Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: City of Dreams acquisition in DigiPlus’s crosshair

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September 22, 2025

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Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: City of Dreams acquisition in DigiPlus’s crosshair

Good Morning. Decisions, decisions, decisions. DigiPlus Interactive Corp. indicated it is evaluating potential acquisitions, including City of Dreams Manila, amid regulatory challenge s in the Philippine online gaming sector, while maintaining strong financial growth and pursuing international expansion. In Macau, gaming-related criminal investigation cases jumped by 66.8 percent in the first half of 2025 from the previous year due to the criminalization of so-called illegal money exchangers under the city’s anti-illegal gambling law. Meanwhile, International Entertainment is expected to report a larger annual loss due to higher expenses associated with its casino operations in Manila.

What you need to know

DigiPlus confirms no deal is finalized but continues to assess acquisitions, following reports of a potential City of Dreams Manila buy.
Macau gaming crimes surge 66.8% to 1,139 cases in 1H25, driven by illegal currency exchange, while arrests of money exchangers plummet.
International Entertainment Corp said it expects to post a wider annual loss, citing higher expenses linked to its casino operations in Manila.

On the radar

Macau’s Casino Grand Dragon; one Mocha Slot club to close this week.
Macau sets monthly tourism record with over 4.2M visitors in August.
Kangwon Land ups foreigner-only floor tables amongst floor revamp.

AGB Intelligence

PHILIPPINES

DigiPlus evaluates acquisitions amid online gaming pressures

DigiPlus Interactive Corp. is exploring potential acquisitions, including the City of Dreams Manila from Melco Resorts & Entertainment, amid regulatory uncertainties affecting the online gaming sector in the Philippines. The company clarified that no definitive agreements have been made yet, despite reports of advanced negotiations. DigiPlus is considering acquisitions to diversify beyond its digital platforms, particularly as political pressure mounts on the online gaming industry.

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INTELLIGENCE | ASEAN | CAREERS

Same-day visitors rose by 25.1 percent to around 2.55 million, while overnight visitors edged up 3.4 percent to about 1.67 million. The average length of stay remained unchanged compared with the previous year, at 1.1 days. Same-day visitors stayed for an average of 0.3 days, while overnight visitors spent an average of 2.3 days.

From January through August 2025, Macau recorded nearly 26.9 million visitor arrivals, up 15 percent compared with the same period last year. Same-day visitors increased 25.5 percent to 15.7 million, while overnight visitors rose 2.9 percent to 11.2 million. The average length of stay across the first eight months was 1.1 days, a slight decrease of 0.1 day due to the higher proportion of same-day travellers.

Macau sets monthly tourism record with over 4.2M visitors in August 2025

Mainland visitors remain dominant

The Chinese mainland continued to account for the bulk of arrivals, with more than 3.25 million visitors in August, representing an 18.4 percent year-over-year increase. Among these, 1.79 million travelled under the Individual Visit Scheme, reflecting a 22.2 percent rise. Measures introduced to facilitate visitation contributed to the growth, including about 205,000 visitors under the “one trip per week measure,” 69,000 under the “multiple-entry measure,” and nearly 25,000 under the “tourist group multi-entry measure.”

Visitors from the nine Pearl River Delta cities within the Greater Bay Area also climbed 23.5 percent to 1.66 million, driven by a sharp 56.7 percent surge from Zhuhai. Arrivals from Hong Kong increased 2.8 percent to 682,000, while visitors from Taiwan grew 21 percent to 89,000.

International markets expand

International visitation totalled 190,000 in August, representing a 17.3 percent year-on-year increase. Southeast Asia stood out as a key growth driver: arrivals from Thailand more than doubled to 13,400, while the Philippines (38,400), Indonesia (13,400), Malaysia (8,000), and Singapore (6,600) all registered solid gains.

South Asia also contributed, with Indian arrivals edging up 1.2 percent to 7,800. In Northeast Asia, visitors from Japan rose 57.2 percent to 16,600, while South Korean arrivals dipped 4.7 percent to 35,200. Long-haul arrivals from the United States recorded a 14.2 percent increase to 11,800.

The speculation comes amid a challenging period for the online gaming sector in the Philippines, with several senators calling for potential bans on digital gaming operations. These regulatory uncertainties have prompted DigiPlus to explore diversification strategies beyond its core digital platforms.

