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PAGCOR expands responsible gaming focus amid softer market conditions

AGBrief Editorial
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PAGCOR expands responsible gaming focus amid softer market conditions

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has promoted its newly launched National Problem Gambling Helpline as part of a broader push for responsible gaming, as the country’s gaming market showed signs of slowing in the first quarter of 2026.

Speaking at SiGMA Asia in Pasay City on June 2nd, PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said regulators and industry leaders must strengthen safeguards to protect players and support sustainable growth.

PAGCOR champions responsible gaming at SiGMA Asia 2026
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco

“As regulators and industry leaders, we have the obligation of ensuring that innovation is matched by accountability, and that industry progress remains aligned with social responsibility and public welfare,” Tengco said.

The National Problem Gambling Helpline provides round-the-clock counseling, intervention and support for individuals and families affected by gambling-related problems. The initiative was launched in partnership with Seagulls Flock Organization, a non-profit advocacy group focused on mental health, behavioral wellness and addiction treatment.

“Through this helpline, individuals and families who are affected by problem gambling will have access to immediate, confidential, and professional support,” Tengco said.

PAGCOR said responsible gaming has become increasingly important as digital gaming platforms continue to expand. Electronic gaming helped drive the Philippines’ gross gaming revenue to nearly PHP400 billion ($6.49 billion) in 2025, up 6.39 percent from PHP372.33 billion ($6.04 billion) in 2024.

However, Tengco said recent market trends showed the cyclical nature of the sector. In the first quarter of 2026, total GGR fell 15.87 percent year-on-year to PHP87.60 billion ($1.42 billion), while the electronic gaming segment contracted 22.43 percent amid softer discretionary spending and broader economic pressures.

Licensed casinos generated PHP44.52 billion ($721.9 million), accounting for 50.83 percent of total industry revenue during the period.

Tengco said the industry’s long-term success should be measured not only by revenue growth, but also by its ability to maintain public trust and uphold responsible gaming standards.

“The true measure of this industry is not simply its size or rate of expansion, but our ability to ensure that gaming remains properly regulated, socially responsible, and genuinely beneficial to the communities we serve,” Tengco said.

Holland Gaming Technology integrates with IBIA to enhance integrity oversight

AGBrief Editorial
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Holland Gaming Technology integrates with IBIA to enhance integrity oversight

Holland Gaming Technology, a licensed gambling operator in the Netherlands, has officially become a member of the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), reinforcing the operator’s pledge to uphold the highest standards of betting integrity and protect the Dutch regulated sports betting sector.

The partnership follows Holland Gaming Technology’s recent expansion into online sports betting through a multi-year sportsbook agreement with Kambi, after securing a sports betting licence from the Dutch regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA). The operator has also recently rebranded from Goldrun Casino to Oranje Palace, part of a broader strategy to modernise its product offering and enhance the customer experience within the regulated Dutch market.

As a member of IBIA, Holland Gaming Technology will participate in the association’s global integrity monitoring network, feeding into IBIA’s Global Monitoring & Alert Platform (Global MAP), which connects over 90 companies and more than 200 betting brands monitoring over $300bn in sports betting turnover annually.

The addition of Holland Gaming Technology further strengthens IBIA’s position as the leading integrity monitor within the Dutch regulated market and further enhances the association’s ability to identify and address suspicious betting activity through collaborative intelligence-sharing between operators, sports, regulatory and law-enforcement stakeholders.

“Joining IBIA reflects our strong commitment to maintaining a secure, transparent and well-regulated betting environment in the Netherlands,” said Tamas Mezosi, CEO of Holland Gaming Technology. “We look forward to collaborating with IBIA and its members to support efforts to protect consumers and safeguard sport from betting-related corruption.”

Tamas Mezosi, CEO of Holland Gaming Technology
Tamas Mezosi, CEO of Holland Gaming Technology
Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA
Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA

Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, shared: “We are delighted to welcome Holland Gaming Technology to IBIA. The operator’s commitment to integrity further strengthens the reach and effectiveness of our monitoring network both in the Netherlands and globally. Operator collaboration plays a vital role in identifying, reporting and sanctioning suspicious betting activity and to protecting the regulated market.”

