The former Director and Chief Casino Officer of Genting Singapore’s Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) Andrew MacDonald has announced he will now serve as CEO of MagIQ Gaming in Singapore.
In an announcement on his personal LinkedIn profile, MacDonald stated he would be “starting a new position as CEO and Founder at MagIQ Gaming Corp Pte Ltd.”
No information was provided on the platform concerning the business provided by these companies.
Andrew MacDonald stepped down from his role in RWS on November 2nd, having been appointed to the role on February 22nd of this year.
MacDonald had over two years of service with the company, being in charge of casino operations. Prior to joining Genting Singapore, MacDonald served as Chief Casino Officer and Senior Vice President at Marina Bay Sands for more than nine years.
In August of this year, he received a Persona Non-Grata (PNG) notice, resulting in a ban from entering Marina Bay Sands (MBS). This action was reportedly due to his attempts to poach high rollers, a move seen by industry experts as unprecedented.
As part of the ban, MacDonald is prohibited from accessing any area of the MBS Integrated Resort, including the hotel, mall, convention center, and casino.
In an uncommon advisory, the Chinese Navy has issued a warning to young officers and military personnel regarding the dangers of online dating scams and virtual gambling.
This alert underscores the potential security vulnerabilities that could jeopardize military operations if individuals do not remain cautious.
Focusing on those born after 1990—who are increasingly viewed as essential to the armed forces—the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy utilized social media to advise young sailors against disclosing their military identities online, labeling them as ‘extremely easy’ targets for cybercriminals.
The Navy stressed the necessity of maintaining confidentiality in military roles, stating that sharing personal information over the Internet poses serious security risks.
According to state-run news agency Xinhua, the social media post encouraged personnel to ‘exercise discernment and keep a safe distance when making online friends,’ and to ‘never lose sight of your principles or form random connections with strangers.’
Moreover, the Chinese Navy cautioned against participation in virtual gambling, which is illegal in China. It compared the addiction associated with gambling to being ‘possessed by a demon,’ warning that such habits could lead to a ‘bottomless pit’ of debt.
On November 4th, 2024, a related article from the PLA Navy expanded on the emerging threats posed by the internet in the Global Times, a tabloid associated with the the Chinese Communist Party’s flagship newspaper the People’s Daily.
It noted the significant influence of the internet on soldiers from the post-90s and post-00s generations, who are becoming central to the military.
A naval aviation unit within the PLA Northern Theater Command is actively addressing these new challenges and has developed comics to illustrate online ‘traps,’ intending to improve network risk management and raise awareness about online scams.
The article indicated that certain platforms provide game accelerators and resource-sharing software with integrated ‘VPN’ functions. Although marketed as ‘domestic’, many of these ‘mirror’ servers can transmit information from overseas, creating covert and unpredictable risks. Personnel were urged to remain vigilant regarding the potential hazards associated with ‘VPN’ usage.
Additionally, the Navy warned that unfamiliar push notifications could often be linked to ‘phishing emails’, ‘trojan apps’, or ‘gambling websites’, which may harbor hidden dangers and viruses. Such traps can lead to the theft of personal information, bank passwords, and verification codes.
Given the sensitive nature of their responsibilities, military personnel are advised against revealing their identities online and must remain alert to attempts to extract sensitive information.
The article highlighted that while young soldiers may seek companionship online, disclosing their military affiliation can make them vulnerable to exploitation. It stressed the importance of developing healthy online habits, steering clear of harmful social apps, and being cautious in online interactions.
China’s military aims to project strength through activities such as military drills near Taiwan and patrols in the South China Sea. However, President Xi Jinping, as commander-in-chief, has often pointed out “deep-seated” issues within the armed forces, including corruption and a lack of discipline.
This cautionary message is not limited to junior personnel; Xi has also emphasized the need for unwavering political loyalty from senior military officials.
At a military conference in June, he reiterated the importance of adhering to the Chinese Communist Party’s “absolute leadership” over the PLA, insisting that the military must consistently “uphold core values, maintain integrity, and strictly adhere to discipline.”
