Home Blog Page 345

Marcos administration seeks comprehensive review before PH online gambling ban decision: Report

Viviana Chan
-
0
Marcos administration seeks comprehensive review before PH online gambling ban decision: Report

Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will not rush into a decision on calls for a total ban on online gambling, as the presidential palace emphasizes the need for comprehensive research on the proposal’s potential impact.

The statement comes amid criticism from several lawmakers who expressed disappointment over the President’s apparent failure to address online gambling in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday.

PH President’s silence on online gambling ban reflects evidence-based leadership, Philippines

During a press briefing on Friday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that officials must first identify the root causes of gambling addiction before considering any sweeping measures.

“We must first know where the problem lies—is it in the license, the online gambling app, or the unlicensed sites? We need to understand where our countrymen are getting addicted to gambling, and whether it’s because of illegal gambling apps.”

She stressed that the potential economic impact of a ban requires careful study, particularly given the substantial revenue generated by licensed operators.

“This should be studied carefully—what should be done—because if we immediately remove online gambling and other licensees are affected, it will impact assistance to the country, students, and Filipinos,” she added.

Castro also noted that the President cannot act hastily, as revenues from licensed online gambling operators help fund social support programs.

According to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the gaming industry remains a major contributor to the national economy. Gross gaming revenues reached PHP214.75 billion ($3.76 billion) in the first half of 2025, up 26 percent from the same period last year. Electronic games were the primary driver, generating PHP114.83 billion ($2.01 billion) and accounting for 53.47 percent of the total.

Philippines GGR hits $3.8B in 1H25, e-games dominate with 53% share

A recent Maybank report highlighted the rapid growth of the sector, warning that the Philippines now ranks among the countries with the highest share of electronic games gross gaming revenue (GGR) as a percentage of national nominal GDP—reaching 0.68 percent in the first quarter of 2025, up from just 0.1 percent in the third quarter of 2023.

Amid growing concerns over addiction, calls to regulate online gambling have intensified. In response, PAGCOR has rolled out several regulatory measures, including the immediate removal of gambling billboards and out-of-home advertisements. It has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Advertising Standards Council to regulate and pre-screen gambling advertisements across all media platforms.

Meanwhile, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center under the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has instructed social media influencers to remove content promoting illegal online gaming platforms. To date, the DICT has taken down around 7,000 unauthorized online gaming sites identified by PAGCOR.

The Palace’s cautious stance comes as the Philippine Senate prepares to hold a public hearing this week to investigate the growing prevalence of online gambling. Key government agencies—including PAGCOR and the Department of Finance (DOF)—are expected to testify, alongside representatives from youth groups, religious and academic institutions, and parental organizations.

Jeju Dream Tower casino revenue soars 90.1% in July

Viviana Chan
-
0
Jeju Dream Tower casino revenue soars 90.1% in July

Jeju Dream Tower reported a significant surge in casino revenue for July 2025, with figures reaching KRW43.4 billion ($32.5 million), marking a 90.1 percent increase from KRW22.9 billion ($17.1 million) recorded in July 2024. 

The month-on-month performance also showed strong growth, with revenue climbing 21.3 percent from June’s KRW35.8 billion ($26.8 million).

According to provisional figures released by the company’s integrated resort team on August 1st, the impressive performance was driven primarily by table games, which generated KRW41.6 billion ($31.1 million) in July. This represented a 21 percent increase from the previous month and a substantial 99.1  percent surge year-on-year.

Machine games contributed KRW1.87 billion ($1.4 million) to July’s total, showing a 30 percent month-on-month increase. However, this segment remained 5.2 percent below the previous year’s performance.

Hotel operations generated KRW7.88 billion ($5.9 million) in July, up 15.4 percent from June’s KRW6.83 billion ($5.1 million). Despite the monthly improvement, hotel revenue declined 14.8 percent compared to July 2024’s KRW9.24 billion ($6.9 million).

The resort’s visitor numbers reached an all-time high of 56,691 in July, representing a 10 percent increase from June and a 65.4 percent jump from July 2024.

