Cambodian businessman Heng Sithy, accused of running the ‘largest online casino network in Cambodia’, has been arrested in Russia.
According to Radio Free Asia, the reason for Sithy’s arrest was not immediately revealed, with authorities indicating that his passport had been revoked.
Heng Sithy
This follows an arrest warrant issued by Cambodian authorities on charges of blackmail.
Despite this, the executive publicly published his plans to travel to Moscow to allegedly meet with Vladimir Putin’s cabinet.
Speaking of unspecified plans, Sithy indicated that “We must convince our working groups to continue the work to establish diplomatic groups and the fighting groups, I will be in charge”.
The 39-year-old has come under fire after accusations of bribery and threats of fiscal consequence, allegedly preparing a letter to the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to proclaim innocence.
“I have never done anything wrong in business instead I was set up and got robbed [of] my wealth,” indicates one of his claims, quoted by the publication.
The executive furthered that Cambodia has fallen “into the trap of criminal money when we have such officers in government doing such corruption.”
The executive furthered his appeal to the Cambodian Prime Minister, stating “Cambodia needs to be in good hands, a country needs a real leader, as a leader if your heart [is]… at the right place all will be good”.
The Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT) attributed the shortfall in meeting its 2024 target of 7.7 million international tourists to budget cuts for tourism programs and stringent policies for foreign visitors.
The country welcomed just over 5.4 million international visitors, falling short of the target by a significant margin.
According to a release on the department’s website, which shared content from an interview with local television, DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco pointed out that a key factor in the shortfall was the reduction in funding for the agency’s branding and promotion programs.
The budget was slashed from PHP500 million ($8.5 million) under the National Expenditure Program (NEP) to only PHP100 million ($1.7 million) in the General Appropriations Act (GAA). This cut, along with a PHP1 billion ($17 million) reduction in the DOT’s branding budget for 2024, created challenges in attracting international travelers.
Meanwhile, Frasco also highlighted that the suspension of the e-visa for Chinese visitors contributed to the shortfall. Only around 300,000 Chinese tourists arrived, far below the projected 2 million. She noted that neighboring ASEAN countries maintained more lenient visa policies for Chinese travelers, further impacting the Philippines’ tourism numbers.
Despite these challenges, the DOT reported that the Philippines generated PHP760.50 billion ($12.95 billion) in tourism revenue from inbound tourism expenditures—representing the total amount spent by non-resident visitors—from January 1st to December 31st, 2024. This marks a notable increase of 9.04 percent compared to PHP697.46 billion ($11.87 billion) recorded in 2023.
Furthermore, the current figures surpass pre-pandemic levels, exceeding the estimated PHP600.01 billion ($10.21 billion) in 2019 by an impressive 26.75 percent. This performance translates to a recovery rate of 126.75 percent for the local tourism economy, underscoring the sector’s resilience and vitality.
In New Zealand, legislation is set to be introduced to regulate the sale of lotto products to minors, aiming to minimize gambling harm for the youth.
According to reports, a proposed amendment to legislation is planned to be introduced to the nation’s Parliament later this year, aiming to bring consistency to Lotto NZ’s products and strictly define age limits for retailers and customers themselves.
Advocates argue that the restrictions will help limit minors’ ability to buy tickets for their parents – relating the issue to the underage purchase of alcohol or cigarettes for their parents.
A new NZ$1,000 ($560) fine is proposed for retailers caught selling lotto tickets to those who are underage.
The company running the lottery, Lotto NZ, has expressed support for the law change, noting that it will “make it clear that Lotto is for adults only”.
Genting Malaysia Bhd, a global leader in leisure and tourism, is reportedly closely monitoring developments in Thailand’s gaming market.
Simultaneously, the operator is actively pursuing one of New York’s downstate casino licenses and exploring opportunities in the UAE market.
According to Malaysia-based securities firm CSG International, as cited by local media outlet Business Times, Genting Malaysia’s strategic focus on these key markets positions the company to capitalize on growth opportunities, enhance operational efficiency, and secure long-term profitability.
The brokerage specifically highlighted the company’s interest in Thailand’s emerging gaming market. Thailand’s Cabinet recently approved a draft law to legalize gambling and casinos as part of a broader initiative to boost tourism, create jobs, and attract foreign investment.
In May last year, Genting Group Chairman Lim Kok Thaycommented on the company’s interest in Thailand, stating that they were awaiting further details to assess the feasibility of bidding for an integrated resort (IR) development.
He emphasized that critical factors—such as potential locations and whether local residents would be allowed to gamble—needed clarification before the company could make a definitive decision.