Xi has attributed many challenges facing the military to a lack of ideals and beliefs, urging all personnel, particularly senior leaders, to “reflect deeply, engage in self-examination, and pursue genuine improvements”.
According to the latest statistics from the Macau Labor Affairs Bureau, the number of foreign workers in Macau stood at 182,371 at the end of September, a decrease of 859 compared to the 183,230 recorded at the end of August.
This marks the first monthly decline since the relaxation of entry and exit policies in January of the previous year. The construction sector saw the largest drop in foreign workers, while the number of foreign workers in Macau’s gaming and hotel sectors continued to increase.
The Labor Affairs Bureau’s data further reveal that by the end of September, a total of 210,000 foreign worker employment permits had been issued, a reduction of 1,219 compared to the 211,000 permits issued at the end of August. Since the drop in foreign worker numbers outpaced the decline in employment permits, the foreign-worker employment ratio rose slightly to 86.7 percent.
In terms of industry distribution, by the end of September, the recreational, cultural, gaming, and other services sectors employed 11,002 foreign workers, representing a nearly 30 percent increase from 8,505 in January 2023. This marks a slight rise of 38 workers compared to the 10,964 employed at the end of August.
The Hotels, Restaurants, and Similar Activities sector has consistently been the largest employer of foreign workers in Macau. As of the end of September, this sector employed 52,605 foreign workers, the majority of whom are from mainland China, followed by workers from the Philippines and Vietnam.
This represents a nearly 42 percent increase from the 37,139 foreign workers in the sector at the start of 2023. In September alone, the number of foreign workers in this sector grew by 362.
Wynn Macau reported weak non-gaming revenues in its 3Q24 results, reflecting persistent headwinds in key segments such as hospitality and retail, say analysts.
According to Deutsche Bank’s analysis of the company’s quarterly performance, non-casino revenue fell by 8 percent year-on-year, significantly offsetting the gains from the casino segment.
Wynn Macau
The decline in non-gaming revenue was primarily driven by weaker performance in high-flow-through segments, including hotel and retail, which continue to face pressure. Meanwhile, while Wynn Macau’s market share dipped slightly year-on-year, it showed stability on a quarter-on-quarter basis.
Looking ahead, Deutsche Bank analysts noted that while Wynn’s performance in the gaming segment remained relatively stable, the non-gaming outlook remains less promising.
‘Net-net, the 3Q24 was largely uneventful from a gaming perspective in Macau, with Wynn Macau market share remaining stable on a quarter-on-quarter basis, but falling ~70 basis points year-on-year,’ the note detailed.
As competition in the Macau gaming market intensifies, analysts expect Wynn Macau’s market share to stay largely unchanged until new amenities come online in 2025.
With sluggish trends in non-gaming revenue and annual cost increases, Deutsche Bank revised their Macau projections downward, although they suggested these revisions may still reflect a conservative outlook, given the stagnant environment.
Hotel revenue per available room down 29% YoY
In a separate investment memo, JP Morgan mentioned that, on the downside, Wynn Macau’s hotel revenue per available room (RevPAR) on the peninsula dropped by 29 percent year-on-year, underperforming MGM’s 7 percent year-on-year increase. Cotai also saw a 13 percent year-on-year decline in RevPAR, compared to MGM’s 13 percent year-on-year growth.
Retail rental revenue in Cotai fell by 8 percent quarter-on-quarter, reaching just 74 percent of 3Q19 levels, a worse result than Sands China, which posted an 8 percent overall increase, reaching 97 percent of 3Q19 levels. Notably, 4S (sales, service, spare parts and survey) luxury retail saw no growth quarter-on-quarter, though it still reached 129 percent of its 3Q19 performance.
Wynn Palace
Wynn Macau’s property EBITDA came in at $263 million, marking a 6 percent decrease quarter-on-quarter and reaching just 87 percent of its 3Q19 levels. This miss was largely attributed to weaker mass market share, which increased by only 10 basis points quarter-on-quarter.
Additionally, higher rebates on VIP volume, up 11 percent quarter-on-quarter, were partially offset by lower VIP win rates, which impacted overall performance. ‘Management noted that October’s Golden Week Mass revenue was up 30 percent year-on-year, outperforming MGM’s 20 percent year-on-year increase,’ JP Morgan added, while noting that industry-wide Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) was up 24 percent year-on-year.
