Las Vegas Sands is shutting down its digital gaming project, Sands Digital Services, resulting in the loss of approximately 150 local jobs in Las Vegas, noting that it would not discontinue its investments in Macau and Singapore.
According to a Las Vegas Review Journal report, the decision to discontinue the project came after company executives assessed that it did not align with their long-term strategic goals.
Sands President Patrick Dumont explained in a letter that, while the company has historically taken an entrepreneurial approach to investments, it became clear that pursuing this digital venture was no longer viable.
The company will refocus its efforts on its successful operations in Macau and Singapore, where it operates high-profile properties like the Venetian Macao and Marina Bay Sands.
Sands entered the digital gaming space after selling The Venetian and Palazzo (in Las Vegas) and acquiring assets from Qbet in 2021, aiming to offer live-streamed gambling services in states where online gambling is legal.
However, the company is now prioritizing its land-based operations and expansion projects, including a major expansion at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, which involves new hotel rooms and an arena.
While affected employees have the option to apply for other positions within Sands, many roles may require different skill sets.
Dumont reaffirmed the company’s commitment to its host markets in Macau and Singapore, emphasizing ongoing investments to meet revised licensing agreements and uphold strong relationships with business partners and local communities.
Thailand is moving ahead with a draft Promotion of the Game Industry Act that would create the country’s first central regulatory framework for video games, with a focus on curbing “hidden gambling” elements such as randomised rewards and prize draws, The Nation reported.
Assist Prof Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, president and CEO of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Depa), said the draft law — already endorsed by the Comptroller General’s Department and allocated funding from the NBTC — will soon be submitted to Cabinet.
Once enacted, it will empower the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau to suspend unregistered games and audit operators for compliance with safety and transparency standards.
The legislation, in development for more than a year, would establish three committees overseeing registration, regulation, and industry promotion. Nuttapon stressed the bill “is not intended to restrict competition but to regulate the market fairly and sustainably,” while boosting Thai developers’ global competitiveness.
If approved, Thailand would become the first ASEAN country with dedicated game legislation and the fourth in Asia, after China, Japan and South Korea.
The move comes as Bangkok prepares to host Gamescom Asia 2025 this month, a first for Thailand after years in Singapore, in a bid to showcase the nation’s growing role in the regional gaming industry.
Last month, Thailand’s Senate formally rejected a draft bill seeking to establish integrated entertainment complexes with casinos, citing risks to social stability, economic security, and national safety.
South Korea foreigner-only casino operator Paradise Co. reported mixed performance in September 2025, with overall casino sales increasing 4.3 percent year-on-year to KRW64.03 billion ($46.6 million) but falling 20.4 percent compared with August, reflecting a seasonal slowdown after the summer peak.
According to the company’s filing with the Korea Exchange, table game revenue amounted to KRW59.01 billion ($42.9 million), a 3.4 percent year-on-year increase but a 22.4 percent month-on-month decline. Despite the softer monthly comparison, table games continued to drive the bulk of Paradise’s casino performance, accounting for more than 90 percent of total gaming revenue.
Meanwhile, machine game revenue posted strong performance, rising 16.5 percent year-on-year and 12.8 percent month-on-month to KRW5.01 billion ($3.6 million), marking one of the few segments to record growth on both bases.
For the first nine months of 2025, Paradise Co.’s cumulative casino sales reached KRW673.7 billion ($491 million), an increase of 9.5 percent compared with the same period in 2024. The company said table game revenue totaled KRW633.95 billion ($461 million), up 10.1 percent year-on-year, while machine revenue rose 0.9 percent to KRW39.75 billion ($28.9 million), underscoring steady improvement in its overall business performance.
The company also reported notable changes in its VIP visitor traffic. During the third quarter of 2025, total VIP visitors rose to 44,635, supported mainly by higher inflows from Japanese patrons. This marks a continuation of a recovery trend seen throughout the year, although the number of Chinese VIPs registered a slight decrease from the previous quarter, according to Paradise’s monthly operating data.
Paradise Co. operates four foreigner-only casinos across South Korea — Walkerhill in Seoul and Paradise City in Incheon, Busan, and Jeju.
South Korea’s foreigner-only casino operator Grand Korea Leisure (GKL) reported largely steady casino sales in September, as resilient table revenue offset a sharp monthly decline in machine gaming, according to a company filing.
