Sands China, a major gaming operator in Macau, has announced its first dividend in five years. The company revealed on Friday that it will pay a final dividend of HK$0.25 ($0.032) per share for the financial year ending December 31st, 2024.
The dividend will be distributed on June 20th to shareholders registered by May 30th.
The decision was widely anticipated by investment analysts. Based on the number of shares outstanding as of January 31st, 2025, the total dividend payout is expected to be approximately HK$2.02 billion ($260 million), according to the company’s statement.
In a separate release, Sands China reported a profit of $1.05 billion for the year ending December 31st, 2024, marking a 51 percent increase from $692 million the previous year. The company also noted that its total net revenues for 2024 reached $7.08 billion, up 8.4 percent from $6.53 billion in 2023.
Net casino revenues totaled $5.35 billion, a 10.4 percent increase compared to $4.84 billion in 2023. This growth was mainly driven by higher table games and slot volumes, reflecting increased visitation across Sands China properties, though it was partially offset by declines in rolling chip win and slot hold percentages.
Sands Chairman Robert Goldstein
In his statement, Chairman Robert Glen Goldstein reaffirmed that the company expects to have largely completed the Londoner capital investment program by the second quarter of 2025. Phase 2 of the transformation of The Londoner Macao includes the renovation of the Sheraton and Conrad hotels, as well as the revamp of the Pacifica casino space into the Londoner Grand Casino.
Goldstein also noted that the company’s ten-year gaming concession, which began in early 2023, has paved the way for significant capital investments in 2024. “We are pleased with the opportunity to further our decades-long commitment to enhancing the tourism appeal of Macao and supporting its development as a global tourism hub,” Goldstein said. “To date, we have invested approximately $17 billion to help Macau diversify its economy and evolve into Asia’s leading leisure and business tourism destination.”
This investment includes over 10,000 hotel rooms and suites, approximately 2.1 million square feet of retail space, and around 1.7 million square feet of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) capacity.
The Curacao Gaming Authority (CGA) has introduced a new Responsible Gaming Policy aimed at enhancing player protection and regulatory compliance for licensed operators.
The policy mandates strict guidelines to ensure that gambling remains an enjoyable form of entertainment while minimizing risks associated with problem gambling.
The policy covers key aspects such as age verification, self-exclusion mechanisms, deposit limits, and player protection measures. All licensed operators under CGA’s jurisdiction must integrate responsible gaming principles into their platforms, with mandatory compliance checks and ongoing regulatory oversight.
One of the major requirements is the implementation of robust age verification processes. Operators must ensure that no underage players gain access to gambling platforms, using government-issued IDs and secondary verification measures to prevent minors from participating.
Player protection mechanisms include self-assessment tools, behavior tracking, and intervention strategies. Operators must monitor players’ gambling habits, detect problematic behaviors, and take appropriate action, including direct player interactions and potential restrictions.
The policy introduces self-exclusion protocols, allowing players to voluntarily block themselves from gambling activities. Operators must offer multiple exclusion periods, including one-year, three-year, five-year, and lifetime bans. Once activated, self-exclusion measures must take immediate effect, preventing further access to gambling services.
To help players maintain control, the policy mandates deposit limits and reality checks. Players can set daily, weekly, or monthly deposit limits, and any request to increase limits is subject to a mandatory waiting period. Reality check notifications inform players of their gaming duration and expenditure, helping them make informed decisions about their gambling activities.
Advertising and marketing regulations are also a focal point of the policy. Operators are prohibited from targeting vulnerable individuals, including minors and self-excluded players. Marketing materials must not portray gambling as a financial solution or use misleading tactics to encourage excessive betting. Social media influencers and affiliates promoting gambling services must adhere to strict responsible gaming standards.
Operators are required to train their staff to identify and handle problem gambling cases. Employees must recognize signs of gambling distress and be prepared to intervene appropriately, directing players to available support services. Regular reporting and compliance audits ensure that operators uphold responsible gaming commitments.