However, the miss on anticipated results was further driven by Cotai, where EBITDA came in at $162 million, down 12 percent quarter-on-quarter and matching only 100 percent of 3Q19 levels. This decline was more pronounced due to higher VIP rebates, with VIP rolling chip volume rising 14 percent quarter-on-quarter, but VIP luck falling by 1.1 percentage points to 3 percent.
Management also guided that concession-related capital expenditures for Macau would range from $350 million to $425 million through the end of 2024 and into 2025.
A top land plot in Sentosa facing out over Singapore’s Marina Bay that formerly belonged to an online gambling-linked Cambodian money launderer has now been sold for a premium.
According to The Straits Times, the 1,816-square meter plot was sold for SG$22 million ($16.7 million).
The plot formerly belonged to accused Cambodian money launderer Su Baolin, who allegedly made millions from operating illegal gambling sites in Myanmar between 2019 and 2023. The sites reportedly targeted users based in Brazil and China, with proceeds received in crypto.
Su is allegedly linked to the multi-billion-dollar money laundering case which shocked Singapore last year. A Chinese national holding a Cambodian passport, Su was handed over a dozen charges linked to the case. Parts of the proceeds of his actions are believed to have been used for the purchase of real estate, oftentimes held in the names of close associates or family members.
The land plot sale, according to experts, represents a new benchmark for seafront land in the area, particularly given the recent absence of transactions on land-only properties. Other transactions in the Sentosa Cove area, a main district, have boomed in the first half of the year, hitting 101.
Sentosa Cove, Singapore
The land carries a leasehold of 99 years.
Su was arrested in August of last year and sentenced to 14 months in jail, as well as forfeiture of SG$65 million ($49.34 million). He has been deported from Singapore.
Not all is going well in the Philippines’ crack down on offshore gaming operators (POGOs), as a top official with one of the groups leading the shutdown operation has been relieved from his post and subject to an administrative investigation.
Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesperson Winston Casio is accused of mistreatment of a Filipino national during a raid on a POGO hub in Bagac, Bataan.
The presidential palace (Malacañang) confirmed the firing on Tuesday to media, after footage circulated of Casio slapping a POGO worker during a raid that took place on October 31st.
A memorandum was issued after the incident was revealed, giving Casio 24 hours to respond in writing about his actions. The memorandum also informed Casio that he was relieved of his position ‘effective immediately and until the completion of the investigation’.
Casio has been informed that his failure to respond will ‘be deemed a waiver of your right to contribute to this process’.
Philippine authorities have been ardently going after illegal POGO operations in the country since the president mandated the closure of all offshore gaming operations by December 31st.
Information about raids and arrests happens weekly now as authorities aim to make good on their promise to eradicate all offshore gaming in the country by the proposed deadline.
Despite its efforts, The Star continues to face complications, with the most recent news that equity manager Perpetual Ltd. unloaded some AU$26 million ($17.17 million) in company stock.
The news doesn’t bode well for The Star’s stock price, as analysts at The Motley Fool noted that the stock has fallen 20 percent over the past week and nearly 60 percent year-to-date.
The sale comes amongst the ongoing fallout of the Bell Two inquiry, after which the future of the group’s Sydney casino license remains in question.
The announcement of the inquiry also resulted in a trading halt which caused a near 50 percent drop in the company’s stock value.
While investors have been coerced into providing the company a financial lifeline, this has not halted trading speculation, although some holdouts remain, such as pokie magnate Bruce Mathieson (holding nearly 10 percent of the company’s shares).
The Star fell to negative EBITDA in the last financial quarter, weighed down by a ‘challenging operating environment and the continued implementation of mandatory carded play and cash limits’.
The AU$200 million ($131.54 million) lifeline being granted by lenders was still being finalized as of late last month, and the financials didn’t include the new AU$15 million ($9.87 million) fine imposed by the New South Wales Independent Casino Commission (NICC) in regards to The Star Sydney.