For the seven-month period from January to July 2025, cumulative casino revenue totaled KRW238 billion ($178.1 million), a 49.3 percent increase over the same period in 2024. Table games drove this growth, with revenue climbing 51.4 percent to KRW226.2 billion ($169.2 million), while machine games rose 18.4 percent year-on-year to KRW11.78 billion ($8.8 million).

However, cumulative hotel revenue for the first seven months declined 10.7 percent year-on-year to KRW43.8 billion ($32.8 million), compared to KRW49.1 billion ($36.7 million) in the corresponding period of 2024.

Star Entertainment’s Brisbane casino deal collapses, faces $26.4M reimbursement

Viviana Chan
-
0
Star Entertainment’s Brisbane casino deal collapses, faces $26.4M reimbursement

Star Entertainment Group Limited announced on Friday that its planned sale of a 50 percent stake in the Destination Brisbane Consortium (DBC), operator of AU$3.6 billion ($2.3 billion) Queen’s Wharf Brisbane, to joint venture partners Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited and Far East Consortium International Limited has collapsed, according to a filing with the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

The termination of the “heads of agreement” (HoA) leaves Star responsible for reimbursing AU$41 million ($26.4 million) to its partners and retaining significant financial obligations, contributing to a record-low share price of AU$0.09 ($0.06) at market close, down by 16 percent.

The failed deal stems from unresolved ‘outstanding commercial issues’ that prevented the finalization of long-form documents, despite Star’s proposal to extend negotiations until August 6th, 2025, which was rejected by the joint venture partners. As a result, Star retains its 50 percent equity interest in DBC and a one-third interest in the Destination Gold Coast Consortium (DGCC), along with ownership of the Treasury Brisbane hotel, car park, and a 50 percent stake in the Charlotte Street Car Park.

The company must repay AU$10 million ($6.4 million) by August 6th, 2025, and an estimated AU$31 million ($19.9 million) by September 5th, 2025, for equity contributions made by its partners to DBC since March 31st, 2025. Failure to meet these obligations could result in Star transferring its one-third interest in the Dorsett hotel at the Gold Coast to the partners.

Star remains liable for its share of DBC’s AU$1.4 billion ($900 million) debt facility, due for refinancing in December 2025, and future equity contributions estimated at AU$200 million ($128.6 million). The company continues to operate The Star Brisbane under the existing casino management agreement, receiving a management fee, while a AU$35 million ($22.5 million) prepayment for Gold Coast apartment sale proceeds survives the HoA termination. The joint venture partners are expected to reimburse Star approximately AU$1 million ($640,000) for contributions to DGCC since March 7th, 2025.

The company stated it is ‘considering what alternative options may be available to it in relation to its 50 percent equity interest in DBC’ and will provide updates on any material developments regarding the partnerships.

Genius Sports powers up GeniusIQ with European Leagues and betting data exclusivity

AGBrief Editorial
-
0
Genius Sports powers up GeniusIQ with European Leagues and betting data exclusivity

Genius Sports has secured the exclusive official betting data rights for a select group of competitions within the European Leagues Association. As part of this multi-year partnership, Genius Sports will also deploy its GeniusIQ platform across European football.

Genius Sports is the leading provider of live football content to the global regulated sports betting market, with the European Leagues now joining a top-tier content portfolio that includes the Premier League and French Ligue 1.

Genius Sports will deploy its groundbreaking GeniusIQ platform and tracking technology across European football, delivering a transformative suite of tools for performance, officiating, and fan engagement.

GeniusIQ platform

This proprietary, AI-powered system underpins a suite of innovations across tracking, officiating, team performance, and fan engagement. Already used across the Premier League,  Belgian Pro League, and Danish Superliga, GeniusIQ enables leagues and teams to deepen fan engagement, improve officiating accuracy, and unlock performance insights.

GeniusIQ is designed to future-proof the commercial value of official football data for all stakeholders, and this partnership now establishes a strong foundation for long-term strategic collaboration and innovation.

The European Leagues Association, through 18 of its member leagues, is represented in this partnership, which covers over 8,000 matches across 46 professional football competitions in Europe (including both men’s and women’s competitions).

