IGT announced that its Wheel of Fortune and Megabucks slots games awarded two life-changing jackpots in September.
Lucky slots players won the following million-dollar-plus jackpots last month:
On September 25, a Wheel of Fortune slots player won $2,995,532 playing Wheel of Fortune Triple Stars at Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts in Yonkers, N.Y.
On September 26, a Megabucks slots player won $3,194,568 playing Megabucks Mega Vault at Twin Pine Casino & Hotel in Middletown, Calif.
This is the second mega-sized Megabucks jackpot at this casino after a lucky Megabucks slots player won a $8.4 million jackpot at Twin Pine Casino & Hotel in December 2010.
Wheel of Fortune Triple StarsMegabucks Mega Vault
Megabucks, the world’s first WAP jackpot system, has been awarding life-changing jackpots since 1986. Wheel of Fortune slots have minted over 1,200 millionaires and awarded over $3.6 billion in jackpots since their launch in 1996.
Cambodian casino group Prince Group has been accused of running vast online scam operations and human trafficking rings and has been hit with sweeping US and UK sanctions, in what officials described as the largest-ever joint action against cybercriminal networks in Southeast Asia.
The measures targeting Prince Group, a sprawling conglomerate led by Cambodian national Chen Zhi, allege the group used luxury hotels and casinos, including the Jin Bei Casino, to launder billions of dollars from online fraud, extortion, and forced labor.
The Department of Justice in Brooklyn unsealed an indictment charging Chen Zhi with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, while filing a civil forfeiture complaint for approximately 127,271 Bitcoin — currently worth around $15 billion — seized by US authorities. The Bitcoin represents proceeds of Chen’s global scam and money-laundering operations. Chen remains at large.
The US Treasury also cut off another Cambodian conglomerate, Huione Group, from the American financial system for allegedly facilitating money laundering tied to North Korean hackers and regional scam networks.
The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said the Prince Group Transnational Criminal Organization (Prince Group TCO) was responsible for running industrial-scale “pig butchering” scams — elaborate online investment frauds that have cost victims billions of dollars.
“The rapid rise of transnational fraud has cost American citizens billions of dollars, with life savings wiped out in minutes”, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in the statement, adding that the coordinated action with the United Kingdom aimed to protect victims and “crack down on foreign scammers.”
American victims lost more than $16.6 billion to online investment scams in recent years, US officials said, with networks based in Cambodia and neighboring countries driving much of the surge.
“The Prince Group TCO, described as a dominant player in Cambodia’s scam economy, allegedly controlled illicit financial flows worth billions of dollars through shell companies worldwide.”
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) imposed matching sanctions on Chen Zhi, Prince Holding Group, and associates, while US prosecutors in New York unsealed a criminal indictment against Chen.
Among the operations targeted is the Jin Bei Group, a luxury hotel and casino operator accused of extortion, forced labor, and murder. The compound’s staff allegedly lured workers with promises of tech and customer service jobs, only to detain them and force them to defraud victims online.
US authorities linked Jin Bei to the 2023 killing of a 25-year-old Chinese national, and to the loss of at least $18 million from US citizens in one FBI investigation. Despite attempts by Prince Group to distance itself from Jin Bei, Cambodian government records identify Chen Zhi as its chief executive.
The DOJ complaint details sophisticated cryptocurrency laundering techniques allegedly used by Chen Zhi and his co-conspirators, including “spraying” and “funneling” transactions across thousands of digital wallets to obscure the origin of stolen funds.
Some of the cryptocurrency was later converted into fiat currency, luxury assets, and high-end items including yachts, private jets, vacation homes, watches, and a Picasso painting purchased in New York.
‘As alleged, the defendant was the mastermind behind a sprawling cyber-fraud empire operating under the Prince Group umbrella,’ said Assistant Attorney General John Eisenberg in an announcement. ‘Trafficked workers were confined in prison-like compounds and forced to carry out online scams on an industrial scale, preying on thousands worldwide.’
Human trafficking and torture allegations
Officials said workers in Prince Group’s compounds were victims of human trafficking, subjected to beatings, extortion, and sexual abuse if they tried to escape. Victims were often forced to operate scam websites that preyed on people worldwide.
