JCM Global has announced its latest Digital Signage Solution (DSS) installation at the distinctive Bounce Empire venue in Denver, Colorado, enhancing its mind-blowing décor and spectacularly fun environment.
JCM Global installed a circular CLEAR display at Bounce Empire, the world’s largest indoor inflatable amusement park. The spectacular curved CLEAR installation measures more than 65 feet around and 4 feet high. Its unique configuration wraps around a hydraulic stage in the center of the bounce floor, giving visiting DJs a thrilling environment to pump up the crowd.
The infinitely programmable CLEAR signage provides a new sensory experience for guests, who are also surrounded by an inflatable octopus, racetrack, dart board, and more.
“Bounce Empire was built to deliver the highest-rated premium indoor amusement experience in the world. Our 360° hydraulic stage marvels in the heart of the park,” said James Hay-Arthur, Owner/Founder of Bounce Empire. “JCM’s circular transparent LED wall elevates and transforms the stage into a visual epicenter of motion and light.”
“We express our heartfelt gratitude to the Bounce Empire team for allowing JCM Global to raise their entertainment bar even higher,” said Dave Kubajak, SVP – Sales, Marketing & Operations at JCM Global. “This innovative and breathtaking Digital Signage Solution showcases the power of imagination and the enhanced level of excitement the right digital signage can bring to any venue.”
Good Morning. Steady as she goes. Macau’s economy is holding firm against global turbulence, supported by both local policies and regional tailwinds. The city’s financial regulator, AMCM, sees continued recovery ahead despite recent softness in visitor spending. Meanwhile, equity analysts are growing more upbeat. Seaport Research has raised its 2025 GGR outlook, citing strong second-quarter results and signs of a second-half rebound. But it’s a different story in Malaysia, where police are calling for urgent reforms to outdated gambling laws that have failed to keep pace with the rise of online betting and digital crime.
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.
Phoenix Link, one of the latest game innovations by Aristocrat Gaming, is now featured on the Jackpot del Encanto link at 17 casinos across Puerto Rico.
The arrival of Phoenix Link was marked with a celebratory ribbon-cutting event at Casino Metro in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“We’re excited to be the launch site of the new progressive game Phoenix Link, now available in casinos across Puerto Rico,” said Ismael Vega, General Manager of Casino Metro. “At Casino Metro, we are proud to have the largest number of Phoenix Link games, reinforcing our commitment to delivering the best in gaming innovation and fun on the island.”
“Phoenix Link has quickly become a player-favorite game, bringing together the best features of our most popular games,” said Kurt Gissane, Chief Revenue Officer of Aristocrat Gaming. “We’ve already seen tremendous success on the mainland and internationally, and we are thrilled to now bring the excitement to Puerto Rico.”
“We’re excited to bring the fuego of Phoenix Link to 17 casinos across Puerto Rico” added Juan Carlos Santaella Marchán, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission. “Jackpot del Encanto is a player-favorite, and with the addition of Phoenix Link, we anticipate players are going to be even more enthusiastic to play a game with such popular game features and thrilling gameplay.”
As the next evolution of the international hit game Dragon Link, Phoenix Link features player-favorite mechanics from top games with all-new themes, features and bonuses. Players will enjoy the game’s additional denominations, configurations, and jackpots on each of the launch game theme titles. Gameplay features include Hold & Spin, Free Games with multiplier wilds or twin spin reels, Phoenix Mystery trigger, and more new bonus twists. Phoenix Link is available on the Neptune Single cabinet.
Phoenix Link is now available on gaming floors alongside Jackpot del Encanto, a linked progressive jackpot connecting exclusive Aristocrat Gaming slot titles across participating casinos in Puerto Rico. The starting jackpot is set at $40,000 and grows as more players join in, bringing even more excitement to players across the island.
More than 50,000 jobs could be lost if pending proposals to ban legal online gambling in the Philippines are passed, according to industry data released this month and reported by local media outlet Philstar.
