Home Blog Page 94

BMM Innovation Group spotlights compliance & cybersecurity at IGA 2026

AGBrief Editorial
-
0
BMM Innovation Group spotlights compliance & cybersecurity at IGA 2026

The renowned global technology company BMM Innovation Group (BIG), a leader in compliance testing, cybersecurity, and training for the regulated gaming industry, has announced its plans to support and participate in the 2026 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention (IGA), further powering its expanding Compliance & Security World Tour.

Through its three powerhouse brands, BMM Testlabs, BIG Cyber, and RG24seven Virtual Training, BIG continues its long-standing commitment to serving Tribal regulators, suppliers, and operators across North America.

BMM Testlabs, Long-established testing
BIG Cyber by BMM
RG24seven Virtual Training

The BMM Innovation Group is a show sponsor, reinforcing its visible and ongoing investment in the Tribal gaming community. The Company is also sending representatives from BMM Testlabs, BIG Cyber, and RG24seven Virtual Training to meet with Tribal leaders and industry partners throughout the event, which will take place next week, on March 30-April 2 at the San Diego Convention Center.

Commenting on the initiative, BMM Chief Government and Regulatory Officer Travis Foley said, “Tribal gaming has always been central to BMM’s story. We are honored to support the Indian Gaming Association and to continue working alongside Tribal suppliers, regulators, and operators to strengthen compliance, protect players, and support sustainable growth across Indian Country.”

BMM testlabs, Brazil

During the conference, BIG experts will contribute to several important educational sessions designed to help Tribal gaming organizations strengthen operations, security, responsible gaming, and HR:

  • Peter Nikiper, Director-Technical Compliance, will deliver Level III Commissioner Training on Network Risk Assessment, helping regulators better understand today’s evolving technology risks.
  • Heather Lee, Senior Director of Sales at BIG Cyber, will moderate the panel Cyber Defense Fundamentals: Protecting the Gaming Enterprise, focused on practical strategies to strengthen cybersecurity readiness.
  • Wendy Anderson, CEO of RG24seven Virtual Training, will speak on the responsible gaming panel, Innovate. Protect. Heal: The Future of Tribal Problem Gambling Prevention Begins Here, and will also moderate the HR-focused session, Workforce Sustainability: Building Talent Pipelines That Actually Hold.

Through BMM Testlabs, BIG Cyber and RG24seven Virtual Training, BMM Innovation Group offers Tribal gaming organizations a complete suite of services, including product testing and certification, cybersecurity protection, and compliance-grade virtual training designed specifically for gaming employees.

PH Anti-Money Laundering Council searching for new Executive Director

Kelsey Wilhelm
-
0
PH Anti-Money Laundering Council searching for new Executive Director

The Executive Director of the Philippines’ Anti-Money Laundering Council, Matthew David, has requested to be transferred to another position within the nation’s central bank.

money

David was appointed to the role in 2022, helping the nation’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism (AML/CTF) agency in its successful removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list in February of 2025.

More recently, the AMLC has been tasked with freezing assets linked to the flood control corruption case, which rocked the nation last year.

The AMLC notes that, ‘during his tenure as Executive Director, AMLC froze PHP27.8 billion ($461.9 million) worth of assets from 862 individuals and 648 entities in relation to the flood control corruption issue’.

The handling of the corruption scandal is particularly important given another evaluation round by the FATF taking place this year, with the nation potentially at risk of returning to the grey list if the global AML/CTF watchdog finds the scope of its reaction to the scandal insufficient.

In light of David’s transfer request, the AMLC has designated Acting Director Arnold Kabanlit as Officer-in-Charge while the council searches for a new Executive Director.   

UAE Lottery winners channel winnings into education and orphan care

AGBrief Editorial
-
0
UAE Lottery winners channel winnings into education and orphan care

A new social media reel spotlights UAE Lottery players who are using their winnings to uplift students, support vulnerable children, and strengthen communities back home—revealing how fortune can spark meaningful change.

