IAGR releases program for the IAGR2025 conference in Toronto

North America

AGBrief Editorial

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May 29, 2025

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IAGR releases program for the IAGR2025 conference in Toronto

The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) has released the program for its upcoming annual conference, to be held in Toronto from 20-23 October.

With the theme ‘Resilient regulation: Exploring what works, why and what’s next’, the IAGR2025 brings together global regulators and thought leaders to examine how regulatory frameworks can evolve to meet today’s challenges.

The four-day program explores timely issues, including the rise of AI and behavioural analytics, the impact of converging technologies, cross-border collaboration and the continued push to strengthen responsible gambling policies.

IAGR President Ben Haden said the program offers a strong preview of the content and conversations delegates can expect in Toronto.

“This year’s program showcases the breadth and complexity of the challenges facing gambling regulators worldwide, from protecting player wellbeing to tackling illegal markets and understanding new technologies,” Haden said.

“I encourage regulators, researchers and policy professionals from around the world to join us in Toronto. The conference is a space to learn, share experience, challenge assumptions and shape the future of effective, collaborative regulation,” he added.

Confirmed speakers and panelists include:

Andrew Rhodes, CEO, Gambling Commission, Great Britain;
Anders Dorph, Director, Danish Gambling Authority, Denmark;
Dr Karin Schnarr, CEO and Registrar, Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, Canada;
Mark Vander Linden, Director of Research and Responsible Gaming and Carrie Torrisi, Chief of Sports Wagering Division, Massachusetts Gaming Commission, United States;
Bashir Are, CEO, Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, Nigeria;
Teo Chun Ching, Chief Executive, Gambling Regulatory Authority, Singapore;
Ladipo Abiose Akolade, Founder, GamblePause Initiative Africa, Nigeria;
Rasmus Kjaergaard, CEO, Mindway AI, Denmark;
Tracy Parker, Senior Vice President, Accreditation, Advisory and Insights, Responsible Gambling Council, Canada;
Pedro Romero, Chief of Safer Gambling Partnerships, BetBlocker, Gibraltar;
Sonia Wasowska, Head of Supervision, General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority, United Arab Emirates;
Steven Blackburn, Partner, Ashurst Risk Advisory, Australia.

The event will be held at The Westin Harbour Castle on Toronto’s waterfront. Click here to view the program on IAGR’s website.

Melco Resorts remains focused on sustainable sourcing and strives to procure responsible food and beverage (F&B) items that support local farmers, harvesters, fishers, and food producers, as well as those that promote animal welfare, while committed to serving healthy and high-quality culinary dishes to guests.

Melco’s move towards cage-free eggs began in 2020 as part of the Company’s efforts towards restoring the environment, inspiring its people and communities, sustaining its supply chain and empowering its business to impact positive change. Partnering with the Lever Foundation, an NGO that works to create a more humane and sustainable protein supply in Asia, Melco works with local distributors to secure a sufficient and reliable supply and create economies of scale to facilitate the switch to cage-free eggs.

Mr. Lawrence Ho, Chairman and CEO of Melco Resorts & Entertainment, said, “We believe small actions, when scaled, can make a significant impact. Our focus on responsible sourcing remains unwavering, and we are delighted to have met our ambitious target of sourcing 100% cage-free eggs by 2025, with all F&B outlets across our global portfolio, including in Macau, the Philippines and Cyprus, now serving cage-free eggs. This achievement reflects our deeper ambition to embed sustainability into procurement. We will continue to take a closer look at how we source, who we work with and where we can do better—pushing for greater transparency, strengthening commitments across key categories and deepening engagement with suppliers.”

City of Dreams Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment — _{City of Dreams Macau}

Entertainment City, COD Manila, Philippines — _{City of Dreams Macau}

Ms. Lily Tse, Sustainability Program Director of Lever Foundation, added, “We were pleased to work with Melco to set their global cage-free egg commitment and support them as pioneers for the welfare of hens in the markets they operate. The step Melco has taken towards promoting animal welfare and sustainable food practices in the region has significantly helped other food companies, such as caterers, eateries, bakeries and more, transition to cage-free eggs. We look forward to working with Melco to expand their animal welfare policies in the future.”

