PG Soft, a world-class digital mobile games company, is celebrating the Chinese New Year of the Snake with the release of its aptly named title, Fortune Snake.
Rapper Golden Scale headlines this groovy game that is presented within a three-reel and three row frame (3 rows in reels 1 and 3, and 4 rows in reel 2). A perfectly curated mix of hip-hop beats and Asian-inspired melodies ensure players will feel in the party mood. Accompanying the lively Hip-hop playlist are an assortment of eye-catching symbols including Golden Ingots, Lanterns, Red Envelopes, Yin-Yang coins and Firecrackers – to name a few.
If players land four Wild Golden Scale symbols in reel two, the win will be multiplied by 10. Additionally, the Fortune Snake Feature may randomly trigger during any spin in the main game while the reels are spinning.
Once the Fortune Snake feature has been activated, a symbol is randomly chosen. Reels 1 and 3 will show only the chosen symbol or blank tiles, while reel 2 will show only Wild symbols or blank tiles. After the reels stop spinning, if one or more additional symbols (either the chosen symbol or a Wild) appear, the reels will respin, with the previously landed symbols locked in place.
Players can also initiate the Bonus Bet option for each spin, boosting the bet by 1.5x and doubling the chances of entering the Fortune Snake Feature.
PG Soft’s spokesperson commented: “Fortune Snake is the hottest ticket in town to welcome in the Chinese New Year. Golden Scale is the star of the show as players dance to the beat while trying to land an incredible fortune for the year ahead.”
3 Oaks Gaming, a top distributor of iGaming content, has released 3 African Drums: Hold and Win that brings a new theme to its ever-expanding games portfolio.
The Hold & Win Bonus incorporating the popular three pots mechanic takes centre stage, offering operators a feature-driven title designed to maximise player engagement. By collecting green, red, and yellow Diamond Progress symbols, players can activate a variety of features including Collect, Double, and Multi, which can trigger individually or together.
The Collect feature combines all visible Bonus symbol values, whilst the Double feature introduces a second board, duplicating Bonus symbols across both grids. The Multi feature adds multipliers to random cells during each respin, with the potential for these to stack if they land on the same cell.
The Buy Bonus feature allows players to directly purchase access to the Bonus Game or the Ultra Bonus Game, which includes all three features activated during the gameplay.
3 African Drums: Hold and Win also provides the opportunity to win one of four jackpots, including the Grand Jackpot worth up to x2,000 the bet, further increasing the game’s win potential.
With a vibrant African theme, stunning visuals, and mechanics built for broad appeal, 3 African Drums enhances 3 Oaks Gaming’s growing portfolio, reinforcing its reputation for delivering high-quality, engaging content.
Krasimir Pankovski, Head of Sales at 3 Oaks Gaming, said: “3 African Drums offers an exciting blend of captivating features and visually immersive gameplay. With its Hold & Win mechanic, jackpot potential, and engaging features, we believe this game will quickly resonate with players. This title marks another step forward in our commitment to delivering content that provide strong performance for our partners worldwide.”
Sands China Ltd. has earned five Top 10 rankings in the 2024 CUHK Business Sustainability Indices (BSI), highlighted by a Top 5 ranking in the 5th Greater Bay Area Business Sustainability Index (GBABSI).
Notably, Sands China is the only integrated resort or hotel operator represented in three of its Top 10 rankings.
Sands China performed at the Exemplar level, thehighest possible level of achievement in sustainability among the indices six tiers – one level higher than Sands China’s 2023 Pace-setter level. The Exemplar designation indicates that Sands China has thoroughly integrated socially responsible practices into its business model and balances various stakeholder needs effectively, making the company’s progressive corporate social responsibility strategy and implementation an excellent example to others firms.
Sean McCreery, executive vice president of operations for Sands China Ltd., said: “Sands China is honored to once again receive multiple awards from the CUHK Business Sustainability Indices – including being the only resort operator in three of our Top 10 rankings – a testament to our status as an industry leader in environmental, social and governance practices. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our team members and our suppliers and community partners who have worked alongside us to help us achieve these accolades.”
“We will continue to fulfil our corporate social responsibilities and strive to contribute to improving community well-being through various environmental management measures, community participation and employee training. At the same time, we will continue to refine our operating model to help reduce our environmental impact, boost development, and drive society toward a greener and more sustainable future.”
Launched in 2015, the Business Sustainability Indices are determined each year by the Chinese University of Hong Kong Business School, promoting business practices that contribute to positive social and environmental impact. Its methodology analyses three areas: value, process and impact. This includes looking at a corporation’s vision, management skills, and its influence on society, the environment and its stakeholders.