Casino sales reached KRW34.8 billion ($25 million) for the month, down 0.8 percent from August but 1.4 percent higher than a year earlier. Table games generated KRW31.4 billion ($22.6 million), a slight 0.6 percent rise from the previous month, while machine gaming revenue fell 12.4 percent month-on-month to KRW3.4 billion ($2.4 million).
The year-on-year picture remained more positive. Machine sales revenue surged 26 percent from September 2024, while that from tables dipped 0.8 percent.
For the first nine months of 2025, GKL reported cumulative casino sales of KRW318.7 billion ($229 million), up 10.9 percent from the same period last year. Table revenue rose 10.6 percent year-on-year to KRW289.3 billion ($208 million), and machine sales revenue climbed 13.9 percent to KRW29.4 billion ($21.1 million).
Drop — the amount wagered by customers — during the period totaled KRW316 billion ($227 million) in September, down 0.8 percent from August but 13.8 percent higher than the same month last year. Cumulative drop for the year to September stood at KRW2.72 trillion ($1.95 billion), down 1.9 percent year-on-year.
GKL, a subsidiary of the Korea Tourism Organization, operates three “Seven Luck” branded casinos in Seoul and Busan catering exclusively to foreign nationals.
Offshore gambling regulators are operating under inconsistent standards that leave players exposed to risks, according to a new study that encompasses the global oversight of the booming online betting and casino industry.
The report, Mapping the Offshore Gambling Regulators – authored by freelance journalist Steve Menary and Professor Marko Begović, from the Molde University College in Norway – warns that while the offshore sector plays a critical role in the global gambling market, oversight is fragmented and often opaque.
‘The regulation of offshore gambling is a patchwork’, the study notes. ‘There is considerable variation in licensing, responsible gambling measures, and enforcement across jurisdictions’.
The authors highlight how many offshore regulators license online casinos, poker, sports betting, and lotteries, often with weak consumer protections compared to national regimes. Some jurisdictions generate significant revenue by offering licenses to gambling companies that operate in markets where they are not legally authorized.
The report stresses that the global nature of online casinos and gaming platforms makes enforcement difficult. ‘Offshore operators can target players in jurisdictions where they are not legally permitted to do so, with little effective recourse for consumers,’ the study says.
Researchers found that while some regulators, such as those in Malta and Gibraltar, are well established and recognized by the industry, others operate with limited transparency and accountability. This uneven playing field, they argue, undermines efforts to ensure fair play, prevent money laundering, and protect vulnerable gamblers.
Match-fixing is prevalent in Asia
The Mapping the Offshore Gambling Regulators report links poorly regulated offshore licensing directly to transnational criminal risks. It notes that match-fixing for financial gain is typically undertaken on what are described as Asian betting markets.
Illegal betting companies often use these markets to offer sports betting, particularly football and cricket, in large Asian countries like China and India, where such activities are illegal.
These sites, which the report says are sometimes linked to organized crime, fail to collaborate with sports governing bodies or law enforcement and may use their services to launder money. A UNODC report cited in the study also noted the expansion of organized crime groups into some offshore jurisdictions that host ‘white label’ online casino companies in Southeast Asia.
The report identifies the Philippines as a major location that has faced international pressure due to its poorly regulated offshore gaming sector, specifically the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) – which have since been shut down.
It notes that the Philippines was once considered among the ‘worst offenders’ for facilitating issues like money laundering and criminal activity. In late 2024, this led President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to order an outright ban on all POGOs following mounting reports of related crimes, although the report acknowledges that some illegal vestiges of these operations remain.
The consequences of this crackdown, however, are a key finding: many operators have simply ‘relocated’ their activities, taking the same regulatory problems to new, weaker jurisdictions.
The complexity of offshore regulation in the Philippines is further highlighted by the fragmented authorities within the country.
While the national regulator, PAGCOR (the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation), oversees gaming, several specialized economic zones have historically issued, or attempted to issue, their own licenses, some even preceding PAGCOR’s oversight of online gaming.
These include the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) – which had been offering interactive gaming licenses since 2001 and pushed for an exemption from the POGO ban, and the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) – which had to transfer its remaining offshore licenses to PAGCOR following the ban.
The report also mentions the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB), where offshore operators tried to misrepresent themselves as BPO (business process outsourcing) companies, forcing PAGCOR to reaffirm its conditional oversight power over the zone’s licensing activities.
The study highlights that established offshore licensing regimes, such as the Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao, have historically been under intense criticism from bodies like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for their role in facilitating money laundering and match-fixing via poorly regulated licensing processes.
