Digitain, a leading sportsbook and iGaming solutions provider, announced its latest partnership with KingCasino, marking another step in its Romanian growth journey.
This partnership also strengthens Digitain’s footprint across Eastern Europe, reflecting the company’s ongoing commitment to equipping operators in the region with advanced sportsbook and iGaming solutions.
KingCasino is a fast-growing operator in Romania, offering players a wide range of slots, live casino, and sports betting opportunities. Known for its user-friendly platform, localized offering, and strong customer focus, KingCasino continues to build a loyal player base in the competitive Romanian iGaming landscape.
Through this partnership, KingCasino will gain access to Digitain’s award-winning Sportsbook, featuring thousands of monthly events, as well as Digitain’s Centrivo platform – a state-of-the-art solution for online casino and sports betting operators. In addition, KingCasino will benefit from advanced gamification and built-in bonus engine, real-time tournament engines, and customizable multi-layer progressive jackpots that enhance player engagement, along with access to dozens of casino providers available in the Romanian market.
Ani Mkrtchyan, Chief Sales Officer at Digitain, commented: “Partnering with KingCasino is not only about expanding our footprint in Romania — it’s about building long-term, value-driven relationships. With a shared ambition for growth and innovation, we are confident this collaboration will deliver outstanding results while contributing to the development of not only local but also global iGaming ecosystem.”
Thanos Karakostas, Head of Product at KingCasino, added:“As a company dedicated to delivering top-tier gaming experiences, we are always looking for ways to innovate and expand across the market. With Digitain’s expertise and advanced solutions, we will further enhance our offerings for players. Their reliable technology and committed team make them a trusted partner, and together we share a vision for excellence and continuous improvement.”
Good Morning. Governments can drop the hammer. But whether the degree of force is necessary depends on exactly how the market is reacting and how effective mitigation measures are. In the Philippines, the regulator is aiming to prove just how much it’s done, with strict oversight of the regulated online sector a key talking point. Looking to India, regulation is again in focus, as the new GST tax looms over operators, prompting Delta to slow its expansion plans for a new IR.
What you need to know
Philippines’ online gaming market advances with sophisticated regulations, embracing emerging tech and best practices for player safety and growth.
The Philippines’ online gaming market is far from the grave. While there have been political pushes to rein in the sector, logical thought has (so far) trumped speculative verbal outlash. And the sector can still grow in a tightly regulated environment, providing punters, operators, and the government exactly what they need. An executive highlights which reforms are helping to reduce financial crime, maintain compliance and still onboard new clients, in an increasingly complex arena.
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.
The Philippines’ gaming regulator continues to laud the benefits of the regulated online gaming sector, despite political support to shut it down.
According to a release on Wednesday, the CEO of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) noted that license online gaming garnered some PHP60 billion ($873 million) in fees from January to July, with some PHP41 billion ($715.9 million) coming from electronic games.
“Because of its huge potential, online gaming has become an important source of funds for our nation-building commitments, including PAGCOR’s support for education, health care, and community development,”noted PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco.
The executive highlighted that the garnered revenue contributes to not only its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects, but also other projects that PAGCOR supports, such as the building of schools, socio-civic centers and e-learning hubs.
“Every peso we collect from the gaming sector translates to meaningful projects such as classrooms for our children, health programs for our people, and safe spaces for communities in times of calamity. This is how we ensure that gaming directly benefits Filipinos,” Mr. Tengco said.
Opening speech by Alejandro H. Tengco, Chairman of PAGCOR at ASEAN Gaming Summit 2025
Amongst the ongoing calls for shutdown of the online gaming sector, Tengco warned of illicit actors, noting that “These illegal sites not only deprive the government of much-needed revenues but also expose Filipino players to numerous risks”.
Tengco and PAGCOR have pledged to increase regulation and enforcement “to ensure that only legitimate and properly monitored operators are allowed to operate”.
Allowing legitimate and registered operations permits continued government revenue income from the sector, while ensuring punters can opt for a legal and regulated avenue.
Grand Korea Leisure (GKL) reported a 15 percent year-on-year decline in casino sales for August, falling to KRW35.08 billion ($25.4 million), according to a filing with the Korea Exchange on Wednesday.
The August results marked a downturn from the previous month, with sales dropping 10 percent compared to July’s KRW38.99 billion ($30 million). The decline was primarily driven by weaker performance in table games, which generated KRW31.18 billion ($22.6 million) in revenue, representing an 18.2 percent decrease from the same period last year and an 11.8 percent drop from July.
