BingoPlus, a digital entertainment platform in the Philippines under DigiPlus Interactive, awarded its largest jackpot prize to date—PHP154 million ($2.61 million).
The award ceremony took place on November 25th, 2024, at the Diamond Hotel in Manila. A 32-year-old mother from Bukidnon, the jackpot winner, received the symbolic grand check during the event, which was attended by media representatives and executives from BingoPlus.
To help the winner manage her prize responsibly, DigiPlus Interactive organized a private financial coaching session earlier that day, led by financial expert Armand Bengco. This initiative, arranged through the BingoPlus Foundation, aligns with the platform’s commitment to providing financial guidance to its winners.
DigiPlus Interactive has emerged as one of the fastest-growing eGaming platforms in the Philippines. In addition to being the best-performing stock on the Philippine Stock Exchange in 2023, the company has reported significant revenue growth.
According to its third-quarter earnings report, released on November 11th, DigiPlus posted a net income of PHP8.75 billion ($149 million) for the first nine months of 2024, a 314 percent increase year-on-year. Revenues rose 223 percent to PHP51.56 billion ($873.54 million) from PHP15.98 billion ($270.74 million) in the prior year, while EBITDA grew 271 percent to PHP9.34 billion ($158.24 million) from PHP2.52 billion ($42.68 million).
Thunderkick, an independent casino game studio based in Stockholm, has partnered with Evolution-owned Livespins, making its portfolio of content available for the Bet with Streamers social gaming experience.
Livespins’ first-of-its-kind Bet with Streamers game involves influencers broadcasting live footage of slots from industry-leading providers, allowing players to bet alongside the streamer and receive the same multipliers they generate, all while following them from game to game.
There is also a strong social element to Bet with Streamers, with a chat function enabling viewers to interact with one another as well as the influencer, enhancing engagement and delivering an immersive experience.
Thunderkick’s diverse range of games will now be accessible to streamers, including The Gunman of Goldwood,Eager Beavers, and the iconic Esqueleto Explosivo trilogy.
Livespins will drive brand awareness on behalf of Thunderkick by delivering its games directly to players worldwide, enhancing global exposure as the supplier continues to expand its footprint in emerging markets.
Svante Sahlström, Chief Commercial Officer at Thunderkick,said: “Bet with Streamers is a truly innovative concept, providing a unique way for us to reach prospective players and strengthen our visibility in target markets. Some of Thunderkick’s most popular titles will be made accessible to streamers, ensuring that players associate our brand with distinctive, engaging games that are enjoyed by the most reputable influencers.”
Michael Pedersen, Chief Commercial Officer at Livespins, added: “At Livespins, we consistently update our content offering to include the biggest and best titles from those providers that drive the industry forward. The inclusion of Thunderkick’s fan-favourite games will supplement our existing catalogue, ensuring streamers can deliver an optimal viewing experience for players.”
The American subsidiary of Genting Malaysia Berhad (GENM), Genting Americas, has filed a motion to dismiss the $600 million complaint case against it linked to its Resorts World Bimini property in the Bahamas.
According to a Monday filing with the Malaysian bourse, Genting Americas ‘filed a motion to dismiss the Complaint filed by RAV Bahamas Ltd. In the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida’.
RAV Bahamas has claimed some $600 million in damages, alleging fraud by Genting – claiming that its 78-percent-owned subsidiary used its majority ownership to conceal liabilities incurred at other properties and placed on the books of RW Bimini.
Genting had previously fired back, stating ‘these malicious and baseless claims are an attempt by RAV and its principals to extract an exorbitant payment […] and inflict severe reputational damage’.
In its Monday filing with the Malaysian bourse, GENM stated that Genting Americas (GAI) ‘seeks dismissal of the Complaint on multiple grounds, including that this is a shareholder dispute and therefore should be dealt with pursuant to the Shareholders’ Agreement between the shareholders of BB Entertainment Ltd in a forum other than the US Court’.
The group furthers that ‘the claims are time-barred’ and that ‘the Complaint fails to adequately allege facts showing that the required elements for each claim have been met’.
