The White House has included Macau on a list of “foreign adversaries,” restricting those affiliated with the SAR, Hong Kong, and mainland China from investing in American technology, infrastructure, energy, and other key sectors.
The move, spearheaded by long-term China critic Donald Trump, also prohibits Americans from investing in China’s military-industrial sector.
Also included in restrictions on outbound US investment in China are sectors including artificial intelligence, quantum, biotech, aerospace, advanced manufacturing and other tech-related areas.
Only one mention is made specifically of Macau, where it is listed alongside Hong Kong, the PRC, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela as “foreign adversaries”.
Within the White House memo, Trump claims that Chinese companies raise capital by “selling to American investors securities that trade on American and foreign public exchanges; lobbying United States index providers and funds to include these securities in market offerings; and engaging in other acts to ensure access to United States capital and accompanying intangible benefits”.
The memo further indicates that the administration “will also expedite environmental reviews for any investment of $1 billion in the United States”.
It also notes that the US government “will establish new rules to stop […] PRC-affiliated persons from buying up critical American businesses and assets, allowing only those investments that serve American interests”.
This includes “real estate near sensitive facilities”.
Its unclear how this move will directly impact US-facing gaming operators, who until now had largely been able to escape the pressures of US-China political wrangling.
Numerous top casino executives in Macau are associated with the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), including those with US-based parent companies.
The Philippines gaming regulator has issued a warning against a fake website that claims to ‘issue gaming licenses and accreditations using fake forms and content’.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) warns that www.pagcorphilippines.com is the work of scammers.
“We urge the public not to download anything or transact through the said fake website that uses the domain name www.pagcorphilippines.com because it is definitely not from PAGCOR and all its contents are spurious,” stated PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco.
PAGCOR has reported the site to the Department of Information and Communications Technology and is working to identify who is behind the fraudulent website.
“We shall go after them with the full force and extent of the law,” stated Tengco.
The website was launched on Saturday, February 22nd and “is clearly intended to fool people, particularly those who are seeking licenses to operate from PAGCOR”.
PAGCOR shared an image of the website, indicating misspelled words and a forged signature of Tengco.
The official noted that for any legitimate transactions with PAGCOR, its only website is www.pagcor.ph.
RG24seven Virtual Training, an industry-leading and free video-based training system, part of BMM Innovation Group (BIG), has announced the launch of a new solution for organizations seeking seamless integration of RG24seven training courses into their Learning Management Systems (LMS).
RG24seven Virtual Training is a responsible, effective, and free compliance-grade virtual training service for gaming industry employees, offering a host of general gaming industry training content presented by key industry experts.
Wendy Anderson, CEO of RG24seven Virtual Training, said “Effective immediately, our full catalog of training courses is now available for casinos and gaming organizations to integrate directly into their existing Learning Management Systems via SCORM Files or Single Sign-On.”
“The increasing demand from the industry to have full access to RG24seven training has been the main driver in introducing integrated learning courses. This is another avenue for organizations to seamlessly provide our world-class, compliant training to gaming and casino employees while maintaining the flexibility and control within their in-house Learning Management Systems,” added Anderson.
Martin Storm, CEO at BMM Innovation Group added, “RG24seven Virtual Training covers important topics such as Responsible Gaming, Safer Gambling, Human Trafficking Awareness, Anti-Money Laundering and Tribal Gaming. We remain committed to delivering world-class training that is accessible, flexible, and easy-to-use.”
JCM Global, a world leader in transaction and payment technologies, is celebrating 70 years of technological innovations, with the company bringing its game-changing bill validators, printers, and systems to the Australian Hospitality & Gaming Expo (AHG).
Ian Payne, General Manager for Asia-Pacific at JCM Global
Ian Payne, JCM’s General Manager for Asia Pacific said: “For 70 years, a spirit of innovation has inspired the JCM design and development teams to create industry-leading and transformative technology. We are excited to celebrate this milestone with our customers at AHG and to show how our technology roadmap lays a foundation for success, today and into the future.”