Curaçao is currently pushing through reforms with a new National Ordinance on Games of Chance (LOK) to meet international standards, although the report notes that the effectiveness of these changes remains uncertain.
A Curaçao-based victims’ foundation estimated that, prior to the new law, operators licensed on the island could have been responsible for over 20,000 betting websites worldwide, illustrating the jurisdiction’s scale of operation.
This sustained pressure on jurisdictions like Curaçao has resulted in a ‘large-scale flight’ of operators to newer, unregulated or loosely-regulated territories that the authors describe as ‘pseudo jurisdictions’. These new regimes often offer cheap and quick licenses, threatening to repeat earlier industry problems that took years to address.
‘The global gambling industry cannot ignore the offshore sector,’ the authors wrote. ‘Understanding its regulatory frameworks, strengths, and weaknesses is crucial to developing effective, coordinated responses to the challenges of online gambling.’
With the online casino and sports betting industry worth billions of dollars and expanding rapidly, the study calls for greater international cooperation among regulators, including minimum standards for licensing, consumer protection, and cross-border enforcement.
Three-time Abu Dhabi T10 champions Deccan Gladiators have announced a new title sponsorship agreement with BC.GAME News ahead of the 2025 season.
As part of the partnership, BC.GAME News will appear on the front of the Gladiators’ official match jersey — the most prominent branding position in one of cricket’s fastest-growing and most-watched short formats.
The Gladiators, T10 champions in 2021, 2022, and 2024, have reached the finals five times in the past six editions—making them one of the most consistently performing franchises in tournament history. With a reputation for a high-scoring batting approach and assertive on-field strategies, the team enters the 2025 season with a strong competitive record.
“Deccan Gladiators have always represented performance, passion, and boldness,” said Udit Vats, CEO of the franchise. “Our new partnership with BC.GAME News reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation and to delivering unforgettable experiences for fans worldwide.”
The Abu Dhabi T10 League — sanctioned by the ICC and launched in 2017 — has continued to attract a global audience, with its condensed 10-over format drawing comparisons to the high-tempo energy of digital-era entertainment. In recent years, the tournament has also emerged as a preferred sponsorship platform for digital-first brands looking to engage young cricket fans across South Asia and the Middle East.
Sources close to the partnership suggest that the collaboration will feature a mix of digital content campaigns, fan engagement initiatives, and online media integrations throughout the season.
The Deccan Gladiators are expected to unveil their 2025 squad — including returning international stars and domestic prospects — in the coming weeks, as anticipation builds for the opening match of the Abu Dhabi T10 2025 season.
Casino and hotel operator Macau Legend said it plans to raise up to HK$93 million ($11.9 million) through a rights issue as it struggles with mounting losses and tight liquidity.
The company will issue one rights share for every two existing shares at HK$0.30 ($0.038) each, about 45 percent below its last closing price, according to a Hong Kong Stock Exchange filing. The offer, fully underwritten by East Asia Securities and Platinum Broking, will increase the company’s share base by half to 930 million.
Net proceeds of around HK$86.9 million ($11.1 million) will be used for working capital, including payments for trade liabilities, property taxes and interest expenses, Macau Legend said.
Major shareholders, including chairman Chan Weng Lin’s Perfect Achiever Group and Elite Success, have pledged to take up their full entitlements.
Macau Legend, which operates the Legend Palace casino under a services deal with SJM Holdings and runs the Fisherman’s Wharf entertainment complex (where Legend Palace is located), posted a HK$1.42 billion ($182 million) net loss in the first half of 2025 after losing HK$622 million ($80 million) last year.
The company cautioned the fundraising remains subject to regulatory approvals and underwriting conditions, and may not proceed.
ZITRO will showcase its latest innovation, FANTASY, at G2E Las Vegas this week. This new slot machine redefines player engagement by turning the cabinet into a dynamic storytelling medium.
FANTASY doesn’t just house games, it creates worlds. Every curve is sculpted, every texture invites touch, every light responds to the action, and each game displays its own unique color scheme across the cabinet, accompanied by immersive sounds that complete the player’s journey. Design, light, colors, emotion, and games transport you all at once.
“FANTASY is meant to be lived, not just played,” said Johnny Ortiz Viveiros, Founder of ZITRO. “We designed FANTASY to engage all the senses, creating an immersive environment where the cabinet becomes part of the gaming narrative.”