The legal online gaming sector contributed over PHP112 billion ($1.94 billion) to government funds in 2024 while employing tens of thousands of Filipinos nationwide. Licensed platforms remitted PHP16.6 billion ($287 million) to PhilHealth for universal healthcare and PHP46.32 billion ($802 million) as dividends to the national treasury.
Despite these substantial contributions, some legislators are pushing for a total ban on legal online gaming operations. Industry stakeholders argue for stricter enforcement against illegal operators rather than outright prohibition of regulated platforms.
The sector also supported PHP12.37 billion ($214 million) in socio-civic programs through the Office of the President and over PHP5.9 billion ($102 million) in taxes to the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Gaming accounts for just 0.79 percent of total household consumption in the country, representing PHP160 billion ($2.77 billion) out of PHP20.1 trillion ($348 billion), yet its economic contributions are disproportionately high.
Legal expert Tonet Quiogue, CEO of Arden Consult, warns that banning regulated platforms could backfire by pushing gambling activity underground, where players lose protections and the government loses visibility and revenue. Global examples support this concern, with countries like Colombia and Argentina seeing illegal gambling drop from over 80 percent to as low as 15 percent after implementing regulatory frameworks.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) earned PHP25.52 billion ($442 million) from gaming in the first quarter of 2025 alone, with E-Games and E-Bingo accounting for more than half of this revenue. Since stricter regulations were introduced in 2022, license fees have quadrupled from PHP12.3 billion ($213 million) to over PHP54 billion ($935 million) in 2024.
With the national debt at PHP16.4 trillion ($284 billion) and tax collections under pressure, industry observers say the government cannot afford to abandon regulated revenue streams that also provide significant employment opportunities across IT, customer service, compliance, and marketing sectors.
Crown Perth has commenced construction on a new suite of food, beverage, and entertainment offerings, marking the venue’s largest investment in nearly a decade.
The development, which includes a luxury wine bar, a beer garden, and a high-end international food hall, is expected to significantly expand the resort’s hospitality footprint.
Dubbed the ‘Urban Food District’, the new precinct will front Bolton Avenue and feature over a dozen new venues, including three bars, a lively beer garden, and a hidden speakeasy. The project is positioned to capitalize on foot traffic from nearby Optus Stadium and Crown Theatre, with late-night hours on weekends and DJ entertainment tailored to post-event crowds.
The premium food hall will offer a mix of global cuisines in a social, open setting, aimed at both locals and tourists. According to Crown Perth CEO Brian Pereira, the project is designed to enhance the guest experience while attracting a broader demographic to the resort.
“Locals and visitors will soon have more options than ever at Crown Perth to grab a delicious and quick bite to eat, meet up with friends for dinner, or have a beer before or after the footy,” Pereira said. “Crown has been attracting new experiences, renowned restaurants and entertainment to the heart of Perth for 40 years – and we’re delighted to be expanding and reimagining this vibrant dining precinct.”
A separate development is also underway at Crown Towers, where a luxury wine bar is being constructed. The venue will showcase Western Australia’s winemaking heritage with a focus on regional varietals, complemented by a curated list of internationally acclaimed wines. Strategically located between the Crown Towers and Metropol hotels, the bar is expected to serve as a pre-theatre destination and a key draw for in-house guests.
Western Australian construction firm Hoskins has been appointed to deliver the Urban Food District, with the build phase generating approximately 150 local jobs. Additional hospitality roles will be created once the venues are operational.
The project follows a wave of recent investments across Crown’s national portfolio. In Melbourne, the group recently opened the Marmont restaurant and expanded The Palms Theatre. At Crown Sydney, iconic restaurant Golden Century launched earlier this year, adding to the property’s award-winning line-up of home-grown and international dining options.
The developments in Perth are part of Crown’s broader post-acquisition revitalization strategy under its new ownership structure, which is focused on enhancing guest experiences and increasing non-gaming revenue across its properties.