IBIA monitors over 1.5 million matches across more than 80 sports each year, with its operator intelligence playing a crucial role in supporting sporting, regulatory and law-enforcement investigations. Sanctions announced in 2025 involving IBIA data included 54 matches proven to have been corrupted, with sanctions subsequently imposed on 24 players, teams and officials across five sports.

IBIA’s 2025 Sports Betting Integrity Report highlights the ongoing impact of its Global MAP in identifying suspicious betting activity and supporting investigations and sanctions against corruption in sport. More recently, IBIA published its 2026 Q1 Integrity Report.

Playson expands North American presence with Caesars partnership

AGBrief Editorial
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Playson expands North American presence with Caesars partnership

Playson has secured its latest partnership in Ontario with Caesars Entertainment, bringing a new portfolio of titles to Caesars Palace Online Casino, Horseshoe Online Casino and Caesars Sportsbook & Casino.

The agreement will see Playson elevate the industry-renowned operator’s comprehensive online slot collection with an array of top-performing releases from its Hold and Win library, integrated via Light & Wonder’s aggregation platform.

Titles including 4 Pots Riches: Hold and Win, Thunder Coins: Hold and Win and Diamonds Power XXL: Hold and Win will enable players across the province to enjoy feature-led, captivating gameplay experiences, which have already proven successful since Playson first entered the market in 2022.

“Caesars Digital is a prestigious entertainment brand, and this partnership reinforces our commitment to deliver player-favourite content to the world’s leading casino operators,” said Ben Wood, CCO at Playson. We look forward to bringing our proven portfolio to an increased number of players across Ontario and continue strengthening our North American footprint.”

Ricardo Cornejo Rivas, Vice President of Online Gaming at Caesars Digital, shared: “The addition of Playson’s established portfolio of titles broadens the online casino offering for our players in Ontario. This partnership reflects our ongoing focus on advancing the online casino experience across our platforms.”

Playson’s latest tie-up highlights the international recognition of its brand, with its extensive portfolio continuing to drive long-term value for operators worldwide.

Recently, Playson announced it has been approved by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to distribute its games in the regulated Philippine market.


Gaming Realms launches in 3 African markets with SportyBet

AGBrief Editorial
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Gaming Realms launches in 3 African markets with SportyBet

Gaming Realms, known for its proprietary Slingo format, continues its strategic expansion across Africa. Just weeks after entering South Africa, the company has successfully launched in the Nigerian, Kenyan, and Ghanaian markets in collaboration with SportyBet.

Local players of the leading operator can now access a vast portfolio of Slingo games including player favourites Slingo Sweet Bonanza, Slingo Day of the Dab and Slingo Xxxtreme. The iconic offering has proven appeal across the globe, providing a unique experience that blends the excitement of slots with strategy.

The operator is part of Sporty Group, a global media and entertainment company that holds licences to offer betting and online casino content in numerous regulated African regions.

Entering the three new regulated markets is a milestone achievement for Gaming Realms, with Africa a key area of growth for the provider that has rapidly boosted its presence in Europe and North America over the last year. The latest expansion follows a recent market debut in South Africa with the company set to further expand in the African region in the near future. 

“Entering three new African markets at once together with SportyBet is a fantastic achievement for the Gaming Realms team,” said Laura Norton, Account Manager at Gaming Realms. “We are encouraged by the initial performance and are confident our unique content is appealing to SportyBet’s local customers and look forward to a successful partnership.”

Joey Hurtado, Director of Casino at SportyBet, added: “Being the first operator to introduce Gaming Realms’ content in three of our core African markets is a real coup. Their product offering provides something truly different, and this collaboration helps us deliver on our promise to offer our customers a best-in-class entertainment experience.”

CLSA sees Macau GGR growth moderating after solid May finish

Viviana Chan
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CLSA sees Macau GGR growth moderating after solid May finish

Macau’s gross gaming revenue (GGR) outperformed market expectations in May, but year-on-year growth is expected to moderate from June as the comparison base rises, according to an investment memo by CLSA analyst Jeffrey Kiang.

