Nearly 11,000 foreign workers employed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) have left the country, according to the Philippines Bureau of Immigration (BI).
BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval explained, as reported by the Philippine News Agency, that these workers are part of a larger group of over 21,757 foreigners employed by POGOs who downgraded their visas as of November 7th.
The remaining foreign workers in POGOs are expected to depart by the end of this month.
The Philippine government has ordered foreign employees of POGOs to downgrade their work visas following the cessation of operations for these establishments under the Marcos administration. These companies have been given until the end of the year to wind down their operations.
Regarding illegal departures, Sandoval highlighted the need for legislation to penalize individuals who leave the country unlawfully. “One thing noted by our legal team is that there is no specific law addressing illegal departures in the Philippines, unlike in other countries,” Sandoval said.
This statement follows the controversial departure of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who allegedly left the Philippines for the United Arab Emirates through illegal means.
Sandoval indicated that the BI is considering charges, including falsification of public documents, against Roque, noting that his most recent recorded travel was in July when he returned to the Philippines from the United States.
Authorities in Singapore have issued warnings about a rising trend where individuals are engaging in illegal online gambling to obtain limited edition Labubu toys, claiming this activity is reportedly in violation of the Gambling Control Act.
According to Channel News Asia, social media platforms, particularly TikTok, have become hotspots for unauthorized scratch-and-win games, enticing participants to wager significant amounts of money for a chance to win these sought-after collectibles.
The Labubu toys, produced by POPMART and designed by Kasing Lung, have gained immense popularity among collectors and fashion enthusiasts, particularly in Asia.
Some players are risking up to SGD150 ($111) for a chance to participate in these gambling games, which offer prizes that include exclusive plush toys, like the Hide and Seek version inspired by Singapore’s Merlion mascot. These live streaming sessions can last up to five hours, attracting tens to hundreds of viewers at a time.
Officials have warned that these activities breach the Gambling Control Act, highlighting severe penalties for offenders.
“First-time violators could face fines up to SGD500,000($371,685) and prison terms exceeding seven years. Repeat offenders may incur fines up to SGD700,000 ($519,966),” stated Samuel Yuen, managing director of Yuen Law. He also noted that underage participants could face fines of SGD1,500 ($1,114).
In response to these violations, TikTok has removed several videos promoting gambling activities, stating that such practices are not permitted on their platform. Nevertheless, some accounts have continued to covertly advertise their services despite the ban.
Macau gaming operators are anticipating regulatory fine-tuning for satellite casinos in 2025. This expectation was shared with Bank of America, although the names of the operators were not disclosed.
Following meetings with all six gaming operators, Bank of America revealed that some operators believe the newly introduced “once-a-week” visa policy for Zhuhai residents visiting Macau may eventually be extended to other Mainland cities. This could benefit satellite casinos, allowing them to remain operational beyond 2025.
The current regulatory plan for satellite casinos is temporary. Under this plan, satellite casinos will continue to share gaming revenue with the concessionaires until the end of 2025. After 2025, however, satellite casino operators may be required to transition to management companies, which will no longer be permitted to share in gaming revenue. Instead, they would only receive a management fee.
Some opinions indicate that the future of the satellite casinos depends on the definition of the management fee and whether there will still be a significant profit for the operator, while the concessionaire will bear the costs.
The “once-a-week” visa policy for Zhuhai residents visiting Macau, along with the unlimited travel visa for Hengqin residents, will take effect in 2025. The policy means that citizens from these neighboring areas, with a combined population of nearly 3 million, will be able to visit Macau repeatedly.
Macau’s visitation from Zhuhai, a key city in Guangdong Province, has shown significant growth in 2024, reflecting a broader trend of increased tourism to the region. As of October 2024, the total number of visitors from Zhuhai reached 2.8 million, marking a 46 percent year-on-year increase. This growth has outpaced the overall rise in Macau’s visitation, which saw a 28 percent year-on-year increase during the same period.
Zhuhai accounts for 26 percent of Macau’s total visitors from Guangdong and 14 percent of all visitors from mainland China, underlining its importance as a major source of tourism. However, despite the strong growth figures, the majority of visitors from Zhuhai (77 percent) were day-trippers, limiting their impact on the local hospitality sector.