MIXI Australia has officially opened its off-market takeover offer for all ordinary shares in PointsBet Holdings Limited at AU$1.20 per share in cash ($ 0.82), with a minimum acceptance threshold of 50.1 percent.
The offer, unanimously recommended by the PointsBet Board in the absence of a superior proposal, comes amid a competing scrip-based bid from Betr Entertainment.
Prior to the offer opening, MIXI secured pre-bid acceptance agreements covering 9.15 percent of PointsBet’s issued shares. This includes commitments from Bennelong Long Short Equity Management (2.76 percent) and Pictet Asset Management (Singapore) (6.40 percent). Together with the 8.02 percent held by PointsBet directors—who have stated their intention to accept the offer barring a superior proposal – MIXI enters the offer period with 17.18 percent of shares effectively locked in.
The offer period will remain open until 7:00 p.m. Melbourne time on August 25th, 2025, unless extended or withdrawn.
Regulatory clearance has already been obtained from gaming authorities in both Australia and Canada, including the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission and Ontario regulators (AGCO and iGO), eliminating one of the more significant potential hurdles for the deal.
MIXI’s bid implies an enterprise value of AU$402 million ($276 million), with an EV/EBITDA multiple of 36.6x based on PointsBet’s FY25 guidance. The offer price represents a premium of 44.6 percent over PointsBet’s closing price on February 25th, 2025 (AU$0.83), the day before MIXI’s earlier scheme proposal was announced. It also reflects a 40.3 percent premium over the one-month VWAP of AU$0.86.
According to the scheme valuation disclosed by PointsBet in May 2025, the offer price represents a premium of AUD0.09 to AUD0.24 over the independent valuation range of AU$0.96 to AU$1.11 per share ($ 0.66 to $0.76).
Importantly, MIXI’s proposal is fully funded and does not rely on synergies, scrip conversion, or financing contingencies. The company argues this certainty is in stark contrast to the all-scrip proposal from rival bidder Betr.
PointsBet has yet to formally respond to Betr’s bidder statement filed on July 16th, 2025. However, in its earlier ASX announcement dated June 23rd, the PointsBet Board raised several concerns about the Betr offer, including:
Lack of cash consideration for shareholders;
Valuation heavily reliant on speculative synergies, achievable only with 100 percent control;
Questionable assumptions around synergy value and potential revenue dis-synergies;
Multiple conditions, including regulatory and shareholder approvals; and
Uncertainty around a proposed share buy-back, which is separate from the takeover proposal.
As of July 17th, 2025, the PointsBet Board reaffirmed its recommendation of MIXI’s offer and advised shareholders to take no action regarding the Betr proposal.
MIXI maintains that its offer provides a superior outcome by delivering immediate and guaranteed cash value, free from execution and valuation risks tied to future integration outcomes. The bidder highlighted its strong commitment to acquiring PointsBet and said it looks forward to shareholders taking up its offer, now formally open for acceptance.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has removed the pages of at least 20 Filipino influencers linked to illegal online gambling promotions, following a joint request from the Philippine government and local digital advocacy group Digital Pinoys.
Digital Pinoys national campaigner Ronald Gustilo confirmed the development, saying it marks a strong show of resolve from both civil society and authorities in addressing the surge of gambling-related content online.
“We thank Meta for swiftly acting on our joint request with CICC [Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center] to take down the pages of influencers blatantly promoting illegal online gambling,” Gustilo said. “We hope the remaining pages flagged in our initial report will be removed in the coming days.”
The list of pages requested for deletion as shared by Digital Pinoys.
Among the accounts removed were those of several high-profile personalities, including Boy Tapang (5.5 million followers), Sachzna Laparan (9.7 million followers), Kuya Lex TV (100,000 followers), and actor Mark Anthony Fernandez (242,000 followers). The 20 names were part of an initial list submitted by Digital Pinoys and endorsed by the CICC to Meta.