Macau’s May 2026 gross gaming revenue rose 6.7 percent year-on-year to MOP22.61 billion ($2.8 billion), broadly in line with CLSA’s forecast of 6.6 percent growth and 1.7 percent above Bloomberg consensus.

CLSA said the result represented a ‘solid finish,’ with gaming revenue averaging MOP783 million ($96.9 million) per day from May 26th to May 31st. That was 9 percent higher than the MOP716 million ($88.6 million) daily average recorded during the first 25 days of the month, which the brokerage said was possibly due to ‘normalized win rates.’

Macau posts strongest May since the pandemic, GGR up 6.7% to $2.8B

After adjusting for the number of days in the month, May’s average daily GGR stood at MOP729 million ($90.2 million), 10 percent above the MOP663 million ($82.1 million) recorded in April 2026.

For the first 5 months of 2026, Macau’s GGR increased 10.9 percent year-on-year to MOP108.4 billion ($13.42 billion), reaching 86 percent of the level recorded in the same period of 2019.

CLSA expects Macau’s June GGR to edge down 0.65 percent year-on-year to MOP20.9 billion ($2.59 billion), implying average daily revenue of MOP698 million ($86.4 million). Kiang noted that the forecast is broadly in line with the Bloomberg consensus median, which stands at a 1 percent year-on-year decline.

The brokerage said growth is expected to moderate from June onward as the year-on-year base rises. It maintained its 2026 full-year forecast for Macau GGR growth at 5 percent, at the low end of the market consensus range of 5 percent to 8 percent.

Asia Gaming eBrief: People Inc offers $18B to take MGM Resorts private

AGBrief Editorial
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Asia Gaming eBrief: People Inc offers $18B to take MGM Resorts private
Good morning. The casino chessboard is shifting. Media group People Inc. has moved a major piece, submitting an $18 billion bid to take MGM Resorts private after nearly six years as a major shareholder. The offer comes just days after another major U.S. casino takeover deal, putting consolidation talk firmly back in the spotlight. In Macau, Seaport says May’s GGR was dragged down by low VIP hold but supported by stronger underlying demand, with June forecast to be broadly flat year-on-year. And in Sydney, The Star has been fined $7.2 million over historical compliance breaches, even as regulators note some remediation progress.

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M&A

MGM Resorts International, lawsuits, People Inc seeks majority control of MGM Resorts in $18B offer

People Inc seeks majority control of MGM Resorts in $18B offer

Media group People Incorporated, led by Barry Diller, has launched an $18 billion bid to take MGM Resorts International private, offering $48.30 per share for the stock it does not already own and seeking control of the company. People said the offer reflects its view that MGM’s assets and digital growth prospects remain undervalued. MGM said its board would review the bid but cautioned there was no assurance it would lead to an agreement.

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How Crypto Adoption in Asia is Changing iGaming Payments

Yevhen Krazhan, CSO for GR8 Tech

Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech, explores how surging crypto adoption across Asia is revolutionizing iGaming payments, stating: “When I look at what’s changing fastest in Asia, it’s payment behavior,” as wallets, stablecoins, and seamless cross-border transfers become deeply ingrained in player habits. The winning operators will be those that offer fast, reliable, and local deposits and withdrawals. To make sense of it, Yevhen breaks Asia into two crypto realities.

INTELLIGENCE | ASEAN | AWARDS | CAREERS | EVENTS

India’s Delta Corp reads a ‘favorable outcome’ into Supreme Court GST ruling

Viviana Chan
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India’s Delta Corp reads a ‘favorable outcome’ into Supreme Court GST ruling

Indian casino operator Delta Corp has told investors it expects the Supreme Court’s retrospective GST ruling to have a lighter impact on its casino business than on the country’s battered online gaming sector — an upbeat interpretation offered before the company had seen the full text of the order.

In a May 28th exchange filing, Delta Corp said that, based on the ‘limited information’ available, it understood that the chip-based revenue method it has applied since October 2023 would now also apply retrospectively to the July 2017–September 2023 period. The company described the interpretation as a ‘favorable outcome.’