Alberto Colombo, General Secretary of the European Leagues, said: “As part of the continued evolution of the European Leagues, we are proud to have once again supported our members in their future business and commercial development. This landmark deal with Genius Sports reflects both the evolution of the sports data market but also the way technology will play an increasingly intertwined role in the way commercial deals come to fruition.”

European Leagues’ Members included in the agreement:

  1. Belgian Pro League;
  2. Ligová Fotbalová Asociace;
  3. Danish League;
  4. Dutch Eredivisie;
  5. Dutch Keuken Kampioen Divisie;
  6. Finnish Veikkausliiga;
  7. Deutscher Fußball Bund  (on behalf of 3. Liga and Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga);
  8. Greek Super League;
  9. Israeli Professional Football League;
  10. Kazakhstan Football League;
  11. Latvian Virslīga;
  12. Norwegian Professional Football League;
  13. Liga Portugal;
  14. Romanian Professional Football League;
  15. Serbian Super Liga;
  16. Slovak Niké Liga;
  17. Föreningen Svensk Elitfotboll;
  18. Swiss Football League.

Steven Burton, Chief Partnerships Officer at Genius Sports, added: “This expanded partnership with the European Leagues significantly enhances the breadth and depth of official, premium data available to our sportsbook partners. More importantly, it reflects a fundamental shift in the rights model, where technology investment resets traditional frameworks and creates a longer runway for future sales and revenue opportunities. By delivering the next-generation, AI-powered solutions that leagues want and need, we’re deepening alignment, strengthening our competitive moat, and accelerating the next wave of technological innovation across European football.”

The agreement marks another step forward in the transformation of data rights, fueled by next-gen tech.

Galaxsys boosts slot portfolio with Gates of Asgard: Nine Realms release

AGBrief Editorial
-
0
Galaxsys boosts slot portfolio with Gates of Asgard: Nine Realms release

The award-winning games developer, Galaxsys, has announced the launch of its latest slot title: Gates of Asgard: Nine Realms, which takes players on a mythological journey through nine Norse realms, offering unique bonuses, free spins, and up to 7000x wins. 

Rooted in Scandinavian mythology, Gates of Asgard: Nine Realms invites players on a journey across the nine legendary realms of Norse lore. The game centers around a mystical squirrel character, Ratatoskr, who travels through nine distinct realms, each offering unique bonuses triggered by the special Seed Symbol. 

From the mortal lands of Midgard to the divine gates of Asgard, each realm offers distinct mechanics—such as free spins, wild reels, and explosive multipliers—that boost engagement and elevate win potential, with a maximum payout of up to 7,000x.

Vigen Safaryan, CPO at Galaxsys
Vigen Safaryan, CPO at Galaxsys

As Galaxsys marks its fifth entry into the slot vertical, the studio continues to build a diversified portfolio, blending narrative depth, innovative math, and striking design.

Vigen Safaryan, Chief Product Officer at Galaxsys, commented: “This launch is another important milestone in our journey. Our goal has always been to design games that stand out for their mechanics, storytelling, and playability. With each new title, we’re building a slot portfolio that represents the energy and ambition behind the Galaxsys brand.”

While Galaxsys continues to lead in the crash and instant game categories, the studio is quickly gaining ground in slots by bringing fresh themes, flexible bonus systems, and fast-paced UX features that today’s players expect.

SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator boosts European footprint with debut in Estonia

AGBrief Editorial
-
0
SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator boosts European footprint with debut in Estonia

SOFTSWISS, a leading iGaming software provider, has strengthened its European presence by making the Jackpot Aggregator available in Estonia. This strategic move follows the recent Jackpot Aggregator certification in Bulgaria, Brazil, and Peru.

Estonia remains a strong and digitally mature iGaming market in Europe. Industry revenue is projected to reach $452.5 million in 2025, with growth expected to push that figure past $508 million by 2029. The casino and slots segment alone is expected to generate more than $206 million this year. With user penetration at 31.2% and over 450,000 players forecast by the end of the period, the market continues to draw interest from operators across the region.