City Of Dreams Manila, Premium Leisure Corp

According to sources cited in earlier reports, DigiPlus had identified potential acquisition targets and engaged in preliminary discussions as part of efforts to expand into physical gaming operations. However, these talks reportedly stalled due to mounting political pressure on the online gaming industry.

The regulatory environment has created significant volatility for publicly listed gaming companies, with DigiPlus shares experiencing fluctuations on the Philippine Stock Exchange despite strong financial performance. The company posted a 61 percent growth in net income during the first half of 2025, with earnings totaling PHP8.4 billion ($147 million).

DigiPlus, which operates popular platforms including BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, and GameZone, has been actively pursuing international expansion to reduce reliance on the domestic market. The company plans to launch its GamePlus platform in Brazil on September 22nd, followed by BingoPlus expansion planned for next year. The board has also approved expansion into South Africa as part of its global growth strategy.

Total revenues climbed 47 percent to PHP47.78 billion ($835 million) from PHP32.56 billion ($569 million) in the previous year, supported by increased business activity and new games and licenses approved by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR).

The potential acquisition discussions highlight the gaming industry’s adaptation to regulatory challenges. In August, DigiPlus joined the Interim Council of the PlaySafe Alliance of the Philippines, a coalition of 19 founding organizations committed to combating illegal gambling operations.

At the time, DigiPlus Chairman Eusebio Tanco emphasized the importance of industry cooperation, stating: “By working as one, we can ensure that online gambling in the Philippines becomes more secure, transparent, and beneficial to both players and the nation.”

The gaming regulator PAGCOR has acknowledged limitations in its enforcement capabilities against bad actors, noting that its charter restricts direct action against physical entities, passing enforcement responsibilities to other government departments including law enforcement agencies.

The official attributed the surge primarily to the criminalization of so-called illegal money exchangers under the city’s anti-illegal gambling law, which came into effect in October 2024. The change broadened the scope of offenses categorized as gaming-related, while police also stepped up enforcement and cross-border cooperation to dismantle multiple criminal groups.

Police opened 240 cases of illegal money exchange operations for gambling purposes, representing nearly 40 percent of all gaming-linked crimes in the 2024 period and emerging as the main driver of the overall increase. The steady influx of visitors, which added uncertainty to public security conditions, was also cited as a contributing factor.

Illegal money exchanger arrests decline sharply

Despite the higher overall number of cases, police reported a major drop in the number of illegal money exchangers intercepted in gaming districts. In the first half of 2025, a total of 410 individuals were stopped, down 1,805 from last year, a steep decline of 81.5 percent.

During the same period, police broke up 277 cases involving illegal money exchange, including 234 prosecuted directly under the new law, with others reclassified after further investigation. These cases led to 406 arrests and the seizure of cash and casino chips worth nearly MOP60 million, effectively curbing disorder in and around casinos.

Loan-sharking cases and crimes involving illegal confinement linked to gambling also declined. Loan sharking dropped 17.2 percent year-on-year to 101 cases, while confinement fell 43.5 percent to 13 cases. Wong said the decreases reflect the effectiveness of targeted enforcement and the improved legal framework.

Macau’s satellite casino closures pose mixed outlook for SJM and local economy: Researcher

Authorities remain vigilant

Wong noted that while illegal currency exchange has been significantly curtailed, rising tourist arrivals mean security risks persist, and money exchanger groups could re-emerge or shift into other crimes such as theft, loan sharking, or fraud.

Regarding satellite casinos set to close or change operations before the end of 2025 under Macau’s revised gaming law, Wong said authorities have not observed any related security problems so far but will continue close monitoring. The Security Bureau pledged to adapt strategies in line with evolving crime trends to safeguard Macau’s residents and visitors.

Fraud, loan sharking among top offenses

In the same media briefing on Friday, September 19th, police authorities reported that fraud remained the most common gaming-related offense, with 297 cases, accounting for 26.1 percent of the total. Illegal currency exchange ranked second with 240 cases (21.1 percent), followed by loan sharking with 101 cases (8.9 percent). Theft and misappropriation of property each recorded 87 cases (7.6 percent), while violations of casino entry bans amounted to 64 cases (5.6 percent). Other offenses each represented less than 5 percent of the total.