That distinction sits at the heart of Delta Corp’s optimism. For physical casinos, the company argued, GST should apply to the amount players pay for chips, rather than to the gross value of every bet placed — a far larger figure that, in its words, has the effect of ‘notionally multiplying’ taxable revenue. The 28 percent levy on full bet value remains the heaviest burden for online real-money gaming operators, which the May 27th ruling explicitly reclassified as gambling.

The reassurance has done little to steady the stock, however, with Delta Corp shares sliding in the days following the ruling. Whether the casino read-through holds will depend on the detailed order, which is still awaited.

The stakes are considerable. Delta Corp’s 2023 tax demand of INR11,140 crore ($1.34 billion) amounted to roughly three times its market capitalization, while the group has already suspended its $285 million integrated resort project in Goa pending clarity on the tax treatment. The company said it would update the market once it had reviewed the full judgment.

Malaysia tightens social media controls to combat online gambling and scams

Frank Schuengel
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Malaysia tightens social media controls to combat online gambling and scams

Malaysia has introduced mandatory identity verification requirements for social media advertisers as part of wider efforts to combat illegal online gambling, financial scams and the misuse of public figures in fraudulent promotions.

The new rules, which came into effect on Monday, require individuals and businesses placing sponsored advertisements on major social media platforms in the country to verify their identities before their content can be published. The measure applies to licensed social media platforms with more than eight million users in Malaysia and forms part of the Risk Mitigation Code (RMC) introduced under the country’s Online Safety Act 2025.

Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the requirement aims to close a major enforcement gap that has allowed anonymous advertisers to promote illegal gambling platforms, fraudulent investment schemes and other suspicious online activities. Authorities have previously struggled to identify the individuals or groups behind such paid advertisements, with many campaigns using fake profiles, misleading content or the images of celebrities and public figures without permission to attract users.

Under the new framework, advertisers will have to provide verifiable information before purchasing sponsored placements, giving regulators and platform operators greater ability to trace those responsible for illegal content. The measure comes amid growing scrutiny of gambling-related advertising across digital platforms in Malaysia, where all forms of online gambling remain illegal except for limited licensed activities.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has significantly increased enforcement against harmful online content, including advertisements linked to illegal betting operators and scam networks. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil previously stated that a large proportion of online content removed by the regulator since January involved either scams or gambling-related activities, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing authorities.

Malaysia has been increasing pressure on social media operators to take a more active role in policing harmful content, with regulators arguing that stronger platform accountability is needed to prevent digital advertising systems from being exploited by criminal groups. The Online Safety Act 2025 forms part of broader government efforts to tighten oversight of online platforms, strengthen user protection measures and improve enforcement capabilities against illegal digital activities.

Macau May GGR weighed down by low hold, June forecast flat YoY: Seaport

Viviana Chan
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Macau May GGR weighed down by low hold, June forecast flat YoY: Seaport

Macau’s gross gaming revenue rose 6.7 percent year-on-year in May to MOP22.61 billion ($2.83 billion), coming in above recent market expectations but below Seaport Research Partners’ initial forecast due to low VIP hold, according to a June 1st industry update by the firm.

Seaport said May’s result was negatively affected by low VIP hold, following a similar trend in April, while underlying demand appeared stronger. The firm estimated that hold-adjusted growth would likely have exceeded 12 percent to 13 percent.

Macau posts strongest May since the pandemic, GGR up 6.7% to $2.8B

‘May GGR came in better than recent expectations,’ Seaport analyst Vitaly Umansky wrote, adding that the month saw ‘strong premium play but VIP softer, largely due to low hold.’

The firm estimated that MGM China and SJM Holdings were the largest market share gainers compared with the first quarter, while Sands China and Melco Resorts likely lost share. 

Seaport said Sands was likely affected by VIP hold below the broader market level.

For June, Seaport forecast Macau GGR to be broadly flat year-on-year, at a decline of 0.3 percent, and down 7 percent month-on-month. The firm estimated June GGR at about MOP21.00 billion ($2.63 billion), based on average daily GGR of around MOP700 million ($87.5 million).