The CGA has also set strict compliance and regulatory obligations, requiring operators to submit detailed reports on responsible gaming measures. Failure to comply may result in penalties or the revocation of gaming licenses.
The new Responsible Gaming Policy takes effect with a four-month transition period, after which operators will be subject to active monitoring and enforcement. This initiative underscores CGA’s commitment to fostering a fair, safe, and responsible gaming environment for all players.
The Philippines’ recent removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list is a landmark achievement that significantly enhances the country’s credibility as a stable and secure market for gaming investment, according to Tonet Quiogue, a legal expert and founder of Arden Consult.
Tonet Quiogue, a legal expert and founder of Arden Consult
Arden Consult is an advisory firm specializing in regulatory guidance for the gaming and gaming-related sectors. Quiogue has extensive experience helping companies navigate the complex landscape of gaming regulations in the Philippines.
Despite the removal from the grey list, Quiogue emphasized that there would be no immediate changes to the gaming industry’s regulatory landscape, as the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has already implemented robust anti-money laundering (AML) protocols.
Quiogue told AGB that “PAGCOR has already established strong AML protocols, and I expect it will continue to enforce these rules with the same level of scrutiny. The policies and compliance measures are already in place, and the exit from the grey list only underscores the regulator’s effectiveness in implementing them.”
“The industry’s commitment to compliance remains unchanged, but this milestone enhances the Philippines’ credibility as a stable and secure market for gaming investment.”
Tonet Quiogue
PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro H. Tengco
Under the leadership of Chairman Alejandro Tengco, PAGCOR has worked closely with casino operators, junket operators, and online gaming companies to ensure strict adherence to AML guidelines. Quiogue highlighted that PAGCOR’s proactive stance in issuing directives to the industry has played a key role in securing compliance. “PAGCOR issued the most directives to casino operators, both land-based and online, as well as junket operators, aimed at preventing money laundering,” she added.
Although some operators initially viewed these measures as burdensome, Quiogue pointed out that the long-term benefits of maintaining financial integrity have been clear. “Their cooperation was crucial in demonstrating the sector’s commitment to financial integrity, which in turn paved the way for a more stable and investment-friendly gaming environment,” she explained.
Improved investment confidence
The Philippines’ removal from the FATF grey list is expected to have a profound effect on investment, particularly among foreign operators and financial institutions. Prior to this development, international investors, especially those operating across multiple jurisdictions, were cautious about committing to the Philippine gaming market due to concerns about the country’s grey-list status.
“Certain clients and potential investors—particularly foreign operators holding licenses in multiple jurisdictions—were previously hesitant to invest or expand in the Philippines,” Quiogue explained. “The grey-list status was a significant concern, with some investors explicitly stating they would wait until the Philippines was removed before making any commitments.”
With this milestone achieved, Quiogue believes that many investors will now feel more confident moving forward with their plans.
“This milestone will undoubtedly encourage investors to reassess their plans and potentially open new avenues for investment”.
Tonet Quiogue
PAGCOR’s continued role in ensuring compliance
In a statement following the FATF’s decision, PAGCOR Chairman Tengco expressed pride in the role the regulator played in the country’s removal from the grey list. “We are honored to have played a crucial part in this development,” Tengco said. “The public can rest assured that PAGCOR will continue to ensure that all our licensees are compliant with all anti-money laundering rules and regulations.”
Tengco further emphasized PAGCOR’s ongoing commitment to upholding the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing across the gaming industry. “We also commit to sustaining the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing in the entire Philippine gaming industry, including our online gaming operators, land-based casinos, and junket operators,” he added.
A step toward sustaining financial integrity
The FATF’s decision to remove the Philippines from its grey list reflects the country’s significant progress in addressing key strategic deficiencies. In its statement, the FATF praised the Philippines for implementing effective risk-based supervision of Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs), particularly casino junkets, and for improving the use of financial intelligence in AML investigations.