Of the 1,348 suspects involved in these crimes, 198 were Macau residents (14.7 percent), while 1,150 were non-residents (85.3 percent). Victims were also mostly non-residents, totaling 608 out of 671 individuals, or 90.6 percent. Wong emphasized that the data indicates such crimes remain largely non-localized, with both suspects and victims mainly from outside Macau.

The ministry also approved amendments to the internal rules governing the foreigner-only gaming floor. The revisions add the two new machine games under the annex table on “Game Types and Betting Limits” and introduce a new maximum betting limit of KRW50,000 ($36). In addition, two foreign exchange machines will be installed—one near the fourth-floor exchange counter and another within the fifth-floor foreigner-only gaming floor.

Kangwon Land introduced a dedicated foreigner-only gaming zone in February 2025, following government approval in September 2024 for a broader set of operational changes, including expansions to its casino area and adjustments to betting restrictions. The foreigner-only floor was designed to attract more international visitors and align Kangwon Land with foreigner-exclusive casinos operating elsewhere in South Korea and the region.

Initially, the foreigner-only zone came with significantly higher betting limits compared with the main floor, rising from KRW100,000 ($72) to KRW300,000 ($216), and later to KRW20 million ($14,400) during the pilot phase launched earlier this year. The policy reflects the government’s willingness to relax restrictions on foreigner play while maintaining strict limitations on Korean nationals, who are only permitted to gamble at Kangwon Land under heavily regulated conditions.

It is worth noting that Kangwon Land is the only casino in South Korea that allows local residents to gamble. Expanding to foreign visitors through updates to the foreigner-only gaming floor is part of the company’s strategy to diversify its customer base and boost revenue by appealing to overseas gamblers. The move also supports South Korea’s broader tourism objectives, as authorities seek to attract high-spending foreign visitors amid competition from integrated resorts in neighboring markets.

SOFTSWISS fosters an inclusive and supportive work environment, investing heavily in professional and personal growth. It offers extensive development programmes, with over 800 employees participating in training initiatives, over 700 benefiting from free language courses, and more than 500 engaged in mental health initiatives.

Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS, reflected on the award: “Winning Employer of the Year for the second year in a row is an incredible honour. It’s proof that when you put people first, results follow – not just for the company, but for the entire industry. But our ambition doesn’t stop here – my personal goal is to make SOFTSWISS the best global employer, comparable to big tech brands like Google. Now we are the first in the industry. It means we’re on the right path and inspires us to keep moving forward.”

Another highlight of the year was SOFTSWISS Young Fest, a four-day corporate festival on the Mediterranean coast that united employees from across the globe. Marking the company’s 15th anniversary, the event combined team-building and entertainment with learning sessions. With headline acts and performances by SOFTSWISS employees – including Founder Ivan Montik as a DJ – the event became a vivid celebration of the company’s culture of openness and creativity.

Liudmila Glasunova, Co-Chief HR Officer at SOFTSWISS, also shared: “At SOFTSWISS, we believe that every employee should feel supported, engaged, and empowered to grow – both professionally and personally. This award is not only about the initiatives we’ve launched, but about the daily commitment of our teams to live our values of WE CARE and WE SEE PEOPLE.”

The award jury recognised SOFTSWISS not only for its internal culture but also for creating a positive industry and social impact. In the past year, employees planted over 800 trees, contributed to animal shelter initiatives, and took part in responsible gaming campaigns. The SOFTSWISS Kids Camp in Poland, for example, combined fun with awareness, teaching children about global water issues and creating gifts for schools affected by floods in Brazil.

With continuous investment in the employees’ well-being, SOFTSWISS remains dedicated to strengthening its position as a trusted employer. The double win at SBC Awards Europe highlights that creating a comfortable and empowering working space is not only integral to the company’s success but also to shaping the future of the entire iGaming sector.

At the Company’s tailored booth, Melco demonstrates its “tourism+” integration initiative, presenting key entertainment attractions from its flagship integrated entertainment resort City of Dreams, which is home to the once-in-a-lifetime aquatic show “House of Dancing Water”, enabling visitors an exclusive sneak peek of the fascinating visual spectacle and vitality of this epic experience.

Melco backs MGTO’s international push with “Experience Macao” showcase in Lisbon

Also showcased is the innovative design of Morpheus, winner of the global architecture and design award from UNESCO, the “Prix Versailles”, which was also honored as one of the world’s most beautiful hotels. Exclusive giveaways, together with entertainment, dining and hotel accommodation packages from Melco are also available at the event.