Machine game revenue provided some relief, rising 22.8 percent year-on-year to KRW3.90 billion ($2.8 million) and increasing 7 percent month-on-month, demonstrating continued growth in this segment.
The August decline comes after GKL posted strong results in July, when casino revenue rose 102.8 percent year-on-year. Table games revenue in July had grown 113.4 percent, while machine games increased 36.9 percent during that period.
Despite August’s setback, GKL maintained positive momentum for the year-to-date period. Cumulative casino sales from January through August reached KRW283.93 billion ($205.7 million), up 12.2 percent compared to KRW253.07 billion ($183.4 million) recorded in the same period of 2024.
Table games revenue for the eight-month period rose 12.2 percent year-on-year to KRW257.93 billion ($186.8 million), while machine game sales increased 12.5 percent to KRW26.00 billion ($18.8 million).
GKL operates three foreigner-only casinos in South Korea under the Seven Luck brand—two in Seoul and one in Busan. The company is a subsidiary of the Korea Tourism Organization, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The Philippine online gaming market is poised to develop a more sophisticated and adaptive regulatory framework that balances industry growth with enhanced player protection, according to Chuan Wee Lye, Head of Business Development for the Philippines at Sumsub.
Chuan Wee Lye, Head of Business Development for the Philippines at Sumsub
In an interview with AGB, Chuan Wee Lye outlined expectations for continued regulatory fine-tuning focused on responsible gambling, dynamic know-your-customer (KYC) processes, and comprehensive player protection measures.
Sumsub, a full-cycle verification platform that enables scalable compliance, anticipates that technological advances and growing digital adoption, particularly among younger audiences and esports fans, will prompt Philippine regulators to evolve rules further.
The goal is ensuring the market remains both competitive and secure while authorities deepen their understanding of emerging technologies and global best practices. The regulatory landscape reflects legitimate concerns about balancing economic benefits with consumer protection as authorities evaluate various policy approaches, from enhanced oversight to potential restrictions.
Sumsub’s 2024 report shows the Philippines’ iGaming industry soaring, with a PHP58.16 billion ($1.01 billion) market in 2023 expected to surge past PHP122.1 billion ($2.13 billion) by 2027, driven by the Electronic Games sector’s PHP30.85 billion ($537.58 million) in 2Q24.
Strengthening the compliance framework
Chuan Wee Lye told AGB that Sumsub views regulatory developments through the lens of compliance, transparency and responsible business practices, expressing full alignment with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation’s (PAGCOR) push for stronger enforcement and clearer regulatory guidelines. This includes the new accreditation framework announced in April 2025, which extends anti-money laundering (AML) standards beyond licensed operators to include affiliates, KYC processors, payment partners, and marketing agents.
“These reforms close long-standing loopholes and set the stage for a more united front against financial crime,” Chuan Wee Lye explained. “In a market like the Philippines, where the regulatory framework evolves rapidly, our role is to enable operators to adapt proactively, reduce risk, and maintain a seamless player onboarding experience while meeting evolving regulatory standards.”
The executive noted that many clients have taken a proactive stance, strengthening their compliance programs ahead of any final regulatory decisions. With digital adoption via mobile reaching record highs, operators can no longer rely on manual KYC processes. Instead, there has been marked acceleration in demand for real-time, artificial intelligence-driven identity verification and fraud prevention.
Rising fraud concerns drive solution demand
This demand is amplified by escalating threats from AI-generated deepfakes, cited by 78 percent of Sumsub’s iGaming clients as a rising risk. Throughout 2024 and into 2025, Sumsub has observed a marked increase in online gaming operators seeking advanced, holistic solutions for KYC, AML, and ongoing risk management, driven by a fast-changing fraud landscape and increasing sophistication of criminal tactics.
“Specifically in the Philippines, emerging fraud patterns such as AI-driven identity fraud are increasingly on the rise across different industries.”
Chuan Wee Lye
“What’s challenging is generative AI, a step up from traditional deepfake technology, capable of creating highly convincing synthetic identities, documents, and even real-time interactive impersonations that are far harder to detect.”
Technology-driven compliance solutions
Given these challenges, operators are no longer satisfied with single-point solutions. Instead, they increasingly seek comprehensive, end-to-end platforms that integrate identity verification, AML screening, fraud analytics, and continuous risk scoring.