“The Philippines has completed its Action Plan to resolve the identified strategic deficiencies within agreed timeframes and will no longer be subject to the FATF’s increased monitoring process,” the FATF noted.
However, the organization also encouraged the Philippines to continue strengthening its counter-terrorism financing (CTF) measures and to work with the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering to sustain improvements in its financial systems.
Following the successful launch at Palace Casino, ZITRO has announced that Big Bola Casinos has elevated entertainment at its Pedregal venue in Mexico City by introducing the cutting-edge CONCEPT cabinet line and new Zitro games, including Legendary Sword, Triple Charm Journey, and Lucky Vault.
Legendary Sword, a medieval-themed adventure, casts players as noble knights wielding a Magic Sword to achieve Honor and Glory. The “Legendary Sword” Bonus unfolds on a grand 6×5 reel, boosted by features like “Honor” (multiplying wins), “Glory” (awarding extra spins), and the “Magic Sword” itself, which doubles all prizes in its column.
Triple Charm Journey introduces innovative mechanics like “Rise,” which progressively increases wins with each spin during the bonus round; “Collect,” which amasses the values of Link symbols; and “Enigma,” which multiplies its own value and that of select Link symbols on the screen.
In Lucky Vault, players crack open colorful vaults to reveal hidden prizes in the base and free games. During free games unleash features like “Multiplier” (offering Wild Multipliers) and “Bank,” which grants access to Mega, Super, Minor, or Mini jackpots by collecting matching symbols. Four identical Minor/Mini symbols or five identical Mega/Super symbols unlock their respective jackpot values.
“The CONCEPT cabinets and new games have made a huge splash at our Pedregal casino,” said Rafael Blanco, Commercial Director of Big Bola. “Players are captivated by the stunning graphics, innovative gameplay, and premium sound design. We’re thrilled to add Zitro’s latest and greatest to our entertainment lineup again – they’re always a winning choice.”
Zitro’s founder, Johnny Ortiz Viveiros added, “We’re delighted to continue our partnership with Big Bola Casinos. This launch underscores our strong alliance and reflects our dedication to innovation and excellence in the gaming industry.”
According to an announcement by the international watchdog on February 21st, ‘the Philippines is no longer subject to increased monitoring by the FATF’.
This is attributed to the jurisdictions’ ‘significant progress in improving its AML/CFT (anti-money laundering/counter financing of terrorism) regime’.
The FATF indicates that enhanced nine principal areas, including improving its AML/CFT controls to mitigate risks associated with casino junkets as well as ‘demonstrating that effective risk-based supervision of DNFBPs (designated non-financial businesses and professions) is occurring’.
The Philippines was also praised for its work on ‘demonstrating an increase in the use of financial intelligence and an increase in ML (money laundering) investigations and prosecutions in line with risk’.
A further improvement was ‘applying cross-border measures in all main international sea/airports, in line with risk’.
Despite the upgraded situation, the Philippines has been asked to continue to work with the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) ‘to sustain its improvements in its AML/CFT system’.
The removal from the FATF’s grey list was one of the priorities of the government, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) – with the nation’s president also weighing in on the issue.
Hopes were for an exit of the grey last back in October of 2024, during the FATF’s plenary session, however the official removal from the list only took place after an on-site visit from the FATF’s Asia/Pacific Joint Group this year. A subsequent plenary session confirmed the nation’s efforts.
“The plenary agreed to take the Philippines off the grey list in recognition of the completion of their action plan, which was agreed in June of 2021. Amongst other efforts and results, the Philippines is now actively combating the risk of dirty money flowing through casinos in the country,” stated FATF President Elisa de Anda Madrazo.
“The Philippines is expected to sustain the implementation of the reforms and importantly to do so in a way that is consistent with the FATF standard. The country will continue to work with the Asia-Pacific Group (APG) on money laundering and will start preparing soon for their next evaluation,” noted Madrazo.