Day-trippers typically spend less time and money in Macau, and they now represent 4.7 percent of the city’s overall overnight visitation, an increase from 3.9 percent during the same period last year. This suggests that while day trips are contributing to the overall increase in visitation numbers, the share of overnight stays remains relatively low.
On Tuesday, during a plenary session of the Legislative Assembly, legislator Leong Sun Iok raised concerns in a spoken inquiry about the three-year transition period for satellite casinos, which is set to expire at the end of next year. He expressed worries regarding the future of over 10,000 employees.
In response, Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong emphasized that satellite casinos operate under the concessionaires’ licenses and that the responsibility for all employees lies with these companies. He also highlighted that the handling of employee matters is governed by legal regulations.
Currently, Macau has 30 casinos, including 11 satellite casinos, nine of which operate under SJM’s license. The remaining two are operated under the licenses of Galaxy Entertainment and Melco. Seven satellite casinos were closed in 2022, impacted by the new gaming law and the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jay Chun, co-chairman and managing director of Paradise Entertainment
As previously reported by ABG, the Macau government has not yet begun discussions with operators about the future of satellite casinos. Jay Chun, co-chairman and managing director of Paradise Entertainment, has publicly expressed hope that talks with the authorities will begin “soon.” Paradise Entertainment operates Casino Kam Pek on the Macau peninsula under the gaming license of SJM Holdings.
Some opinions also suggest that Macau’s incoming Chief Executive, Sam Hou Fai, who will take office on December 20th, will be the key figure in following up on the satellite casinos’ future.
Grand Korea Leisure (GKL), South Korea’s operator of foreigner-only casinos, reported a 32.6 percent year-on-year increase in casino sales for November, which rose to KRW 37.0 billion ($26.2 million). This represents a 21.1 percent increase compared to October.
The company disclosed this information in its November financial results, filed with the Korea Exchange on Wednesday.
The increase in revenue from the previous month was primarily driven by both higher sales from table games and machine sales.
In November, casino sales from table games totaled KRW 33.7 billion ($23.9 million), up 35.6 percent year-on-year and 21.4 percent month-on-month.
Casino sales from machines totaled KRW 3.2 billion ($2.3 million), up 7.8 percent year-on-year and 18.7 percent month-on-month.
Year-to-date figures show cumulative casino sales of KRW 354.9 billion ($251.3 million) for 2024, marking a 2.1 percent decrease compared to KRW 362.4 billion ($256.6 million) recorded during the same period last year.
The cumulative performance in table games also reflects a decline of 1.6 percent, totaling KRW 323.1 billion ($228.7 million), while machine game sales decreased by 86.7 percent to KRW 31.9 billion ($22.5 million).
Yoon Doo Hyun appointed as new CEO
According to a previous filing, the company announced on Tuesday that former senior government official Yoon Doo Hyun has been named its new CEO, effective December 2nd, 2024.
This appointment comes following the expiration of the former CEO’s term of office.
Yoon Doo Hyun served as a member of the 21st National Assembly (2020-2024) and as Senior Secretary for Public Relations in the Office of the President (2014-2015).
GKL operates three foreigner-only Seven Luck casinos: two in Seoul, including one in the Gangnam district, and one in Busan, located in the southeastern part of the country.
Nazara Technologies and Lysto have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to launch ‘The Growth Protocol,’ an L1 infrastructure layer specifically designed for digital marketing and growth applications on the blockchain.
The Growth Protocol is a purpose-built L1 blockchain and a collaboration between Nazara Technologies FZ LLE, a 100% owned subsidiary of Nazara Techologies Limited that is India’s only publicly listed gaming company, and Lysto, the gaming world’s one-stop shop funded by leading VCs like Hashed, SquarePeg, Tiger Global, Distributed Global, Beenext, and prominent angels like Balaji Srinivasan, Sandeep Nailwal, Jaynti Kanani, Bobby Ong, and T.M. Lee.