With a significant percentage of iGaming operators reporting rising fraud attempts involving AI-generated fakes and synthetic identities, Sumsub indicates that it equips clients with cutting-edge AI tools to detect and prevent these new fraud types in real time.
The platform typically verifies submitted documents in under 20 seconds on average.
“In iGaming, time is everything. If verification drags on, players will drop off and look elsewhere.”
“To help ensure they stay, we pair fast verification with an intuitive, multilingual interface so users from different regions can navigate the process effortlessly.”
Balancing compliance and user experience
The executive emphasized the fine line between regulatory compliance and customer satisfaction. In the company’s view, while operators prioritize fast, intuitive, and pleasant user experiences, regulators focus on ensuring users are of legal age, capable, and permitted to gamble safely. Sumsub states that its configurable system supports automated risk scoring, applying targeted verification intensity to enable low-risk users to onboard quickly while subjecting higher-risk cases to additional scrutiny.
Sumsub asserts that it helps operators reduce compliance costs by leveraging technology to address inefficiencies early. For example, the company’s Device Intelligence solution detects multi-accounting attempts during registration, curbing operators from expending resources on KYC for duplicate users. The company notes that, unlike other device intelligence solutions, its platform integrates this data with duplicate face search during KYC, providing robust protection while minimizing compliance costs.
Responsible gambling evolution
Online gambling operators in the Philippines are likely to gradually strengthen their approach to responsible gambling as regulations become clearer and more firmly enforced. Some operators may start by implementing basic tools like self-exclusion programs and spending limits, alongside staff training to better recognize and support at-risk players.
Chuan Wee Lye notes that technology will play a significant role through tools that track player behavior in real time and flag concerning signs early. Operators will probably focus more on educating players about risks and encouraging safer gambling habits while working closely with regulators to ensure compliance and help create safer gambling environments overall.
Effective KYC at onboarding verifies government-issued IDs and applies biometric and facial recognition technologies to block underage players and fraudulent accounts, laying a foundation of trusted player identities.
Ongoing Customer Due Diligence (CDD) supports responsible gaming by regularly assessing player behavior, transaction patterns, and risk indicators, enabling operators to identify high-risk individuals and apply enhanced due diligence to foster a secure and responsible gaming environment.
International standards adoption
Chuan Wee Lye believes stricter gambling regulations aligned with international standards are not only likely to become mandatory in the Philippines but are already gaining traction globally. Comprehensive oversight frameworks incorporating responsible gambling measures, robust AML protocols, and clear guidelines have proven particularly effective in mature markets like Europe.
“Europe’s regulated online gambling sector reached nearly €48 billion ($56 billion) in 2024 and is expected to continue growing in 2025, demonstrating that comprehensive oversight does not stifle legitimate operators but rather attracts investment and safeguards industry integrity.”
Far from hampering legitimate operators, these standards provide clear competitive roadmaps, drive out illicit actors, and elevate industry integrity.
While some worry that stricter regulation could slow growth or drive players to unregulated sites, international experience suggests that clear, consistently enforced rules can actually strengthen an industry’s legitimacy and long-term sustainability, protecting both players and operators.
Well-designed regulation deters bad actors, fosters innovation, and builds investor confidence. If the Philippines continues on this path, it could not only sustain growth but could lead the region in safe, technology-driven online gaming, potentially setting benchmarks for features like player-versus-player casino games.
Games Global is set to elevate the iLottery space with high-performance eInstant games, channeling its proven success in regulated online gaming into the market’s most rapidly expanding segment.
The digital gaming powerhouse, which boasts over 40 game studios and serves over 600 branded gaming websites in regulated markets, has created a dedicated business unit to develop an eInstant product offering, available to World Lottery Association (WLA) members.
In addition, Games Global has entered into a partnership with EQL Games, a well-established eInstants content aggregator with existing integrations across multiple iLottery platforms. This collaboration will provide Lotteries with direct access to Games Global’s eInstants portfolio and enable efficient and rapid deployment of selected games, leveraging EQL’s existing iLottery platform integrations.
Games Global’s focus on innovation, its attention to artistic detail and player appeal, and its proven track record of success are being applied to the new range of eInstant game products.