Gustilo warned that this may be only the beginning. “Some of these influencers thought they were untouchable—that we were bluffing. They had more than enough time to comply. They gambled with the law, and now they’re facing the consequences.”
He praised the CICC for its involvement, particularly highlighting the leadership of Assistant Secretary Aboy Paraiso in coordinating the effort.
Sachzna Laparan’s Facebook page with 9.7 million followers appears to have been deleted.
The move has also garnered support from the legislative branch. Senator Joel Villanueva welcomed the cooperation between Meta, the CICC, and Digital Pinoys, describing the action as “a significant step forward in our campaign to push for a total ban on online gambling.”
Villanueva, who has authored Senate Bill No. 47—the proposed Anti-Online Gambling Act—said influencer contracts should include morality clauses to discourage the promotion of gambling activities.
“This sends a message that public figures have a responsibility to promote ethical conduct and not expose the public, especially the youth, to the dangers of gambling,” he said.
The third and final split of the current LCP season is widely regarded as the most crucial on the calendar. In celebration of the event, 1xBet’s esports analysts present a special preview of the LCP Season Finals 2025, crafted for League of Legends enthusiasts.
Contents
The LCP Season Finals 2025 will decide the three teams representing the region at LoL Worlds 2025. With the Asian market a key focus, international betting company 1xBet places special emphasis on major regional esports events.
Offseason recap
The second split of the 2025 LCP Mid Season concluded on June 8, giving most league teams about six weeks for rest, practice, and tactical adjustments before the next phase. However, for CTBC Flying Oyster and GAM Esports, this offseason was anything but quiet. The finalists of the second split received invitations to two major international tournaments — MSI 2025 in Canada (June 27 – July 12) and EWC 2025 in Saudi Arabia (July 16–20).
The Pacific region’s top squads didn’t achieve standout results. At the first tournament, CTBC Flying Oyster finished 5th–6th, while GAM Esports ended up 7th–8th. At EWC 2025, both teams were eliminated during the group stage, finishing at the bottom of the standings. Still, the experience gained from competing against elite teams from other leagues proved valuable, and both sides earned solid prize money: $235,000 for CTBC Flying Oyster and $150,000 for GAM Esports.
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LCP Season Finals 2025 format
The LCP Season Finals 2025 kicks off on July 26 with the group stage and concludes with the grand final on September 21, 2025. All matches will follow the Fearless Draft format.
The top four teams from the previous split — CTBC Flying Oyster, Secret Whales, PSG Talon, and GAM Esports — have been seeded in the Contender Group, while Vikings Esports, SoftBank HAWKS, DetonatioN FocusMe, and Chiefs Esports Club form the Breakout Group.
In the first phase, each team plays one match against every other team in its group. The top two from the Contender Group and the bottom two from the Breakout Group will move on to the Group Seeding Bracket, while the remaining teams will enter the Group Breaker.
Based on the Group Breaker results, the winners will be promoted to the Contender Group, and the losers will be relegated to the Breakout Group. After the Group Seeding Bracket, all Contender Group teams and the top two from the Breakout Group will advance to the playoffs.
The playoff stage will feature a classic double-elimination format, with the top three teams securing their places at Worlds 2025.
Top contenders for the title
Based on the current League of Legends season performances, three teams stand out as the strongest contenders for the LCP Season Finals 2025 title:
CTBC Flying Oyster: Widely considered the best team in the league, the Taiwanese squad has already claimed the first two splits and delivered solid performances at international events like FST 2025, MSI 2025, and EWC 2025. Even if they fall short of first place this time, they are almost guaranteed to take one of the remaining two Worlds 2025 slots.
TALON: The team finished second in the first split and took third in the second, reflecting strong and consistent form. At MSI 2021, they reached the playoffs and lost only to eventual champions Royal Never Give Up, so they have real experience on the big stage. During the offseason, the team made a key roster change, signing Huang “Maple” Yi-tang to replace former midlaner Chu “FoFo” Chun-lan.