Cage-free eggs are produced by hens that are free to roam in barns and natural environments, rather than being confined to small cages. Research shows that cage-free eggs are not only produced under more humane conditions, but also present reduced food safety risks compared to caged eggs. The European Food Safety Authority has found battery cage egg farms have up to 25 times greater risk of salmonella contamination, leading to a recommended ban on all caged-egg production in the European Union. Numerous international and local organizations encourage a shift to cage-free eggs to benefit public health, animal welfare and sustainability.

Further details of Melco’s sustainability strategy can be found in its 2024 sustainability report “Rise to go Above & Beyond”.

Among the 147 hotel establishments operating by the end of April—up by four compared to a year earlier—the total number of available guest rooms declined by 4.3 percent to 45,000. Despite the drop in room supply, occupancy rates improved across the board. Three-star and four-star hotels recorded rates of 84.4 percent and 82.4 percent, respectively, marking moderate year-on-year gains.

In the first four months of 2025, the average hotel room occupancy rate stood at 89.6 percent, up 5.1 percentage points from the same period in 2024. However, the total number of guests slightly decreased by 3.2 percent to 4.78 million, while the average length of stay held steady at 1.7 nights.

Meanwhile, inbound tour group travel also registered solid growth. The number of package tour visitors in April rose by 12.1 percent year-on-year to 204,000. Of these, 178,000 came from mainland China, up 11.8 percent. International tour group visitors climbed by 4 percent to 20,000, with South Korea contributing the highest share at 8,000 visitors—an increase of 10.9 percent.

Cumulatively from January to April, Macau received 757,000 inbound package tour visitors, a 10.2 percent year-on-year increase. Visitors from mainland China totaled 662,000, while international package tourists rose to 76,000, with Korean arrivals growing 24.6 percent year-on-year.

Vietnamese and Lao police dismantle illegal cross-border online gambling ring

Vietnam
Laos

Nelson Moura

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May 29, 2025

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Vietnamese and Lao police dismantle illegal cross-border online gambling ring

Vietnamese and Lao police have successfully dismantled a major online gambling operation that facilitated illegal bets totaling nearly VND1.3 trillion ($50 million).

According to VExpress, the operation was based in Vientiane, Laos, where police discovered Vietnamese nationals managing gambling websites.

The ring was allegedly led by 44-year-old Mai Anh Viet from Hanoi and 41-year-old Nguyen Huu Son from Ho Chi Minh City, who used foreign-hosted platforms for their activities. Viet recruited fellow Vietnamese to oversee the gambling sites and hired others to promote them on social media.

During the raids, authorities seized 35 mobile phones, 12 desktop computers, and 25 laptops. Lao officials transferred 29 Vietnamese suspects and confiscated materials to Vietnam on May 19th. The investigation expanded throughout Vietnam, leading to additional searches and the summoning of 10 suspects.

So far, 31 individuals have been charged—27 for organizing gambling and four for participating in gambling. The investigation is ongoing.

PAGCOR Chairman Tengco’s resignation not expected to be accepted

Philippines

Viviana Chan

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May 29, 2025

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PAGCOR Chairman Tengco’s resignation not expected to be accepted

The entire leadership of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has submitted courtesy resignations to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.—a move widely expected NOT to be accepted, in line with the customary practice during government reorganizations.

Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said the resignations were intended to give the President a “free hand in reorganizing the bureaucracy.”

Alejandro. H Tengco, Chairman and CEO, PAGCOR — PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco

Tengco revealed that he and all members of the agency’s Board of Directors tendered their resignations last week, ahead of the Palace directive issued on May 21st, which required all officials of government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) to do the same. However, sources consulted by AGB indicated that most, if not all, of the PAGCOR leadership resignations are likely to be rejected as part of the standard reorganization process.

In a press release issued Thursday, Tengco stated, “We serve at the pleasure of the President, and we will accept whatever the Chief Executive’s decision will be.”