Resorts World Bimini
Reiterating its previous statement, the company states that ‘GAI continues to firmly believe that the Complaint is baseless and without merit, and will continue to defend against these claims’.
RW Bimini is owned and operated by BB Entertainment Ltd (BBE), which GENM indirectly holds a 78 percent interest in via GAI.
The government of Victoria is going to introduce Australia’s strictest pokie machine rules, cutting the amount punters can put into machines from AU$1,000 ($646) to AU$100 ($64).
The amendment to the state’s gambling legislation is being introduced today in parliament, creating the framework for carded play in the state.
Alongside the limitations for each input, punters will be required to pre-commit to how much they’re willing to lose. This starts at a default AU$50 ($32).
Victoria’s new limits go beyond even those imposed by New South Wales – which sets the load-up limit at AU$500 ($323) – also a reduction from the previous AU$5,000 ($3233).
While the new is introduced today, carded play rollout will commence midway through the year, concentrated in a pilot program at specific venues, using a phased approach before its mandatory application.
Australia’s largest casino operator Crown Resorts announced in a release today that it ‘welcomes’ the announcement’, noting that it has already had some 400,000 guests register for carded play at Crown Melbourne in the past 12 months. The carded play was introduced to Crown Melbourne’s nearly 3,000 EGMs following the results of the 2021 royal commission inquiry into its suitability to retain its casino license in the state.
‘Today’s announcement is an important milestone that will see these safety measures extended across Victoria,’ the company notes.
Speaking of the changes, Crown Melbourne CEO Mike Volkert noted “Crown has led by example, demonstrating that carded play is essential to developing a safer gaming environment.
“Our experience in developing and implementing these reforms means that we are well-placed to assist the government and industry as they work to establish a safer and more sustainable gaming environment throughout Victoria”.
Aside from the limits on cash input, new pokies approved by the state’s gaming regulator, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) after December 1st, 2025, will also have their spin rate slowed to at least three seconds per game.
This should slow game play by up to 40 percent.
This comes after a September mandate for gaming areas in all Victorian hotels and clubs to close between 4am and 10am, implemented in September of this year. The measure does not apply to Crown.
Authorities say that this aims to reduce the amount of gambling harm, which the state’s Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Melissa Horne, says affects 30 percent of Victorians who play gaming machines.
“Gambling harm has consequences, not just for the person gambling but for everyone around them. These reforms provide important protections for people using gaming machines and for their loved ones,” stated the official, as quoted by media.
Good morning. Nothing can last forever. And the pachinko and pachislot industry has been holding on by the skin of its teeth, enduring machine revamps and struggling through the pandemic downturn. New research finds that the situation is unlikely to improve, even with the addition of new “smart” machines. Meanwhile, in Macau, GGR growth is expected not to exceed single-digits for the next two years, as the market continues to focus on premium mass and luxurious hotel offerings. Speaking of, SJM continues to try to increase its attractiveness and could pull a profit this year, leading to dividend payments in 2026.
The pachinko and pachislot industry in Japan is in decline, with the number of parlors and operating companies predicted to shrink in the coming years, continuing a trend which started in the mid-2000s. The weight of regulatory changes requiring machine updates coupled with the pandemic placed a heavy burden on operators already struggling to attract new customers. The sluggish economy has exacerbated the hit to companies’ bottom lines, despite the introduction of “smart” pachislot machines.
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.
During the first 10 months of the year, the Macau government collected some MOP73.04 billion ($9.11 billion) in taxes on gaming revenue, representing approximately 82 percent of the SAR’s total revenue during the period.
The figure also represents yearly growth of 41.7 percent.
Data published by the Financial Services Bureau (DSF) indicate that the October tax tally on gaming revenue was approximately MOP6.65 billion ($829.28 million).
During the 10-month period, taxation on gaming revenue amounted to approximately 87.4 percent of the total expected MOP83.6 billion ($10.43 billion) expected from the sector in the group’s 2024 budget.