The Treasury named 117 affiliated businesses and multiple individuals linked to Prince Group, including top executives and financial aides accused of managing offshore assets and laundering proceeds through Prince Bank, Prince Real Estate, and other subsidiaries.
In a parallel move, the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) finalized a rule under the USA PATRIOT Act banning US financial institutions from dealing with Huione Group, a Cambodian conglomerate accused of laundering at least $4 billion in illicit proceeds since 2021 — including funds tied to North Korean cyber heists.
The rule effectively severs Huione from the US financial system, prohibiting banks from maintaining accounts or processing transactions linked to the group.
The Prince Group network also extended its reach to Palau, where it reportedly leased an island to develop a luxury resort with the help of a Chinese businesswoman, Rose Wang, previously linked to the notorious Macau gangster Wan Kuok Koi, also known as Broken Tooth.
“US officials said the Palau venture represented an effort by organized crime networks to expand into the Pacific, using resort and casino projects as fronts for money laundering.”
The Treasury described the designations as part of an expanding campaign against cyber fraud, following earlier actions this year targeting Burmese warlords, Philippine technology firms, and Cambodian scam facilitators.
Under the new sanctions, all assets of the named entities in the United States are frozen, and US citizens and companies are barred from conducting business with them.
‘Today’s coordinated actions demonstrate our determination to disrupt these violent criminal enterprises that prey on vulnerable people and undermine financial systems,’ commented the OFAC.
Hub88 and Live88 have officially received gaming-related vendor licenses from the UAE’s federal General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), an independent entity of the UAE Federal Government with exclusive jurisdiction to regulate, license, and supervise all commercial gaming activities.
These approvals mark their pivotal entry into the newly regulated UAE market and a strategic milestone for two of Yolo Group’s B2B brands.
The licenses permit Hub88 to supply aggregation services and Live88 to offer live casino to licensed operators across the UAE, a breakthrough that accelerates their growth in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
Obtaining the licenses GCGRA from solidifies Hub88 and Live88’s position as leading B2B iGaming technology suppliers within one of the most dynamic and forward-looking regulated markets in the world.
Live88 is also set to become the first online live casino studio to be licensed in the UAE, pioneering a new era of locally regulated live gaming experiences across seven Emirates, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
This step underscores both brands’ focus on delivering cutting-edge solutions tailored for licensed jurisdictions, while continuing to develop and test new products at their existing base in Estonia. They will maintain their R&D operations in Tallinn, ensuring high standards before scaling further across the GCC.
Lara Falzon, CEO of Yolo’s B2B brands, said: “Securing these licenses represents a strong vote of confidence from the UAE’s regulatory body in our brands, our technology and our commitment to operating to the highest standards of integrity and innovation. This development reassures our clients and partners of our long-term vision to operate exclusively in regulated markets.”
Good Morning. While Macau is king, it is truly an Asian market. And nobody understands this more than Galaxy, who are now undergoing a board shift, bringing on Thomas Arasi as CFO, leveraging his decades of experience and also his insight into markets far beyond Macau. Looking at acquisitions, Genting’s buyout of its subsidiary could significantly boost earnings, if everything plays out well, say analysts. And back to Macau, GGR growth is likely trending down, with analysts slashing projections due to weather and soft play during Golden Week.
Big changes are afoot in the world of integrated resorts. Galaxy has announced a significant change in its operating structure, with long-time gaming veteran Thomas Arasi set to assume a new role as CFO, replacing Ted Chan. While Arasi and Chan are meant to work together to smooth over the transition, the change brings a different feel to one of Macau’s top gaming operators, lending merit to extensive overseas leadership that can craft a new era for Macau’s gaming scene.
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.
Universal Entertainment, the operator of Manila’s integrated resort Okada Manila, has announced that its third-quarter results are down significantly, as VIP play drops.
According to the group’s most recent financials, total gross gaming revenue (GGR) during the third quarter totaled PHP6.97 billion ($120 million), down from PHP8.23 billion ($141.72 million) in the same quarter of last year.
This was prompted by a significant decline in VIP revenue, which totaled PHP1.46 billion ($25.14 million) during the quarter.
Other segments also saw drops, such as with gaming machines – which saw a fall from PHP3.3 billion ($56.71 million) to PHP3 billion ($51.56 million) year-on-year in gaming revenue during the third quarter.
