BetConstruct showcases expansive portfolio at G2E Asia 2025

Macau

AGBrief Editorial

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May 5, 2025

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BetConstruct showcases expansive portfolio at G2E Asia 2025

BetConstruct is thrilled to bring the Center of Gravity to G2E Asia, taking place from May 7–9, 2025, at The Venetian Macao, China. At Stand A1123, the company’s Gravity Hub will showcase BetConstruct’s extensive range of products and tools.

What Can Be Expected in Orbit

Visitors can experience BetConstruct’s expansive portfolio at the company’s stand, including an exclusive Casino Suite, fully-managed Sportsbook, comprehensive CRM, advanced Affiliate Solution, and expansive Data Feed Solutions, all developed to help partners scale in a competitive industry.

A New Era of Partner Engagement

Experience a game-changing approach to partner engagement and value maximisation with The Last Battle Universe, the first-ever B2B loyalty system. Designed to foster collaboration and drive long-term growth, this next-level system offers unparalleled benefits, including up to 100% cashback on setup fees for BetConstruct’s new partners.

Innovational Promotional Tools

Leading the way in player retention and engagement with a powerful arsenal of promotional tools, BetConstruct will also showcase The Last Battle loyalty system, the Bonus Pie in-game marketplace, and Trebuchet’s challenge-based reward system. These tools are designed to strengthen loyalty, boost player interaction, and build a thriving community that drives long-term business success.

By integrating BetConstruct’s solutions, providers can increase player retention, enhance revenue potential, and deliver an unmatched betting experience.

Explore BetConstruct’s and Ortak Groundbreaking Collaboration

Step into the future of iGaming with Ortak Marketplace and BetConstruct’s collaboration, where custom NFTs unlock exclusive benefits and elevate performance. This fruitful partnership fosters innovation and expansion in the iGaming industry. BetConstruct eagerly looks forward to welcoming visitors there.

Join BetConstruct at Stand A1123 at The Venetian Macao, China and make your mark in shaping the future of our industry.

Under the MOU, both companies will collaborate on marketing campaigns to promote Vietnam as a premier travel destination within Emirates’ global network. They will also organize familiarization trips for media and travel agents from key markets to boost awareness of Vietnam’s diverse tourism offerings.

“We are expanding our Southeast Asia operations, adding new weekly flights to Da Nang starting June, reflecting Vietnam’s rising appeal as a tourist destination”, Orhan Abbas stated, emphasizing also the potential of the partnership to showcase Vietnam’s unique culture and landscapes

Emirates currently operates 21 weekly flights to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and will introduce four weekly flights to Da Nang using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft starting June 2nd.

Under the agreement, Emirates will help promote Vietnam’s destinations, particularly the ones where Sun Group has developed attractions, including Da Nang with the Golden Bridge and Ba Na Hills, Phu Quoc Island with the Kiss Bridge and Sunset Town.

The Sun Group is the developer in the long-delayed $2.1 billion Van Don integrated resort project, holding a license to operate casinos in the area.

Genting Malaysia’s acquisition of Empire Resorts stake ‘not viewed positively’: Maybank

Viviana Chan

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May 5, 2025

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Genting Malaysia’s acquisition of Empire Resorts stake ‘not viewed positively’: Maybank

The bank made the comment in a report following Genting Malaysia’s announcement that it will acquire the remaining 10 percent economic interest in Empire Resorts that it does not already own.

According to the company’s Bursa Malaysia filing, Genting Malaysia will purchase the remaining stake from the family trust of its Chairman and CEO, Lim Kok Thay, for $41 million. The deal also includes the assumption of an intercompany loan of $39.7 million owed by Empire to Kien Huat Realty III Limited (KH), a vehicle controlled by the Lim family. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the second quarter of 2025 and does not require shareholder approval.

KH currently holds 51 percent of Empire Resorts’ common stock, with Genting Malaysia holding the remaining 49 percent. However, due to Genting Malaysia’s ownership of Empire’s convertible preferred stock, it has already been accounting for 90 percent of Empire’s losses. With this deal, Genting Malaysia will assume full ownership of Empire and begin consolidating its financials rather than equity-accounting them.

Maybank estimates that the increased exposure to Empire’s losses will reduce Genting Malaysia’s core net profit by 2 percent to 4 percent across FY2025 to FY2027. The acquisition will also see Genting Malaysia consolidate Empire’s $300 million in senior secured notes, raising its net gearing estimate for end-FY2025 to 98 percent, from a previously forecasted 79 percent.

