Pragmatic Play, a leading content supplier to the iGaming industry, has launched Big Bass Xmas Xtreme, the latest festive addition to its popular Big Bass series.
Set in the icy Antarctic wilderness, this holiday-themed slot features penguins, fishing gear, and the iconic fisherman ready for a seasonal adventure.
The bonus game is triggered by landing three or more scatters. Before the feature begins, players can unwrap Christmas gifts to reveal modifiers such as extra free spins and guaranteed money symbols.
Each fisherman that lands collects all money symbols on the reels, awarding cash values of up to 1,000x. Every fourth fisherman awards ten extra free spins and a bigger win multiplier – starting at 2x in level two and reaching a whopping 50x in level eight. If a fisherman lands without a money symbol on the screen, or vice versa, a random feature can activate to award a win.
Offering a captivating holiday theme and wins of up to 10,000x, Big Bass Xmas Xtreme is an exciting addition to Pragmatic Play’s award-winning slots portfolio.
Irina Cornides, Chief Operating Officer at Pragmatic Play, said: “Big Bass Xmas Xtreme gives Pragmatic Play’s popular game series a seasonal twist with up to eight bonus game levels and a 10,000x max win.”
Authorities in Nepal have indicated a sharp rise in the number of Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) by banks in the country, largely linked to cyber-enabled frauds sometimes committed to cover gambling debts.
In the Strategic Analysis Report, 2024 on Cyber Enabled Fraud by the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Nepal Rastra Bank, findings indicated that the majority of individuals involved in committing cyber-enabled frauds (CEFs) were aged 19 to 30.
The group notes that ‘fraudsters commonly use multiple accounts opened in different Banks and Financial Institutions (BFIs) and Payment Service Providers (PSPs) under the same individual to collect illicit funds’.
The group notes that the majority of the CEF-related STRs are ‘victim reports and inquiries from law enforcement and investigative agencies’.
According to data compiled in the report, fraud was registered as one of the top 10 most registered crimes in fiscal 2022-2023, at 1,105 cases. Banking offenses were the highest most registered crimes, at 12,135.
During the period, the country’s Cyber Bureau – a special unit of the Nepal Police – received 9,013 complaints, a sharp rise from 4,638 in the previous fiscal year.
Of these, some 1,945 were related to IT fraud. These included phishing and a ‘lottery scam including alluring fraudulent offers of work from home and online shopping’.
Regarding amounts frozen by authorities linked to frauds conducted between 2017 and 2022, a total of $826,000 was frozen, while $160,000 was seized. Regarding bank offenses this figure rises to $741,000.
But while 29 fraud-related cases were registered at the Supreme Court of Nepal in fiscal 2022/2023, only one case resulted in a conviction, while two cases resulted in acquittals. In total, of some 495 fraud-related cases presented before the High Courts, only 153 resulted in convictions, while 163 ended in acquittals.
Looking at CEF, in fiscal 2022/23 some seven cases were prosecuted, involving 10 defendants. Only one case resulted in a conviction, while partial claims were sustained in three cases and one was resolved through mutual compromise.
One of the key transaction patterns identified in the report is ‘abnormal transaction activity in bank accounts and wallets including transaction with persons suspected of online gambling and illegal virtual assets transactions’.
November 2024 has proven to be a standout month for the premium mass gaming segment in Macau, with robust growth in both the number of players and total wagers placed, according to Citigroup’s latest table survey.
Despite expectations of a slower period, the survey reveals a surge in activity, fueled by higher-quality players and innovative strategies implemented by casino operators.
The premium mass sector continues to shine, showing no signs of slowing down, with total wagers rising 29 percent year-on-year (YoY) to HK$12.2 million ($1.6 million). The number of premium mass players also grew by 21 percent YoY, underscoring the appeal of Macau’s gaming offerings.
Citigroup points to improved player quality as a key factor in this growth, with the average wager per player rising by 7 percent YoY to HK$23,706 ($3,046). This increase reflects a stronger concentration of high-value players, including more ‘whales’ (high rollers) than ever before.
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.
The number of whale players saw a rise to 21, compared to 18 in November 2023, with an average wager per whale increasing by 73 percent YoY to HK$268,381 ($34,477). This indicates not only a growing interest in premium mass offerings but also a shift toward larger, more lucrative wagers, contributing to an overall increase in gaming revenue.
