Macau suspends all casino operations as Super Typhoon Ragasa hits

Nelson Moura

-

September 24, 2025

Macau suspends all casino operations as Super Typhoon Ragasa hits

All casinos in Macau suspended operations from 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday after authorities raised a tropical cyclone signal 8 as Super Typhoon Ragasa approached the territory.

The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) mandates a temporary suspension of gaming activities if a tropical cyclone signal 8 is raised to protect the safety of residents and visitors.

Authorities have already issued a tropical storm signal No. 10 at 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, the highest level on the local scale, due to the approaching typhoon. The alert is expected to remain in effect for several hours, with forecasts predicting an intensification of wind throughout the day.

According to meteorological services, the center of the tropical storm will pass very close to Macau, causing sustained winds of at least 118 km/h, accompanied by strong gusts. The territory is expected to face severe weather conditions, with increased risks for the population and infrastructure.

The DICJ stated that it has coordinated with concessionaires to ensure that shutdown procedures are carried out smoothly, with measures in place to provide adequate rest conditions for staff and guests during the suspension period.

This is the latest precautionary step taken by the government as the city braces for Ragasa, which has already triggered the highest storm warning signals and is expected to bring destructive winds and possible storm surges.

Authorities warned of severe storm surges, widespread flooding, and destructive winds comparable to Typhoons Hato in 2017 and Mangkhut in 2018.

Macau has a history of rare but significant casino closures in extreme circumstances. In September 2018, authorities shut all casinos for 33 hours during Super Typhoon Mangkhut, marking the first full shutdown in history.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, casinos were closed for 15 days in February 2020 and one week in July 2022. More recently, Typhoon Saola in September 2023 led to a nine-hour full closure.

Ferry services and other transport links have already been suspended in preparation for Ragasa’s expected impact on the morning of Wednesday, September 24th.

The move underscores renewed financing interest among Hong Kong-listed companies as they seek to diversify funding channels. Investor appetite has been buoyed by a strong rally in Chinese and Hong Kong equities since September last year, making both markets among the best performers globally in 2025.

The potential bond issue comes as SJM accelerates its expansion into Hengqin, a region adjacent to Macau’s Cotai Strip, which could provide stronger synergies with its Cotai properties. In July, the company announced a CNY724 million ($101.2 million) investment in a new budget hotel project in Hengqin. The development, which involves the acquisition of office and retail units in a mixed-use complex developed by Zhuhai Hengqin Shun Tak Property Development, is linked to SJM Chair Daisy Ho and her sister, Pansy Ho – Chairperson of MGM China.

SJM has positioned the Hengqin project as a complement to its luxury resorts, including the Grand Lisboa Palace and Grand Lisboa, by targeting a wider range of visitors. The budget hotel, expected to open in early 2028 pending government approvals, is designed to lower operating costs while creating new revenue streams in the Greater Bay Area’s evolving tourism landscape.

SJM believes the Hengqin facility will help achieve more balanced growth in the post-pandemic environment, highlighting Hengqin’s role as a key part of its long-term strategy.

GR8 Tech landed heavyweight wins on all fronts at SBC Summit Lisbon 2025, taking home the prestigious Platform Provider of the Year award and captivating record-breaking crowds with its Heavyweight Club activation with Ready to Fight, which brought undisputed world champion Oleksandr Usyk to the summit floor.

GR8 Tech champions every round at SBC Summit Lisbon 2025

Super Stage Panel and iGaming Influencers at GR8 Tech Booth

On the Super Stage, GR8 Tech and Ready to Fight held “The Heavyweight Playbook: Building Businesses That Perform When It Matters Most” panel discussion. Oleksandr Usyk opened up about discipline and trust in his team, while Kyrylo Korobka, Executive Director at Ready to Fight, emphasized the importance of data-driven preparation.

Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech, showed how the same principles apply to iGaming, where platforms must perform flawlessly under pressure.

“Whether it’s preparing for a championship fight or building an iGaming platform, excellence comes from systematic discipline, not just talent.”
Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech

Following the panel discussion, the punch machine challenge at GR8 Tech’s stand brought
together influential industry leaders, creating one of the most talked-about activations of the entire Summit.

GR8 Tech’s CEO Oleksandr Feshchenko claimed the top score and Usyk’s signed gloves. However, given GR8 Tech’s partnership with Ready to Fight, the prize was never meant to stay in-house—instead going to the next highest scorer, Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC Gaming, capturing the core of the Heavyweight Club philosophy: champions create champions.

Usyk’s appearance drew massive attention, driving a fivefold increase in traffic to the GR8 Tech stand—igniting new sales opportunities and sparking a surge of meaningful engagement with prospects and partners.

Platform for Champions: GR8 Tech Named Platform Provider of the Year

GR8 Tech capped off its heavyweight presence at SBC Summit 2025 by being named “Platform Provider of the Year” at the SBC Awards ceremony.

This prestigious recognition confirms what GR8 Tech has built: a true Platform for Champions that provides the unmatched performance, flexibility, and global infrastructure required for operators who refuse to settle for second place.

