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Macau GGR at $1.82B in first 23 days of March: Citigroup

Viviana Chan
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Macau GGR at $1.82B in first 23 days of March: Citigroup

Market-wide casino gross gaming revenue (GGR) in Macau reached MOP14.6 billion ($1.82 billion) in the first 23 days of March, according to estimates from Citigroup.

On Monday’s investment memo, Citigroup analysts George Choi and Timothy Chau note that this figure translates to a daily run rate of MOP643 million ($80.1 million) for the week of March 17th-23rd. This represents a modest increase of 3 percent compared to the previous week, which saw a daily run rate of MOP621 million ($77.4 million). However, the overall monthly performance suggests a more nuanced picture.

While the weekly figures indicate a positive trend, underlying data points to a decline in both VIP and mass market segments.

Industry sources indicate that VIP volumes fell between 8 to 10 percent month-over-month, and mass GGR experienced a decrease of 7 to 9 percent month-over-month. This suggests that the slight weekly GGR increase may be attributed to a higher VIP hold rate, rather than an increase in overall gaming activity.

The month-to-date (MTD) daily GGR run rate of MOP635 million ($79.1 million) is largely flat year-over-year compared to the full month of March 2024, which recorded a daily run rate of MOP629 million ($78.4 million).

Given these observations, Citigroup analysts are maintaining their March 2025 GGR forecast unchanged at MOP19.5 billion ($2.43 billion). This forecast represents approximately 75 percent of the March 2019 levels and remains flat year-over-year. To reach this forecast, the remaining days of March would need to average a daily GGR of approximately MOP613 million ($76.4 million), a figure deemed conservative by the analysts.

US Supreme Court rejects Steve Wynn’s challenge to defamation standard

Nelson Moura
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US Supreme Court rejects Steve Wynn’s challenge to defamation standard

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from casino mogul Steve Wynn regarding the defamation protections established in the 1964 case New York Times v. Sullivan.

According to Reuters, Wynn, former CEO of Wynn Resorts, had sought to overturn the “actual malice” standard, which requires public figures to prove that defamatory statements were made with knowledge of their falsity or reckless disregard for the truth.

Wynn’s lawsuit against the Associated Press (AP) stemmed from a 2018 article that accused him of sexual assault in the 1970s.

Nevada’s top court dismissed his case, stating he did not show that the AP report was published with actual malice. Wynn’s lawyers expressed disappointment at the Supreme Court’s refusal to reconsider this precedent, arguing that it allows media outlets to publish false information without consequence.

The court has previously shied away from revisiting this standard, despite calls from justices like Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch to reassess its relevance in today’s media landscape awash with misinformation.

SOFTSWISS Deputy CTO Sergey Kastukevich honored at the 2025 Oracle Excellence Awards

AGBrief Editorial
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SOFTSWISS Deputy CTO Sergey Kastukevich honored at the 2025 Oracle Excellence Awards

SOFTSWISS, a global tech company and leading provider of software solutions for the iGaming industry, has announced that its Deputy Chief Technology Officer, Sergey Kastukevich, has been named CTO of the Year in EMEA at the 2025 Oracle Excellence Awards.

The Oracle Excellence Awards, organized by Oracle, the world’s second-largest software developer after Microsoft and the fourth-largest IT company globally, celebrate the best in business innovation.  

The Award recognises Kastukevich as a CTO who strategically utilises emerging technologies to advance SOFTSWISS’ objectives, such as reducing operational costs, enhancing system stability, and developing transformative products that benefit both the company and the broader iGaming industry. With over 15 years of expertise, SOFTSWISS delivers high-performance, secure, and scalable platforms supporting more than 1,200 brands worldwide.

Sergey Kastukevich on receiving the Award: “We take pride in our successful collaboration with Oracle OCI, which allows us to implement innovative projects with high reliability and security. SOFTSWISS leverages a comprehensive suite of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) services to ensure performance, scalability, and security across its operations”.

Among these services is OKE (Oracle Kubernetes Engine), which provides the scalability and flexibility needed for deploying containerised applications. To support critical workloads, SOFTSWISS uses high-performance VM Instances, delivering the necessary power for demanding tasks.

For secure and scalable data handling, Object Storage ensures reliable storage and fast access to essential information. The company also relies on Cloud Guard for continuous monitoring and automated threat response, maintaining a high level of protection for its cloud resources.

In managing and deploying containerised applications, SOFTSWISS benefits from a centralised Container Image Hub, simplifying the application lifecycle management. Lastly, using IAM (Identity and Access Management), the company enforces strict access controls, ensuring robust security at every level of the infrastructure.