GAM Esports: The Vietnamese organization was founded over a decade ago. Before the launch of the LCP, GAM ruled the regional VCS league, winning six consecutive splits. Their peak year came in 2017, when they qualified for both of the season’s premier tournaments — MSI and Worlds. In 2025, they’ve once again reached MSI, proving they remain a formidable presence in the region.
The first matches of the LCP Season Finals 2025 will begin on July 26, 2025.
PearFiction Studios, an exclusive partner of the leading iGaming developer Games Global, has unveiled Captain Skull & the Squidly Seas, a darkly playful slot adventure where cursed pirates, coin trails, and kraken companions combine for immersive, feature-rich gameplay.
Packed with animated detail, bold visuals, and layered mechanics, Captain Skull & the Squidly Seas boasts high-end, video game-style graphics and a variety of bonus features, highlighting PearFiction Studios’ dedication to delivering immersive experiences that drive engagement for Games Global’s partners.
At the heart of the game is Captain Skull himself – the soulless pirate commanding the reels alongside a kraken collector that can occupy the centre of the grid on any spin. When active, the collector gathers all visible jackpot tokens and cash coins, each worth up to 100x, with Captain Skull occasionally enhancing the scene by throwing more coins or boosting present values.
Every kraken collector also has the potential to trigger one of two bonus rounds, while accumulating five bombs activates both simultaneously. Throughout the six free spins, a kraken collector remains locked in the centre, with both Squishy and Suction Cup moving across the reels with a multiplier that varies with each spin.
A KrakenTastic Zone can spawn during the feature, starting with a 2x multiplier that increases with every spin. Any coin that lands in the zone is enhanced by the multiplier, generating greater win potential.
Jeremy Coleman, Commercial Director at PearFiction Studios, said: “PearFiction places huge emphasis on providing players with striking audio-visual experiences that stand out in a crowded market. Captain Skull & the Squidly Seas epitomises this approach, fusing bold visuals with fan-favourite features to deliver a unique and compelling player journey.”
Andy Booth, Chief Product Officer at Games Global, added: “PearFiction continues to deliver quality entertainment value through its unique approach to game design. This latest release embodies its signature style and integrates jackpot win potential, resulting in a well-rounded product that diversifies the studio’s portfolio even further.”
Kambi Group, a leading provider of premium sports betting solutions, has agreed a long-term, omni-channel sportsbook partnership with Latin American operator RedCap, further strengthening Kambi’s position as the sportsbook provider of choice in the region.
Under the terms of the agreement, RedCap’s Betpro and Starplay brands will integrate Kambi’s high-performance Turnkey Sportsbook into its proprietary player account management (PAM) platform, enabling a seamless sports betting experience. The operator will replace its current supplier with Kambi’s powerful end-to-end sports betting solution, trusted by market leaders across Latin America and beyond.
The initial rollout will see Betpro and Starplay launch Kambi’s technology across its online sportsbooks in El Salvador and Panama, with the agreement also including scope for retail provision and market expansion. Operating under a multi-brand strategy led by its flagship Betpro brand, the operator aims to leverage the strengths of Kambi’s sportsbook with its in-house technical capability and experienced industry leadership team to achieve success in each market.
Werner Becher, CEO of Kambi, said: “This partnership marks an important next step in Kambi’s Latin American growth strategy. By selecting Kambi to replace their existing provider, RedCap has shown clear confidence in our market-leading technology and ability to support scalable growth. We are excited to help them bring best-in-class sports betting experiences to players across the region.”
Oscar Henao, CEO of RedCap, added: “We are thrilled to join forces with Kambi. This agreement gives us the product and flexibility we need to compete at the highest level, offering our customers premium betting experience across all channels. With Kambi’s support, we look forward to launching in Panama and El Salvador and expanding into new markets as we execute our multi-brand strategy.”