In July 2025, SOFTSWISS introduced Paid Participation campaigns – a new Jackpot Aggregator feature where players pay a small fee to join jackpots, prize drops, or other campaigns. This model offers a more engaging experience, giving players better chances of winning and fewer participants. For operators, it opens a new revenue stream by funding prize pools through player contributions. 

Angelina Stasiuk, Head of Business Line at SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator, shared: “The Jackpot Aggregator has proven its impact across multiple markets, and we are excited to bring its full potential to operators in Estonia. Now, Estonian operators can launch player-centric jackpot campaigns tailored to their brand and audience. We see strong potential in the Estonian market and are ready to support partners with the tools they need to stand out.”

The Jackpot Aggregator also integrates directly with the SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator, which now offers over 35,000 games – the largest portfolio in the industry – and maintains enterprise-level uptime at 99.999%. Together, these solutions offer a powerful combination for operators looking to scale with confidence. 

Playzia secures strategic UK market deal with Midnite

AGBrief Editorial
-
0
Playzia secures strategic UK market deal with Midnite

Playzia, an emergent company in the iGaming industry, has announced an important partnership with Midnite, one of the UK’s fastest-growing operators.

This agreement significantly expands Playzia’s presence in the UK’s highly competitive and regulated market while delivering a wave of new, engaging content to Midnite players, headlined by Playzia’s new Love Island games.

As part of this strategic deal, Midnite will offer its UK players access to Playzia’s full portfolio of in-house developed titles, including player-favorites such as Grand Ocean Megaways™, Zeus’s Thunderstrike, Billionaire Buffalo Hold ‘n Win, and Piggy Clusters.

The partnership will also introduce Midnite’s audience to Playzia’s much-anticipated Love Island-branded content, launching this summer to coincide with the 2025 season of the hit ITV Studios reality show. The recently launched flagship title, Love Island – Love in a Spin, is an exclusive online slot created under a three-year licensing agreement with Zoo 55, part of ITV Studios, which will produce a total of 10 Love Island Games.

Joe Caetano, Head of Commercials at Playzia, commented on the partnership: “Teaming up with Midnite is a significant milestone as we expand our footprint in regulated markets, particularly the UK. Midnite is known for delivering cutting-edge betting experiences to its players, making them an ideal partner for our games. We are especially excited to bring our new Love Island titles to their platform just in time for this summer’s series. It is the perfect moment for UK players to step into the villa and experience something truly unique.”

Midnite’s Senior Casino Manager, Chelsea Pinho, added: “We are constantly striving to enhance the Midnite casino experience for our players and this partnership adds to our rich offering of content. We are particularly excited to offer a selection of Love Island games – including Love in a Spin – and I am sure they will be a perfect match for our players. At Midnite, we are passionate about bringing fans closer to the games they love – or in this case a TV show they love.”

This latest agreement further cements Playzia’s reputation as an innovative, top-tier content supplier with a roadmap that spans slots, crash, instant win, table, and probability-based games. With its strong focus on localised, branded content and new gameplay mechanics, Playzia is poised to deliver unforgettable experiences to players in the UK and beyond.

The deal also follows Playzia’s recent industry recognition, with nominations in the Slot Supplier (Under 5 Years) and Software Rising Star categories at the prestigious EGR B2B Awards 2025.

Macau July GGR totals $2.7B, highest post-pandemic monthly tally

Nelson Moura
-
0
Macau July GGR totals $2.7B, highest post-pandemic monthly tally

Macau’s gross gaming revenue (GGR) recorded solid growth in July, with GGR reaching MOP22.1 billion ($2.7 billion), not just the highest monthly amount in 2025, but also in the post-pandemic period.

The result represents a 19 percent year-on-year and a 5.2 percent rise from the previous month.

Macau July GGR totals $2.7B, highest post-pandemic monthly tally

For the first seven months of 2025, Macau’s casino GGR reached MOP140.8 billion ($17.4 billion), up 6.46 percent year-on-year.

However, the figure remains 19 percent below pre-pandemic levels, compared to MOP173.95 billion ($21.5 billion) recorded in the same period of 2019.