Under Macau’s 10-year gaming concession system, which came into effect on January 1st of last year, the effective tax rate on casino gross gaming revenue (GGR) stands at 40 percent.
The number of pachinko parlors in Japan will decrease to approximately 5,900 by 2028, and the total installations of pachinko and pachislot machines will decline to around 3.08 million units, research conducted by the Yano Research Institute shows.
Once dubbed the “30-Trillion-Yen industry,” the pachinko sector has been in “steady decline since the mid-2000s”, indicate the results of the study by the Japanese market research company.
The research, conducted between November and December 2023, involved a variety of stakeholders, including pachinko players, operating companies, and gaming machine manufacturers.
The forecasts considered multiple scenarios—aggressive, mid-level, and conservative—encompassing key indicators such as the number of pachinko parlors, machine installations, market size, and participant demographics.
According to the institute, regulatory changes implemented in 2018 required operators to replace older pachinko and pachislot machines with updated models by January 2022. This transition placed a financial burden on operators, and the subsequent COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated industry stagnation.
As of the end of 2023, the number of pachinko parlors had declined by 526 from the previous year, totaling 6,839 parlors. The number of pachinko parlor operators also fell, with a decrease of 228 companies (11.1 percent) to 1,825. Corporate groups operating these parlors decreased by 171, down 10.6 percent to 1,447.
Long-term decline
In 2023, pachinko machines in Japan generated in total JPY8.2 trillion ($53.1 billion), while pachislot machines generated JPY7.5 trillion ($48.71 billion), with the total representing less than half the level from around two decades ago.
This long-term decline was attributed to the sluggish economic environment surrounding the pachinko industry.
The “smart pachislot,” released in November 2022, was said by the institute to have gained popularity, revitalizing a previously stagnant pachislot business, as players in their 20s to 40s are particularly drawn to these machines, especially those featuring anime characters.
Smart pachislot machines utilize digital medals instead of physical ones, while smart pachinko machines circulate balls within the machine, allowing players to play without touching them. Revised regulations have enabled a greater diversity of game designs for these smart machines.
However, despite the introduction of Smart Pachi-Slot machines in November 2022, which allow for play without physical gaming medals, the overall trend indicates a gradual market contraction.
In 2022, parlor closures had increased to 774, significantly higher than the 639 closures in 2021. Although the number of closures lessened in 2023, the pace of decline remained high. Notably, 116 new pachinko parlors opened in 2023, exceeding 100 for the first time in three years, primarily due to strong sales of “smart pachislot” machines.
The research forecasts that the number of pachinko parlors will continue to decline, reflecting the challenges faced by smaller establishments and the ongoing consolidation within the industry.
‘The declining number of parlors, installed machines, and active players suggests continued challenges ahead’, the research added.
Pachinko hall operator Dynam Japan has announced its interim results for the six months ended September 30th, 2024, revealing a mixed performance as Japan’s economy shows signs of recovery.
The company reported total revenue of JPY63.7 billion ($412.35 million), reflecting a slight decrease of 1 percent compared to the same period last year. However, profit before income taxes rose significantly to JPY3.5 billion ($22.65 million), marking a robust increase of 22.3 percent year-on-year.
The net profit attributable to the owners of the company reached JPY2.1 billion ($13.59 million), reflecting a 16.9 percent increase from the previous year. As of September 30th, Dynam Japan operated 429 pachinko halls, slightly down from 434 halls a year earlier.
Revenue from the pachinko business specifically decreased by JPY2.01 billion ($13 million), or 3.2 percent – from JPY62.19 billion ($402.67 million) for the six months ended September 30th, 2023, to JPY60.18 billion ($389.67 million) for the same period in 2024.
Revenue from high playing cost halls fell by JPY1.43 billion ($9.26 million), or 4.9 percent, while revenue from low playing cost halls decreased by JPY581 million ($3.75 million), or 1.8 percent. The revenue margin for high playing cost halls dropped to 19 percent, while the margin for low playing cost halls increased slightly to 24.8 percent.
