Integrated resorts and casinos have become key engines of the Philippines’ tourism and economic recovery, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said on Friday.
Speaking at the Exceed Hospitality 2025 forum at SMX Aura in Taguig City, Tengco said integrated resorts have evolved into ‘dynamic lifestyle and business hubs’ that are reshaping the country’s tourism landscape and opening new avenues for growth.
‘Gaming, entertainment, and hospitality are not separate worlds but interconnected forces that drive growth, create jobs, and enrich the tourism experience’, Tengco told an audience of tourism stakeholders, business leaders, government officials, and members of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines.
Citing industry figures, Tengco said the country’s gaming and entertainment sector continues to show strong momentum, with gross gaming revenues rising 75 percent in two years — from $3.75 billion in 2022 to $6.5 billion in 2024.
To sustain this growth, he said PAGCOR is modernizing its regulatory and operational frameworks while ensuring operators comply with principles of responsible, transparent, and sustainable gaming.
The agency has intensified its campaign against illegal gambling, tightened rules on gaming-related advertising, and banned gambling promotions in public spaces and during primetime hours.
He urged the gaming, tourism, and hospitality sectors to embrace digital transformation and sustainability — in line with the forum’s theme, ‘Tourism Rewired. Hospitality Transformed.’
‘The future of hospitality is being reshaped by technology and sustainability,’ he said. ‘We must ensure that every guest experience also contributes to local well-being.’
Tengco added that PAGCOR aims to serve not only as a regulator but also as a catalyst for responsible growth.
‘Our collective success depends on finding balance between progress and preservation, profit and purpose,’ he said. ‘Together, we can build destinations that are not only profitable but also meaningful and inspiring.’
The NBA is facing one of the biggest betting scandals in its modern history after federal authorities charged more than 30 people, including current players, coaches, and members of organized crime families, in a pair of coordinated operations across 11 US states.
Among those arrested were Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, and former player and coach Damon Jones.
The arrests stem from two overlapping investigations, one targeting a ring accused of using inside information from NBA locker rooms to manipulate prop bets, and another focused on a series of rigged high-stakes poker games connected to the La Cosa Nostra crime syndicate.
According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the FBI’s “Operation Zhen Diagram” and “Operation Nothing But Net” uncovered an elaborate scheme that allegedly saw players and coaches pass on non-public information about injuries, playing time, and lineup decisions to criminal associates who placed wagers worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The winnings were then laundered through various channels, including cryptocurrency, to obscure their origin.
FBI Director Kash Patel said investigators “followed the money” and uncovered a sprawling network of conspirators who “used their access and influence within professional basketball to enrich organized crime.”
The recent DOJ press conference that broke the news to the world
Court documents outline several NBA games suspected of having been influenced. One was a March 23rd, 2023 matchup between the Charlotte Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans, during which Rozier played just over nine minutes before exiting the game, citing a foot injury. Federal prosecutors allege Rozier had already tipped off an associate, Deniro Laster, that he would leave the game early, prompting over $200,000 in bets on his underperformance. The wagers reportedly generated tens of thousands of dollars in profit.
Another suspicious contest took place the following night, March 24th, 2023, when insiders allegedly shared that several Trail Blazers players would sit out a game against the Chicago Bulls. Before the information became public, a conspirator named Marves Fairley is said to have placed over $100,000 in bets against Portland, resulting in what the Department of Justice called “major winnings.”
Additional incidents cited in the indictment involve Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, and Toronto Raptors games between early 2023 and early 2024. In one case, former Lakers assistant Damon Jones allegedly leaked confidential medical information about player availability, while in another, then-Raptors forward Jontay Porter informed associates that he would pull himself from two games early. Porter has since pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and received a lifetime ban from the league. Prosecutors claim that, taken together, these actions transformed professional basketball “into a criminal betting operation,” eroding the integrity of competition and defrauding legitimate sportsbooks.
Parallel to the betting allegations, a second indictment accuses Billups, Jones, and several others of participating in rigged underground poker games backed by members of prominent New York crime families.
Investigators say the games were manipulated using X-ray tables, rigged shuffling devices, and pre-marked cards to ensure that victims – dubbed “fish” – could not win. The scheme used recognizable former athletes as “face cards” to lure wealthy participants into the games under the illusion of playing alongside celebrities. Federal prosecutors allege that millions of dollars were stolen through this setup and later laundered into crypto wallets or offshore accounts. Billups, who earned over $106 million during his 17-year playing career and roughly $4.75 million annually as Portland’s head coach, was reportedly one of those acting as a “face card.”