Smart tables and creative side bets
Macau casino operators are continuing to evolve and adapt their offerings to cater to the premium mass market’s growing demands. One major trend observed in the survey is the accelerated deployment of smart gaming tables, which aim to increase game velocity and improve the overall player experience.
According to analysts George Choi and Timothy Chau, major venues such as Galaxy Macau’s Horizon, Studio City, Venetian Macao, Wynn Palace’s Diamond Club, Wynn Encore, and Plaza have fully integrated smart tables across all mass baccarat areas, ensuring faster game play and a streamlined gaming experience. This technological upgrade not only enhances the pace of gaming but also boosts operational efficiency, driving further growth in GGR.
Another innovation gaining traction in the premium mass sector is the introduction of new side bets. At The Venetian Macao, the launch of “Side Bet Expert Tables,” which focus on side bets like Lucky 6s and Lucky 7s, is attracting more players to place additional wagers. The innovative table layout, which prominently features side bets alongside traditional bets, combined with player screens displaying historical trends, encourages more frequent side betting, further driving up hold rates and, ultimately, GGR.
Sands China’s strategy of making side bets a focal point reminds investors and operators alike that GGR growth is not solely dependent on the number of players or the size of their wallets—it also depends on the creative ways in which casinos enhance the betting experience.
Melco’s success in the premium mass segment is also noteworthy. The operator has secured the top spot in Citigroup’s survey, with a commanding 31 percent share of total wagers. The introduction of the “Emperor” tier in its loyalty program has yielded positive results, attracting high-rolling players, as evidenced by the record-breaking wager of HK$2.2 million ($280,000) from the Player of the Month at Studio City’s Signature Club. With new premium offerings and a strategic focus on rewarding top players, Melco continues to strengthen its position in the competitive premium mass market.
7777 gaming, a top online casino game provider, is excited to announce its entry into the Georgian market through a strategic partnership with Europebet, a leading online gambling operator in the region and part of the Betsson Group since 2015.
7777 gaming presents an expansive collection of more than 100 online casino games, each meticulously certified to comply with Georgia’s latest legal standards. With a focus on innovation and quality, 7777 gaming provides unique and engaging casino experiences that cater to the preferences of the new generation of players.
The direct integration of 7777 gaming’s content into Europebet’s platform demonstrates a commitment to offering players a premium gaming experience with a wide range of high-quality titles. Through this integration, players at Europebet in Georgia can enjoy 7777 gaming’s engaging and diverse games portfolio, such as Cash 100, Barbarian, Candy Anyways, Sea of Treasures, Diamonds of Majesty, and Thracian Treasures.
Elena Shaterova, Chief Commercial Officer at 7777 gaming, stated: “We take pride in our relentless dedication to adhering to the latest legislative requirements in Georgia’s online gambling sector. Recognizing the immense potential of this lucrative market, we eagerly join forces with Europebet, a renowned brand synonymous with thrilling gameplay, innovation, and creativity.”
Mindia Tsiklauri, Slots Product Manager at Europebet said: “Our partnership with 7777 gaming introduces a new dimension of entertainment for our players. Their extensive and distinctive game selection adds valuable diversity to our platform, a sought-after quality in our vibrant and competitive market. Continuously seeking innovative avenues to captivate our audience, we view 7777 gaming as an invaluable ally in our ongoing mission.”
Former Philippine presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has yet to submit his challenge to the human trafficking charges filed against him linked to POGO operation Lucky South 99.
According to reports, Roque has yet to file a counter-affidavit with the Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors handling his case.
Charges were filed against Roque and two others for their alleged involvement in the POGO operation in Porac, Pampanga. Roque joins over 50 others involved in the human trafficking complaint.
He is believed to have been the lawyer for the POGO operation, a claim he denies.
Roque had at first expressed willingness to participate in the DOJ’s preliminary investigation but has since failed to appear or send representatives to aid in the investigation.
The charges against Roque were filed in late October by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).
They claim that Roque had “active participation in the furtherance of the illegal activity” of the POGO” and that Roque had met with Lucky South 99 representatives and had follow-ups with a PAGCOR official regarding the renewal of the POGO’s license.
If Roque fails to participate in the investigation, “the complaint will be resolved on the basis […] the evidence annexed to the complaint,” according to Department of Justice Prosecutor Eugene Yusi, quoted by various news outlets.
While the prosecutor assured that Roque has been notified of the investigation and the complaint, Roque claims he has not yet received a copy of it and that he had not received any summons from the Department of Justice.