Designed to revolutionize the digital marketing landscape, The Growth Protocol aims to bring greater transparency, equity, and monetary benefits to all participants in the Web3 marketing ecosystem. By leveraging blockchain technology, the protocol empowers users through decentralization to take control of their digital identities and participate in decentralized, trustless interactions.
The Growth Protocol makes its public debut at India Blockchain Week, a significant event for the Web3 community globally. Alongside a private testnet launch, the team released a proof-of-concept loyalty dApp for game marketing, showcasing the practical application of Web3 technology in the gaming industry.
Speaking at IBW, Nitish Mittersain, CEO and Jt. MD of Nazara shared his vision for innovations in the gaming sector and expressed his enthusiasm for bringing Nazara’s game marketing to the Web3 space. Speaking at India Blockchain Week, Nitish said, “We are very happy to innovate on new and upcoming technologies such as web3, VR & AI and look forward to integrating our games with releveant web3 technologies that can add value to our players.”
Sadiq Ahamed Shaik, CEO of Lysto, and Founder of The Growth Protocol, said, “The Growth Protocol is a platform for developers and all marketing roles. Our team is working with developers to launch a series of growth applications on the L1 blockchain, empowering users through decentralization for marketing and growth initiatives.”
The Growth Protocol team, composed of experienced professionals previously at Microsoft and Google, is actively engaging with Web3 developers, key opinion leaders, and marketing professionals at India Blockchain Week, fostering collaboration and innovation.
The Web3 community at IBW is invited to meet the team in person, join the test net launch, and participate in rewarding quests. For those who won’t be at IBW are welcome to connect with The Growth Protocol through their website and social channels on X or LinkedIn and more.”
Yggdrasil and SpinOn have again joined forces to release Show Me The Honey, a title packed with random modifiers and the engaging TruPick feature, offering a chance to win up to 10,000x the stake.
TruPick, triggered when three special icons land on the reels, sees players presented with the challenge to match eight bees with the right honey pot. Each match will advance the player up the ladder by one position and successfully pairing all will award a prize multiplier of 10,000x the total bet.
Additional features can be activated through the Random Modifier Wheel, including the Honeycomb Wilds that can see full-reel symbols land, enhancing win potential. Swarms of bees can also fly across the grid, randomly dropping wild symbols.
A Rewind feature may be awarded at the end of any spin where two TruPick Bonus symbols have landed on reels one and three. During this feature, only the fifth reel will rewind back for a chance to reveal a third TruPick Bonus symbol and trigger the feature.
Show Me The Honey is powered by GATI, Yggdrasil’s state-of-the-art technology that enables partners to consistently employ the preconfigured, regulation-ready, standardized development toolkit to produce cutting-edge content followed by rapid distribution.
Zoe Bird, Head of Masters at Yggdrasil, said: “Show Me The Honey is a playful and colourful addition to our portfolio, packed with great features and fantastic win potential. The TruPick feature adds an element of player choice which enhances engagement while offering sweet rewards.”
The Marketing Team at SpinOn said: “Show Me The Honey is a delightful addition to our portfolio, offering players engaging features like sticky wilds and free spins. With a chance to win up to 10,000x, we’re excited to see this game bring fun and excitement to players worldwide.”
Founded just two years ago with the support of title sponsor 1xBet and under the leadership of renowned coach Lee ‘SunBhie’ Jeong-jae, the Aurora Gaming team now competes in multiple disciplines, including Counter-Strike 2, Apex Legends, Mobile Legends, and Warcraft.
However, Asian esports fans are particularly excited about Aurora Gaming’s lineups in Mobile Legends and Dota 2. Both teams are competing in the Asian region, with the Dota 2 squad drawing significant attention.
Counter-Strike 2, Apex Legends, Warcraft, Mobile Legends, and Dota 2
Aurora Gaming was founded on March 1, 2022, with the support of international betting company 1xBet, which remains the organization’s title sponsor to this day.
The first lineup of Aurora Gaming was a CS:GO team formed in the summer of 2022. The coach was Serhij “starix” Ishchuk, who previously worked with well-known organizations like NaVi and Team Spirit. By fall 2022, Aurora Gaming added an Apex Legends team, bringing in players from MajorPushers, with Alexander “Wh1te” Sokolov as the coach. He soon got promoted to become the general manager of the entire organization.