The group’s casino at the property will remain under the NICC-appointed manager Nick Weeks ‘until at least 31 March 2025’.
PopOK Gaming, a leading company in the iGaming industry is thrilled to announce the release of its newest slot game, Spinosaurus – a captivating 3×5 slot that transports players back to the thrilling age of dinosaurs!
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Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, has announced a new operator partnership with renowned gaming brand Hard Rock Digital for their top-rated Hard Rock Bet online casino platform in New Jersey.
The Hard Rock brand is synonymous with entertainment worldwide, and this partnership will see Hard Rock Bet players in New Jersey gain access to hit Play’n GO titles such as Piggy Blitz, Book of Dead and Rise of Olympus 100.
Play’n GO is now live with four operators across four states in the United States, with further growth expected in the coming months.
Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer at Play’n GO, commented: “We’re excited to expand our US portfolio with a new operator partnership, and teaming up with a renowned brand like Hard Rock Digital is a significant achievement for us. New Jersey is a key state for our US operations, and we’re delighted to offer Hard Rock Bet’s players access to our top-tier casino gaming content. We believe this partnership will be highly beneficial for both Hard Rock Digital and Play’n GO, and we anticipate many shared successes in the coming months and years.”
“Play’n GO remains committed to being active in every regulated market globally and to ongoing growth in the US. Partnerships like this one with Hard Rock Digital are crucial to our long-term success in the region.”
Grant Williams, SVP – Casino, Hard Rock Digital added: “We’re excited to roll with Play’n Go and add its entertaining titles to the over 2,000 games on our top-rated platform in New Jersey. We’re committed to making Hard Rock Bet the best place to play, and are proud of our recent online casino enhancements, including a more personalized experience, integrated rewards, and one of the largest selections of games in the market.”
Hard Rock Bet recently launched its ‘Roll With Us’ fall campaign, welcoming players of all types to play on its easy-to-use app. With 4.9 stars in the App Store and 4.8 stars in the Google Play Store, Hard Rock Bet is among the highest-rated real money gaming apps in the market.
Hard Rock Bet offers an integrated New Jersey online casino-sportsbook platform and also operates a sports-only experience in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia. Hard Rock Bet is available for download via iOS and Android, and can also be played on desktop via HardRock.bet.
Games Global, a leading supplier of online gaming content, has launched its Innovative Products Portfolio, showcasing a broad range of new titles that go beyond the traditional gaming experience.
Focusing on delivering unique and distinctive gameplay, the Innovative Products Portfolio features a diverse array of products, including table games, instant bingo, video poker, crash games, fun games and instant win games.
Games Global’s Innovative Products Portfolio is designed to provide exciting gameplay with thrilling rewards that exceed that of classic slot games.
Video poker blends traditional strategy with modern excitement, while instant bingo keeps players on the edge of their seats as they chase winning patterns in real-time. Table games like Blackjack and European Roulette bring classic casino suspense, while the fast-paced, high-stakes nature of Crash games, like FlyX, introduces players to a unique rush of adrenaline.
Fun Games and Instant Win games, including the likes of newly launched Whack the Bell Tap n Cash™ and Wild Scoops Tap n Cash™, offer casual yet thrilling play perfect for quick, enjoyable sessions.
The launch sees the award-winning provider recognize the need for varied gaming experiences that cater to different player preferences, all housed under one roof. The Innovative Products Portfolio therefore offers something to players of differing demographics across regulated markets globally.
Games Global continues to solidify its position as a leader in the iGaming industry, committed to developing and distributing cutting-edge content that meets the evolving demands of players. The Innovative Products Portfolio is set to cater and appeal to a wider audience of players seeking more than a slot game experience, making it a vital addition to Games Global’s ever-growing game library.
Andy Booth, Chief Product Officer at Games Global, said: “Our Innovative Products Portfolio is all about expanding the horizons of iGaming. We’re dedicated to providing players with a variety of gaming experiences that cater to all tastes. By moving beyond slots, we aim to enhance engagement and create a diverse ecosystem of games that players can enjoy at their leisure, exemplifying our commitment to offering the best-in-class gaming experiences.”