Meanwhile, four of Macau’s six casino concessionaires—Galaxy Entertainment Group, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts, and Wynn Resorts—have so far expressed interest in investing in Thailand.
According to Goldman Sachs, Galaxy Entertainment Group has revealed more details about its plans to enter the bidding process for an integrated resort (IR) license in Thailand, with a Request for Proposal (RFP) expected as early as mid-2025.
Aristocrat Leisure Limited (“Aristocrat“) will showcase a diverse range of gaming content, solutions, and technologies, integrating both land-based and online gaming, at the inaugural ICE Barcelona 2025 this month.
Aristocrat Gaming and Aristocrat Interactive will deliver a modern experience that highlights the company’s commitment to innovation, connected experiences and player engagement for the EMEA market.
Aristocrat Gaming will display its latest lineup of top-performing games including Eilers & Krejcik’s most anticipated premium lease game, Phoenix Link™, and core cabinet, The Baron™ Upright.
Featuring player-favourite mechanics, Phoenix Link™ is the next evolution of the international hit game, Dragon Link™, with all-new themes, features, and bonuses on the Neptune™ Single and MarsX™ Portrait cabinets. Additionally, and fresh from its North American debut, The Baron™ Upright cabinet brings with it impressive new technology for the region alongside a portfolio of new iterations of player-favourite games like Ju Cai Jin Gui™, and more. Mo’ Mummy™, Fortune Harmony™, and Bao Bao Riches™ will also feature on The Baron™ Upright for the first time at the show.
“We’re excited to showcase the latest line-up of content and hardware for the EMEA market,” said Craig Toner, CEO of Aristocrat Gaming. “ICE is a fantastic opportunity for us to engage with our customers and display our comprehensive technological innovations and solutions to ensure they get the most out of their casino floor.”
The strength of Aristocrat Gaming’s cabinet portfolio will be evident in the company’s booth which will be complete with show-stopping content and a diverse offering of form factors. New and innovative content for the MarsX™ Portrait will be on display, including Coin Trio Royal™, Crazy Chickens™, Bao Zhu Zhao Fu Wheel Blast™, Whisker Wheels™, Reign of Gold™, Ultimate Fast Cash™, and more. The MarsX™ Dual Upright will feature player-favourite brands like Bao Zhu Zhao Fu Link™ and Diamond Age™ to round out the exhibit.
A wide portfolio of multi-games brings big action, including Aristocrat Gaming’s Winner’s World™ with over 30 games, Fortune’s Choice™ with eight game titles from the Asia region, and the first original game made for the EMEA and LATAM markets, Royal Collection™.
Complementing the land-based content, Aristocrat Interactive will demonstrate its capabilities across online gaming, lottery and sports betting. With four of its key business units displaying content – Content & Aggregation, iGaming & Sports, iGaming White-Label, and iLottery – Aristocrat Interactive will bring to life the seamless player journey from land to online.
“The new frontier of connected experiences is here, and we are excited to showcase all that we have to offer at ICE for the first-time as Aristocrat Interactive,” said Moti Malul, CEO of Aristocrat Interactive. “From the best-in-class content to innovative solutions and services, we’re excited to engage with our customers and share our new offerings now available to help them on their online journey.”
Aristocrat Interactive’s connected experience will include a showcase from four of its go-to-market segments:
Content & Aggregation will highlight the strength of its engagement tools and its game roadmap with the debut of titles from crowd-favourite franchises including Mo’ Mummy™, Double Bubble™, Jackpot Carnival Buffalo™, and the legendary Secrets of the Phoenix Blaze™, along with demos of content from its three in-house studios – Roxor Gaming, Wizard Games and Aristocrat Interactive.
The iLottery team is set to showcase its comprehensive solutions designed to enhance iLotteries’ player engagement and revenue growth. The team will be on hand to help identify strategic road mapping for operators and host demos of NeoGames Studios’ award-winning content for play.
iGaming & Sports will highlight its flexible, modular platforms including its fully customizable sportsbook platforming, full-service iGaming platform, and available managed services. Visitors can explore the solutions built to deliver unmatched speed, scalability and advancement player engagement tools, along with the ability to interact with self-service terminals.
The iGaming While-Label team will demonstrate how the division enables independent operators to launch and scale their own online RMG business through its various front-end and back-end solutions that cover casino, sportsbook, proprietary games, and game aggregation including customer support, digital wallets, retention teams, and 360 support.
Located in the Online Gaming Hall at Stand #2H30, Hall 2, Aristocrat Gaming and Aristocrat Interactive will show ICE visitors the power of combined content and solutions, no matter how and where players choose to play.