The mass resignation includes PAGCOR President and COO Wilma Eisma and Directors Jose Maria Ortega, Francis Democrito Concordia, and Gilbert Cesar Remulla, representing a complete leadership transition for the gaming regulator.

The courtesy resignations form part of President Marcos Jr.’s broader directive for GOCC officials to step down, aimed at facilitating a comprehensive government reorganization. This move reflects the President’s stated intention to “recalibrate” his administration following what he described as public fatigue with politics and disappointment with government performance, as indicated by the May 2025 midterm election results.

In the Philippine government system, courtesy resignations represent a customary practice allowing incoming or reorganizing presidents to select their preferred appointees for key positions. The process enables the Chief Executive to align the bureaucracy with their administration’s vision and priorities while conducting performance reviews of existing officials.

State of the Nation Address, Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Philippine president — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

For PAGCOR, a significant revenue-generating GOCC, leadership changes under new administrations have historically occurred through similar resignation processes. The agency’s strategic importance in government revenue collection and gaming regulation makes it a focal point for presidential appointments seeking to ensure alignment with administrative goals.

The resignation comes despite recent commendations for PAGCOR’s role in the Philippines’ removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, suggesting the move stems from the broader reorganization policy rather than performance issues.

The President retains final authority on accepting or rejecting the submitted resignations as part of his administration’s “results-first mindset” approach to government operations.

Powered by the IGT PlayDigital Engagement Platform, a customizable suite of player engagement tools, MEGA VAULT brings together its industry-renowned engagement tools—Prize Drops, Leaderboards, Marketing Jackpots, and more—into a single promotional experience. Designed to maximize excitement, engagement, and rewards, MEGA VAULT aims to deliver seamless high-impact campaigns that captivate players and drive long-term retention.

The rollout of the MEGA VAULT promotional brand also includes a new functionality within the Engagement Platform toolset. PlayDigital customers can now combine the existing tools within the Engagement Platform toolkit, unlocking the ability to run one-of-a-kind promotions and create unlimited promotional possibilities. The first of these combined functionalities includes the Multi Drop and Leaderboard tools, allowing operators to simultaneously engage and reward their players.

The first MEGA VAULT promotion began on May 23, with participation from major operators such as Fanatics Casino, FanDuel Casino, and Rush Street Interactive, each offering their players exciting new ways to engage with content and win prizes.

“We’re excited about the new promotional capabilities we’re able to provide Fanatics players through the MEGA VAULT,” said Kieron Shaw, Fanatics Casino Senior Content Manager. “MEGA VAULT offers a unique and engaging solution that elevates the player experience.”

“RSI is pleased to offer our players, in the U.S. and Ontario, exciting promotional capabilities that allow us to engage and reward them with new and exciting promotions and prizes,” commented Richard Schwartz, Rush Street Interactive CEO. “Our launch of IGT’s PlayDigital’s MEGA VAULT represents another step forward in our goal of always putting our players first and delivering fun experiences for them that earn their loyalty and long-term retention.”

“We’re excited to introduce the next chapter in player engagement with the launch of IGT PlayDigital’s MEGA VAULT,” added Gil Rotem, IGT PlayDigital President. “Utilizing the Engagement Platform toolset, the MEGA VAULT will provide a consistent and exciting way for our customers to run unique promotions and provide an elevated player experience, all through one central hub. By leveraging the full potential of our Engagement Platform, operators can unlock more opportunities to reward players, more excitement, and more value than ever before.”

IGT PlayDigital first launched the Engagement Platform in 2023 with a set of promotional tools built to maximize player engagement and entertainment. The Engagement Platform was recently named “Best Digital Product” at the 2024 Global Gaming Award, Americas. The launch of the new MEGA VAULT promotional brand marks an exciting next phase in the evolution of this product.

Good Morning. Crypto. Those who got in early definitely saw a wildly successful ride. But in the crypto world, it’s not only about speculative value, it’s also about practical use. That’s where iGaming has managed to see a huge boost, understanding the needs of its customers and providing new and exciting solutions, despite facing some regulatory hurdles. Meanwhile, in Macau, gaming crimes were on the rise in the first quarter, with many cases linked to the new illegal currency exchange legislation.