One of the games in question, Hornets vs Pelicans
The fallout was immediate. The NBA placed both Rozier and Billups on leave pending review, emphasizing in a statement that “the integrity of our game remains our top priority.” The Trail Blazers announced that assistant coach Tiago Splitter would serve as interim head coach, while the Miami Heat deferred comment to the league. At the same time, Rozier’s attorney, James Trusty of Ifrah Law PLLC, sharply criticized the FBI’s handling of the arrest, calling it “a photo op” meant to “embarrass a professional athlete.” He argued that Rozier had been cleared by the NBA earlier in the year when the league conducted its own investigation into the same March 2023 game and found no rule violations. “Terry is not a gambler,” Trusty said, “but he is not afraid of a fight, and he looks forward to winning this one.”
Billups appeared in an Oregon court shortly after his arrest, where he was released on bond under conditions including surrendering his passport and avoiding any contact with co-defendants. His lawyer, Chris Heywood, described the conditions as “standard and common” and urged the public not to “draw conclusions from this.” Meanwhile, Damon Jones, who played for 10 NBA teams between 1998 and 2009, is accused of helping the group obtain inside medical information on the Lakers to inform bets placed through a network of straw bettors.
The FBI said its confidential source recorded more than 3,000 phone calls and meetings with targets during the investigation, in some cases even joining the rigged poker games to collect evidence. Authorities believe the proceeds were laundered through a combination of cash transactions, shell companies, and cryptocurrency exchanges. “Your winning streak has ended,” said US Attorney Joseph Nocella during the press conference. “Violating the law is a losing proposition, and you can bet on that.”
Multiple gambling brands have relationships with the NBA now but are not accused of any wrongdoing.
The scandal has reignited debate about the growing influence of legalized sports betting in US professional leagues. Since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports wagering in 2018, the NBA has inked partnerships with major operators including DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM, which now provide live data feeds and official betting markets tied directly to player performance. DraftKings, in response to the scandal, said it “takes the responsibility of reporting suspicious activity seriously” and pledged to continue cooperating with both regulators and the league.
US lawmakers were quick to weigh in. Senator Richard Blumenthal said the episode was a predictable result of “allowing the betting industry to become entrenched in every aspect of the game without meaningful guardrails.” Congressman Paul Tonko, a longtime critic of sports gambling expansion, echoed that sentiment, calling the scandal “inevitable” and urging the NBA to support new federal legislation regulating sports betting. “We need to give sports back to the American people,” Tonko said.
Prediction markets, which allow users to bet on the outcomes of real-world events, are surging worldwide but remain squarely illegal in the Philippines under current gambling laws, according to gaming law expert Marie Antonette ‘Tonet’ Quiogue.
Marie Antonette ‘Tonet’ Quiogue
‘Prediction markets may be a fascinating new tool for forecasting and investment abroad, but here they squarely hit the regulatory wall of gambling law,’ Quiogue wrote in a recent analysis published by Arden Consult. ‘In the Philippines, not all bets on the future are ones you’re legally allowed to make.’
Global trading volumes in prediction markets surged past $2 billion in mid-October, with investors wagering on everything from elections to entertainment outcomes.
Platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi have gained mainstream traction, with the Intercontinental Exchange — owner of the New York Stock Exchange — announcing a $2 billion investment in Polymarket, valuing it at roughly $8 billion.
But the same cannot happen in Manila. ‘Under Philippine law, if you bet money on an outcome that involves any degree of chance, it’s gambling by definition,’ Quiogue explained. ‘Unless authorized by law and licensed by PAGCOR, any operation of this sort targeting Philippine users would be unlicensed and illegal.’
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) regulates all gambling activities, and Quiogue said no license has yet been granted to any prediction market platform. ‘If you run a real-money prediction market in the Philippines without PAGCOR authorization, you are running an illegal gambling operation,’ she said.
Unlike the United States, which has moved to regulate prediction markets as financial instruments under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Philippines lacks a comparable framework.
‘We have no legal concept of an ‘event futures contract’ under securities or commodities laws,’ Quiogue noted. ‘So a prediction market can’t try to register with the Philippine SEC as a trading exchange for event contracts — there’s simply no law that clearly permits that yet.’
Even civil law presents a barrier. Under the Civil Code, gambling contracts are void and unenforceable. ‘A bettor who ‘wins’ in a prediction market cannot compel payment in court, and the platform cannot legally collect ‘losses’ from participants,’ Quiogue said.
She also warned that betting on political outcomes is strictly forbidden. ‘Wagers on Philippine election results are absolutely off-limits — they are illegal in and of themselves under election law,’ she said. ‘Even office betting pools or informal election bets have been publicly discouraged by COMELEC.’