“Thanks to these tools, our collaboration with Oracle OCI allows us to build highly available and scalable solutions that meet the highest security and efficiency standards. We are confident that the joint use of cloud technologies fosters the development of innovative projects and the optimization of our client’s business processes,” added S. Kastukevich.

Sergey joined SOFTSWISS as Deputy CTO in 2020 and has since played a key role in expanding the tech team, establishing strong internal processes, and shaping the company’s long-term technological vision. He focuses not only on solving complex engineering challenges but also on supporting people, building scalable systems, and empowering top talent to thrive.

Recognition at this prestigious Award in a region where SOFTSWISS conducts business is a significant achievement and a testament to the company’s leadership.

The SOFTSWISS team will be available to discuss technology solutions for the iGaming business at SiGMA Americas in São Paulo, Brazil, from 7 to 10 April.

3 Oaks Gaming secures certification for Brazilian market

AGBrief Editorial
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3 Oaks Gaming secures certification for Brazilian market

3 Oaks Gaming, a leading iGaming content distributor, has achieved certification for its remote gaming system, random number generator, and several of its best-performing slot titles.

In time to offer its iGaming software to licenced operators across Brazil since the regulated market opened on the 1st of January 2025.

The rigorous certification process ensures that 3 Oaks Gaming meets the highest compliance standards, fully aligning with the stringent requirements set forth by the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets.

Among the certified slot games are standout titles such as Lucky Penny, 3 Hot Chillies, and Coin Volcano, known for their compelling gameplay, vibrant graphics, and innovative features, ensuring an exciting addition to Brazil’s regulated market.

Brazil’s iGaming industry is experiencing rapid expansion, driven by progressive regulatory developments. According to the latest data from Statista, market revenue is expected to exceed €6.5 billion in 2025, highlighting the potential for collaborating with operators in the region.

This latest milestone reinforces 3 Oaks Gaming’s ongoing strategy of expanding into regulated markets and strengthening its global footprint. By obtaining this certification, the company is now well-positioned to capitalize on Brazil’s vast potential and establish itself as a trusted content provider in the market.

Yuriy Muratov, Chief Commercial Officer at 3 Oaks Gaming, said: “Securing certification for Brazil is a fantastic achievement for 3 Oaks Gaming and a key step in our growth. The Brazilian market holds enormous potential, and we are excited to bring our dynamic, high-quality slot content to licensed operators in the market. This certification reflects our commitment to regulatory excellence and our ambition to establish a strong presence in one of the world’s most exciting emerging gaming markets.”

Three-month carded play trial to take place in Victoria, implementation slatted by year-end

Kelsey Wilhelm
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Three-month carded play trial to take place in Victoria, implementation slatted by year-end

Authorities in the Australian state of Victoria aim to start a three-month trial of carded play across about 40 venues in the state by mid-2025, before introducing the measure to all poker machines in Victoria.

That is according to a release by the Parliament of Victoria, following a vote on a carded play-focused legislation amendment, which passed the Legislative Assembly with a majority vote and moves on to the Legislative Council.

During a speech in the second reading, the state’s Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation Minister Meilssa Horne indicated that the proposed law change would allow the government to set requirements on carded play for gaming machines in both hotels and clubs.

“This establishes the means to enable patrons to make better informed choices about their spending,” indicated the minister.

While the bill is a step towards carded play, across the state, is has drawn some criticism for its delayed rollout – as it was first introduced in November. It also has been critiqued for attempting to sidestep Parliament in understanding implementation impacts and timelines.

The bill also aims to set new spin rate limits for new EGMs to slow the rate of play at EGMs.

Others argue that the bill could limit the casual or social impact of gambling, especially for smaller venues.

The mandatory carded play is set to slot under the government’s current YourPlay framework, which has reduced the amount of money that be loaded into machines from AU$1,000 to AU$100. Spin rates are proposed to be increased to 3 seconds per spin from the current 2.3 seconds.

Carded play: account-based gambling

Carded play has become a major topic of conversation across Australian states.

Sally Gainsbury, carded play trial, Victoria
Professor Sally Gainsbury, Director of the Gambling Treatment & Research Clinic at the University of Sydney

Professor Sally Gainsbury recently spoke to AGB about efforts that the New South Wales government could be following through on, based upon a report from the Independent Panel for Gaming Reform.

Professor Gainsbury, the Director of the Gambling Treatment & Research Clinic at the University of Sydney expressed the need to transition to an ‘account-based’ system, that would make it equal for punters to either have a physical card, or an app.

While no timelines are yet in place for such an account-based system, the rates of those seeking help for problem gambling “have remained very steady”.

Given the complexity of each Australian state’s regulations regarding gambling, it is difficult to establish a nationwide approach, however each state could potentially learn from its peers’ successes of mistakes – paving the way for healthy gambling throughout Australia.