As well as operating the iGaming sector’s largest progressive jackpot network and iconic titles such as the Gold Blitz and Pots of Gold series, Games Global is also adept at building bespoke games at speed thanks to its unique studio-first model. The company is eager to provide its deep gaming knowledge, multi-studio capability, operating flexibility, and performance track record to deliver outstanding eInstant products to the lottery industry.
The first suite of eInstant games will be launched for a National Lottery early Autumn of 2025, with a regular cadence of exciting, powerful, high-impact games to follow.
Walter Bugno, CEO at Games Global, said: “Games Global is very pleased to announce our decision to invest the extensive capabilities and gaming DNA of our company into the world of Lottery. Our dedicated iLottery studio is already working on a suite of games designed specifically for iLottery and attuned to the needs and requirements of these customers.”
Mark MacCombie, Executive Vice President for New Business and Strategic Investments at Games Global, added: “We are very pleased to have EQL Games as a valued and experienced content distribution partner who already has iLottery platform integrations operational in multiple jurisdictions. Games Global has strong Lottery industry experience in our senior leadership team and a passion to make outstanding, successful games for all of our customers.”
Tom Horn Gaming’s newest title, Tao Tree Coins, challenges players to enter a world aglow with silken lanterns and overflowing with golden rewards.
The Tao Tree Coins game blends the timeless charm of Asian-themed slots with a modern, on-trend Hold & Win mechanic, offering dynamic gameplay designed to engage both traditional slot fans and thrill-seekers alike.
The game is played on a 3×3 grid and features a popular coin mechanic, Hold & Win, and a Bonus Buy option. The base game keeps players on their toes with the grab feature, a rewarding mechanic that instantly sweeps up fortune at random.
At the heart of Tao Tree Coins is the Hold & Win bonus game, triggered by any three coin symbols landing in unison on the reels. The bonus game ramps up excitement with its high win potential, thanks to collector symbols, multipliers and jackpots. The bonus game starts with 3 respins, which reset with every new symbol. Coin collectors gather all visible coin values, and multipliers boost wins by up to x5. Cash coins can deliver 1x to 50x the bet, while jackpot coins unlock Mini, Minor, Major, or Grand Jackpot.
“With Tao Tree Coins, we wanted to strike a balance between familiarity and freshness,” said Ondrej Lapides, CEO at Tom Horn Gaming. “Coin mechanic continues to resonate strongly with players, and by adding layers like collectors, multipliers, jackpots, and the grab feature, we’ve created a game that’s not only rewarding but also emotionally engaging. It’s a strong addition to our portfolio and a title we believe will perform exceptionally in our key markets.”
For those eager to cut straight to the action, the Bonus Buy option allows direct entry into the Hold & Win bonus round for 450x the total bet.
Designed with high volatility and fast-paced spin cycles, Tao Tree Coins delivers powerful gameplay experiences that combine an uplifting soundscape with proven features. The game is set to drive long-term engagement and retention while reinforcing Tom Horn Gaming’s position as a key innovator in slot development.
The global iGaming technology provider BetConstruct has announced that it has been named the “Leader in Sports Betting” at the Sports Betting West Africa+ Eventus Awards 2025.
This prestigious award commends the frontrunner in advancing sports betting, recognising excellence in both innovation and delivery. The judging process placed particular emphasis on originality, forward-thinking strategies, and measurable commercial success, qualities that continue to define BetConstruct’s commitment to shaping the future of the industry.
Being honoured on such a respected stage is both humbling and energising for BetConstruct. The recognition reinforces BetConstruct’s belief that bold ideas, cutting-edge technology, and dedication to its partners and players can set new standards in sports betting. The award represents not only a milestone for the organisation but also a reflection of the trust, support, and collaboration established across the global iGaming community.
BetConstruct is delighted to receive this award and grateful for the acknowledgement of its efforts to push boundaries and deliver value. The company extends sincere thanks to its dedicated teams, industry peers, and partners worldwide.
This achievement is as much theirs as it is BetConstruct’s, and it serves as inspiration to continue raising the bar in 2025 and beyond.
Brightstar Lottery announced that it will demonstrate its global lottery leadership and present sophisticated lottery solutions at the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL) 2025 annual conference, from Sept. 8 – 11, in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
For its NASPL debut under the new brand, Brightstar’s team of industry-leading people will spotlight the next generation of growth-driving solutions designed to engage players at retail, instantly and digitally.