The firm expects second-quarter GGR to grow 3.9 percent year-on-year, with VIP revenue down 16 percent to 17 percent and mass revenue up 7 percent to 8 percent.

Growth is expected to decelerate in the second half of 2026 due to more difficult year-on-year comparisons and hold comparisons. Seaport said GGR growth could slow to below 4 percent in the second half unless demand improves or liquidity conditions strengthen.

For full-year 2026, Seaport forecasts Macau GGR growth of 6.2 percent, with VIP up about 1 percent and mass up about 6 percent.

A separate Deutsche Bank note also pointed to stronger-than-expected May GGR, saying the result represented a 13.7 percent sequential increase from April and was 740 basis points better than historical May trends. 

Deutsche Bank forecast June GGR of about $2.63 billion, up 1.0 percent year-on-year.

People Inc. submits $18B bid to take MGM Resorts private

Viviana Chan
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0
People Inc. submits $18B bid to take MGM Resorts private

People Incorporated, the media company formerly known as IAC, has submitted a non-binding proposal to acquire all outstanding shares of MGM Resorts International that it does not already own, offering $48.30 per share in cash in a bid that values the casino operator at more than $18 billion, including debt.

In a letter sent to MGM’s board on Monday, June 1st, People Incorporated — which already holds 26.1 percent of the company — said the all-cash offer represents a premium of 10.6 percent to MGM’s most recent closing price, 24.1 percent to the volume-weighted average price over the 30 trading days ending May 29th, and more than 30 percent to the 90-day average.

The proposal would take MGM private. People Incorporated said it expected to own just over 50.1 percent of the company’s equity after closing and to control the business, with minority interests held by other investors that may include current MGM shareholders. It added that it would fund the deal through existing cash at both People Incorporated and MGM, alongside additional debt and equity commitments, and that the transaction would not be subject to any financing condition.

Barry Diller, chairman and senior executive of People Incorporated, People Inc.
Barry Diller, chairman and senior executive of People Incorporated

“We began investing in MGM nearly six years ago because we believed it represented a rare kind of business: one with real world assets that AI cannot easily replicate or disintermediate and exceptional digital growth opportunities,” said Barry Diller, chairman and senior executive of People Incorporated. “We continue to believe the market materially undervalues the power and durability of MGM’s assets.”

Diller, who said he would recuse himself from any MGM board deliberations on the matter, added that People Incorporated had no intention of selling its existing stake or supporting any transaction that would transfer control to another party.

MGM Resorts confirmed it had received the offer for all outstanding shares that People Incorporated does not already own. The company said its board would review the proposal ‘in consultation with its financial and legal advisors’ to determine the course of action in the best interests of all shareholders, adding that shareholders ‘do not need to take any action at this time.’

MGM cautioned that there was no assurance the proposal would result in an agreement, and said it ‘remains focused on advancing its position as the world’s premier gaming entertainment company.’

Caesars agreed to a $17.6 billion all-cash takeover by Fertitta Entertainment at a 49 percent premium to shareholders.
Caesars Entertainment

Second casino takeover bid in a week

The offer marks the second takeover bid in the U.S. casino industry within a week. On Thursday, the firm of Tilman Fertitta — Wynn Resorts’ largest individual shareholder — announced the acquisition of Caesars Entertainment in a $17.6 billion deal.

MGM shares surged 14.5 percent to $50 following the announcement, trading above the offer price.

MGM China, Macau
MGM COTAI, Macau

Diller’s bet on MGM, and its Macau exposure

For Diller, the deal offers a way to diversify beyond a core media business that includes People magazine and Food & Wine. He has invested in travel and leisure before, acquiring Expedia in 2002 and building it into a global travel company under IAC before spinning it off.

MGM owns properties that account for roughly 40 percent of the Las Vegas Strip but has faced sluggish foot traffic in Las Vegas and has leaned on growth from its China assets and digital operations.

The operator’s holdings include a 56 percent stake in Macau-based MGM China Holdings, while its BetMGM venture has become one of the leading online sportsbooks in the United States.

People Incorporated recorded $34 million in unrealized gains from its MGM investment in the March quarter, compared with a loss of about $324 million a year earlier.

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