Besides the Top 5 ranking in the 5th Greater Bay Area Business Sustainability Index (GBABSI), Sands China achieved four other rankings in the indices, all Top 10 and Exemplar, and is additionally the only integrated resort or hotel operator in the Top 10 (in the starred rankings below):
Ranked 6th: 2nd Global Asia-Pacific Business Sustainability Index (GAPBSI)*
Ranked 6th: 9th Hong Kong Business Sustainability Index (HKBSI)*
Ranked 6th: 4th Greater China Business Sustainability Index (GCBSI)*
Ranked Top 10: 4th Hotel Business Sustainability Index (Hotel BSI)
Sands China has also been awarded an ESG Special Mention in the Hang Seng Index Category of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA)Best Corporate Governance and ESG Awards 2024 and was likewise the only integrated resort or hotel operator in its category.
The HKICPA awards encourage listed companies and significant public sector organisations to give equal importance to achieving high standards of corporate governance (CG) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices and reporting.
Sands China has initiated several programmes focused on waste reduction, water conservation, and renewable energy, and the award recognises the company’s significant emphasis on sustainable tourism, community development, and integrating environmental considerations in its operations.
Sands China’s sustainable business practices are carried out under the company’s People, Planet, and Communities corporate social responsibility platform. Sands China’s variety of initiatives include programmes such as the Sands ECO360 global sustainability programme; the Sands Cares corporate giving and community engagement programme; and the Sands China Academy, a team member and business community professional development programme.
Sands China has a strong track record in sustainable business performance through the economic value and social impact it has delivered – as part of its commitment to serve the Macao community and contribute to making it a better place to live and work.
Singapore’s gaming watchdog, the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA), has instructed local internet service providers to block access to the prediction market platform Polymarket.
This move follows similar actions by authorities in Taiwan and France, who cited local gambling laws in restricting access to the platform.
The GRA issued the order to block Polymarket, which took effect on January 12th. The notice describes the popular crypto prediction platform as an ‘illegal gambling site hosted by an unlicensed gambling service provider’.
Individuals caught gambling on unlicensed platforms in Singapore face a possible fine of up to SG$10,000 ($7,200) or a prison sentence of up to six months. Although the GRA has yet to issue an official public statement on the issue, no enforcement actions against Polymarket have been listed in the public directory.
Under Singapore’s strict gambling regulations, only government-approved platforms, such as Singapore Pools, are allowed to operate what are deemed to be gambling activities.
Singapore authorities indicate that Polymarket is not properly registered to comply with its rules and is in violation of these laws. While the platform does not specifically target Singaporean users, its global popularity has led some to access it via VPNs, making enforcement more challenging.
Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, has today announced its first Tribal Operator partnership in the US with Eagle Casino & Sports in Michigan.
The Swedish-founded gaming giant is now live in five US states, and this partnership is its first with a Tribal Operator. From today, Eagle Casino & Sports players on playeagle.com in Michigan will now have access to classic Play’n GO titles such as Reactoonz, Fire Joker, and Piggy Blitz.
Play’n GO first entered the US market in 2022, and have since been licensed in West Virginia, New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.
Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer at Play’n GO, commented “Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Play’n GO, and we’re very pleased to launch our first ever Tribal Operator partnership today with Eagle Casino & Sports. Tribal Operators are synonymous with US gaming, and it is an honor to see our content live on such a platform. We’re looking forward to many years of mutual success with our friends at Eagle Casino & Sports.”
C.C. Griffus, Director of iGaming and Sports Betting Operations at Eagle Casino & Sports, added “It’s a pleasure to welcome Play’n GO to our platform, where we’re determined to offer the best player experience possible. The ability to offer Play’n GO titles to our players is very exciting. We, too, are confident of a long, fruitful relationship, always putting the players first.”
CreedRoomz, a leading live casino provider, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Sportingtech, a renowned provider of turnkey betting and gaming solutions.
This collaboration marks a significant step forward in delivering an exceptional live casino experience to operators and players worldwide.
The partnership leverages CreedRoomz’s expansive portfolio of over 25 live games, including standout titles like Aurum Roulette, Keno and Deluxe Roulette. With advanced features such as exclusive multipliers, customized tables, and seamless mobile optimization, CreedRoomz continues to set new standards in the live casino industry.
CreedRoomz is set to introduce new show games, including Richie Roulette, Richie Wheel, and Mr First Live, with more exciting titles on the horizon. These new titles bring fresh and dynamic gameplay to operators and players alike.
