The Office of the Philippines’ Senate Sergeant at Arms (OSAA) deployed four teams to execute arrest warrants for suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and seven others.
This action follows the Senate panel’s announcement of the arrest order earlier this month.
The reason for their arrest is contempt, stemming from their repeated disregard of inquiries into illegal activities involving Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
OSAA’s head, retired Philippine Army Lt. Gen. Roberto Ancan, directed the deployment of teams to execute the arrest orders for Alice Guo, Sheila Leal Guo, Wesley Leal Guo, Jian Zhong Guo, Seimen Guo, Wen Yi Lin (suspected mother), Dennis Cunanan, and Nancy Gamo.
Most of suspects are family members of Alice Guo, including her siblings and parents.
The OSAA was tasked with serving the arrest orders within 24 hours and detaining the eight individuals at its office until they appear and testify before the Senate committee investigating POGOs, or until they are cleared of contempt charges.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, also mandated the eight to appear before her committee on July 29th.
Guo’s legal team has asked the Supreme Court to cancel the earlier subpoena issued by the Senate committee, chaired by Hontiveros, against Guo and her family members.
Meanwhile, Stephen David, Guo’s lawyer, stated that the Mayor would surrender once her mental state improves.
Good Morning. Growing and growing. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) reported a substantial 121.4 percent increase in its net income to PHP6.56 billion ($112.3 million) for the first half of 2024. The boost in GGR was driven mainly by online gaming revenues which reached PHP20.66 billion ($353.79 million), with CEO Alejandro Tengco believing GGR could exceed PHP100 billion in 2024. Meanwhile, a recent study conducted by the Asia Pacific Association for Gambling Studies revealed gaps in the information disclosure practices of Macau’s major gaming operators over the past decade. Jumping to horse racing, the 40th Asian Racing Conference (ARC) this year is set to feature an extensive program centered on Japanese racing breeding, business leaders and key stakeholders.
What you need to know
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has reported a substantial increase in its net income for the first half of 2024.
A recent study centered on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices and information disclosure of Macau’s major gaming operators from 2012 to 2021 noted a pattern of gaming operators delaying or inadequately responding to stakeholder expectations, particularly around promoting local employees. However, the study also highlights the substantial contributions these operators have made, including over $27 billion in tax revenue and employment of over 80,000 local residents at their peak, representing over a quarter of Macau’s workforce.
Aviatrix, the award-winning crash game, continues to expand its following in Brazil, this time by partnering with one of the country’s most respected operators, Casa de Apostas.
Casa de Apostas was one of the first online betting platforms in Brazil. It was the first to sponsor major clubs in the country and today it is the only one in its segment to name two World Cup Arenas: Casa de Apostas Arena Fonte Nova – Salvador / BA; and Casa de Apostas Arena das Dunas – Natal / RN. And now it offers its players access to Aviatrix.
The innovative crash game is not only hugely popular in Brazil, but also has a strong track record appealing to players worldwide.
Gabriela Novello, Head of Business Development LATAM at Aviatrix, said:“Casa de Apostas is an operator whose serious trajectory in the national market we have been following closely. We are confident that with Aviatrix’s partnership, we can deliver significant value to Betting House players through one of the most popular online casino games of the moment.”
Hans Schleier, COO at Casa de Apostas, added: “We want the best for our players, and that means adding the most exciting new games on the market. Aviatrix absolutely fits into that category. The game is already growing rapidly in Brazil and our players have been requesting it. It’s been a pleasure working with the Aviatrix team to bring this world-class title to our platform.”
Aviatrix works tirelessly to deliver the very best experience to players across Brazil. This included the recent launch of a new game splash screen to celebrate the São João festival.
Last evening, pop diva Joey Yung once again hearten up the stage and kicked off the grand finale for this year’s Melco Residency Concert Series with the first of 12 elegant encounters at Studio City.
Since its inception last year, Melco Residency Concert Series presented by Melco Style has attracted countless music fans from across Asia and has become Asia’s premier entertainment masterpiece.
Being the first superstar of LIVE in Asia’s First Ever Residency Concert Series debuted last year, Cantopop diva Joey Yung took the stage of Studio City Event Center last night to unveil the finale series of this year’s Melco Residency Concert Series with a perfect conclusion.
Joey projected all her inspirations and emotions experienced in the past year onto this bespoke Melco-limited performance, creating a musical feast that surprised audiences at every turn. Joey specifically named the concert ‘Eternity’ as she believes chasing dreams is an eternal journey, and the most beautiful things must be felt with the heart.