When the excitement of winning a major prize sets in, some lottery winners begin asking a different question: who else can benefit?

Ananth Perumalsamy, a AED 1 million winner from Tamil Nadu, India, said, “I plan to support students in my hometown who don’t have the means to continue their education. I want to use part of my winnings to help them.”

Another winner, Ahmed Kabeer, originally from India, shared, “I plan to divide the prize money into three parts. The first will support people in need, the second will help care for orphaned children, and the third will be used to grow my business.” 

Since launch, The UAE Lottery has awarded more than AED 175 million in prizes to players across the UAE, creating moments of excitement while fostering a sense of responsibility and gratitude among winners.

money

This mindset was also reflected in October 2025, when Anilkumar Bolla won the historic AED 100 million Grand Prize. Beyond the life-changing moment, he shared his intention to give back by supporting charitable causes. “I believe that donations will reach the people who really require the money. That gives me core happiness,” he said, demonstrating how a single win can create a wider positive impact. 

Excitement continues with Lucky Day, featuring a weekly draw every Saturday, a grand prize of AED 30 million, a second prize of AED 5 million, and three guaranteed AED 100,000 winners each week through Lucky Chance, offering more opportunities to win and more moments that can make a difference. 

In addition to Lucky Day, The UAE Lottery offers a growing portfolio of games, including Scratch Cards and Daily Draws, giving players a variety of ways to participate and win. 

Philippines interior secretary links POGOs to majority of drug syndicates

Viviana Chan
-
0
Philippines interior secretary links POGOs to majority of drug syndicates

Philippines Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla claims that most drug syndicates in the country were linked to Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs).

Speaking to local media on Tuesday, the official said many of these syndicates, operating between 2016 and 2025, were led by Chinese nationals, underscoring the sector’s alleged ties to organized crime.

“Those POGOs have become a plague on the Philippines. Every illegal activity from 2016 up to 2025 is due to POGOs,” he claimed, adding that authorities believe “almost all the syndicates” apprehended were led by individuals who entered the country using visas tied to offshore gaming operations.

The remarks come more than one year after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a full ban on POGOs, effective in 2025, following mounting concerns over links to scams, human trafficking, and other criminal activities.

Remulla made the comments during an event in Trece Martires City, where authorities oversaw the destruction of PHP4.56 billion ($81.5 million) worth of seized drugs.

Despite the crackdown, POGOs had previously a notable contributor to the economy. At their peak between 2017 and 2019, offshore gaming operators generated billions of pesos in government revenue through licensing fees, taxes, and related activities, while also driving demand in the office and residential leasing sectors.

POGOs, introduced in 2016 under Duterte’s administration, initially expanded rapidly before facing growing scrutiny over compliance issues and alleged criminal links, culminating in their nationwide ban.

Grand Korea Leisure targets $340M casino sales by 2030 under value-up plan

Viviana Chan
-
0
Grand Korea Leisure targets $340M casino sales by 2030 under value-up plan

Grand Korea Leisure (GKL), a Korea Tourism Organization subsidiary, has outlined a corporate value-up plan targeting casino sales of KRW503.8 billion ($340 million) by 2030, alongside enhanced shareholder returns and overseas expansion.

The target represents an increase of around 19 percent from the company’s 2025 casino sales of KRW422.9 billion ($287.7 million), highlighting a moderate but steady growth trajectory over the coming years.

The objective was laid out in a voluntary disclosure released on March 26th.

The plan sets out a series of strategic and financial goals, including achieving an ESG rating of A+ under Korea’s ESG evaluation system and maintaining a dividend payout ratio of around 40 percent. The company also reaffirmed its focus on strengthening long-term corporate value through balanced growth and shareholder returns.

To support revenue expansion, GKL intends to grow its presence in new overseas markets – specifically Taiwan, Thailand, and Mongolia – as part of a broader push to diversify its customer base. The company also plans to enhance digital marketing capabilities targeting foreign mass-market customers, with a focus on improving engagement and conversion.