The validation was echoed by exceptional demand and operator interest witnessed throughout the summit, with 200+ meetings demonstrating the industry’s appetite for champion-level solutions.

Finally, Sergey Ghazaryan, CRO of GR8 Tech, reflected on the company’s presence at the event, stating: “The Heavyweight Club is built on performance, not promises. At SBC Summit, we demonstrated that operators with the ambition to lead will find in GR8 Tech a partner that drives them further, faster, and stronger—and winning Platform Provider of the Year is proof of that.”

RWC alerted the police, which resulted in a search of the vessel by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and Singapore Police Force, including the cabins and casino, later determining that it was safe to board. The search resulted in a two-hour boarding delay for a group of about 4,000 cruise clients.

The Singaporean is now facing a possible jail sentence of up to seven years and/or a SG$50,000 ($39,000) fine.

SOFTSWISS takes the wheel at SBC Summit Lisbon with Estoril circuit experience and expert insights

Europe

AGBrief Editorial

-

September 23, 2025

0

SOFTSWISS takes the wheel at SBC Summit Lisbon with Estoril circuit experience and expert insights

SOFTSWISS wrapped up a successful week at SBC Summit Lisbon 2025, merging headline thought leadership with an immersive trackside experience at the Estoril circuit.

The programme featured a Super Stage fireside chat with Founder Ivan Montik and F1 legend Rubens Barrichello, Non-Executive Director in LatAm at SOFTSWISS, plus a joint racing activation with SBC that drew steady crowds.

At one of the industry’s largest gatherings, SOFTSWISS placed practical insight and community engagement front and centre. On the Super Stage, Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWIS, joined F1 legend Rubens Barrichello for ‘Excellence Under Pressure: Evolving in a Fast-Moving Space,’ exploring how teams balance speed, reliability, and regulation.

The company also contributed to ‘Latin America First – The Home-Grown Operators Reinventing the Game,’ where Dario Leiman, Head of Business Development in Latin America at SOFTSWISS, shared regional growth takeaways and operator needs.

Off the stage, SOFTSWISS and SBC co-hosted remote-control racing on a true-to-scale Estoril circuit, with a showcase heat featuring Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, Rubens Barrichello, and Ivan Montik, before delegates took the wheel for open challenges and networking.

During the prestigious SBC Awards Europe 2025, SOFTSWISS has been recognised as Employer of the Year for the second year in a row. This accolade underlines the company’s commitment to building a people-first workplace culture.

At Stand B160, visitors explored business opportunities and were invited to contribute to the upcoming 2026 iGaming Trends Report—recently launched by SOFTSWISS to capture practitioner insights across product, operations, compliance, and market development. The study aims to map the priorities and challenges expected to shape the year ahead and will inform the next edition of the company’s annual trends report.

“Lisbon brought together engaged conversations about compliance, data, and growth – and our activities helped turn those discussions into measurable outcomes,” said Olga Resiga, Chief Business Development Officer at SOFTSWISS. “Thank you to our partners, clients, and the SBC team for a week that showed how collaboration drives progress across iGaming.”

Amplifying the series’ success, the new instalment elevates the franchise to new heights with Slingshot Studios’ unique and memorable ASSEMBL’EM feature, a customisable system shaping gameplay in real time, where players can unlock up to nine cards and combine them to create a tailored experience.

Built to transcend the industry and attract new players from outside of the online slot space, ASSEMBLE’EM provides users with a reason to return, enriching game sessions with additional cards that increase the player-brand connection and deepen customisation.

From reel-wide multipliers and duplicating fish symbols to enhanced free spins and jackpot boosts, the mechanic creates varied outcomes, so no two sessions play out the same. Supplementing the collectables aspect is the Cash Collect feature, which is integral to the Bass Cash franchise and sees fisherman symbols collect all visible cash and jackpot prizes.

Winston the dog, a familiar feature of the Bass Cash series, makes a return in Bass Cash ASSEMBL’EM, where he can randomly jump in during any spin to reveal additional cash symbols before the reels come to a stop.

Marcus Thorpe-Fairall, Creative Director at Alchemy Gaming, said: “We wanted to build on everything that players enjoy about the Bass Cash series and enhance it by introducing new ideas. The ASSEMBL’EM mechanic is truly unique, making the gameplay feel distinctive and personal, while still being accessible for first-time slot players. Bass Cash ASSEMBL’EM is a bold new chapter, and one we are really looking forward to seeing unfold.”

Games Global and Alchemy Gaming have gone beyond slot development into immersive world creation with Bass Cash ASSEMBLE’EM, optimised to establish stronger connections and cater to a new audience.

Andy Booth, Chief Product Officer at Games Global, added: “We are in an era where players crave new and different experiences – they want the ability to customise gameplay in line with their own preferences and take control. ASSEMBL’EM provides just that. It makes the release more than just a game; it is a new experience that allows you to own your individual gameplay and features. Collectables provide continuity, while the ability to unlock modifiers introduces a fresh layer to the experience every time you earn a card.