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Aristocrat Gaming continues to push industry boundaries and expand its global footprint. Last week, the gaming giant unveiled the Aristocrat Pavilion—a distinctive branded space designed to immerse fans in an exclusive experience, featuring over 55 chart-topping game titles, many debuting as first-to-market.

The event was held at the unique venue La Distillerie, which was completely transformed into a surreal Game Creator’s Workshop. Exaggerated designs, living statues, distorted shapes, and psychedelic visuals evoked the spirit of Salvador Dalí’s artistry. Each room turned into an exciting quest, and after completing them, guests received playing cards. Collecting all four aces granted access to the main hall of the evening, where a surprise awaited.

In the Hall of Legends, the audience was greeted by Claude Makélélé, the legendary athlete who made a lasting impact on football history and became the gold standard for the defensive midfield position. He mingled with guests, shared stories, posed for photos, and signed autographs. Also attending the evening was 1xBet’s Strategic Advisor, Simon Westbury.

1xBet celebrates legends' night in Lisbon, featuring football royalty & musical legends — *Claude Makélélé*

Another major highlight of the night was a performance by the iconic group Boney M. Hits like Sunny, Daddy Cool, and others turned the hall into one big dance floor, with the energy of the music becoming a vibrant focal point of the event. Guests also enjoyed a spectacular show featuring live performers. This engaging program created a unique atmosphere for productive networking.

In a relaxed setting, attendees had the opportunity to speak with company managers, share experiences, and learn more about the benefits of 1xPartners — 1xBet’s flagship affiliate program. Over its 9 years of operation, it has united more than 500,000 entrepreneurs from 150 countries worldwide.

What attracted affiliates the most were 1xPartners’ favorable terms and accessibility for beginners: lifetime commissions of up to 50% from referred players, prompt support from a personal manager, over 250 payment methods, and regularly updated promo materials. Experienced professionals were offered exclusive VIP conditions and various tools to help scale their businesses. The party became a standout event on the first day of the SBC Summit.

What you need to know

On the radar

PHILIPPINES

Corporate Spotlight

Industry Updates

Table of Contents

Hong Kong-listed International Entertainment Corp (IEC) said Sunday it expects to post a wider annual loss, citing higher expenses linked to its casino operations in Manila.

Table of Contents

Macau welcomed over 4.2 million visitors in August 2025, setting a new monthly record during the summer holiday period, according to data released by the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).

Mainland visitors remain dominant

International markets expand

Table of Contents

DigiPlus Interactive Corp. confirmed on Friday that it continues to evaluate potential acquisitions following media reports suggesting that the Philippines’ largest online gaming company could be the most likely buyer of City of Dreams Manila from Melco Resorts & Entertainment.

Table of Contents

Macau recorded 1,139 gaming-related criminal investigation cases in the first half of 2025, a 456-case increase compared to the same period last year, representing a 66.8 percent rise, according to Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak.

Illegal money exchanger arrests decline sharply

Authorities remain vigilant

Fraud, loan sharking among top offenses

Table of Contents

South Korea’s Kangwon Land Inc. has announced that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) has approved its casino business change report and the revised “Operational Rules for the Foreigner-Only Gaming Floor.”

Table of Contents

SOFTSWISS, a global tech provider with over 2,000 employees worldwide, has been recognised as Employer of the Year for the second year in a row at the prestigious SBC Awards Europe 2025.

Table of Contents

In alignment with the SAR government’s initiative to expand international tourism, Melco Resorts & Entertainment is actively participating in the Macao Government Tourism Office’s (MGTO) “Experience Macao Roadshow in Lisbon,” held in Portugal from September 17 to 21, 2025.

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Marking 90 years of comic book legacy, The Phantom makes a fantastic return to casino floors in a new Class 3 slot game from Aristocrat Gaming, showcased on The Baron Upright with immersive visuals, authentic soundscapes, and action-packed bonuses drawn from the original comics.

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As part of the SBC Summit in Lisbon, global betting company 1xBet hosted a spectacular Legends of the Game party — an immersive event that transported leading iGaming professionals and brand partners into a world where gaming became art and reality turned into illusion.

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