The company noted that the Japanese economy has been bolstered by increased inbound demand and improvements in employment and household income. However, uncertainties remain due to potential downturns in overseas markets and fluctuations in currency exchange rates, the company reported.
Despite these difficulties, Dynam stated that the pachislot market has shown resilience, particularly among younger players, thanks to the introduction of smart pachislot machines. The company is optimistic about the recovery of the pachinko market, especially with the rollout of new machines featuring innovative gaming functionalities.
Dynam Japan is focusing on enhancing profitability through operational efficiencies. The company has made progress in reducing operating expenses, which decreased by JPY1.51 billion ($9.76 million), or 2.6 percent, to JPY57.70 billion ($372.24 million) for the six months ended September 30th, 2024.
This reduction includes a decrease in expenses for both high and low playing cost halls, with Dynam Japan saying it is actively working to increase the installation of smart pachinko and pachislot machines to attract more customers.
ELA Games, an innovative slot provider in the iGaming industry geared towards creating an immersive experience for players through their engaging slots, has annouced a new strategic partnership with Rootz, an iGaming platform that focuses on exciting tech and automation.
Rootz is an all-encompassing iGaming solution built to help operators manage all aspects of their online casinos and power the brands of the future. Some innovative brands in the Rootz portfolio include Wildz, Chipz Casino and many more.
This strategic partnership will see ELA Games’ catalogue being hosted on many of Rootz’s brands. As a result, more players can experience ELA Games’ unique and innovative games like Cash Crab, Joker Cashpot and more. With many of the studio’s games implementing engaging gamification engines, Rootz’s brands can experience increased player acquisition, retention and engagement.
David Fall, ELA Games’ Business Development Manager and spokesperson, commented on the partnership: “We’re proud to announce this significant strategic partnership and are excited about the positive implications it will have on our growth. ELA Games will increase its market presence by being hosted on Rootz’s various platforms, and Rootz will experience increased player engagement from our innovative games. This partnership will prove to be a mutually beneficial one and a meaningful development for our studio.”
Sam Brown, Rootz’s CEO, added: “At Rootz, our players come first, so we’re always thrilled to augment our lobbies with top-quality casino content, like the titles in ELA Games’ catalogue. We’re sure our players will enjoy them, and we look forward to this mutually beneficial collaboration.”
ELA Games continues to experience expansive yet sustainable growth, as evidenced by this recent significant partnership. The studio continues its commitment to producing games with attractive UI and design that enhances the player experience.
WA.Technology, the award-winning B2B iGaming solutions provider, has reached a new milestone after being awarded the ISO 27001:2022 certification.
The globally recognised standard outlines the robust requirements that companies must meet for information security management systems (ISMS). The certification offers a comprehensive framework for developing, implementing, and maintaining robust data security practices in an online environment.
Being awarded the ISO 27001:2022 certification reflects WA.Technology’s ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest possible security controls and data integrity standards across its entire organisation.
The process involved an in-depth analysis of WA.Technology’s information security policies and analysis of the procedures and comprehensive security controls in place to protect the business against potential vulnerabilities. These threats include unauthorised data breaches, sharing of information, and other potential risks.
This is the International Organisation for Standardisation’s (ISO) latest version of the 27001 certification, which features enhanced provisions around emerging information security risks and challenges in the digital landscape, including those related to cloud security, remote working, building access, maintenance of company data, and the utilisation of new technologies. An upgrade from the 2013 certification, ISO 27001:2022 provides online-facing organisations with a clear framework for implementing and managing an effective ISMS to protect confidential information.
Francesca Grech, ISO Coordinator at WA.Technology, celebrated the new certification: “We are delighted to have received the ISO 27001:2022 certification – this is a true reflection of our commitment to upholding the highest standards in information and cyber security and improving our overall risk management and operational efficiency.”
“ISO 27001:2022 is the gold standard for security for any online business; it is no longer a ‘nice to have’ certification but an essential. At WA.Technology, we thoroughly understand the importance of deploying robust security systems across our entire business. This is imperative not only to protect our partners’ information but also to build trust and enhance credibility and confidence too.”