Richie Roulette introduces a thrilling mini-game where players can unlock multipliers by matching fruit symbols with potential payouts of up to 2300x. Richie Wheel features a large spinning wheel packed with multipliers of up to 1000x. Mr First Live introduces multiple winning patterns, bonus rounds, and dynamic animations, ensuring an engaging experience from start to finish.
“CreedRoomz’s innovative approach and diverse game portfolio provide an unparalleled edge for our operators,” said Robert Nevill, Senior Commercial Manager at Sportingtech. “This partnership ensures that we can deliver engaging, high-quality live casino experiences that captivate players and drive operator success.”
CreedRoomz’s Business Development Manager, Lusine Voskanyan, shared her enthusiasm for the collaboration: “Partnering with Sportingtech allows us to reach new markets and bring our localized live casino solutions to a broader audience. Together, we aim to elevate the gaming experience for operators and players alike.”
This collaboration ensures that Sportingtech’s operator network can deliver premium, secure, and localised live casino experiences on a global scale.
Yolo Group has announced the appointment of Jean Claude Magri as the new Chief Financial Officer for Yolo B2B Products, optimizing the division’s financial strategy during a time of major expansion across regulated markets.
Magri brings a wealth of financial expertise, with more than a decade of experience in the technology and iGaming sectors, including at Evolution, NetEnt and Red Tiger.
His extensive knowledge in financial management, strategy, and accountancy will be crucial in advancing Yolo B2B’s reputation for providing best-in-class aggregation services to operators worldwide.
Yolo B2B Products’ ecosystem includes Hub88, Live88, OneTouch and Odds88.
In his new position, Magri plays a pivotal role in driving financial strategy, optimising operational performance, and supporting the department’s growth trajectory, after a year of remarkable global success.
Jose Micallef, CFO of Yolo Platform, said: “As the business continues to grow, it is essential we can keep pace with our ambitions. We are delighted to welcome Jean Claude to Yolo. He brings expertise and leadership in financial strategy that will be crucial in powering our vision and ensuring we maintain financial discipline across our expanding operations.”
Jean Claude Magri, CFO for Yolo B2B Products, said: “I’m thrilled to join Yolo Group at this pivotal moment in its growth. The company’s forward-thinking approach is inspiring, and I look forward to contributing to its continued success and growth across its B2B brands.”
WA.Technology, the award-winning B2B iGaming solutions provider, has announced that Dave Hickey, Director of Sports Operations, has been promoted to Commercial Director.
This strategic appointment highlights WA.Technology’s commitment to strengthening its leadership team as it continues to drive growth in emerging markets and expand its footprint globally.
Since joining WA.Technology in November 2022, Dave Hickey held several key leadership positions in the Sportsbook, Commercial, and Managed Services divisions.
During his time working within the company, Dave played an integral role in refining WA.Technology’s sportsbook products as well as delivering new commercial opportunities.
In his new role, he will be responsible for setting, defining, and implementing WA.Technology’s commercial strategy across the entire business – from sportsbook and casino to affiliation and fantasy sports. He will focus on driving revenue growth, fostering partnerships, and delivering bespoke, localised solutions to WA.Technology’s partners.
Dave will also be pivotal in identifying and closing new business opportunities in key target regions, including Africa, Brazil, and Latin America.
WA.Technology’s comprehensive suite of products and services has positioned it as a key player in several key iGaming markets. Dave Hickey’s appointment as Commercial Director underscores the company’s focus on growth, innovation, and excellence in delivering tailored iGaming solutions.
Celebrating his new role, Dave Hickey, Commercial Director at WA.Technology, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be taking on the role of Commercial Director. I have had the pleasure of working with such a talented, innovative team, and I cannot wait to bring those insights to this new role as we forge new avenues for growth in 2025.”
“In my previous role as Director of Sports Operations, I had a great opportunity to work alongside the commercial team, which gave me great insights into the different sectors of our industry – experiences that I have no doubt will shape my role as Commercial Director. I’m particularly looking forward to tapping into the extensive data sets that we have at our disposal, which will ultimately help take our business from strength to strength as we better understand market trends and player preferences, allowing us to empower our partners in achieving greater success.”
The cost of Marina Bay Sands’ (MBS) expansion project, MBS IR2, has risen to $9 billion, reflecting a $1 billion increase due to recent adjustments.
The updated budget, initially set at $3.3 billion, now includes additional land premiums, pre-opening expenses, and design modifications, as outlined in a revised agreement with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).