Mass table games were slightly up, hitting PHP2.5 billion ($43 million), a rise from the PHP2.45 billion ($42.2 million) in the same quarter of 2024.
This comes as rolling chip for VIPs halved, hitting PHP40.69 billion ($699.26 million), down from PHP94.29 billion ($1.62 billion) in 3Q24, dropping overall revenue to PHP7.84 billion ($135 million) – a significant downturn year-on-year.
The property boasted a slight increase in hotel occupancy during the period, at 87 percent, with property visitors rising to 1.41 million during the quarter.
US authorities have announced that they have conducted the largest forfeiture action in the history of the Justice Department, seizing some $15 billion in Bitcoin from a Cambodian businessman.
According to reports, US authorities were targeting Chen Zhi, a UK-Cambodian who has been accused of running labor camps in Cambodia and carrying out crypto fraud schemes.
The executive allegedly directed operations across compounds in the country, with hundreds held in jail-like residences to ensure compliance.
Authorities say that the mastermind behind the scheme bribed officials in various countries to allow for the operations to continue.
The funds from the scams were laundered through gambling and crypto mining operations, being used to purchase luxury accessories.
The arrested individual, Chen Zhi, now faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted of the money laundering, conspiracy and wire fraud charges.
B2B gaming supplier Push Gaming is set to deliver twice the thrills this Halloween with the release of two new seasonal titles, Tarot Treasures and Tricky Treats.
Both games highlight the recent launch of Push Gaming’s new product segmentation. Push Action delivers titles with enhanced layers of mechanics and player interaction, a category which Tarot Treasures proudly joins.
Meanwhile, Push Originals showcase the studio’s signature creative approach and innovative spirit, with Tricky Treats leading the way in this fresh line-up. Tarot Treasures shuffles its diabolical deck in a spellbinding world where mysticism meets the proven success of the Push Ways mechanic.
Following the acclaim of Big Bite Push Ways, the feature receives a supernatural twist just in time for Halloween.
The introduction of cascade trails adds a fresh layer of gameplay, with enhanced dynamics during free spins. Players will also discover how hot zones and cascade trails combine to create electrifying experiences that offer both variety and excitement.
A week later, on October 22nd, Tricky Treats takes Halloween to the sweeter side, offering players a colourful cast of candy characters and a unique cluster wins mechanic.
Its innovative sticky wilds increase their multiplier with every win, while features such as Push Bet, which guarantees wilds, and the bonus buy option allow players to tailor their strategies to their own play style.
George Fil, Director of Product Strategy at Push Gaming, said: “With Halloween on the horizon, we wanted to give players two very different—but equally exhilarating—seasonal experiences. Tarot Treasures takes the Push Ways mechanic in a supernatural direction, while Tricky Treats leans into the fun of the season with brilliantly designed candy characters and cluster wins that keep the action flowing. Together, both releases show how we’re pushing variety and innovation across themes, mechanics and volatility to deliver Halloween content players will love.”
Altenar has strengthened its sportsbook product credentials with the appointment of Nikos Zygouris as Head of Sportsbook Product and Alfred Bashllari as Sportsbook Product Consultant.
Nikos Zygouris
With extensive experience in iGaming and sports betting, both new hires bring a wealth of knowledge to support Altenar’s consistent focus on innovation and high-performance solutions that deliver more value to operators.
Zygouris joins the company from Campeon Gaming, where he served as Head of Product. Additionally, he holds more than 12 years of industry experience from leading suppliers and operators such as Novibet, Intralot and OpenBet. His passion for product innovation and collaborative working will play a key role in shaping Altenar’s roadmap.
Alfred Bashllari
Bashllari brings two decades of product development, operations and M&A experience, having held senior roles at major providers including Sportradar, Betgenius, Scientific Games and OPAP. His deep understanding of the sports betting, gaming and lottery sectors will support Altenar’s strategic decision-making.
Both appointments mark another step forward in Altenar’s evolution as a partner-led technology provider, enhancing its ability to deliver scalable, flexible and market-ready sportsbook solutions for a growing number of operators worldwide.