To draw fans into her fantastical musical world, Joey has prepared different immersive stage effects for each chapter of ‘Joey Yung Eternity Live in Macau 2024’. Joey got hold of the audiences’ immediate attention dressed in an eye-popping wings while singing “A Kind of Forever” passionately for the concert’s opening.
It was seamlessly followed by a series of her classic songs – “The Last Juliet,” “Live in the Moment” and “Peachy Adventure” that fired up the atmosphere. Joey then revelled into a section of up-tempo songs that gave her the chance to show off her superb dancing skills with her dancers, inspiring her fans to loudly sing along with every best hits.
For the next section, Joey dressed in a mystical dance outfit to perform “Pretty Crazy” and “A Magnificent Entrance” showcasing Joey’s singing and dancing prowess that elevated the mood to the next level.
As a special treat to her beloved fans, Joey performed her latest single “9.9 Seconds,” bringing a romantic vibe to the show that attracted fervent screams and thunderous applause from her fans. At the finale, Joey wrapped up her fantastic performance with medleys of chart-topping classic ballads, ”The Attractive One”, “Betrayal”, “Split Body Technique”, “Instant Breakup”, “Final Victory” and “Excuse Me”.
On the thrilling opening of her second Melco Residency Concert Series, Joey said, “I’m so happy to be with Melco again bringing residency concert culture to new heights. The long-awaited second season of “Joey Yung Eternity Concert 2024” finally kicked off at Studio City Event Center, I can feel the unwavering support of my fans from all over Asia. Their passions really moved me.
I do very much look forward to the following 11 nights where I will be able to perform my captivating music and intense dance at this Melco limited series and travel with all audiences into my beautiful eternally fantastical music world. I’m truly thrilled by the anticipation of enjoying a red-hot, all-out summer with my fans at the Studio City.”
Presented by Melco Style, Melco Residency Concert Series ‘Joey Yung Eternity Live in Macau 2024’ debuts on July 13 with a total of 12 performances over 6 weekends. Studio City is also offering superstar-level privileges to dedicated music fans, including the “Strongest hits” VIP Suite party package, which let fans enjoy in a variety of tasty food and refreshing drinks while immersing into Joey’s music world at private cabin, as well as a Club MOP private box for red-hot post-show party.
The “Pretty Crazy” Free Flow Concert package offers two hours of all-you-can-drink for enthusiast to pre-game before the show and fully indulge in the concert frenzy
Australian gaming operator The Star Entertainment Group Limited has announced the regulatory approval of two key leadership positions within the company.
On March 22nd, 2024, The Star appointed Neale O’Connell as the Interim Group Chief Financial Officer, with this appointment having now received all necessary regulatory approvals.
O’Connell will step into the CFO role on an interim basis as the company conducts a search for a permanent replacement, with The Star noting he ‘brings extensive experience in the gaming and hospitality industry’, having previously served in senior finance roles at several major casino operators.
“Neale’s deep expertise will be invaluable as we navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead,” said The Star’s Managing Director. “We are confident he will provide steady financial leadership during this transition period.”
This comes as the group recently announced the appointment of a new group CEO and Managing Director, Steve McCann.
Additionally, The Star also received approval for the appointment of Janelle Campbell as the new Chief Executive Officer of The Star Sydney, an appointment announced on January 25th, 2024.
Campbell joins The Star Sydney after holding senior leadership roles at other prominent casino resorts, and will now also join the board of The Star Sydney as part of her new responsibilities.
“Janelle is a seasoned industry veteran with a proven track record of driving growth and operational excellence,” commented the Group Managing Director. “We are thrilled to have her lead our flagship Sydney property into the future.”
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has reported a substantial increase in its net income for the first half of 2024, reaching PHP6.56 billion ($112.34 million).
This figure marks a 121.48 percent rise compared to the PHP2.96 billion ($50.68 million) net income recorded during the same period last year for the Philippines operator.
In parallel, the total gross gaming revenue (GGR) of the Philippine gaming industry saw a 19.21 percent uptick, climbing to PHP194.743 billion ($3.3 billion) from PHP163.36 billion ($2.79 billion) in the first semester of 2023.
Source: PAGCOR
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco attributed the state gaming firm’s robust income growth to the positive impact of reforms and enhanced regulations under the new administration.
“PAGCOR’s robust net income growth translates of course to a larger Contribution to Nation-Building,” Tengco stated. “We were able to remit PHP31.82 billion ($544.8 million) in CNB to the Treasury in the first six months compared to PHP22.62 billion ($387.2 million) in the same period last year.”
The driving force behind PAGCOR’s income surge was a significant increase in gross revenues, totaling PHP51.76 billion ($886.17 million)—a 42.92 percent rise from PHP36.21 billion ($619.93 million) in the January-June 2023 period.