According to a filing by parent company Las Vegas Sands, the Second Supplemental Agreement requires MBS to cover the land premium for 2,000 square meters of new gaming area and 10,000 square meters of ancillary space. It also includes adjustments to floor area allocations. Additionally, the development benefits from an extended lease with STB, which now runs until August 21st, 2066.
At the heart of the $9 billion investment is a fourth hotel tower, featuring 570 luxury suites and expanded gaming options, including a “sky gaming” concept in the tower podium. Other key additions include a 15,000-seat arena, 110,000 square feet of MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) space, a SkyPark, and several high-end restaurants.
The project, first announced in 2019, is set to begin construction on July 8th, 2025, with completion expected by July 8th, 2029. Over time, the plans have evolved to accommodate new design and operational requirements, contributing to the budget increase.
While costs have surged to 2.5 times the original estimate, MBS says that it remains committed to delivering a world-class expansion that strengthens Singapore’s position as a premier global destination for tourism and entertainment.
According to the latest table survey from investment bank Citigroup, Macau’s premium mass gaming segment showed continued growth in January 2025.
During a mid-month survey, the research team observed total wagers amounting to HK$12.8 million ($1.6 million) January 2025, an 11 percent increase from the HK$11.5 million ($1.5 million) recorded in a similar period of January 2024. This rise in total wagers highlights the growing appeal of the premium mass market, with more players placing higher-value bets.
This aligns with other studies on the Macau gaming industry, which have noted that Chinese players continue to demonstrate a strong willingness to spend in Macau.
A key observation is that the number of premium mass players rose by 19 percent, with 636 players recorded in the January 2025 survey, compared to 534 players in the same period last year. This surge suggests that the segment is attracting more individuals, driven by favorable economic conditions and Macau’s sustained reputation as a leading gaming destination.
The average wager per player in January 2025 remained strong at HK$20,160 ($2,589), although slightly lower than the HK$21,581 ($2,772) recorded in January 2024. Despite a slight decline in the number of ‘whales’ (high-stakes players)—24 in January 2025 compared to 27 in January 2024—the overall betting volume remained robust.
A ‘whale’ is defined as a player whose bet size ranges from HK$100,000 to HK$500,000 ($12,800 to $64,000) per hand or more.
Wagers by the whales encountered by the analysts were higher compared to the January 2024 period, up by 37 percent, averaging HK$195,000 ($25,000). This rise was driven, in part, by a hefty HK$1 million ($128,400) wager at the Londoner, marking the first such wager at the property since the Londoner Grand casino opened in September 2024. Even without this outlier, the average wager per whale was still up by 12 percent.
While overall gaming was robust, the typical pre-Chinese New Year slowdown was observed. The Chinese New Year Golden Week arrives earlier this year, running from January 28th to February 4th, compared to February 10th to 17th in 2024.
Analysts George Choi and Timothy Chau maintain their forecast for January 2025’s gross gaming revenue (GGR), predicting a 2 percent year-on-year decline to MOP19 billion ($2.36 billion). However, they continue to expect positive GGR growth for the combined January-February period.
In terms of market share, Sands China emerged as the leader in the premium mass segment, holding a 28 percent share of the total wager observed. This was up from 23 percent in December 2024. Galaxy ranked second with a 27 percent share, slightly down from 26 percent in December 2024. Wynn saw a decline in market share, likely due to ongoing major renovation works at Wynn Macau’s Encore Tower.
Galaxy fully deploys smart tables for mass baccarat
In the same survey, the research team updated information on the smart table deployment across Macau’s gaming operators. Citigroup found that Galaxy Entertainment Group has become the second casino operator in Macau to fully deploy smart tables for its mass baccarat operations, following MGM China. The casino added 74 smart tables in its base mass area, while StarWorld introduced nine.
Sands has also made significant strides in smart table deployment, adding 19 at the Venetian’s base mass area, 12 in the high-limit area of Sands Macao, and 80 at the Parisian’s base mass area. Sands is now approximately 80 percent smart-table-enabled.
Wynn has expanded its smart table count as well, with 72 at Wynn Macau and 60 at Wynn Palace, bringing its smart table share to about 60 percent.
City of Dreams showed little change in its smart table count, while Studio City is now fully deployed. As a result, Citigroup estimates that Melco’s properties are approximately 50 percent smart.
A significant development is the introduction of smart tables at SJM’s casinos, with 63 installed in the base mass area of Grand Lisboa.
Analysts noted that this trend is a key factor driving Citigroup’s 7 percent Macau GGR growth forecast for 2025, as the adoption of smart tables is expected to enhance game speed and increase the number of games dealt per hour.