Good Morning. India’s blanket ban on online gambling has resulted in significant job losses and stunted growth in the digital sector, leading industry expert Japneet Singh Sethi to argue that the government has missed a crucial opportunity for smart regulation that could have fostered innovation and economic benefit. Meanwhile, casino visits by Singapore citizens and permanent residents decreased from 99,000 in 2023 to approximately 94,000 in 2024, with only about 2.8 percent of the population visiting casinos in the territory.
India’s recent blanket ban on online gambling has severely impacted its burgeoning digital sector, leading to significant job losses, halted sponsorships, and a ripple effect across related industries, according to iGaming strategist Japneet Singh Sethi. According to the analyst, over 200,000 jobs have been lost, affecting everything from advertising to fintech, and grassroots sports leagues have also suffered revenue declines. Sethi criticized the government’s approach, arguing that an outright ban merely pushes demand underground and suggested that a more regulated framework, akin to models in the UK and Malta, would be beneficial.
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.
Winning Trust, Stopping Fraud. Asia Pacific’s iGaming market is expanding extremely fast, and a new wave of digital-savvy players is pushing demand through the roof. But the rise in adoption has outpaced regulation in many markets, and fraudsters have taken notice.
India’s blanket ban on online gambling has delivered a heavy blow to one of the country’s fastest-growing digital sectors, wiping out jobs, stalling sponsorships, and sending shockwaves across allied industries, according to iGaming strategist Japneet Singh Sethi.
“The ongoing campaigns have been paused or halted. Recent reports suggested at least 200,000 jobs lost, and related industries — from affiliates to advertising and fintech — were also hit hard”, said to AGB Sethi, Advisor for iGaming Markets, Strategy & Scale.
“Even grassroots sports leagues lost a major chunk of their revenues. Overall, the ban stalled momentum and morale.”
The clampdown has rippled far beyond gaming firms. “It risks derailing a high-potential sector that was contributing billions of dollars to the economy — and this was not just gaming, but fintech, affiliates, cloud services, advertising, events, influencers and more,” Sethi added.
Japneet Singh Sethi at SBC Summit Lisbon 2025
He argued the government has misunderstood the dynamics of the market. “Players need continuity rather than legality. When you ban an industry outright, demand doesn’t disappear — it just moves underground. A controlled regulation with stronger KYC checks and deposit caps, like the UKGC or Malta models, would go a long way,” he said.
For Sethi, the current approach sacrifices long-term opportunities for short-term optics. “India had an opportunity to create a Digital Gaming Authority — something tech-forward, agile, with clarity on taxation, licensing and audits. Even a state-wise pilot regulation could have been introduced. A tiered framework would have been far more sustainable than a blanket ban.”
The impact is also being felt in sport, with fantasy gaming platform Dream11’s sponsorship of India’s national cricket team suddenly uncertain.
“The government sent a clear message by onboarding a new sponsor. But some brands have already pivoted to global markets for visibility, or even into other product segments”, Sethi said. “Until there is legal clarity, they’ll continue to do so. The void left in domestic sports will be harder to fill in the short term.”
Still, he sees space for innovation. “Innovation is a necessity now. There’s room for freemium or subscription-based models, which is a decent market in itself. Social casinos, prediction formats with in-game purchases or virtual currency — without monetary benefits to players — remain an option. Zynga Poker is a great example,” he said. “Online club-based games would also be welcomed by players.”
“The industry surely will get mainstream recognition and structured funding, but it’s also about sanitising India’s digital gaming image — or at least the desire to do so. The target audience is still less monetisable compared to real-money gaming. Esports cannot be seen as a replacement, but rather a parallel growth story.”
His comments follow parliament’s passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, which criminalises card games, poker, and fantasy sports platforms. Officials said online gambling stripped $2.3 billion annually from 450 million Indians, causing widespread financial distress, fraud and even suicides. Offenders now face up to five years in prison.
The government says the law will curb predatory platforms and promote e-sports and educational games as part of its digital economy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as a measure to protect society from the “harmful effects of online money games” while encouraging “constructive digital recreation.”
Dream11 has already suspended its cash contests, while cricket’s governing body said it would comply with all government policies.
But for industry voices like Sethi, the move represents a missed opportunity. “India has the talent, the audience and the capital for gaming to flourish,” he said.
“Instead of harnessing it with smart regulation, we’ve stalled a sunrise industry. The long-term cost could be far higher than what anyone realises today.”