“Backed by the momentum of launching our new brand, Brightstar Lottery is incredibly excited to reconnect with our North American customers at NASPL 2025 and demonstrate the investments we’ve made with self-service, in-lane and compact terminals, and digital solutions for omnichannel play,” said Renato Ascoli, Brightstar CEO Global Lottery. “With our renewed focus as a pure-play lottery business, Brightstar’s booth will feature future-forward solutions that empower our customers’ growth and emphasize our commitment to player engagement, delivering on our promise to elevate lotteries and inspire players.”
Brightstar leaders will also participate in several NASPL panel discussions including:
Renato Ascoli, Brightstar CEO, Global Lottery, will participate in an executive panel on Sept. 11.
Scott Gunn, Brightstar Chief Operating Officer North America Lottery, will discuss the Company’s exclusive focus on lottery and what it means for its customers on Sept. 11.
Renato Ascoli, Brightstar CEO, Global LotteryScott Gunn, Brightstar Chief Operating Officer for NA Lottery
NASPL attendees who explore Brightstar’s booth can experience a variety of new engaging products including:
Engaging Players at Retail: Brightstar will display its in-lane, self-service and retailer terminal solutions that are designed to revolutionize retail with the sophistication and high-performance needed for modern business operations. Among many exciting products highlighted in Brightstar’s booth will be LotteryLink™, the first-ever small-format solution to enable in-lane instant and draw-game sales without a dedicated lottery terminal at the checkout lane or software changes on the retailer point-of-sale system.
Additionally, Brightstar will highlight its GameFlex 48 lottery vending machine, which has the highest game capacity in the industry with ticket-by-ticket activation for enhanced security, control and inventory tracking, and a new extremely compact draw-games-only vending machine. Two versions of Brightstar’s Digital Menu Board, a modern, sleek way for retailers to showcase in-stock instant tickets at the point of sale, will also be featured.
Investing in the Future: This special area of Brightstar’s booth is designed to demonstrate innovative concepts and products, and gain customer feedback to help shape the future of lottery. Many of these demonstrations will be focused on how Brightstar is leveraging artificial intelligence to increase efficiency and drive sales.
Exciting Instants Innovations, Turnkey Promotions and Omnichannel Content: Brightstar will debut new instants innovations including high-resolution imaging to elevate the play experience, proprietary registered holographic features that create added motion and visual impact, Infinity Instants™ scenes for engaging gameplay, and a handful of new playstyles. Visitors can hear more about Brightstar’s turnkey marketing, advertising and media promotions with well-known brands such as iHeart Media and Wheel of Fortune.
NASPL attendees can also experience how lotteries are enhancing their instant ticket portfolios with the latest omnichannel games, including those from Brightstar’s portfolio of licensed content, such as popular IGT Slot games.
Compelling iLottery Portfolio: Brightstar will spotlight advancements in the fast-growing iLottery segment with its full suite of applications, game content, and marketing services. On display will be its updated cloud-based platform with enhanced front-end features and expanded player-engagement capabilities. A giant touchscreen will showcase Brightstar’s vast library of 250 captivating iLottery games including progressive jackpots, AI-generated designs, expanded popular themes, and Brightstar’s new eInstant category, Prize Tap.
Brightstar serves nearly 90 lottery customers and their players on six continents. It is the primary technology provider to 26 of the 46 lottery jurisdictions in the U.S. and eight of the world’s 10 largest lotteries.
Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has partnered with Caesars Entertainment to expand its footprint in the Canadian market, following its initial entry earlier this year.
Having announced its official entrance into Ontario in March, the collaboration with Caesars marks a significant step in Evoplay’s local strategy. Further standout releases, such as Inner Fire Bonus Buy and Hot Volcano, also launched as part of the initial package, with additional player favourites, including Fruit Nova and Ice Mania.
The collaboration underlines Evoplay’s commitment to working with leading operators to deliver high-quality content tailored to regional audiences.
Alex Malchenko, Head of Sales at Evoplay, said: “Launching with Caesars in Ontario marks a key milestone in our North American strategy. It reflects both the strength of our portfolio and our commitment to providing innovative, high-performing content to operators of the highest caliber.”
Ricardo Cornejo Rivas, Vice President of Online Gaming at Caesars Digital, said: “Evoplay brings a fresh and dynamic approach to online gaming, which we’re excited to offer to our players in Ontario. This portfolio of standout titles adds to our growing content library and furthering our ongoing goal of delivering top-tier entertainment experiences to our players.”