According to the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC), Macau’s economy saw significant growth in service exports, bolstered by a surge in visitor arrivals during the peak summer months.
In the first three quarters of 2024, exports of services increased by 11.4 percent year-on-year in real terms, with exports of gaming services surging by 28.4 percent. However, exports of other tourism-related services declined by 6.1 percent due to a high comparison base from last year, although they still recorded nearly 15 percent growth compared to the same period in 2019.
In terms of merchandise trade, exports and imports of goods fell by 15.1 percent and 8.3 percent, respectively, year-on-year.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 11.5 percent year-on-year in real terms, reaching MOP301.0 billion ($37.4 billion) for the first three quarters of 2024. The overall economic output recovered to 86.3 percent of its level in the same period of 2019, with GDP surpassing the MOP300 billion mark for the first time since then. Growth was driven by the strong increase in exports of services and a 2.7 percent rise in domestic demand, which includes private consumption, government spending, and investment.
Macau visitor arrivals YOY 2024
In the third quarter of 2024, GDP rose by 4.7 percent year-on-year in real terms, reaching 87.3 percent of the corresponding quarter of 2019. Exports of services and domestic demand posted year-on-year gains of 1.3 percent and 4.6 percent, respectively. The implicit deflator of GDP, which measures overall price changes, increased by 1.5 percent to reach 106.7.
Private consumption showed solid growth, spurred by rising household incomes amid a positive economic environment and improving job market conditions. Over the first three quarters, private consumption expenditure rose by 5.8 percent year-on-year, with household spending domestically and abroad growing by 4.8 percent and 13.6 percent, respectively.
In contrast, government consumption expenditure dropped by 10.1 percent following the discontinuation of the livelihood subsidy scheme. Net purchases of goods and services decreased by 21.9 percent, while employee compensation remained relatively stable.
Good morning. Slicing the market share pie. In the third quarter of 2024, Sands China maintained the largest market share in Macau’s gaming sector at 24.5 percent, while SJM Holdings reported the only increase in market share, rising from 12.7 percent to 14.1 percent due to gains in both mass and VIP gaming segments, data compiled by Deutsche Bank shows. Meanwhile, Thailand’s Secretary-General to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has indicated that the country’s IR bill is expected to pass through both chambers of parliament in 2025. Meanwhile, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) has initiated a $5 billion transformation that will completely revamp its waterfront by 2030.
In the third quarter of 2024, Sands China maintained the largest market share in Macau’s gaming sector at 24.5 percent, while SJM Holdings was the only operator to report a sequential increase in market share rising from 12.7 percent to 14.1 percent. SJM made gains in both mass and VIP gaming segments, with analysts believing the ramping up of business at Grand Lisboa Palace helped the firm’s third-quarter performance.
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.
Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) has initiated a transformative S$6.8 billion ($5 billion) waterfront expansion, which is set to open by 2030.
The ambitious project will introduce two new luxury hotels, providing an additional 700 rooms to complement RWS’s existing six hotels, and is strategically designed to enhance its appeal amid increasing competition and a slowdown in gaming revenue.
Resorts World Sentosa expansion
This expansion will also feature a waterfront promenade, a four-storey retail, entertainment, and dining podium spanning 228,658 square feet, and an 88-meter-high experiential mountain trail that promises stunning views of Sentosa, the Greater Southern Waterfront, and Singapore’s Central Business District.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held on November 15th, marked a significant step in RWS’s, efforts to refresh its offerings and attract more visitors.
RWS Chief Executive Tan Hee Teck emphasized that this development is unprecedented in Singapore and will position RWS as a must-visit destination in the global tourism landscape.
The project aims to expand the current Genting Singapore property by about 50 percent, adding more than 164,000 square meters of new gross floor area.
Embattled PH Resorts Group reported a net loss of PHP392.9 million ($6.7 million) for the nine months ended September 30th, 2024.
This figure represents an improvement compared to the PHP2.20 billion ($37 million) loss during the same period in 2023. However, the Group continues to face financial difficulties, primarily driven by Emerald Bay’s pre-development expenses. As of September 30th, 2024, the Group’s deficit stood at PHP7.22 billion ($123 million), up from PHP4.81 billion a year earlier.
Additionally, according to the quarterly results updated to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Friday, PH Resorts reports that its current liabilities exceeded its current assets by PHP12.55 billion ($214 million), compared to PHP4.15 billion ($71 million) at the end of 2023.
