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Yggdrasil and SpinOn unveil Major Miners, a feature-packed mining adventure

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Yggdrasil, a company that delivers exceptional gaming experiences to operators and players worldwide, all powered by agile technology, has released a thrilling mining adventure from SpinOn, Major Miners, complete with hidden gems, generous bonuses and jackpots.

The title invites players to grab their pickaxes to dig deep and uncover hidden riches in the mine, including the X-Pots Wheel Feature, which, when triggered, can award a Mini, Minor, Major, or Grand reward, up to 5,000 times the bet.

The wheel can also award the Multiplier Super-Bonus Round, featuring a multiplier on top of the game’s standard bonus, up to 10x.

Major Miner’s bonus round sees the triggering symbols get bronze frames placed around the position they land. If additional bonus icons land during the feature, cells with a frame get upgraded from Bronze to Silver, Gold and Diamond, making prizes progressively more valuable.

Major Miners is powered by GATI, Yggdrasil’s state-of-the-art technology that enables partners to consistently employ the preconfigured, regulation-ready, standardised development toolkit to produce cutting-edge content followed by rapid distribution.

Zoe Bird, Head of Masters at Yggdrasil, said: “Major Miners is a thrilling slot adventure with the always popular mining theme, perfect for players who enjoy immersive, treasure-hunting games and the excitement of discovering hidden riches. We’re thrilled about what YGG Masters has in store for 2025, and Major Miners is the ideal title to kickstart the year.”

The Marketing Team at SpinOn said: Major Miners invites players to dig deep for gold and explosive wins with thrilling bonus rounds, multipliers, and the adrenaline-pumping X-Pots Wheel, where jackpots of up to 10,000x are waiting to be struck. With 243 ways to win and an immersive mining adventure, it’s a powerful addition to our portfolio, and we’re excited to bring it to Yggdrasil’s vast operator network.”

Games Global and OROS Gaming venture into the jungle with Aztec Might Cash Spree

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Games Global’s exclusive partner, OROS Gaming, has released Aztec Might Cash Spree™, the newest addition to its acclaimed Cash Spree™ collection.

This immersive slot pairs a rich Mesoamerican theme with feature-packed gameplay, including the potential for fixed jackpots.

Set against the backdrop of a lush jungle, this 5×3 Aztec slot introduces players to a world of totem poles, stacked Wilds, and Cash Spree™ symbols to unlock wins.

In the base game, every X icon increases the Free Spins Multiplier meter by 1x up to 10x, while every +1 symbol boosts the number of Sticky Spins, reaching up to a maximum of 12 spins.

Landing Free Spins scatters on reels one, two and three triggers the Free Spins bonus round, awarding between eight and 30 spins. All wins during this round – except for the Cash Spree™ Mega and Grand jackpots – are enhanced by the multiplier accumulated in the base game.

The Sticky Spins feature is triggered by three Sticky Spins scatters on reels three, four and five, awarding the number of Sticky Spins accumulated in the base game. During Sticky Spins, all Cash Spree™ values remain locked on the grid and are paid out once the entire screen is filled or all spins are exhausted.

The Cash Spree™ feature is triggered when cash icons land on adjacent reels starting with reels one and two. Standard Cash Spree™ symbols carry values up to 20x the bet, while the Major, Mega and Grand jackpots offer prizes of up to 2,500x.

The launch of Aztec Might Cash Spree™ reaffirms OROS Gaming’s reputation as a leading developer of class-leading slots, as well as diversifying Games Global’s product provision with another engaging release that fuses captivating gameplay with strong payout potential.

Ryan Cuddy, CEO at OROS Gaming, said “Aztec Might Cash Spree™ exemplifies our passion for helping partners bring unmatched joy and excitement to players in a way only we can. By blending our deep Nevada land-based expertise with an unwavering commitment to improvement with every release, we’ve crafted a game that operators and players alike will truly enjoy. This achievement reflects our team’s selfless collaboration, humble confidence, and shared dedication to making every new game our best yet.”

