.

Under Macau’s gaming law, 5 percent of gross gaming revenue is directed toward local social development funds—3 percent for urban development, tourism promotion, and social security, and 2 percent for public funds that promote or research cultural, social, economic, educational, scientific, academic, and charitable activities.

Gaming operators may qualify for a tax reduction of up to 5 percent if they attract foreign patrons. However, the latest report did not specify whether any of the six concessionaires benefited from this incentive.

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