Negative operating cash flows of PHP127.8 million for the first nine months of 2024, compared to PHP41.7 million ($710,000) in 2023, have raised concerns about the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern. These financial challenges suggest significant uncertainty regarding the Group’s ability to meet its obligations and realize its assets in the normal course of business.
The Group, which is active in the gaming and tourism sectors, has an ongoing construction project, Emerald Bay, on Mactan Island, Cebu, which is expected to benefit from a 7-year exclusivity period upon completion. It also operates a resort on Panglao Island, Bohol, which began commercial operations in 2018.
Emerald Bay, project render
To secure new investments, PH Travel, the Group’s subsidiary, initially signed a term sheet with Bloomberry Resorts Corporation (BRC) in May 2022 for a potential investment in LLI and CGLC. However, BRC terminated the agreement in March 2023, prompting PH Travel to seek alternative investors. In December 2023, PH Travel entered into a new agreement with Tiger Resort Leisure & Entertainment, Inc. (TRLEI) to take over the Emerald Bay project.
Unfortunately, this term sheet was also terminated in July 2024, despite receiving nonrefundable payments of PHP327.6 million ($5.6 million), which were later reclassified as income. This development has allowed PH Travel to reengage with other investors, and discussions are ongoing with multiple strategic parties as due diligence continues.
To address its liquidity issues, PH Resorts Group has secured financial support from its ultimate parent company, which has committed to covering operating expenses and helping the Group meet its financial obligations. The Group is also in ongoing discussions with the Land Bank of the Philippines to extend repayments on a PHP975.0 million ($16.6 million) loan, with Udenna Corporation providing a support letter to ensure repayment.
Furthermore, the parent company has pledged to honor the PHP1.0 billion ($17 million) deposit related to the terminated agreement with BRC until repayment is feasible. Despite these challenges, PH Resorts remains optimistic about its ongoing investor discussions and believes these efforts will generate sufficient cash flow to meet its obligations and sustain its operations moving forward.
Macau’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector continues to drive non-gaming revenue, generating MOP4.48 billion ($557 million) in the first three quarters of 2024.
This represents a 5.4 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023 (MOP4.26 billion), underscoring the city’s growing focus on diversifying its economy beyond gaming.
According to the latest data from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC), the number of MICE events in Macau rose by 29.8 percent year-on-year to 1,011 during the first nine months of 2024, reaching 94 percent of pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019. This increase translates to an additional 232 events compared to the same period last year, indicating a strong recovery in the sector.
The surge was primarily driven by meetings and conferences, which saw a 30.2 percent rise year-on-year, totaling 943 events. The number of participants in these events grew by 12.7 percent, reaching 136,000. However, the exhibition segment faced challenges, with only 40 events held—down by four compared to 2023—and a 21.7 percent drop in attendees, totaling 856,000.
Despite this decline, exhibitions managed to attract 4,680 exhibitors and 28,295 professional visitors, though these figures represented slight year-on-year decreases of 0.7 percent and 9.2 percent, respectively. Notably, over half of the exhibitors (50.1 percent) and professional visitors (53 percent) were non-locals, marking increases of 1.4 and 8.5 percentage points, respectively.
In terms of content focus, nearly 41 percent of events in the first three quarters were centered on “Commerce & Management,” accounting for 409 events. Other popular topics included “Information Technology” (108 events), “Tourism” (108 events), and “Medical & Health” (97 events), collectively making up a significant portion of Macau’s MICE calendar.
The incentive segment also experienced positive growth, with 28 incentive events held—an increase of 17 events compared to the previous year. The number of participants rose by 16 percent, reaching 12,000, highlighting continued interest in incentive-driven travel to Macau.
The third quarter of 2024 presented mixed results for Macau’s MICE sector. While the number of events grew by 16.7 percent year-on-year to 300, the total number of participants and attendees declined by 4.8 percent, totaling 521,000. Non-gaming receipts for the quarter amounted to approximately MOP2.02 billion ($251 million), a decline of 17.3 percent compared to the same quarter in 2023 (MOP2.44 billion). However, these revenues showed a significant rebound of 36.4 percent from the second quarter of 2024 (MOP1.48 billion), suggesting a gradual recovery.
During this period, there were 276 meetings and conferences, up by 19 percent year-on-year, while the number of exhibitions decreased by six to a total of 14. These exhibitions drew 1,685 exhibitors and 9,178 professional visitors, demonstrating sustained interest despite the overall decrease in numbers. Additionally, the number of incentive events increased to 10, up by five from the previous year.