The only potential loophole, she added, would be to eliminate real-money stakes. ‘A no-stakes prediction market is legal, but it’s essentially just an academic exercise,’ Quiogue said. ‘Without real wagers, it loses the very incentive that makes it effective.’
For now, she said, ‘the safe answer is ‘no, not for real money’’ when asked whether prediction markets can legally operate in the country. ‘Our laws and regulators treat them as gambling, and none of the current frameworks provide a carve-out,’ she concluded.
Still, Quiogue left open the possibility of future reform. ‘If the SEC succeeds in establishing a domestic commodities or futures market, there might eventually be room to classify certain event contracts as financial instruments rather than bets — but that would require new legislation,’ she said.
Las Vegas Sands posted another quarter of strong performance led by its flagship Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, with analysts saying its Macau operations are showing clearer signs of recovery as management refines its strategy in the world’s largest gambling hub.
The U.S. casino operator reported third-quarter revenues of $3.3 billion, up 24 percent from a year earlier, with adjusted EBITDA rising 36 percent to $1.3 billion, according to company figures cited by analysts.
Seaport Research Partners said Singapore ‘blew away expectations,’ with Marina Bay Sands delivering revenue growth of 56 percent and EBITDA growth of 83 percent year-on-year, while Macau ‘continues to be a turnaround story’ as Las Vegas Sands (LVS) gains market share.
‘Marina Bay Sands remains the largest and most profitable casino property in the world, without peer,’ Seaport said, calling the latest results a ‘blockbuster quarter.’ Hold-adjusted EBITDA reached an all-time high of $700 million, it noted, adding that ‘growth was broad-based across all business segments.’
The Singapore resort is on track to generate more than $2.8 billion in hold-adjusted EBITDA this year, well above earlier expectations, Seaport said. ‘We forecast MBS to deliver $2.7 billion in 2025, $2.8 billion in 2026, and over $2.96 billion in 2027,’ the analysts added.
CreditSights also described Marina Bay Sands’ performance as ‘very impressive,’ noting that its adjusted EBITDA jumped 83 percent year-on-year to $743 million.
In Macau, Seaport said Sands China’s recovery ‘is taking shape’ as management pursues a more aggressive marketing and player reinvestment strategy. Property EBITDA there rose 3 percent year-on-year to $601 million, in line with expectations, while revenue gained 7.6 percent to $1.9 billion.
The Venetian Macao
‘Sands gained roughly 100 basis points of market share quarter-on-quarter,’ Seaport said, pointing to stronger performance at The Londoner following the full opening of its hotel rooms and the migration of premium business from The Venetian. ‘We expect Sands to continue gaining share as its marketing and positioning strategy takes hold,’ it added.
The brokerage highlighted Macau’s ‘highly competitive premium mass environment’ but said Sands’ ‘scale, diversified product inventory, and a more premium-positioned Londoner product’ provide long-term advantages. ‘If executed well, the company’s customer acquisition efforts should drive further share gains later this year and into 2026,’ it said.
CreditSights said that after a soft start to the year, Macau ‘improved throughout the summer,’ supported by better visitation and gross gaming revenue. The firm described Las Vegas Sands as ‘the only investment-grade casino operator in our coverage’ with a ‘leading market position in both Macau and Singapore.’
Both Seaport and CreditSights see a solid path ahead for the company as Asia’s gaming recovery matures. ‘Macau continues to be a turnaround story in the coming quarters,’ Seaport said, while Singapore ‘continues to outperform expectations’ with sustained growth in both gaming and non-gaming revenues.
The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) have dismantled what they describe as a large-scale syndicate responsible for developing online gambling platforms and supplying slot machines and related components, following coordinated raids earlier this month in the Klang Valley.
The simultaneous operations, carried out on October 9th across seven premises in Damansara and Subang Jaya, resulted in the arrest of 147 individuals aged between 20 and 50. The group is believed to have been involved in both domestic and cross-border illegal gaming operations.
According to Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk M. Kumar, the raids were conducted by the D7 Division at around 2 p.m., leading to the seizure of a substantial cache of equipment allegedly used to create and distribute online gaming systems and slot machine parts. Of those detained, 140 were Malaysian nationals – 110 men and 30 women – while the remaining seven were foreign nationals, including six men and one woman.
Among the confiscated items were 139 laptops, 182 mobile phones, 126 monitors, 84 access cards, 28 electronic components, 13 work documents, nine desktop computers, six routers, five slot machines, five control devices, four audio-visual systems, four modems, two business licenses, and two electronic touch panels. Kumar said none of the premises had valid authorization from the Ministry of Finance to operate, supply, or manufacture gambling-related equipment, nor to develop or promote online gaming content.