Gaming operations were the primary revenue contributors, generating PHP45.39 billion ($777.1 million).
A notable 45.53 percent of gaming revenues came from the online gaming sector, which includes E-Games, E-Bingo, and bingo grantees, collectively bringing in PHP20.66 billion ($353.79 million).
Licensed casinos, including integrated resorts, contributed PHP16.06 billion ($274.99 million), accounting for 35.439 percent of gaming revenues, while PAGCOR-operated casinos under the Casino Filipino brand generated PHP6.93 billion ($118.64 million), representing a 15.27 percent share.
Tengco expressed confidence in PAGCOR’s financial trajectory, noting that the PHP51.76 billion ($886.17 million) first-half revenues position the corporation to potentially reach or exceed the PHP100 billion ($1.712 billion) annual gross revenue mark this year.
“Given the phenomenal revenue increase in the E-Games sector, and with more players and investors signifying their intent to enter the Philippine market, we are confident that the year 2024 will be truly a banner year for PAGCOR,” he added.
In terms of GGR, licensed casinos were the largest contributors in the first half, generating PHP99.16 billion ($1.698 billion).
The E-Games sector experienced the most remarkable growth, with revenues reaching PHP63.01 billion ($1.079 billion)—more than triple the PHP20.43 billion ($349.83 million) recorded in the first half of 2023. This underscores the sector’s unprecedented performance, driven primarily by domestic demand.
Conversely, PAGCOR-operated casinos continued their decline, posting a GGR of PHP8.89 billion ($152.18 million), down 11.60 percent from PHP10.06 billion ($172.30 million) in the same period last year.
The application window in the jurisdiction closed on April 30th, which was the deadline for sublicenses after the initial March 31st deadline was extended to address application issues. Since then, a backlog of hundreds of applications had built up, as was mentioned by the country’s finance minister during a recent conference.
B2C, B2B2C, and B2B operators can still apply for an updated license, but applications submitted before April 30th will be prioritized. New applications will be processed only after current filings are completed.
The GCB noted that this latest application period coincided with the expiration of master licenses in August, which will not be renewed.
An updated regulatory framework, the Landsverordening op de Kansspelen (LOK), also known as the Curaçao National Ordinance on Games of Chance, has been in development since September 2023, when the GCB introduced its new licensing window process.
Master licenses set to expire in January 2025 will automatically expire once the new regulation takes effect, according to the GCB.
As the LOK is still being reviewed by parliament, applications will be processed under the current National Ordinance on Offshore Games of Hazard (NOOGH) and
In March, the GCB released a nine-page guideline document for applications, with minor updates for the new window, including the removal of the requirement for an authorization letter from the portal user.
Anyone holding a sub-license under a master license expiring on August 31st and who didn’t apply by March 31st can continue to operate at the moment. However, post-August 31st and without a new sub-license or a GCB license in place, these operators will now be acting outside of the law.
Finance Minister Javier Silvania has emphasized the LOK’s potential to act as a safeguard against grey market operators and improve Curacao’s reputation, which has been tarnished by money laundering concerns and weak regulatory oversight in the past.
The LOK is anticipated to be implemented later this year, with the Curacao Gaming Authority (CGA) taking over as the regulator to oversee license issuance.
A recent study conducted by the Asia Pacific Association for Gambling Studies (APAGS) reveals gaps in the information disclosure practices of Macau’s major gaming operators over the past decade.
Sponsored by the Macau Foundation, the study evaluates the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices of these operators from 2012 to 2021.
The study’s data primarily derive from the Macau SAR Government’s annual policy reports, annual reports, and ESG disclosures of the six gaming companies, their websites, and financial results.
According to the findings, the study identifies several critical areas where Macau’s gaming operators lack transparency in their information disclosure practices. These include sensitive information regarding the employment of local workers, the proportion of local workers in management, and the proportion of procurement amounts from local small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
The lead researcher, Zeng Zhonglu, a scholar from the Center for Gaming and Tourism Studies at Macao Polytechnic University, highlights that these aspects encompass the tangible contributions of the SAR government and Macau society to gaming companies.
These contributions include fostering local employment opportunities, supporting SMEs, and enhancing the presence of local employees in management roles. “Without specific data, it is challenging to make accurate assessments,” he commented.
The data are all from the period before the new gaming law took effect on January 1st, 2023. Macau’s new gaming legal framework has become more rigorous, adding requirements for measurements. However, the research team still believes that the study provides a systematic case for quantifying the fulfillment of social responsibilities by gaming companies.
Lack of initiative in responding to expectations
The study highlights that gaming operators in Macau have shown a lack of responsiveness to the expectations of major stakeholders, particularly the government.