Andy Booth, Chief Product Officer at Games Global, added: Aztec Might Cash Spree™ follows the October release of Premium Joker Cash Spree™, elevating the brand with another feature-rich, entertaining title. OROS Gaming continuously delivers high-performing content, and we have no doubt the latest Cash Spree™ release will resonate with our partners’ players.”

Slotegrator partners with Octopus Global to boost reach in Europe and Africa

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Leading B2B software supplier and aggregator Slotegrator has partnered with Octopus Global, an RGS provider known for delivering innovative, reliable, and flexible iGaming solutions.

This collaboration is part of Slotegrator’s ongoing commitment to expanding its partner network and offering operators access to the most advanced technologies and diverse game content available in the iGaming industry.  

Founded in 2022, Octopus Global has quickly gained a reputation as a trustworthy and forward-thinking iGaming provider. The UK-based company hosts games from renowned studios in the iGaming industry, each bringing unique themes, brands, mechanics, and features to the table. With all content developed in HTML5, Octopus Global ensures seamless compatibility across devices, giving players the freedom to enjoy games on desktops, tablets, and smartphones alike.  

Beyond its impressive game portfolio, Octopus Global equips operators with a powerful suite of tools designed to enhance efficiency, maintain compliance, and elevate player experiences. Geo-targeting and blocking features make it easy for operators to manage regional accessibility, ensuring compliance with local regulations. Bonus and extra wager tools, including free games and bonus buys, help operators attract and retain players through engaging promotions tailored to their audience.  

Operators also benefit from Octopus Global’s automated reconciliation and trace tools, which simplify troubleshooting and transaction tracking. The built-in integration suite optimizes game performance before launch, ensuring smooth operations. Additionally, Octopus Global prioritizes responsible gaming with features like reality checks, session profit and loss tracking, max win controls, and auto-complete, promoting transparency and player trust.  

With this partnership, Slotegrator reinforces its position as a leader in the iGaming industry, providing operators with cutting-edge solutions and an extensive range of high-quality games. Octopus Global’s scalable and flexible RGS platform is an invaluable addition for operators looking to deliver exceptional gaming experiences and streamline their operations.  

Octopus Global has commented on the partnership with Slotegrator: “It has been a pleasure collaborating with Slotegrator from the outset. They have consistently demonstrated professionalism and efficiency in both commercial and technical matters. We are eager to continue our partnership and further enhance the mutually beneficial relationship between our organizations.”

PopOK Gaming launches Xmas Crash: A new game to celebrate the festive fun

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This festive release invites players to hop aboard Santa’s sleigh and soar into the holiday spirit. As Santa and his reindeer race through the skies, players will watch the multiplier climb higher and higher. But here’s the twist — will they cash out their prize in time or keep riding for an even bigger win?

With a jaw-dropping max win of x10,000, Xmas Crash promises holiday thrills and heart-racing excitement. The game’s bright holiday visuals, cheerful Christmas tunes, and adrenaline-pumping mechanics create a captivating experience that’s perfect for the season of giving.

Key Features of Xmas Crash:

  • Merry Christmas Vibes — Immerse yourself in bright, festive visuals and joyful holiday music.
  • Fast-Paced Gameplay — Make 1 or 2 bets per round and choose the perfect moment to cash out.
  • Sky-High Multipliers — Hold your nerve and aim for up to x10,000 your bet!

Xmas Crash is designed to bring players festive cheer and the chance for monumental wins. Packed with playful visuals, lively sound effects, and simple yet exhilarating gameplay, it’s the ultimate holiday adventure.

“This game embodies the festive spirit of Christmas, blending entertainment and rewards in a way that’s fresh, fun, and unforgettable,” said the Head of Partnerships of PopOK Gaming. “With a chance to win up to x10,000, Xmas Crash adds a new level of excitement to the holiday season.”


Accelerating currency drop of renminbi pressures Macau tourism market

The dramatic decline in the renminbi (RMB) against the US dollar is increasingly weighing on Macau’s tourism market. As the RMB continues to weaken, mainland Chinese tourists are finding that the cost of visiting Macau has risen sometimes by double digits, without corresponding price adjustments, making the destination less attractive.