Antonis Karakousis, Director of Product at Altenar, said: “As we expand into new markets and push the boundaries of what our sportsbook can deliver, it’s vital that we continue to invest in product leaders. Nikos and Alfred bring a wealth of experience and strategic thinking that will directly support our long-term goals. We’re excited to welcome them aboard.”
Nikos Zygouris, Altenar’s Head of Sportsbook Product, added: “I’m delighted to join the product team at Altenar following what has already been a hugely successful year for the provider. They continue to prove that they are on the pulse of the industry and attuned to what the customer needs. I look forward to contributing to Altenar’s ambitious plans going forward.”
Alfred Bashllari, Sportsbook Product Consultant at Altenar, shared: “Altenar’s commitment to product excellence and its approach to exceeding expectations really stood out to me and is one of the reasons I’m thrilled to join the team. I’m excited to see how we can drive forward innovative solutions that help our clients grow.”
JCM Global celebrated 70 years of innovation at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E Las Vegas 2025), and now the company is also celebrating its groundbreaking ICB ASAP robotic cash handling system, after winning Gold as the Top Productivity Enhancement Technology in the GGB iGB Gaming Technology Awards.
“ICB ASAP has transformed the count room and redefined the concept of productivity enhancement. Simply put, it is a groundbreaking innovation in the casino industry that has forever revolutionized the entire drop and count process. It is the most significant technological advancement to come to the count room since JCM introduced its ICB Intelligent Cash Box system more than 20 years ago, and we are honored to be recognized by the industry for our efforts,” said Dave Kubajak, Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Operations.
ICB ASAP stands for Intelligent Cash Box with Automated Secure Asset Processing. The system automates the count room, enhances productivity, reduces human contact, boosts security, improves throughput, and increases reliability.
ICB ASAP by JCM Global
ICB ASAP is the first and only automated secure asset processing solution available on the market. The system consists of four industrial-grade robots and industry-standard automation equipment, all operating within a secure automation unit that meets all robotic safety standards, improving the overall efficiency and reduces total processing time of the count process.
ICB ASAP simplifies security monitoring by providing real-time or archived video feed of the bank note/TITO ticket removal process, complete with time and date stamps of when each asset is processed.
The system is compatible with JCM’s UBA Pro and iVIZION cash boxes and can process up to 240 cash boxes per hour, equating to 4,000 bank notes/TITO tickets per minute, nearly twice the speed of the fastest count sort machines, dramatically accelerating the count sort process.
iVIZION cash boxes by JCM Global
ICB ASAP was developed to be compact while optimizing installation, operator movement, accessibility, safety, maintenance, and service. ICB ASAP can be moved through standard-sized doors and be fully operational within just a few days.
The first trial installation of ICB ASAP took place at MotorCity Casino in Detroit, where it processed more than 180,000 cash boxes in less than a year. The system has handled more than 450,000 cash boxes thus far.
OpticOdds, a leading provider of real-time sports betting data feeds and trading solutions, has announced a new integration partnership with Pragmatic Play to significantly expand U.S. player prop market coverage across major sports for the brand’s Sportsbook vertical.
Through this collaboration, OpticOdds’ ultra-low-latency odds feed will be integrated into Pragmatic Play’s sportsbook platform, enabling its operator partners to offer a broader range of player-focused betting markets with accurate, real-time pricing and enhanced market depth.
This strategic move will allow Pragmatic Play to leverage OpticOdds’ advanced data and pricing infrastructure, delivering a robust player prop offering that includes deep coverage of the NBA, NFL, MLB and more.
“Our mission at OpticOdds is to equip operators with fast, reliable data for every market,” said Ryan Weinstock, Chief Commercial Officer at OpticOdds. “By partnering with Pragmatic Play Sports, we’re enabling a significantly broader selection of U.S. player prop markets, delivered through our comprehensive feeds. The accuracy and depth of our pricing will help Pragmatic Play’s platform serve bettors with engaging player-focused wagers, without sacrificing integrity or precision.”
“This latest partnership with OpticOdds expands the wide range of data feed options available to our operators. It places a particular emphasis on strengthening our U.S. sports coverage through the addition of comprehensive player prop markets,” added Gareth Crook, SVP of Sports at Pragmatic Play. “Working closely with Ryan and the wider OpticOdds team, we look forward to delivering a best-in-class U.S. sports portfolio to our current and future operators.”