Direct flights now required for POGO-linked deportees

Viviana Chan
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Direct flights now required for POGO-linked deportees

The Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration (BI) has implemented a new policy requiring direct flights for the deportation of foreign nationals involved in crimes linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).

According to the Philippine News Agency, this change, formalized in BI Board of Commissioners Resolution No. 2025-002, dated March 21st, 2025, aims to close a significant loophole that previously allowed these individuals to continue their criminal activities in other countries.

This decision aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to fully ban POGOs. BI Commissioner Joel Viado emphasized that the policy strengthens deportation procedures and reduces the risk of deported individuals expanding their operations in other parts of Asia.

The new policy follows calls from Senators Risa Hontiveros and Sherwin Gatchalian for stricter measures to prevent high-profile criminals from manipulating deportation protocols. Viado expressed gratitude to the senators and other lawmakers for their support in pushing these reforms.

The BI, in collaboration with the Department of Justice (DOJ), is working closely with airlines and foreign embassies to ensure the smooth implementation of this directive.

Additionally, the bureau is exploring further security enhancements for deportation procedures, including improved coordination with international law enforcement agencies.

Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: Regulatory oversight intensifies for Philippine gaming operators

AGBrief Editorial
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Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: Regulatory oversight intensifies for Philippine gaming operators
Good Morning: Upping the ante. Following the Philippines’ exit from the FATF’s grey list, compliance demands for regulators will increase. In an interview with AGB Chuan Wee Lye from Sumsub highlights the need for operators to enhance their Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) practices to align with national regulations. Meanwhile in Thailand, a recent poll has shown that most Thai citizens have concerns about the government’s proposed entertainment complex policy. At the same time Indian authorities have intensified their crackdown on illegal offshore online gaming by blocking 357 websites and 2,400 bank accounts linked to these entities.

What you need to know

On the radar

AGB Intelligence

PHILIPPINES

FATF grey list exit, Philippines

Philippine gaming adapts to new compliance post-grey list exit

The Philippine gaming industry, having recently exited the FATF’s grey list, faces heightened compliance demands as regulators increase oversight. Chuan Wee Lye from Sumsub highlighted the necessity for operators to enhance their Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) practices to align with national regulations, emphasizing the role of technology in improving security and detecting suspicious activities. While the industry celebrated its grey list exit in February 2025, new uncertainties emerged from a Senate proposal to review the Inland Gaming Operators sector, which aims to address potential societal harms.

Industry Updates

Corporate Spotlight

UU Wallet: Bridging traditional finance and Web3 flexibility

UU Wallet unveils comprehensive Digital Finance Solutions at ASEAN Gaming Summit 2025

With a strong focus on security and efficiency, UU Wallet stands out with its instant cryptocurrency exchange capabilities and globally accepted prepaid card, making it a preferred choice for those navigating the complexities of digital finance.

INTELLIGENCE | ASEAN | CAREERS

India blocks 357 illegal gaming websites

Nelson Moura
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India blocks 357 illegal gaming websites

The Indian Directorate General of Goods and Services Tax Intelligence (DGGI) has intensified its crackdown on illegal offshore online gaming by blocking 357 websites and 2,400 bank accounts linked to these entities.

Under GST law, online money gaming is classified as a supply of goods and is subject to a 28 percent tax, requiring entities in this sector to register.

The DGGI is currently scrutinizing around 700 offshore entities for evading GST by failing to register and concealing taxable income.

A recent report by the Digital India Foundation (DIF) has warned for the alarming scale of illegal online gambling and betting in India, revealing that the industry continues to thrive despite regulatory crackdowns.

In a coordinated effort with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the DGGI has blocked 357 websites of non-compliant offshore gaming operators and attached nearly 2,000 bank accounts, amounting to Rs.4 crore ($465.114).

Additionally, 392 UPI-linked accounts have been put on debit freeze, provisionally attaching Rs.122.05 ($14,1 million) crore.

Recent operations have uncovered Indian nationals facilitating online gaming for Indian customers through platforms like Satguru and Mahakaal, using mule accounts to process payments.

So far, 166 mule accounts have been blocked, and three arrests have been made, with further investigations ongoing, with the DGGI warning that non-compliance by foreign entities distorts competition and poses risks to national security.

At the same time, many celebrities and influencers endorsing these platforms are also under scrutiny, with the public advised to avoid offshore gaming sites to protect their finances and integrity.

As the Indian Premier League season approaches, the DGGI pledged to intensify enforcement against illegal gaming operations, emphasizing the importance of using regulated platforms for responsible gaming.