Zeng Jia, a co-author of the study, states, “Our analysis reveals a pattern where gaming operators often delay or provide inadequate responses to stakeholder expectations, particularly in areas critical to social responsibility and community engagement.”
The study segments include the government’s requirements in economic diversification, support for SMEs, responsible gaming practices, and the promotion of local workers. The response to promoting local employees may be the weakest among all government expectations from the six gaming companies.
Among these six companies, SJM, Melco, and Wynn have consistently failed to respond positively. Sands responded twice in two years but did not respond in the other eight years. MGM Macau and Galaxy responded relatively actively, albeit with delays of two or three years.
The study also suggests that the lower response to this government expectation may stem from its misalignment with the listing rules of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. According to these rules, there are principles of equal opportunity and social fairness in human resources management practices.
Contributions to tax revenue
Despite the transparency deficiencies and lack of proactive responsiveness highlighted in the study, these gaming operators have made significant contributions to Macau’s economy.
The same study notes that Sands China stands out as the largest taxpayer among the gaming operators, having contributed approximately MOP 218.3 billion ($27.3 billion) over the past decade. This substantial financial support underscores their critical role in bolstering Macau’s government finances during economic challenges.
Following Sands China, Galaxy Entertainment Group contributed MOP 195.4 billion ($24.4 billion), and SJM contributed MOP 190.9 billion ($23.9 billion). Melco Resorts & Entertainment follows with MOP 146 billion ($18.2 billion), Wynn Macau with MOP 125.9 billion ($15.7 billion), and MGM China with MOP 89.8 billion ($11.2 billion).
Employment
Another evaluation metric is job creation, specifically the contribution to local employment. The study finds that in 2019, the six operators collectively employed 80,808 local residents, representing 28.7 percent of Macau’s local workforce.
Among these local employees, SJM employed the highest proportion at 24.1 percent, ranking first; Sands employed 23.1 percent, ranking second; and Galaxy employed 18.8 percent, ranking third. Following them were Studio City, Wynn, and MGM Macau.
By 2021, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the number of local employees slightly decreased to 76,265, still accounting for 27.2 percent of Macau’s total employment.
These figures demonstrate the operators’ significant role in providing employment opportunities within the community.
Despite the May Day Golden Week falling in the second quarter, typically a period of high demand for hotel rooms, the price index of accommodation in Macau declined by 21.08 percent quarter-on-quarter in 2Q24, according to information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).
This decline was attributed to lower hotel room rates during the quarter.
Overall, Macau’s Tourist Price Index (TPI) for Q2 2024 decreased by 2.57 percent quarter-on-quarter to 140.96.
On a year-on-year basis, Macau’s TPI increased by 2.72 percent, driven by higher restaurant charges and increased prices for clothing and footwear.
According to data released on Friday, the price indices for restaurant services grew by 6.79 percent year-on-year, while the indices for entertainment and cultural activities and accommodation dropped by 14.92 percent and 4.39 percent, respectively.
The average TPI for the last four quarters ending in Q2 2024 rose by 13.14 percent from the previous period, with the price index of accommodation seeing the most significant increase of 55.27 percent.
This increase was mainly due to the rebound in Macau tourism after the removal of all travel restrictions in early 2023.
For the first half of 2024, the TPI increased by 3.7 percent year-on-year, while the index for entertainment and cultural activities registered a decrease of 15.10 percent.
The Philippines’ Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has obtained a freeze order from the Court of Appeals (CA) on the assets of suspended Mayor Alice Guo and other individuals allegedly involved in the illegal activities of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
According to reports, in a statement released late Thursday, the AMLC identified Mayor Alice Guo, along with Zhiyang Huang and Baoying Lin, in its petition.
The Court of Appeals’ freeze order on July 10th encompasses a wide range of assets, including 90 bank accounts spread across 14 financial institutions, numerous real estate properties, and high-value personal assets such as luxury vehicles and a helicopter.
The AMLC stated that the action aims to prevent asset dissipation during ongoing investigations and legal proceedings.
The individuals are suspected of orchestrating human trafficking and fraudulent activities through three companies.
The investigation revealed substantial financial transactions and amassed assets linked to these individuals, alongside their involvement in money laundering, human trafficking, and other illicit operations, it further stated.
Earlier this week, the country’s Senate cited Alice Guo for contempt and ordered her arrest for repeatedly ignoring inquiries into illegal activities involving the POGO business.
Alice Guo’s mayoral position was suspended while she is under investigation by various government departments. However, she has skipped the resumption of the Senate investigation into the case twice, claiming illness and citing death threats as reasons.