JCM’s iVIZION® and UBA Pro® bill validators provide industry-leading protection against counterfeiting and stringing, all with high levels of note acceptance. The GEN5® thermal printer sets the industry standard for print speed and memory, while featuring impressive graphic capabilities for TITO and coupon printing, and CouponXpress® can deliver targeted promotional coupons to carded and non-carded players.
ICB® Intelligent Cash Box eliminates multiple points of human error and streamlines the entire drop process. The FUZION® system offers dozens of benefits for casinos, including mobile wallet transactions; real-time peripheral performance data; proactive alerts for drops, e-drops, and fills; real-time asset monitoring and tracking; and dispute resolution with high-resolution banknote/TITO images.
The company is inviting all attendees to discover what JCM’s technology roadmap can do to enhance gaming operations on AHG stand #45.
Push Gaming has announced a major step in its European footprint by entering the Bulgarian market through an exclusive deal with Kaizen Gaming’s Betano brand, marking a milestone in its expansion into globally regulated markets.
For 12 weeks, tier-one operator Betano will have exclusive rights to Push Gaming’s portfolio in the country as it brings the studio’s hugely popular titles to Bulgaria for the first time.
Push’s extensive back catalogue of major hits, including Razor Shark, Razor Returns, Jammin’ Jars, Big Bamboo and Wild Swarm, are now ready to be enjoyed by players in Bulgaria, with more recent releases due to roll out imminently.
The launch enhances Push’s relationship with Kaizen Gaming, which has already seen success with its award-winning content in Greece, Denmark, and Brazil.
Agreements with over 15 direct integration partners have been achieved in 2024, and the supplier’s significant growth will be bolstered by several more announcements in the remainder of Q4.
Fiona Hickey, Chief Business Development Officer at Push Gaming, said: “Bulgaria is a territory we’ve been working on for some time, so it’s particularly pleasing to launch there with such an established and respected name as Betano. We know the strength of our product, and allied with Kaizen Gaming’s prominent positioning across regulated markets, we can make the most of our regional entries. They’re a fantastic strategic partner to work alongside, which breeds exceptional confidence that every launch period will perform strongly.”
Evangelos Dedoulis, Director of Product, Gaming and Rewards at Kaizen Gaming, added: “Push Gaming is responsible for some of the finest games on the market, and as such, we have been eagerly anticipating bringing them to our Betano platform in Bulgaria too. In other markets where we have integrated Push Gaming’s titles, the reception from our audience has been exceptional, and we expect the same in this case too.”
RubyPlay, an innovative B2B iGaming development studio, has announced a major step in its international market expansion after being granted an online gaming license by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
Meeting the AGCO’s regulatory standards, the provider is now able to offer its innovative portfolio of games to licensed operators in Canada’s second-largest province.
Players in Ontario will soon gain access to some of RubyPlay’s award-winning titles, including Immortal Ways® Diamonds, Mayan Cache and Diamond Explosion 7s, underpinning the company’s commitment to expanding into regulated markets worldwide.
The license is the latest development in RubyPlay’s ambitious international growth strategy, opening up new opportunities for the studio and strengthening its foothold within the North American iGaming market.
The news follows the provider’s recent launch into the US with Rush Street Interactive and FanDuel in New Jersey, signalling an exciting period of expansion for RubyPlay in the region as it solidifies its position and continues to enter new territories.
Dr. Eyal Loz, Chief Product Officer at RubyPlay, said: “Our goal at RubyPlay is to bring our expansive portfolio of unique and innovative games to as many players as possible around the world. We’re therefore thrilled to have obtained our Ontario license and build our reach in Canada.”
“RubyPlay has an outstanding track record empowering our partner’s brands through our innovative and time relevant product offering. We believe that North America will be a strong growth engine for us, where building and maintaining a strong brand is key.”
The implementation of a 28 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST) has significantly affected the real-money gaming sector in India’s online gaming industry, according to Ranjana Adhikari, a partner at IndusLaw specializing in technology and gaming law.
“The industry has raised its concerns at various fora regarding higher operational costs, lower margins, and dwindling investments,” Adhikari stated, highlighting that many gaming platforms are absorbing the GST burden by offering cashback to players, leading to considerably lower profit margins.