‘To own 100 percent of loss generating Empire Resorts, Genting Malaysia has proposed to acquire the remaining 51 percent of Empire common stock from Kien Huat Realty III (KH) for $41 million (MYR177 million),’ Maybank noted. ‘We continue to impute no value to Empire and consolidate Empire’s $300 million (MYR1.3 billion) Senior Secured Notes.’

Maybank’s sum-of-the-parts target price for Genting Malaysia has been revised downward to MYR2.08 ($0.49) from MYR2.41 ($0.57) to reflect higher debt and capital expenditure assumptions.

Despite the negative view on the transaction, the bank has upgraded Genting Malaysia to “BUY” from “HOLD,” citing potential catalysts such as a resolution to the $600 million Resorts World Bimini lawsuit and the possibility of Resorts World New York securing a full casino license by year-end.

Empire Resorts owns and operates several gaming assets in New York State, including Resorts World Catskills, Resorts World Hudson Valley, and mobile sports betting platform Resorts World Bet.

Katie Fraser, Head of Partnership Success at Relax Gaming, said: “We’re always looking for partners who bring something different to the table, and Aviatrix does exactly that. Their crash game is packed with features that drive engagement, and their focus on player loyalty and ongoing innovation fits perfectly with what we want to deliver to our operator network. We’re excited to help bring Aviatrix to new audiences.”

Liam Mulvaney, Head of Sales at Aviatrix, said: “Relax Gaming needs no introduction, and we’re absolutely thrilled to see Aviatrix joining their platform. This partnership will put Aviatrix in front of new audiences around the world, and we’re working closely with the Relax team to ensure a smooth rollout to operator partners. It’s another key milestone in our mission to bring Aviatrix to even more players globally.”

Good Morning. PAGCOR continues to up its game, introducing a new accreditation system to regulate B2B service providers. The move means companies now need to be directly accredited by the regulator, which could have “wide-ranging implications”. Looking to Japan, MGM Resorts is further increasing its stake in the Osaka IR, now reaching nearly $3 billion, as it maintains its opening date target. And in Macau, analysts are slightly revising their May GGR forecasts, as April came in slightly better than expected. Now all eyes will be on Golden Week.

In observance of the Buddha’s Birthday holiday on May 5th, AGB will resume normal publishing on Tuesday, May 6th.

What you need to know

PAGCOR broadens iGaming oversight via new accreditation for support services, enhancing regulation and standardization.
MGM Resorts raises equity in Osaka IR project to $3B, maintaining 2030 opening target and high return expectations.
Analysts adjust projections for Macau’s May GGR and FY25, following April results that came in slightly above expectations.

On the radar

Macau April GGR totals $2.35B, down 4.1% month-on-month.
PAGCOR posts $502M in 1Q25 revenues, net income up 23%.
MGM China reports 3% revenue decline in first quarter.
POSC backtracks on plans for e-casino industry entrance.
UAE’s GCGRA signs MOU with New Jersey gaming enforcement division.

AGB Intelligence

PHILIPPINES

PAGCOR’s iGaming oversight to increase

The Philippines is seeing yet another regulatory transformation, as PAGCOR moves to further increase its oversight on iGaming to accredit an array of B2B service providers. A top legal expert notes that this is a “significant shift”, with companies now requiring a direct accreditation from the gaming regulator. The move is expected to have “wide-ranging implications” for the sector.

Industry Updates

Aristocrat Gaming introduces new cabinet, The Baron Portrait.
Continent 8 & Rising Digital partner to boost US iGaming cybersecurity.
DATA.BET enhances mobile betting with the Multi Widget module.

INTELLIGENCE | ASEAN | CAREERS

Speaking of the MOU, Kevin Mullally, CEO of the GCGRA noted that “Commercial gaming is a cornerstone of our vision for diversified economic growth, significantly contributing to tourism and foreign investment […] This partnership with New Jersey’s DGE aligns cutting-edge technology with modern regulatory frameworks, unlocking economic potential while prioritizing consumer protection and responsible gaming.”

The official furthered that “This MOU will drive technological innovation and regulatory excellence, reinforcing the GCGRA’s position as a premier gaming destination.”

‘Within mass, premium is ~45 percent above 2019, while base mass continues to lag, nearly 20 percent below 2019. And, importantly, within base mass, while day-tripper business from HK and Guangdong is likely back to near pre-COVID levels, overnight base mass (destination base mass) has been weak, likely well below 70 percent of pre-Covid levels’.