Spintec wins Best ETG Solution at the Asia Gaming Awards

AGBrief Editorial
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Spintec wins Best ETG Solution at the Asia Gaming Awards

Asia Gaming Awards recognized Spintec‘s Charisma as the best among electronic table gaming solutions based on its added value, reliability, support, functionality, customer experience, and revenue generation.

The award confirms that Spintec’s role as one of Asia’s leading providers of electronic table games (ETGs) is not a coincidence. It is especially admirable that they are most successful in Macau, a significant market known for its size, strict regulations, and high operational standards.

Spintec’s presence in Asia is therefore stronger than ever, driven by a deep understanding of the market’s needs and a commitment to delivering cutting-edge ETG solutions that enhance the player experience and casino profitability.

Spintec’s products are the preferred choice for operators looking for reliability, innovation, and seamless integration into their gaming floors.

Spintec’s success in Asia is also fuelled by its unwavering focus on product excellence and continuous innovation, such as the recent launch of its Charisma line. From stand-alone, compact solutions to multiplayer and amphitheater setups, Spintec’s ETGs are designed to optimize player engagement and operational efficiency. Casinos across Asia trust Spintec’s solutions to maximize uptime and enhance gameplay.

Maria Garcia is the Executive and Sales Director of APE, Spintec’s exclusive distributor in Macau, Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia. As she was receiving the award, she emphasized: “Spintec’s ETGs have quickly become one of the bestsellers in our portfolio — and that’s no coincidence. With the launch of the Charisma product line, it’s clear their solutions are superior in every aspect. We are beyond thrilled that Spintec has received this prestigious recognition. It proves that APE has decided on the best possible partnership and it gives us additional drive to continue developing our markets.”

Maksim Gojković, Spintec’s Regional Sales Manager, agrees: “We are extremely proud and thankful for this recognition. Asia is one of Spintec’s most important markets and the cooperation with APE has been admirable. This latest award just proves that products developed in cooperation with good partners will always bring an advantage.”

Stats Perform becomes Concacaf’s official data partner

Nelson Moura
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0
Stats Perform becomes Concacaf’s official data partner

Partnership includes exclusive rights for official data collection, betting-related live streaming, and media services across top Concacaf competitions, including the Gold Cup and Champions Cup.

Sports AI and technology leader Stats Perform and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) today announced a multi-year partnership covering official data and betting-related live streaming video rights, with exclusivity for the Confederation’s premier men’s and women’s national team and club competitions, including the Concacaf Gold Cup, Concacaf Nations League (within select territories), and the Concacaf Champions Cup. 

This timely partnership – which also includes a range of Opta- and AI powered services to help Concacaf grow audiences and revenues – resonates with the growing enthusiasm for and expansion of the sport throughout the region and globally.

Under the agreement, Stats Perform has exclusive official rights to collect in-venue data for provision to the media markets across Concacaf competitions, in addition to the betting-related data rights and comprehensive package of live audiovisual streams. In the United States, distribution to licensed global sportsbooks and betting partners will be managed by Stats Perform’s reseller, SportsContentCo.

Sportsbooks offering Concacaf betting-related streaming will be able to leverage Stats Perform’s cutting-edge AI to deliver a layer of augmented betting experiences within the game video to their users. These include advanced features to make the watching and betting experience more informative and interactive, such as the award-winning AI-powered Instant Highlights and Opta Interactive Stats Overlays.

Stats Perform’s Opta and OptaAI teams will also be providing Concacaf with official data feeds, editorial services and the new Opta Live match analysis tool, part of OptaAI Studio, to power even more captivating storytelling across official Concacaf sites and media channels.

Concacaf will also be among the first organisations to adopt Stats Perform’s AI-powered automated Opta Stories, Opta Stream and Opta Points tools to expand their sponsorable inventory, demonstrating its dedication to delivering innovative and high-quality, data-driven solutions that elevate the experience for fans and partners alike.

Philippe Moggio, Concacaf General Secretary said: “We are excited to partner with Stats Perform, a highly trusted global leader in sports AI and technology. Their expertise and powerful tools will support our effort to elevate the game and engage fans, sponsors, and media partners in new and innovative ways.”

Steve Xeller, Chief Revenue Officer at Stats Perform said “We are delighted to add Concacaf’s high quality competitions to our Bet LiveStreams and official data packages, and to support the federation’s audience and revenue growth with our AI and Opta content services during a really exciting period for men’s and women’s soccer in the region.”

The Concacaf competitions join thousands of other premium, well-timed professional men’s and women’s football competitions in Stats Perform’s Bet LiveStreams and official data offering, including LaLiga, alongside multiple popular properties from the world’s biggest betting sports like WTA tennis, FIBA and NBL basketball, ICC Cricket, FIVB Volleyball and BWF Badminton.

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