Since Donald Trump was elected US president in November of last year, aggressive tariff policies, though not yet fully implemented, have contributed to a nearly 3 percent depreciation of the RMB in a short period. Further depreciation is also anticipated. 

Meanwhile, the US Federal Reserve slowed its rate-cutting cycle this year, causing the US Dollar Index to repeatedly surge to over two-year highs. As a result, non-US currencies, including the RMB and the Korean won, have faced widespread pressure.

A key factor in this situation is that Macau uses the Hong Kong dollar for gaming activities, and the Hong Kong dollar has a relatively fixed exchange rate against the US dollar. Similarly, the local currency, the pataca (MOP), is pegged to the Hong Kong dollar, meaning the strong US dollar directly affects the purchasing power of tourists, particularly those from mainland China. According to official data, over 70 percent of the nearly 35 million visitors to Macau last year came from mainland China.

Lei Cheok Kuan, Visitor arrivals beat expectations during Easter holidays, says Macau Chamber of Commerce head
Lei Cheok Kuan, president of the Industry and Commerce Federation of Macau Central and Southern District

In an interview with AGB, Lei Cheok Kuan, president of the Industry and Commerce Federation of Macau’s Central and Southern District, noted that the Macau retail sector had a difficult year in 2024, with a general price increase of around 10 percent for goods aimed at tourists. This was primarily due to currency fluctuations. “This is a trend that Macau must endure, and there is little we can do about it, as exports play a more important role in China’s economy,” lamented Lei.

Lei explained that local businesses have faced multiple layers of impact. The first challenge is a shift in consumer behavior, with both tourist-related retail businesses and those catering to local residents seeing a dramatic change in spending patterns. “Both are suffering due to the loss of clients,” he said.

The head of the branch of the Macau Chamber of Commerce also pointed out: “Before COVID, mainland shoppers were much more enthusiastic about shopping in Macau. Now, their willingness to shop here has significantly decreased. Previously, everyone had shopping bags in hand, but now you can notice that only one in every few people is shopping here.”

This conclusion aligns with gaming performance trends. According to a report from Seaport Research Partners in August last year, senior analyst Vitaly Umansky concluded that Macau’s mass market is unlikely to experience a strong recovery until China’s economy and consumer confidence improve.

According to data from Macau’s Statistics and Census Service (DSEC), retail sales decreased by 16.9 percent year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2024, reaching just 95 percent of the level seen in the same period in 2019.

The worsening situation for SMEs in Macau may indirectly impact the city’s gaming operators. One of the Macau government’s policies is to encourage gaming operators to take on more social responsibility by supporting local business. However, the deteriorating commercial environment could also hinder any efforts made by gaming operators to contribute to these initiatives.

Macau-Tourism-Labor-Day-Hotel-Occupancy

International market

Macau’s tourism authorities are making significant efforts to reduce the region’s reliance on the mainland Chinese market by focusing on attracting more international tourists. In 2024, Macau welcomed approximately 2 million foreign visitors, with a short-term target of reaching 3 million, a level equivalent to pre-COVID numbers. However, fluctuations in currency values have also impacted the international tourism sector. 

According to the latest visitor arrival data from January to November of 2024, Macau received 437,160 visitors from South Korea, 433,102 from the Philippines, 156,192 from Indonesia, and 154,381 from Malaysia.

South Korea, now the largest source of foreign tourists to Macau, has been particularly affected. The Korean won reached its lowest level against the US dollar in 16 years, making Macau more expensive for South Korean travelers and reducing their purchasing power.

Similarly, currencies from other Southeast Asian countries, such as the Malaysian ringgit and the Singapore dollar, have also weakened, further diminishing the spending capacity of tourists from these regions.

macau
Paul Wong, president of the Macau Leisure Tourism Services Innovation Association

Paul Wong, president of the Macau Leisure Tourism Services Innovation Association, told Macao Daily that he is concerned the depreciation of the Macau currency could temporarily affect the influx of international visitors. He suggested that Macau should leverage mainland China’s visa-exemption policies to strengthen the Greater Bay Area’s “multi-stop” travel network. Additionally, he recommended that Macau continue enhancing its international connections to offer more options for tourists.