The first Dota 2 lineup was formed in November 2023, and by January 2024, the team successfully qualified for the major tournament DreamLeague Season 22, securing 1st place in the Southeast Asia Closed Qualifier. Notably, alongside Intel and the U.S. Air Force, one of the tournament’s sponsors was international betting company 1xBet, whose platform draws over 3 million users monthly. Besides sports betting and gambling games, 1xBet offers an opportunity for anyone to start earning online through its 1xAffiliates program, which connects over 100,000 partners worldwide.
FKey benefits of 1xAffiliates include high conversion rates (up to 65% of signed-up players make their first deposit), lifetime commissions of up to 50% for each referred player, automated daily commission payouts, real-time stats, a dedicated support manager, and more.
The latest acquisitions of Aurora Gaming in 2024 include the popular Warcraft 3 player Dmitry “Happy” Kostin and a Mobile Legends team based in the Philippines. These decisions show that, together with its title sponsor 1xBet, the organization is placing special focus on the Asian region, where Dota 2 and Mobile Legends are among the most popular games.
Lee “SunBhie” Jeong-jae: 3 major wins and 7 consecutive appearances at The Internationals!
Lee SunBhie Jeong-jae
In early February 2024, Aurora Gaming’s Dota 2 fans were in for a real surprise: legendary Lee “SunBhie” Jeong-jae was appointed as the head coach! Like many other coaches, Li Chong Zhe began his esports career as a player. He even qualified and competed at The International 2015 with MVP HOT6ix. However, he truly reached the peak of his career as a coach for several teams.
From 2017 to 2019, he won 3 majors with Team Secret. Then, he moved to Fnatic, where he qualified for nearly all the majors and two consecutive The Internationals. In 2022, the Korean coach joined Talon Esports and again showcased his top-level skills, securing 3rd place at Lima Major 2023 and Riyadh Masters 2023, as well as qualifying for The International 2023. Thus, in addition to his three major wins, Li Chong Zhe achieved seven consecutive appearances at The International from 2016 to 2023 with four different teams!
In November 2023, all players of Talon Esports decided to leave the organization. Aurora Gaming took advantage of this, offering them contracts and forming a new Dota 2 roster with the 1xBet logo on the shirts. “SunBhie,” who had worked with the team throughout the previous season, also remained in his position.
In 2024, the team competed in nearly all major Dota 2 tournaments, including BetBoom Dacha Dubai 2024, DreamLeague Season 22, Elite League Season 1, PGL Wallachia Season 1, Riyadh Masters 2024, and The International 2024. The team is still working on finding its rhythm, so it didn’t win any of these tournaments. However, their high-level performances earned them over $300,000 in prize money just this year!
Big wins are surely ahead for Aurora Gaming in 2025, as its coach has repeatedly proven not only his deep understanding of all aspects of the game but also his ability to create a team atmosphere that fosters great victories. We wish Aurora Gaming and their Korean coach “SunBhie” the best of luck in the 2025 season, especially at The International 2025, which is rumored to be held in China.
MOONTON Games, an international developer and publisher behind Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), has joined forces with German tech leader, Shikenso Analytics, to enhance sponsorship insights for the M6 World Championship.
The M Series tournaments represent the pinnacle of MLBB esports and stand amongst the world’s most popular esports events. Building on the M5 World Championship’s 5.06 million Peak Concurrent Viewership (PCV), MOONTON Games is advancing its sponsorship tracking with Shinkenso’s AI-powered analytics that enables precise media valuation, exposure measurement, and actionable insights across digital and social platforms.
The M6 World Championship features the world’s best esports teams vying for a USD 1 million prize pool and is supported by partners such as Qiddiya, ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG), Fairrie, Hello Panda, and Secretlab. With sponsorships now a cornerstone of esports, MOONTON Games will leverage its partnership with Shikenso Analytics to elevate sponsorship opportunities, maximize tournament value, and unlock new avenues for partner success.