In addition, GKL aims to build a broader business ecosystem by integrating Korean cultural content, leveraging the global appeal of K-culture to strengthen its brand positioning and attract international visitors. The strategy also emphasizes customer acquisition and service enhancement to drive sustainable growth.

On shareholder returns, GKL emphasized a stable dividend policy, noting that payout decisions will take into account investment plans, financial conditions, and broader market dynamics.

The company is currently classified as a high-dividend firm under Korean tax regulations, a status supported by recent payout levels and dividend growth.

For 2025, GKL reported a dividend payout ratio of 54.4 percent, with total dividends reaching KRW25.61 billion ($17.3 million), up 46.8 percent year-on-year from KRW17.44 billion ($11.8 million) in 2024.

GKL operates foreigner-only casinos in South Korea under the Seven Luck brand and is regarded as a key beneficiary of the rebound in inbound tourism.

Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: DigiPlus supporting stricter online gaming controls

AGBrief Editorial
-
0
Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: DigiPlus supporting stricter online gaming controls
Good morning. If you can’t beat them, join them. DigiPlus is turning government fears about the online gaming sector to its advantage, getting in the room to help shape stricter gaming controls that could effectively diminish its competition due to the increased oversight. Meanwhile, its expansion into land-based gaming means it can leverage its O2O strengths, while diversifying its income streams. Looking to Cambodia, NagaCorp’s strong results have encouraged analysts’ expectations, with hopes for cash reserves to reach $726 million by 2028. And in Macau, record visitor inflows during CNY failed to translate to the casino floor, with GGR per visitor down.

What you need to know

On the radar

AGB Intelligence

O2O

Digiplus

DigiPlus backs stricter online rules while expanding to land-based

DigiPlus is taking a savvy approach to the government’s wariness of online gaming, helping to shape stricter online gaming controls that can push out smaller non-compliant competition. Simultaneously, the group is moving into the land-based sector by acquiring shares in New Coast Hotel operator IEC, leveraging its position and player database for online-to-offline (O2O) success.

Industry Updates

INTELLIGENCE | ASEAN | CAREERS | EVENTS

Manny Pacquiao and DigiPlus partner across games, sportsbook and payments

Frank Schuengel
-
0
Manny Pacquiao and DigiPlus partner across games, sportsbook and payments

DigiPlus Interactive Corp. has unveiled a wide-ranging partnership with boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, combining celebrity-led content, brand ambassadorship and payments integration in a move that underscores the continued convergence of entertainment, fintech and gaming in the Philippines.

Digiplus Interactive Corp Philippines

Announced on March 25th at an event in Bonifacio Global City, Metro Manila, the deal positions Pacquiao at the center of DigiPlus’ ecosystem, which includes BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and GameZone.

The group is seeking to deepen engagement with local players through culturally resonant content and a more integrated user experience. At the core of the partnership is a slate of nine Pacquiao-themed games, developed specifically for the Philippine market. Titles such as Super Ace Pacquiao, Pacman’s Color Game and Wild Bounty Pacquiao draw on mechanics familiar to local players, while incorporating imagery and narratives tied to Pacquiao’s career.

The approach reflects a broader shift in the region toward localized, personality-driven content rather than generic, celebrity-branded products. DigiPlus said early user feedback for the initial titles has been positive, with additional releases scheduled throughout the year, including Boxing King Pacquiao and Pacman’s Bingo Boom.

Alongside the content rollout, Pacquiao has been appointed brand ambassador for ArenaPlus and GameZone, extending his role beyond licensing into ongoing promotional and marketing activity. ArenaPlus, the group’s sportsbook, will align with Pacquiao’s future fights, while GameZone will incorporate his branding into its nationwide tournament series focused on traditional card games such as Tongits and Pusoy.

money

The tournaments, which position players as competitive participants rather than casual users, form part of DigiPlus’ strategy to expand skill-based gaming formats in the local market. By attaching Pacquiao’s image to these initiatives, the company is aiming to reinforce themes of competition, progression and national identity.