The GST framework categorizes deposits in online money gaming as taxable under “specified actionable claims,” following amendments made by the GST Council in August of 2023.
Adhikari explained that the valuation mechanism prescribes that the total amount deposited with online gaming operators is subject to taxation.
“However, industry stakeholders contest this, arguing that the tax should apply to gross gaming revenue (GGR) or the platform fee, rather than the total amounts deposited by end-users.” This contention reflects a fundamental disagreement over how the tax should be assessed and who should bear its burden.
The implications of this valuation approach are significant. By taxing the total deposits, online gaming operators face higher tax liabilities, which they often pass on to players, thus affecting overall participation in the gaming ecosystem. This has raised alarms about the sustainability of the industry and its ability to attract investment.
Legal proceedings and Supreme Court hearings
The contentious issue of GST valuation is currently before the Supreme Court of India, with a crucial hearing scheduled for March 2025 that could clarify the valuation and rate of GST for the sector.
Adhikari emphasized the importance of this upcoming hearing, stating: “This could be instrumental in determining how the industry operates moving forward, especially in terms of compliance and profitability.“
Recent GST Council meetings have provided no relief for the industry. In its 53rd and 54th meetings, held on June 22nd and September 9th, 2024, respectively, no significant changes to the 28 percent levy were discussed.
Ranjana Adhikari, Partner at IndusLaw
During the 55th meeting on December 21, 2024, officials maintained that the industry was “settling in” to the new tax regime. Moreover, the Council mandated that online gaming operators record the state of unregistered recipients on tax invoices, complicating compliance and increasing administrative burdens.
Adding to the industry’s challenges, the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) has flagged the online gaming sector as high-risk for GST evasion, identifying around 658 non-compliant offshore platforms.
“This designation puts additional pressure on compliant operators, who must navigate an increasingly complex regulatory environment,” Adhikari noted.
In response to the rising concerns about compliance, the Union Ministry of Finance has appointed a nodal officer, the Additional/Joint Director of the DGGI, to oversee the blocking of non-compliant entities under the IGST Act.
This move reflects the central government’s commitment to enforcing GST regulations and holding offshore operators accountable for their tax obligations.
Interim relief from the Supreme Court
Amid these pressures, the Supreme Court recently issued an interim order on January 10th, 2025, staying show-cause notices issued by the DGGI to several online gaming companies, which collectively face tax demands exceeding INR1.12 lakh crores ($130 million).
“This interim relief prohibits coercive action by tax authorities while we await a final determination on these issues,” Adhikari explained. The stay ensures that the show-cause notices remain valid until the court resolves the underlying legal questions.
The Supreme Court has consolidated all pending cases and scheduled them for a comprehensive hearing on March 18th, 2025. Adhikari cautioned that “it would be premature to comment on the likely verdict and its potential fallout at this stage.”
The legal proceedings will involve both sides presenting their arguments, and the outcomes could have profound implications for the future of GST valuation in India’s online gaming industry.
As the industry awaits the Supreme Court’s decision, stakeholders are keenly observing the legal landscape. The resolution of these issues is crucial for restoring investor confidence and ensuring the long-term viability of the online gaming sector in India.
“The gaming industry is at a crossroads, and the decisions taken in the coming months will significantly impact its growth trajectory.”
Altenar, a leading turnkey sportsbook provider, has announced a new agreement that will see its sportsbook used to expand the sports betting offering of leading iGaming group Immense, formerly known as Videoslots.
The partnership will see Altenar’s award-winning sportsbook used globally by popular casino brands Mr Vegas, Videoslots, MegaRiches and more.
Based in Malta, Immense Group provides leading online casino sites to players around the world with more than 12,000 games from hundreds of the industry’s leading game providers. Recently the operator launched its first sports-led brand called DBET.com which is intended to be an international challenger on the online sportsbook market.
Altenar is a leading sportsbook provider with its innovative features, customisable design and premium data feeds allowing operators to grow their brands in highly regulated and competitive markets.