The Philippines is facing a new assessment in 2027, “which means that they will soon start preparing. And of course, that will be an opportunity for the FATF to verify that the measures are sustained and still in place,” stated the FATF official.
Cryptocurrency iGaming brand BC.GAME has announced the launch of an airdrop within the Solana ecosystem, distributing 400 million $BC tokens to 100,000 wallets in order to enhance its blockchain presence.
The platform has become the first to airdrop tokens to users of Pump.fun, a platform built on the Solana blockchain in January 2024 that allows users to create and trade meme coins.
While Pump.fun has yet to announce an official airdrop, BC.GAME has proactively implemented a larger and earlier airdrop plan to gain a competitive edge.
A snapshot was taken of all Pump.fun addresses that completed a minimum of 10 transactions between January 31st, 2024, and February 13th, 2025.
These addresses were ranked based on their profit or loss during this timeframe, with the top 100,000 eligible for the airdrop, with a total of 400 million $BC tokens shared among 100,000 users.
BC.GAME emphasized fairness and transparency in its airdrop process, implementing a “Provably Fair” distribution model, with the rules and eligible addresses publicly available, while users can verify the eligible airdrop addresses through the provided link.
In an exclusive interview with Asia Gaming Brief, Jefferson Ha, a Senior Legal Counsel at BC.GAME, shared insights on recent challenges the company faced, including its departure from Curacao and its ambitious plans for future expansion.
Interblock, a global leader in electronic table games, has announced its participation in the upcoming California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) Membership Meeting and the Western Indian Gaming Conference (WIGC), marking a significant step in the company’s expansion into Class II gaming for tribal markets.
CNIGA Membership Meeting – A Milestone for Interblock
On February 24, 2025, Interblock’s application for CNIGA Associate Membership will be presented for approval at the CNIGA Membership Meeting, held at Pechanga Resort Casino from 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM. This milestone underscores Interblock’s long-term commitment to tribal gaming, aligning with the company’s recent partnership with Eclipse Gaming to deliver Class II gaming solutions tailored for tribal operators.
James Siva, Vice Chairman of Morongo & Chairman at CNIGA
As part of the application process, Interblock was honored to receive a tribal sponsorship endorsement from James Siva, Vice Chairman of Morongo and Chairman of CNIGA.
James Siva said, “Interblock’s commitment to innovation in Class II gaming will bring valuable opportunities to tribal operators. Their dedication to advancing electronic table games in our industry aligns with our mission to support tribal sovereignty and economic growth.”
Upon approval, Interblock will join CNIGA’s Associate Member network, gaining direct access to tribal leaders, decision-makers, legislative insights, and exclusive industry opportunities. This is a strategic move as the company introduces Class II electronic table games to tribal casinos across California, where Class II gaming falls under National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) regulations, allowing tribes to operate unlimited Class II games without state restrictions.
Interblock is also proud to sponsor the WIGC Tradeshow Breakfast, reinforcing its commitment to the tribal gaming industry. As a sponsor, Interblock will receive brand recognition on event signage, during breakfast announcements, and across WIGC communications, including the official app and website.
Held from February 24 – 27, 2025,atPechanga Resort Casino, WIGC is one of the largest tribal gaming events in California, bringing together industry leaders, regulators, and tribal representatives to discuss the future of tribal gaming, legislative developments, and emerging gaming technologies.
Strengthening Tribal Partnerships & Expanding Class II Gaming
With 73 tribal casinos in California, Interblock’s expansion into Class II gaming comes at a pivotal moment. The company’s new partnership with Eclipse Gaming enhances its ability to offer high-performance Class II electronic table games, providing tribes with cutting-edge gaming solutions that align with tribal sovereignty and regulatory flexibility.
John Connelly, CEO of Interblock
“Strengthening our partnerships within the tribal gaming community is a primary objective for our company and our increased involvement with CNIGA & WIGC highlights our commitment to delivering tailored solutions that empower tribal operators and elevate the gaming experience for their players,” said John Connelly, CEO of Interblock.