Investigators have opened three case files under Sections 4B(a), 4B(b), and 4(1)(g) of Malaysia’s Common Gaming Houses Act 1953. The Deputy Public Prosecutor has since approved charges against 133 suspects for promoting gambling under Section 4(1)(g) of the same Act, alongside criminal conspiracy charges under Section 120B of the Penal Code. The seven foreign nationals face additional charges for immigration offenses under Section 39B of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for violating the conditions of their permits.
Kumar added that authorities are exploring further charges under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, given the scale of the operation and the financial flows involved. “PDRM treats this issue seriously and remains committed to upholding the law, particularly in curbing the spread of online gambling,” Kumar said. He also urged the public to avoid involvement in illegal gaming activities, citing risks such as moral and psychological harm, as well as wider social consequences.
Myanmar authorities have arrested 151 foreign nationals – 150 Indians and one South Korean – for illegally entering the country and participating in online gambling and telecom-related fraud activities.
The arrests took place in the Myawady-Maehtawthalay (KK Park) area of Kayin State, a border region known for transnational criminal activity linked to illegal online operations. Officials said the individuals had entered Myanmar through neighboring countries, including Thailand, using informal border crossings.
The detainees are currently under investigation while officials compile personal records and process documentation for repatriation to their home countries under Myanmar’s legal framework.
The operation is being led by Myawady District Administrator U Kaung San Lin and Deputy Director U Myint Bhone of the Ministry of Immigration and Population, alongside other enforcement agencies.
Between January 30th and October 26th, 2025, Myanmar authorities reported detaining 9,964 foreign nationals for unlawful entry. Of these, 9,339 individuals have already been repatriated via Thailand, while 625 remain in custody awaiting deportation.
The growing number of cross-border arrests highlights Myanmar’s continued struggle to curb illegal migration and the proliferation of online gambling and cyber fraud syndicates operating in semi-autonomous border zones.
Cambodia has announced the creation of a national cybercrime task force as part of sweeping efforts to combat online scams, human trafficking, and money laundering following international sanctions against one of its largest conglomerates, Prince Holding Group.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said that the new task force will coordinate across multiple ministries and agencies, implementing measures such as enhanced digital surveillance and the suspension of websites and business licenses tied to illegal operations. The government pledged to target criminal masterminds, protect victims, and “preserve order, peace, and dignity.”
Although the statement did not directly reference the recent US and UK sanctions against Prince Holding Group, its founder Chen Zhi, and associated entities, it acknowledged that criminal networks in Cambodia often operate across borders, exploiting encrypted communications and digital currencies. Authorities noted that such networks blur the lines between victims and perpetrators, often through deceptive cross-border recruitment schemes.
“The government’s message to criminals who exploit technology and borders will be met with an equally connected and coordinated response,” the ministry said, emphasizing that Cambodia’s approach to cybercrime will focus on “cooperation, not blame.”
The announcement follows an escalating wave of international concern after the US Department of State and the US Treasury declared Prince Holding Group a transnational criminal organization. US prosecutors have also filed a civil forfeiture complaint seeking 127,271 Bitcoin—valued at around $15 billion – as alleged proceeds of fraud and money laundering linked to Chen Zhi, marking the largest forfeiture claim in US Department of Justice history.
Recent high-profile incidents have further heightened pressure on Cambodian authorities. The murder of a South Korean student near Bokor Mountain in Kampot, reportedly by members of Chinese-run online scam operations, triggered outrage in South Korea and prompted a travel advisory warning citizens of risks when visiting Cambodia. That case, coupled with the arrest and deportation of more than 60 South Koreans allegedly employed by scam syndicates, led to a bilateral agreement between the two countries to cooperate on combating transnational cybercrime.
The Cambodian government says it has already taken decisive administrative action, including revoking 120 business licenses, suspending over 1,000 gambling-related websites, and freezing bank accounts tied to digital fraud operations. Enhanced cooperation with foreign embassies has also facilitated the identification and repatriation of victims, as well as intelligence sharing on regional cybercrime groups.
Authorities reported multiple targeted operations nationwide, resulting in the closure of illegal compounds, the arrest of hundreds of suspects, and the rescue of both Cambodian and foreign victims of online exploitation. To strengthen its response, Cambodia plans to expand its digital forensics capabilities and enhance cross-border enforcement partnerships. Officials said these steps underscore the government’s “firm commitment to eradicating online crimes, safeguarding digital integrity, and promoting a safer regional cyberspace.”
Over the past two years, enforcement efforts have included the arrest of ringleaders and facilitators, along with the seizure of assets such as cryptocurrencies, cash, vehicles, and properties.