Wong further explained that in recent years, mainland China has granted visa-free entry to several Southeast Asian and European countries, boosting its tourism competitiveness and encouraging foreign tourists to fly directly to China. Coupled with other cities taking advantage of one-way visa-free entry policies, this has led to significant growth in their tourism industries.

In this context, he hopes that the government, tourism sector, and airlines will strengthen communication to develop suitable solutions and overcome the challenges of restoring international routes.

FBM Philippines kicks off 2025 with the exciting Jan Cash-Swerte promotion and an enticing prize pool

FBM® is set to launch the Jan Cash-Swerte promotion in the Philippines, offering bingo enthusiasts a chance to win significant prizes in its first 2025 campaign! With a total prize pool of ₱150,000, the promotion will run across over 60 bingo sites, with the first prize draw scheduled for January 10th.

FBM kicks off 2025 in the Philippines with a fresh campaign for video bingo fans. The Jan Cash-Swerte campaign includes four prize draws (three weekly draws and one grand draw), each one offering a variety of attractive prizes.

In the weekly draws scheduled for January 10th, 17th, and 24th, four lucky winners will win ₱2,500, two winners will take home ₱5,000, and one fortunate winner will walk away with ₱10,000. The highly anticipated Grand Draw happens on January 31st, five winners will each get ₱3,000, another five winners will collect ₱5,000, and two lucky winners will take home ₱10,000 each.

The Jan Cash-Swerte promotion is active on 67 bingo hall venues, covering several regions of the Philippines such as Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Luzon, Manila, Mindanao, NCR, Parañaque City, Quezon City, Rizal and Visayas.

For full details regarding FBM’s Jan Cash-Swerte promotional procedures and rules, check out the article on FBM’s website. This FBM promotion is the perfect opportunity to start 2025 winning like a Champion by enjoying thrilling games and collecting incredible prizes.

FBM Philippines kicks off 2025 with the exciting Jan Cash-Swerte promotion and an enticing prize pool

Bet365 awaits AUSTRAC investigation, results up for 23/24 financial year

Britain’s bet365 says that it still doesn’t know the outcome of the Australian financial watchdog’s investigation into potential breaches of the country’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) laws.

In its most recently divulged financial results, the company indicates that the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (AUSTRAC) ‘is still conducting their investigation and reviewing documentation’.

AUSTRAC, Australia

The group furthers that ‘it is too early to predict the likely timing and potential outcome’.

The investigation into bet365 subsidiary Hillside (Australia new Media) Pty Limited by AUSTRAC came as a surprise to some, as the group underwent a compliance assessment in 2021 and an external audit process in 2023.

AUSTRAC announced the investigation in March of 2024. It’s the first time the watchdog initiated an enforcement investigation into a reporting entity after the external audit process was concluded.

Authorities required the external auditor after suspecting that the company had contravened legislation regarding customer due diligence and AML programming.

AUSTRAC did not provide further details on why the enforcement investigation was launched but noted that it had considered the results of the external audit.

The group notes that it ‘continues to co-operate fully with AUSTRAC on the process’.

Results

For the 52-week period ending March 31st, 2024 the group recorded an uptick in gross profit, rising to GBP3.03 billion ($3.8 billion), a 4.7 percent uptick yearly.

This was boosted by a return to operating profit by the group’s Sports & Gaming segment, which achieved gross profit of GBP3.09 billion ($3.77 billion) and operating profit of GBP396.62 million ($498 million), contributing to overall profit before taxation of GBP626.59 million ($786.74 million).

Sports revenue was strongly boosted by new US launches and product improvements – adding new sports including F1, UFC, boxing and cricket, alongside new virtual sports offerings.

Gaming revenue however remained “broadly flat year-on-year”, according to co-founder and CEO Denise Coates, as its live casino product faced headwinds.