The agreement with Immense Group is an exciting collaboration for both companies and continues Altenar’s focus on helping casino operators expand their operations when it comes to sports betting.
Sam Hill, Sales Director at Altenar, said: “We’re delighted to be entering into this long-term partnership with Immense Group and their various brands. We look forward to enhancing their existing sports offering as they look to grow their position across many regulated markets. Altenar is ideally placed to support casino-led brands by adding our managed sportsbook vertical and executing their specific trading strategy for them, and we can’t wait to get going.”
Klas Winberg, Chief Commercial Officer at Immense, said: “We conducted an extensive review of existing sportsbook providers and Altenar came out looking very strong on all parameters. I am happy to say that they have not disappointed. From onboarding, integration to launch, all has worked seamlessly. We expect that the Altenar sportsbook will be a very strong contributor, if not the biggest, for growth this year. So far we are very happy with what we see.”
The Board of Directors of Belle Corporation approved a cash dividend of PHP0.06 ($0.001) per share last Friday.
The decision was made in light of the company’s resilient business performance throughout last year.
According to a filing with the Philippine Stock Exchange on Monday, the total payout, amounting to approximately PHP582 million ($10.1 million), will be distributed to common shareholders on March 21st, 2025. As of March 7th, 2025, shareholders of record will be entitled to receive the dividend.
The company achieved a 5 percent increase in consolidated revenues last year, rising to PHP5.89 billion ($101.8 million) from PHP5.6 billion ($96 million) in 2023. Additionally, consolidated recurring net income grew by 7 percent, reaching PHP2.4 billion ($42.2 million) compared to PHP2.3 billion ($39.4 million) the previous year.
Belle’s consolidated net income for 2024 remained stable at PHP2.4 billion ($41.9 million), slightly up from PHP2.42 billion ($41.8 million) in 2023. Despite this modest increase, the company’s financial stability remains solid.
Armin Raquel Santos, President and Chief Executive Officer of Belle Corporation, remarked, “In 2024, the Belle Group remained profitable due to the resilience of our businesses, strategic focus and healthy balance sheet. Relying on our tried and tested business models, we worked with our management teams, employees and business partners to provide the finer things in life to our loyal patrons and customers.”
Belle Corp is the parent company of Premium Leisure Corp, which operates City of Dreams Manila.
7777 gaming has announced an exclusive partnership with WA.Technology to expand its presence across emerging markets in Africa and Latin America.
This collaboration combines 7777 gaming’s extensive portfolio of innovative online casino games with WA.Technology’s comprehensive iGaming solutions, tailored to the specific needs of operators in these regions.
WA.Technology is a full-spectrum iGaming provider that offers online casinos, sportsbooks, fantasy sports, and affiliate business solutions. Its expertise spans turnkey solutions and individual products, empowering operators to launch or scale their businesses efficiently in emerging markets.
Elena Shaterova, Chief Commercial Officer at 7777 gaming, said: “The collaboration with WA.Technology is a pivotal step in our expansion strategy for Africa and Latin America. By joining forces with a provider as versatile and innovative as WA.Technology, we aim to deliver premium gaming experiences to operators and players in these growing markets. Together, we’re shaping the future of iGaming in these regions.”
Laura Festen, Director of Casino at WA Technology, highlighted the partnership’s value: “7777 gaming enables operators to launch and scale effectively in competitive global markets by catering to a broad player base with quirky, original concepts. The studio creates captivating and reliable content, positioning it as a versatile choice for operators aiming to expand player engagement. Thus, we are extremely excited about the newly formed partnership.”
7777 gaming’s portfolio includes over 150 titles, spanning multiple genres and formats, designed to deliver diverse and immersive gaming experiences. From fan-favorite slots like Candy Anyways and Medusa The Wild Temple to instant-win games like Mayan Gold and classic table games like European Roulette and Blackjack, the company’s offerings cater to players with varied preferences. All games are supported by HTML5 cross-platform technology, ensuring seamless gameplay across desktop and mobile devices.
The partnership promises to unlock new opportunities for operators in Africa and Latin America, offering them cutting-edge games and technology designed to enhance player experiences and drive growth.