Macau gaming operator Wynn Resorts (Macau) has been working with the Macao SAR Government since 2023 to implement the Rua da Felicidade Pedestrian Zone revitalization project in the hope of enriching tourists’ experience and injecting new momentum into the old district by driving community development.
The project was recently selected for the 20th Tsinghua Business Case Competition in 2024 and added to the case platform of the China Business Case Center at Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management for classroom teaching purposes by business schools.
The project is the very first Macao enterprise case to be published on the platform, which marks the academic recognition for Wynn’s Rua da Felicidade historic district revitalization project and suggests its reference and research value for industry practice.
Launched in 2005, the Tsinghua Business Case Competition is a major annual event of Tsinghua University and has been successfully held for 19 editions. It is organized by the MBA Education Center of the Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management with academic support from the university’s China Business Case Center and is a thematic forum and competition in Chinese and English that covers all schools and departments of the university.
With the Rua da Felicidade Pedestrian Zone revitalization project becoming a case for study in the competition, Wynn has joined Tsinghua University to foster future leaders together by exchanging ideas with the academic circle and providing participating teams with field study support.
The project’s addition to the case platform of the China Business Case Center at Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management integrates intellectual resources from the university and society with the company’s management practices, which helps to raise management standards.
A fashion show during Rua da Felicidade Fashion Week organized by Wynn Macau
Moreover, by partnering with Tsinghua University, Wynn hopes to build an exchange platform to further promote Macao’s diverse tourism elements and drive the city’s sustainable and high quality development.
Entitled “Wynn Macau: attempting district empowerment in the pursuit of diversification,” the case of the Rua da Felicidade Pedestrian Zone revitalization project provided an analysis of Wynn’s endeavors to empower the district by consolidating its tourism and cultural resources, such as adding festive decorations and large art installations and organizing cultural and creative markets, cultural activities and night markets during festivals, long holidays and large events.
Wynn has also been working with small and medium-sized enterprises in the district and facilitating their marketing and promotion with its resources and network in an effort to raise the visibility of the district and local SMEs, thus further attracting visitors, aiding community economy and creating business opportunities for more SMEs.
In the future, Wynn will continue to propel community economy, enrich cultural tourism experiences and contribute to the prosperity and stability of Macao in the spirit of innovation. Wynn will also team up with more academic institutions and industry partners to explore and execute more projects that benefit community and tourism development together.
Yggdrasil, a leading iGaming publisher, has promoted Jose Simon Kadala to Chief Commercial Officer. Kadala holds a wealth of experience, having worked in the iGaming industry for over a decade, specialising in commercial roles at leading companies, including IGT, Microgaming, Skywind Group and Stakelogic.
Since joining Yggdrasil in 2023, Kadala has been instrumental in helping secure a string of new partnerships, including iGaming Platform, Bally’s Interactive & Panbet. He ascends to C-level after having served as Commercial Director for a year.
In his new role, he will continue to lead the commercial team on an upward trajectory throughout 2025, with plans to increase further the number of top-tier operators and supplier partners working with the studio in key markets worldwide.
Speaking on his promotion, Jose said: “I’m excited to step into the role of Chief Commercial Officer at Yggdrasil. Over the past year, I’ve been fortunate to work with an incredible team, and together, we’ve delivered products and experience that truly stand out in the market.
“Building and leading competitive commercial teams has been a passion of mine, and I’m proud of the strides we’ve made in driving growth and innovation. As I take on this new challenge, I’m looking forward to continuing to push boundaries and take Yggdrasil to the next level, deliver even more value to our clients, and support the amazing team that makes it all possible.”
James Curwen, CEO at Yggdrasil, added: “I am delighted to name Jose as Yggdrasil’s CCO. He has proven to be an invaluable member of the Yggdrasil team and has built a fantastic group of people around him who all share a collective will to see this company succeed. I wish him the best in his new role.”
Digitain, a leading provider of sportsbook and casino platform solutions, has announced the appointment of Aida Vardanyan as the CEO of Digitain Malta.
Aida, a seasoned professional with over 9 years of experience at Digitain, and has been a key contributor to the company’s growth and expansion, playing a pivotal role in establishing Digitain as a global leader in the iGaming industry.
Aida Vardanyan’s remarkable journey with Digitain began over a decade ago, where she was instrumental in shaping the company’s strategic vision and driving its success across multiple markets. Her expertise in fostering partnerships, navigating regulatory landscapes, and building operational excellence has been fundamental in Digitain’s evolution and global reach.
As Digitain continues its journey toward becoming a globally recognized iGaming powerhouse, Aida’s leadership will be focused on developing full-scale operations in Malta, one of the most significant hubs for the iGaming industry. Her efforts will ensure that Digitain Malta serves as a cornerstone of the company’s global strategy, strengthening its presence in regulated markets and driving innovation to meet the demands of operators worldwide.