The global betting company 1xBet has confirmed its participation in SiGMA Central Europe 2025, reinforcing its position as a leading force in the betting industry.
Guests can expect a dynamic booth experience and insights from Strategic Advisor Simon Westbury on the “Spirit of iGaming in a Regulated World.” Participation in SiGMA Central Europe highlights 1xBet’s focus on European growth, as the company aims to strengthen its regional presence and showcase tech solutions that support the iGaming industry.
From November 3 to 6, the SiGMA Central Europe 2025 exhibition will take place in Rome, one of the main events in the iGaming industry, bringing together over 1,200 sponsors and participants, 550 speakers, and 30,000 delegates from around the world. The summit will be a place to share experiences and make new partnerships.
“Sigma Central Europe wraps up the event schedule for 2025, and what a finale it promises to be! I am looking forward to kicking off the show at the 1XBET party, where the Black Eyed Peas will be performing, followed by three intense days of networking including the SIGMA B2C Awards and a panel discussion on Day 1. The show promises to be the perfect way to close out the year,” said 1xBet’s Strategic Advisor, Simon Westbury.
The global brand 1xBet will be at booth 3052G with four themed areas. Visitors can relax in the lounge, enjoy signature cocktails and coffee at the bar, take photos in the photo zone, join activities in the partner zone with FC Barcelona, and compete for prizes in 1xBet giveaways.
On November 4, guests can win an Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max and an Enceinte LV Nanogram Argent speaker, and on November 5, they can join a draw for other big prizes. Gifts include a Sac Keepall Bandoulière 55 travel bag and Apple Watch Ultra 3. That day, Barcelona star Luis Garcia will visit the booth. The world-famous player will give autographs and pick lucky winners to receive tickets to the Barcelona vs Mallorca match.
The main highlight on the evening of November 5 will be a draw for the legendary watch worn by James Bond and NASA astronauts. Current 1xPartners can still register to participate on the website 1xaffiliatesgiveaway.com until October 26.
For those who want to join the global brand and take advantage of a great offer, company managers will explain all the benefits of the 1xPartners program, which has connected entrepreneurs worldwide for 9 years. The award-winning program 1xPartners is known for clear terms, personalized support, and exclusive benefits for VIP members, covering over 150 countries, more than 250 transaction methods, and offering lifetime payments of up to 50% from referred players.
Powered by Stretch Network, the League once again brings together operators under one dynamic ecosystem — connecting players for continuous poker action across the network.
After the success of Season 1, WPL Season 2 expands its reach with a consistent tournament schedule, engaging leaderboards, and non-stop player activity. The League has already proven to be a powerful driver of retention and liquidity, helping participating operators strengthen their networks while giving players more chances to compete and climb the ranks.
Stretch Network’s partners benefit from seamless integration, reliable software, and access to a shared pool of active players — creating a vibrant and competitive environment.
The World Poker League stands as a strong example of Stretch Network’s dedication to fostering collaboration among operators and enhancing the poker experience at every level.
The Frankfurt-based AI sponsorship analytics platform Shikenso Analytics has been nominated for Esports Supporting Platform of the Year at the 2025 Esports Awards – the highest recognition in the global esports industry.
The nomination places Shikenso Analytics alongside Discord, FACEIT, and Esports Charts in recognizing platforms that empower the esports ecosystem through cutting-edge technology.
Shikenso Partners Dominate Awards Shortlist
Beyond Shikenso’s nomination, our partners earned 28 nominations across 12 categories – from Game of the Year and Organisation of the Year to Creative Campaign of the Year and Team of the Year. G2 Esports, Karmine Corp, Team Vitality, Fnatic, Team Liquid, FURIA, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and MOONTON Games all secured recognition for their outstanding work.
This recognition demonstrates how data-driven insights are becoming fundamental to success across the esports ecosystem – from individual teams to major game publishers.
Bridging Gaming and Traditional Sports
Shikenso’s AI-powered platform tracks brand exposures across live streaming, social media, broadcasts, and events – delivering real-time sponsorship analytics that traditional measurement cannot match.
The company serves major clients including Volleyball World, Belgian Pro League, Red Bull, and Vodafone, successfully applying esports-native technology to traditional sports markets.
Industry Impact
As brands demand transparent ROI metrics across multi-platform activations, Shikenso’s German engineered approach emphasises GDPR compliance and precise measurement – essential for modern sponsorship programmes.
The Esports Awards 2025 ceremony takes place 19 November in Las Vegas.You can support Shikenso Analytics until 12 November by submitting your vote at esportsawards.com.