Looking ahead to 2026/2027, Seaport indicates that expectations are for 7 percent GGR growth ‘but this could be higher on a stronger Chinese economy, materially improved consumer sentiment and any appreciation of the RMB’.

However, the group is expecting a market share shift, with giants Sands and Galaxy gaining share, while MGM and Wynn ‘are likely to be the largest share donors over the next two years’.

The new functionality unites all existing DATA.BET widgets offer partners a complete set of interactive tools through one integration. Fully mobile-optimized and easily configurable, the Multi Widget allows operators to adapt the setup with player demands while ensuring fast load times and seamless user interaction.

It also helps partners increase betting activity and improve retention, particularly on mobile, which generates close to 80% of total betting volume and demands the highest standards of speed and usability. Built to enhance the live betting journey, the Multi Widget delivers match updates, stats, and streaming in one place — enabling players to stay engaged and react quickly during dynamic game moments.

Before the launch of the Multi Widget, DATA.BET had consistently expanded its product offering by introducing individual engagement tools throughout the past year. Scoreboards (delivering live match updates, player statistics, and event tracking), Pitch Trackers (providing 2D visualization of key match actions), and Video Streaming (allowing users to watch match broadcasts directly within the betting interface) were each launched separately to address different aspects of the in-play experience.

Today, all these functionalities are consolidated into one module, available for four main disciplines, with future expansion planned across additional sports.

“The Multi Widget is built to serve the expectations for today’s betting audience — fast, flexible, and mobile-first,” said Rostyslav Likhtin, Head of Product at DATA.BET. “This product reflects our focus on delivering practical tools, especially in mobile, where speed, simplicity, and accessibility are critical.”

In a memo dated April 30th, 2025, PAGCOR’s Electronic Gaming Licensing Department (EGLD) announced the forthcoming release of a Regulatory Framework for the Accreditation of Gaming Affiliates and Support Service Providers. For the first time, third-party entities supporting licensed eGaming and iGaming operators—such as payment processors, game content suppliers, KYC solution providers, and customer support vendors—will be subject to direct regulatory accreditation.

Legal expert Tonet Quiogue, founder of Arden Consult

Legal expert Tonet Quiogue, founder of Arden Consult, told Asia Gaming Brief that PAGCOR’s latest policy signals “a significant shift in how support service providers and gaming affiliates will be regulated in the Philippines.”

She noted that although these businesses are integral to the functioning of the gaming ecosystem, they have historically operated without the need for formal registration with PAGCOR. “Previously, these businesses operated without direct accreditation from PAGCOR,” Quiogue explained. “Going forward, all covered entities must comply with defined application procedures, performance requirements, and ongoing regulatory conditions.”

In addition to introducing accreditation, PAGCOR is also redefining the structure of the industry by reclassifying entities previously known as Gaming System Service Providers.

These will now fall under the newly established category of Gaming System Administrators, reflecting the regulator’s intent to clarify and standardize the roles and responsibilities of key B2B participants. This move aims to enhance transparency and create a more structured regulatory environment—ultimately strengthening the integrity of the entire market.

The new framework is expected to include detailed implementation timelines, transition procedures, and compliance rules. Companies that fail to meet these standards risk losing their ability to work with PAGCOR-licensed operators.

Financial requirements will also increase. Entities seeking accreditation will need to pay a non-refundable application or renewal fee and provide a performance cash deposit. While exact figures are outlined in the memorandum, they are expected to be reiterated and expanded upon in the final framework.

Quiogue urged companies not to wait for the final guidelines before taking action. “We strongly encourage all potentially affected companies to assess the scope of their operations and prepare for accreditation requirements. Early planning will be key to avoiding business disruptions and ensuring continued access to the Philippine gaming market,” she advised.

For many service providers—particularly smaller or newer firms—this will require a thorough review of their compliance structures, legal status, and operational readiness to meet PAGCOR’s heightened expectations.

This regulatory expansion is not solely about enforcing rules; it reflects the Philippine government’s growing commitment to cultivating a reputable and well-regulated gaming sector. While the new framework may bring added administrative and financial demands, it also offers greater clarity, professionalism, and investor confidence.

By bringing support services within the formal regulatory perimeter, PAGCOR is sending a clear message: every player in the ecosystem must be accountable and operate to a defined standard.

As the Philippine gaming sector continues to evolve, this oversight model is likely to have far-reaching effects. “This has been in the works for some time—and will have wide-ranging implications for those supporting the regulated ecosystem,” Quiogue noted in her LinkedIn post when she shared the news.