Aida Vardanyan, CEO of Digitain Malta, shared her thoughts on the new role: “I am honoured to take on this new challenge as the CEO of Digitain Malta. Having been a part of Digitain’s journey for over 9 years, I’ve witnessed firsthand how innovation, collaboration, and commitment to excellence have driven our growth. My focus will be on building a robust and scalable operation in Malta, ensuring we deliver unmatched value to our partners and establish Digitain as a leader in the global iGaming market. I’m excited to lead our talented team as we continue to innovate and grow together.”
The establishment of Digitain Malta under Aida’s leadership represents a significant milestone in Digitain’s expansion strategy. Malta’s strategic position as a global iGaming hub, combined with Aida’s vision and experience, positions the company to achieve sustained growth and success in key markets.
Light & Wonder, Inc., a top-tier global games company, has rolled out its online gaming platform in Brazil’s newly regulated market, enhancing the quality and variety of content available to players in a secure and regulated environment.
The go-live has successfully taken place with several leading online operators. Players in Brazil can now access in-house content like 88 FORTUNES™ MEGAWAYS, along with player-favorite franchises CASH FALLS™ and ULTIMATE FIRE LINK™. Additionally, players can explore the widely acclaimed PIROTS™ franchise and more top-tier content from ELK, one of the Light & Wonder’s Studios, alongside a wide variety of third-party content available through the Light & Wonder iGaming content marketplace.
The regulated Brazilian market, which went live on January 1, 2025, is anticipated to be the largest market in the Latin America region. Light & Wonder has already established itself as a major presence in other countries in the region that have regulated online gambling, including Colombia, Mexico and Argentina.
Tatiana García Barrenechea, Commercial Director – LATAM, at Light & Wonder, said: “Brazil is the jewel in the crown of regulated markets in Latin America and it’s fantastic to be live in a country so rich in potential.
“As always, our aim is to provide players with a wide range of relevant, localized content through our content marketplace, delivered by our operator partners. We look forward to seeing the impact that our offering has in Brazil, as we embark on a journey that delivers entertainment to players within a safe, secure environment.”
Light & Wonder’s content marketplace offers more than 3,500 games from a global network of in-house and third-party game studios, with unrivalled ease of integration that is robust and secure. All games available through the Light & Wonder content marketplace are supported with a comprehensive range of responsible gambling tools, helping to deliver a safe and enjoyable gaming experience for players.
Riding high on the success of the ‘Mega Lounge,’ Zitro proudly introduces the ‘Grand Mega Lounge’ to its product lineup. The ‘Grand Mega Lounge’ is set to make its grand debut at ICE Barcelona 2025, one of the premier gaming events globally.
The ‘Mega Lounge’ has already achieved remarkable success across key markets such as Argentina, Perú, Paraguay, Costa Rica, Greece, Italy, and Portugal, cementing its reputation as a vibrant winning experience enhanced by visual and sound effects when the jackpot hits. The ‘Grand Mega Lounge’ is an evolution of the same idea as the ‘Mega Lounge’ by using the CONCEPT cabinet line and games offering both Grand Mega and Mega jackpots.
The ‘Grand Mega Lounge’ features the exclusive Grand Mega jackpot, with adjustable start-up amounts, increments, and hit frequencies. Operators can also integrate the Mega jackpot, creating a communal gaming experience that appeals to a broad player base.
Operators who embrace Zitro’s innovative concepts, including either the ‘Mega Lounge’ or the ‘Grand Mega Lounge’, can offer customers exclusive gaming experiences unmatched by any other brand. These lounges allow players to enjoy diverse Zitro products and compete for the same jackpot without leaving the comfort of the dedicated gaming area within the casino.
The first lineup of games for the ‘Grand Mega Lounge’ will be available on Zitro’s new CONCEPT cabinet line. This exciting lineup includes titles such as Legendary Sword, Fairyland Quest, Merging Fu Pots, King Fu Frog, Fu Frog, and Fu Pots. Each game is designed to captivate players with innovative gameplay and immersive features.
“We are eager to unveil the ‘Grand Mega Lounge’ at ICE Barcelona 2025,” said Sebastián Salat, President – International of Zitro. “The success of the ‘Mega Lounge’ has demonstrated the global demand for a diverse range of games, cabinets, and experiences. We look forward to showcasing this innovation to the gaming community”, Salat concluded.
Zitro invites all ICE Barcelona 2025 attendees to visit its booth and experience the new ‘Grand Mega Lounge’ and its comprehensive range of gaming products.