As Interblock continues to innovate in Class II gaming, the company looks forward to elevating existing partnerships, fostering new relationships, collaborating with tribal leaders, and contributing to the growth of tribal gaming across the country.
Philippine authorities have raided and shut down an alleged Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) facility in Parañaque City, arresting 453 people.
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) announced the Thursday raid, noting that initial interviews with the foreigners arrested “indicate an investment scam based on fixed stock exchange trading”.
The PAOCC also indicated that the alleged POGO operated a sports betting scam targeting Chinese and Indian nationals.
Of those arrested, 307 are Filipino, with 137 Chinese, three Vietnamese, two Malaysians, two Thai, one Indonesian and one individual from Taiwan.
The raid was conducted in combination with the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Southern Police District, the Department of Justice Office of Cybercrime, Bureau of Immigration Intelligence Division and Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Authorities have been strengthening efforts in cracking down on POGO operations in the country after the were formally banned by executive order, effective January 1st.
Good morning. Despite many hurdles, Thailand’s much-awaited casino bill is likely to enter the home stretch, with expectations for Cabinet approval on March 4th. The country has its foot on the gas, aiming to enact the law bynext year and start the bidding and construction process by 2027. Meanwhile, in Australia, Tabcorp saw a strong second half of 2024, boosted by its new wagering license. And in Singapore, Genting saw a slight drop in earnings for FY24, as costs increased and inflation tampered revenue growth.
Thailand is accelerating its way into the casino business, with expectations that the new entertainment complex bill will clear the Cabinet by March 4th. The speedy process has not been without controversy, and it remains to be seen exactly what other measures could be introduced into the draft bill. Already critics argue over the proposed fixed deposits required for Thai locals to gamble, highly restricting what was viewed as the major group of punters that operators could tap.
In 2024, 1xBet achieved significant breakthroughs and successes, solidifying its position in the iGaming industry. The brand secured major partnership deals, received prestigious awards, and showcased its innovations at the world’s leading forums.
Thailand’s draft Entertainment Complex Business Act is in the final stages of its online public hearing and is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval on March 4th.
This is according to local media outlet The Nation, which cited a source from the Government House on Wednesday.
Once approved by the Cabinet, the draft will proceed to Parliament for further deliberation.
Since receiving in-principle approval on January 13th, the draft has undergone a review by the Council of State and has seen three rounds of public hearings. The final round of the online public hearing is set to conclude on March 1st, the source confirmed.
The proposed law aims to legalize Thailand’s significant underground gambling industry, with the goal of establishing casino-entertainment complexes to generate tax revenue.
The draft Entertainment Complex Business Act consists of eight sections, covering the definition of an entertainment complex, the establishment and responsibilities of the Entertainment Complex Policy Committee, the creation and duties of the governing agency, the authority and functions of related officials, the application process for permits and criteria for operating entertainment complexes, measures to mitigate negative impacts from casinos, punishments for violations, and a transitory provision.
The source further noted that several key details have been finalized. Business operators will be required to have at least THB10 billion ($300 million) in registered capital, with a minimum of 51 percent ownership by Thai nationals. The business permit will be valid for 30 years, with an option for a 10-year renewal.
The casino permit fee will be set at THB5 billion ($149 million), with an annual renewal fee of THB1 billion ($30 million). Thai nationals will face an entrance fee of THB5,000 ($149), and casino customers must be at least 20 years old and have a minimum of THB50 million ($1.5 million) in a fixed deposit account. This requirement would effectively exclude the vast majority of Thais from accessing local casinos.
Other key revisions include a rule that casinos must be physically separated from the rest of the entertainment complex, with distinct gates and entrances. Additionally, the draft allows for casino floor space to occupy up to 10 percent of the total resort area, an increase from the previous 5 percent cap.
It is estimated that the Entertainment Complex Business Act will be enacted by the first quarter of 2026. A feasibility study is expected to begin that same year, followed by a bidding process and construction in 2027. The project is slated for completion in 3-4 years.