Macau July GGR totals $2.7B, highest post-pandemic monthly tally

Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: Melco ‘doing all the right things’ as 2Q25 results shine

AGBrief Editorial
-
0
Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: Melco ‘doing all the right things’ as 2Q25 results shine

Good Morning. Macau, Macau, Macau. What a place. It never fails to excite, and it always brings you back even when you think it’s down. And for Melco, it’s been a particularly exciting quarter – with results exceeding expectations, leading the analysts to validate it for ‘doing the right things’. Looking at the competition, MGM China is also performing well, with results topping the charts as it eats away market share from other operators. And in the Philippines, the pressure is never over – the Senate now wants a probe into online gaming, furthering concerns over a potential shutdown of the sector.

What you need to know

On the radar

AGB Intelligence

MACAU

City of Dreams Macau, Melco Resorts

Melco shines in 2Q25 results

While its overseas portfolio is not impressing, Melco is delivering strong results back at home, with its second quarter shining brightly and commanding impressive EBITDA results. According to an analyst, the company is doing “all the right things’’, so hopes are for market share to either rise or remain stable – a tough thing in Macau’s highly competitive market. 

Corporate Spotlight

Why Asia’s iGaming operators must rethink risk strategy | SEON

SEON,Winning Trust, Stopping Fraud: Why Asia’s iGaming Operators Must Rethink Risk Strategy

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.

Industry Updates

INTELLIGENCE | ASEAN | CAREERS

Philippines Senate to launch probe on online gambling amid calls for total ban

Viviana Chan
-
0
Philippines Senate to launch probe on online gambling amid calls for total ban

The Philippine Senate is set to hold a public hearing next week to investigate the proliferation of online gambling in the country, amid growing concerns over its social impact and mounting calls for a total ban.

The Senate action follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.‘s decision not to take a stance on online gambling during his State of the Nation Address (SONA), which took place on Monday.

The issue drew renewed attention after footage circulated of a congressman watching e-sabong—online cockfighting—on his phone during a legislative session. The incident prompted public criticism and further fueled the debate over the normalization of gambling in official and public spaces.

Senator Erwin Tulfo, newly appointed chairman of the Senate Committee on Games and Amusement, announced on Wednesday that he will lead the inquiry. Key government agencies—including the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Department of Finance (DOF)—will be summoned. Representatives from youth groups, religious and academic institutions, and parental organizations will also participate.

While the investigation aims to gather a range of perspectives on regulation versus prohibition, Tulfo has already expressed a preference for a total ban. He cited the widespread accessibility of online gambling platforms, particularly through digital payment apps, as a major concern. According to the senator, current systems fail to prevent underage users from participating, raising alarms about inadequate controls and oversight.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has also taken a firm stance against online gambling. In a recent session, he criticized the omission of the issue from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address and reiterated his call for a bill that would ban all forms of digital betting. Zubiri warned that the harms of gambling—including debt and addiction—now outweigh any potential fiscal benefits.

Several senators, including Loren Legarda, Raffy Tulfo, Risa Hontiveros, and Francis Pangilinan, have expressed support for tougher measures. Some advocate for enhanced regulation, while others back legislation that would outlaw online gambling entirely.

The upcoming Senate hearing will serve as a platform for stakeholders to present data, arguments, and proposed safeguards. Its outcome could significantly shape future policymaking, with broad implications for both the gaming industry and public health.

Online gambling

Fintech firms urged to block online gambling

Separately, the push for action has extended beyond legislative measures. On Thursday, Senator Erwin Tulfo called on financial technology companies to voluntarily restrict access to online gambling on their platforms, framing it as a matter of corporate and social responsibility.

He urged major firms such as GCash and PayMaya to act ahead of legislation, warning that online gambling has become a national crisis. Tulfo emphasized that large companies have a duty to safeguard public welfare, especially as digital platforms become increasingly embedded in daily life.

GCash
PayMaya, Philippines

He also raised concerns about the widespread promotion of gambling content across apps and social media, arguing that it contributes to the normalization of harmful behavior. Tulfo further voiced concern that government assistance programs, such as the 4Ps aid (The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, a conditional cash transfer program and the Philippine government’s primary poverty reduction strategy), could be misused for gambling.

1...344345346...1,825Page 345 of 1,825