Ringo Lung, Senior Regional Esports Sales Manager at MOONTON, and Benedikt Becker, Marketing Director at Shikenso
Ringo Lung, Senior Regional Esports Sales Manager at MOONTON Games, said: “With Shikenso Analytics’ expertise in data and analytics, we are ensuring that every brand moment, from live streams to social media posts, is measured and valued with precision. We’re privileged to have dedicated partners who believe in our vision and product, and as that continues to grow, it’s also important that we accurately track and measure the value we are generating together. Beyond this, Shikenso helps us optimize our sponsorship proposition by identifying the most effective channels, allowing us to expand high-performing segments and maximize partner visibility.”
Revolutionizing sponsorship in esports
Shikenso’s advanced computer vision technology and AI-driven data insights allow for accurate tracking of brand visibility across live broadcasts and social media channels. With an always-on dashboard, MOONTON Games will enhance its commercial capabilities and solidify its leadership in the mobile gaming and esports sectors.
Benedikt Becker, Marketing Director at Shikenso Analytics, said: “MOONTON Games continues to set the gold standard in esports, combining innovation with a deep understanding of its audience. Partnering with them for the M6 World Championship is an exciting opportunity for us to support their vision of delivering value to their partners and audience. We look forward to supporting their continued growth and success in the esports ecosystem.”
For more information on Shikenso Analytics, visit the homepage or follow Shikenso Analytics on LinkedIn and X.
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Good morning. Cash will always be king. And Australia’s state of New South Wales is feeling the pushback from those who feel that way. A new impetus to implement digital payment systems is getting flack, with opponents proposing a hybrid approach running into 2028. Meanwhile, in Macau, the city’s revitalization has been relegated to its gaming operators, which are trying to make use of the designated zones to create some form of entertainment, if not turning a profit.
Australian authorities are facing a dilemma, as the country’s state of New South Wales aims to push forward mandatory digital payment systems. But the industry is pushing back, requesting a hybrid approach to keep cash in play. The trial run so far was lacklustre, causing a call for a phased approach leading up to 2028, with default spending limits and improved educational initiatives.
Asia is the most populated continent on the planet and Football is the No. 1 sport in most countries. The World Cup qualifying matches are traditionally watched by billions of fans in the region, but FIFA has decided to reward Asia with a significant representation at the tournament only now.
Altenar, a leading sportsbook provider is bringing its global expertise to Asia, looking to expand its operations. Since 2011, Altenar has powered hundreds of online sports betting sites worldwide and is a major B2B provider in Europe and Latin America licensed markets.
Former Philippine presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has refuted the human trafficking charges filed against him, albeit from Abu Dhabi.
According to official reports, Roque had his counter-affidavit notarized at the Abu Dhabi embassy via Apostille.
“It would appear that he had a document which was notarized pero dun siya sa (but he is in) Abu Dhabi. So, the panel opted to give the respondent a chance to call for a clarificatory hearing which would be scheduled anytime between now and the 16th of December,” indicated Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon.
Roque is facing human trafficking charges leveled by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) on October 28th, alleging involvement in operations of Lucky South 99 Corporation, a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub raided in Pampanga.
Roque had tried to dismiss the complaint, saying that his involvement was “mere afterthought”.
“My inclusion, as well as the inclusion of Whirlwind Corporation and Lucky South 99 Outsourcing, Inc. were mere afterthoughts. The inclusion of the two corporations was intended to cure the deficiency of the evidence presented both in the original complaint and the supplemental complaint affidavit that utterly failed to identify any overt act of trafficking or qualified human trafficking that will implicate me,” claims Roque.
The former official defends his innocence, claiming there is no evidence of his participation in trafficking or other acts, nor a conspiracy.
He also defends his meeting with PAGCOR executives alongside Cassandra Ong.
According to his counter-affidavit “(T)hat meeting on 26 July 2023 was for a legitimate purpose, i.e., to discuss the arrears of Lucky South 99, and how PAGCOR was intending to deny the pending application of the said corporation for the renewal of its Internet Gaming License should the arrears be not settled”.
Philippine authorities stay that Roque appears to be staying in the UAE legally.