What you need to know

The rise of cryptocurrency has been a major boost for the iGaming industry but what has driven the booming interest?
Macau gaming crimes up 61.5% in 1Q25; illegal currency exchange accounts for most of the increase after the new crackdown law.

On the radar

Chinese outbound travel to recover during Dragon Boat Festival: Fliggy.
Scientific Games receives UAE gaming authority license.
Macau hotel sector workforce expands 7.2% year-on-year in 1Q25.
Thailand pushes $115 billion budget to offset US tariff impact.
Moody’s maintains Macau’s long-term issuer rating at Aa3.
New sightseeing cruise from Macau’s Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal.

AGB Intelligence

CRYPTO

iGaming gets heady boost from crypto boom

As Bitcoin again topped the $110,000 mark, a top crypto payment specialist takes a look at crypto’s journey so far and why exactly it has become such an important boon for growth in the iGaming space. While regulations are still lagging, strong steps have been made recently, and demand doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon.

Corporate Spotlight

Bettorify bridges European operators to Asia’s gaming markets

With over 30% of global gaming revenue projected to come from Asia soon, the window of opportunity is wide open. Bettorify’s white-label and turnkey solutions deliver what most platforms miss: sharp execution backed by real local expertise.

Industry Updates

GR8 Tech appoints Lusine Khudaverdyan as its new Head of Casino Business.
SJM showcases tourism offerings at “Experience Macao” in South Korea.
LuckyStreak welcomes industry expert Neil Brookes as Head of Product.

INTELLIGENCE | ASEAN | CAREERS

IAGR releases program for the IAGR2025 conference in Toronto

The International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) has released the program for its upcoming annual conference, to be held in Toronto from 20-23 October.

Confirmed speakers and panelists include:

Table of Contents

IAGR2025 – Toronto

IAGR2025 is the premier conference for global gaming regulators and industry visionaries, uniting to foster a secure, dynamic, and responsible gaming industry. The conference promises an unforgettable experience October 20 to 23, 2025.

Melco Resorts achieves goal of sourcing 100% cage-free eggs across all properties

Melco Resorts & Entertainment has successfully fulfilled its commitment to sourcing 100% cage-free eggs across all F&B outlets in Macau, the Philippines, and Cyprus.

Table of Contents

Macau’s hotel occupancy reached 87.8% in April as tourism recovery continues

Macau’s hotel sector continued its upward trajectory in April, with the average occupancy rate of guest rooms rising by 4.7 percentage points year-on-year to 87.8 percent, according to data released by the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).

Vietnamese and Lao police dismantle illegal cross-border online gambling ring

Vietnamese and Lao police have successfully dismantled a major online gambling operation that facilitated illegal bets totaling nearly VND1.3 trillion ($50 million).

PAGCOR Chairman Tengco’s resignation not expected to be accepted

The entire leadership of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has submitted courtesy resignations to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.—a move widely expected NOT to be accepted, in line with the customary practice during government reorganizations.

Table of Contents

IGT PlayDigital rolls out MEGA VAULT to elevate player experience

International Game Technology (IGT) has announced the launch of IGT PlayDigital’s MEGA VAULT in the U.S. and Ontario iGaming markets, offering an innovation on its player engagement solution.

Table of Contents

Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: Crypto boom a strong gain for iGaming industry

What you need to know

On the radar

AGB Intelligence

CRYPTO

iGaming gets heady boost from crypto boom

Corporate Spotlight

Bettorify bridges European operators to Asia’s gaming markets

Industry Updates

Table of Contents

Shun Tak launches sightseeing cruise from Macau’s Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal to Barra

The operator of Macau’s TurboJet ferry, Shun Tak, is launching sightseeing cruises between the Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal and the Barra Pier – the first cruise route to make use of the ferry terminal.

Table of Contents

Moody’s maintains Macau’s long-term issuer rating at Aa3

Moody’s Investor Service has announced that it is maintaining Macau’s long-term issuer rating of Aa3, ‘mainly based on its exceptionally strong fiscal and external positions’.

Table of Contents

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