Paradise Ent. and Tangiamo sign global distribution agreements

Tech (Macau) Limited, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-listed Paradise Entertainment, and Tangiamo Touch Technology AB (Tangiamo), a Swedish gaming company, have signed mutual distribution agreements that will expand their market presence and product offerings in the global gaming industry.

According to an announcement made public on Tuesday, the agreements, effective from January 7th, cover the distribution of both companies’ electronic gaming products, software systems, and platforms designed for land-based casinos. Under these two-year contracts, Tangiamo will bring Paradise Entertainment’s electronic gaming solutions, operating under the LT Game brand, to European markets. This includes high-demand products such as Mori Dice and Dragon Tiger Baccarat.

Simultaneously, Paradise Entertainment will introduce Tangiamo’s MultiPLAY products and intelligent Automatic Dice Recognition (iADR) technology to key Asian gaming markets, including Macau and the Philippines.

This collaboration strengthens Tangiamo’s position in Europe by incorporating proven electronic gaming solutions from LT Game. With a diverse product portfolio, Tangiamo now offers a complete range of electronic gaming solutions, enhancing its ability to serve both land-based and digital gaming operators.

“We are incredibly excited to partner with LT Game, a recognized leader in the Asian gaming industry,” said Chris Steele, CEO of Tangiamo. “By adding LT Game’s proven product lines to our portfolio, we can now offer our customers a full spectrum of electronic gaming solutions, increasing revenue potential per installation. The combination of LT Game’s expansive game library and strong market presence, along with our technological innovations, creates tremendous value for both companies.”

For LT Game, the partnership provides direct access to growing European markets through Tangiamo’s established sales channels and regulatory expertise. Additionally, the integration of Tangiamo’s iADR technology into LT Game’s Speedwave platform strengthens its competitive edge in both existing and new markets.

“Tangiamo’s innovative solutions, combined with LT Game’s products, are a perfect fit for our Asian markets,” said Eddie Au, COO of LT Game. “This partnership gives us valuable access to European markets while enhancing our offerings in Asia, making it a win-win solution for both companies.”

Most content removal requests target online gambling: Malaysia comms authority

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The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has already processed 4,699 requests submitted this year for content removal related to online gambling and scams, according to Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

According to The Sun, Fadzil noted that 72 percent of these requests – submitted since January 1st – involve online gambling, while 14 percent are related to scams.

During a press conference at the International Regulatory Conference (IRC) 2025, Fahmi emphasized the government’s proactive stance against emerging threats, particularly scams utilizing AI-generated “deepfakes.”

He mentioned recent amendments to the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which enhance the legal framework to tackle these issues.

Fahmi also announced plans for workshops between MCMC and social media platforms to develop effective, long-term strategies for addressing these challenges, focusing on immediate interventions and comprehensive responses.

Online gambling is illegal in Malaysia.

Clark International Airport welcomes 2.4M passengers in 2024, mostly international

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The Clark International Airport (CRK) saw a 20 percent yearly increase in passengers in 2024, totaling 2.4 million.

Some 65 percent of the total were international passengers.

This comes as flight operations grew by 29 percent yearly, with 19,221 flights. Some 53 percent of these flights were international.

The airport hosts routes by popular low-cost carriers such as AirAsia and Scoot, as well as China Eastern, Emirates, Eva Air, Korean Air and Qatar Airways.

Hann Reserve
Hann Reserve

Clark’s appeal for punters has steadily grown in recent years, with the expansion of Hann Resort and construction of Hann Reserve.

It has also drawn the eye of Belle Corp, which operates City of Dreams Manila via a subsidiary. However, the operator indicated that the proposed $300 million casino resort project was only in the preliminary stages.

In 2022, Clark International Airport opened a new passenger terminal building, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. hailed as a “strong signal” to the world that the Philippines is open for business.

Clark-International-Airport-New-terminal_Philippines
Clark-International-Airport-New-terminal_Philippines

Aside from tourism, the infrastructure is one of the “building blocks” of the government’s goal to turn the Philippines into the “logistics center of Asia”.