Macau suspends all casino operations as Super Typhoon Ragasa hits

All casinos in Macau suspended operations from 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday after authorities raised a tropical cyclone signal 8 as Super Typhoon Ragasa approached the territory.

Table of Contents

SJM mulls issuing $137M offshore bonds to fund Hengqin project: Report

Macau gaming operator SJM Holdings is reportedly considering issuing offshore renminbi bonds as early as next month, which would mark the company’s first public bond offering in four years.

Table of Contents

Chinese court tries 21 members of criminal group operating in northern Myanmar

A court in China has tried 21 members of a criminal group that was operating in northern Myanmar on charges of operating casinos, fraud, intentional homicide, forced prostitution, drug manufacturing and other charges.

GR8 Tech champions every round at SBC Summit Lisbon 2025

Super Stage Panel and iGaming Influencers at GR8 Tech Booth

“Whether it’s preparing for a championship fight or building an iGaming platform, excellence comes from systematic discipline, not just talent.”

Platform for Champions: GR8 Tech Named Platform Provider of the Year

Table of Contents

Police officer accuses four Bhumjaithai Party members of involvement in Cambodian casinos

A former police officer has accused four executives of Thailand’s Bhumjaithai Party of accepting bribes from casino operators in Cambodia.

Casino Grand Dragon closure in Macau goes smoothly

Authorities in Macau say that the closure of satellite operation Casino Grand Dragon has taken place ‘according to the expected procedures’, with the casino ceasing operations at 11:59 pm on September 22^nd.

Table of Contents

Singaporean man makes bomb threats over casino losses on Resorts World cruise

A Singaporean man is likely to get jail time after emailing fake bomb threats to Resorts World Cruises after reportedly losing SG$2,000 ($1,500) at a casino on one of its ships.

SOFTSWISS takes the wheel at SBC Summit Lisbon with Estoril circuit experience and expert insights

SOFTSWISS wrapped up a successful week at SBC Summit Lisbon 2025, merging headline thought leadership with an immersive trackside experience at the Estoril circuit.

Table of Contents

Games Global & Alchemy Gaming introduce customisable gameplay in Bass Cash ASSEMBL’EM

Games Global, along with its exclusive studio partner, Alchemy Gaming, has announced the launch of Bass Cash ASSEMBL’EM, blending the popular Bass Cash game brand with the powerful card-collection mechanic, ASSEMBL’EM, engineered to enhance replay value.

Table of Contents

Greentube releases Lucky Luchadoras, a tribute to lucha libre legends

Greentube, the NOVOMATIC Digital Gaming and Entertainment division, climbs through the ropes with its latest release, Lucky Luchadoras, a knockout pays anywhere slot that brings the thrill of lucha libre to the reels.

Table of Contents

ENQUIRIES & SUBSCRIPTIONS

CONTACTS

FOLLOW AGB

All casinos in Macau suspended operations from 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday after authorities raised a tropical cyclone signal 8 as Super Typhoon Ragasa approached the territory.

Table of Contents

Macau gaming operator SJM Holdings is reportedly considering issuing offshore renminbi bonds as early as next month, which would mark the company’s first public bond offering in four years.

Table of Contents

A court in China has tried 21 members of a criminal group that was operating in northern Myanmar on charges of operating casinos, fraud, intentional homicide, forced prostitution, drug manufacturing and other charges.

Super Stage Panel and iGaming Influencers at GR8 Tech Booth

“Whether it’s preparing for a championship fight or building an iGaming platform, excellence comes from systematic discipline, not just talent.”

Platform for Champions: GR8 Tech Named Platform Provider of the Year

Table of Contents

A former police officer has accused four executives of Thailand’s Bhumjaithai Party of accepting bribes from casino operators in Cambodia.

Authorities in Macau say that the closure of satellite operation Casino Grand Dragon has taken place ‘according to the expected procedures’, with the casino ceasing operations at 11:59 pm on September 22nd.

Table of Contents

A Singaporean man is likely to get jail time after emailing fake bomb threats to Resorts World Cruises after reportedly losing SG$2,000 ($1,500) at a casino on one of its ships.

SOFTSWISS wrapped up a successful week at SBC Summit Lisbon 2025, merging headline thought leadership with an immersive trackside experience at the Estoril circuit.

Table of Contents

Games Global, along with its exclusive studio partner, Alchemy Gaming, has announced the launch of Bass Cash ASSEMBL’EM, blending the popular Bass Cash game brand with the powerful card-collection mechanic, ASSEMBL’EM, engineered to enhance replay value.

Table of Contents

Greentube, the NOVOMATIC Digital Gaming and Entertainment division, climbs through the ropes with its latest release, Lucky Luchadoras, a knockout pays anywhere slot that brings the thrill of lucha libre to the reels.

Table of Contents

ENQUIRIES & SUBSCRIPTIONS

CONTACTS

Authorities in Macau say that the closure of satellite operation Casino Grand Dragon has taken place ‘according to the expected procedures’, with the casino ceasing operations at 11:59 pm on September 22^nd.