MannyPay

MannyPay

Payments integration is the third pillar of the partnership, with DigiPlus becoming the first official gaming partner of MannyPay, a digital payments platform associated with Pacquiao. The service, operated by Traxion Pay Inc. and licensed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, will be embedded across DigiPlus’ platforms to facilitate deposits and withdrawals.

The companies emphasized that MannyPay is designed for continuous, 24/7 operations, with same-day settlement capabilities intended to improve transaction efficiency for users. DigiPlus noted that it continues to work exclusively with BSP-accredited payment channels, in line with Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) requirements.

money

The integration reflects a growing trend among regional operators to bring payments infrastructure closer to the core gaming experience, reducing friction and improving retention. In markets such as the Philippines, where digital wallets play a central role in online transactions, such tie-ups are increasingly seen as a competitive differentiator.

Narrative-driven experiences

Eusebio Tanco, Chairman of DigiPlus, said the collaboration responds to evolving player expectations, with users seeking more immersive and narrative-driven experiences. He added that combining Pacquiao’s story with DigiPlus’ platform capabilities would allow the company to deliver a more localized and differentiated product offering. Pacquiao, who also chairs MannyPay, framed the partnership as a showcase for Filipino talent and innovation, highlighting both the entertainment and financial components of the tie-up.

From a regulatory standpoint, DigiPlus reiterated that its platforms operate with player protection measures in place, including in-app responsible gaming tools and safeguards such as a surety bond covering player balances up to PHP1 million ($16,900) per verified account.

money

The launch comes at a time when the Philippine online gaming sector continues to expand, driven by strong domestic demand and increasing digital adoption. Operators are investing heavily in localized content, brand partnerships, and payments infrastructure to capture market share and differentiate in a crowded landscape.

For DigiPlus, the Pacquiao partnership represents a multi-layered play that goes beyond traditional endorsement deals. By combining content, branding and fintech integration, the company is effectively building a vertically aligned ecosystem centered on one of the country’s most recognizable figures.

Ukraine awards GLI its first accreditation for an international gaming lab

AGBrief Editorial
-
0
Ukraine awards GLI its first accreditation for an international gaming lab

Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) announced that it has become the first international gaming laboratory to receive accreditation in Ukraine, following its appointment by the country’s regulatory authority, PlayCity, as both a testing and certification provider as well as an inspection body for gambling equipment.

GLI Europe B.V. now holds the distinction of being the only foreign entity accredited in the market, marking a significant milestone in Ukraine’s regulatory modernization and GLI’s continued global expansion.

Playcity-Ukraine

GLI Europe B.V. will perform testing and certification of all gaming-related hardware and software in accordance with the requirements of PlayCity and the Ukrainian gaming regulatory framework. GLI will deliver all Ukrainian certification services through its European operational hub, GLI Europe B.V., ensuring certification is conducted under GLI’s ISO/IEC 17025, 17020, and 17065 accreditations.

Commenting on the achievement, James Boje, Managing Director for EMEIA, said, “We are grateful for the trust PlayCity has placed in GLI. At GLI, we work with regulators in more than 710 jurisdictions, and we will bring our global expertise to PlayCity and to suppliers seeking entry into the Ukrainian market, guaranteeing the highest levels of testing quality and compliance.”

The company will work with both foreign and Ukrainian suppliers, whereas Ukraine is considered a regulated market, and suppliers will need to hold a certificate of approval from PlayCity in order to request certification for the market.

This marks GLI’s second accreditation in a single week, following its earlier announcement that the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) had authorized the company as the first gaming laboratory accredited to test and certify iGaming platforms in the Philippines.

Downstate New York market could generate $4.7B-$5.6 in annual GGR: CBRE

Kelsey Wilhelm
-
0
Downstate New York market could generate $4.7B-$5.6 in annual GGR: CBRE

Analysts at CBRE Institutional Research are expecting that the downstate New York market could generate between $4.7 billion and $5.6 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, ‘once table supply is introduced and the new or expanded integrated resorts open by 2031’.

In a Tuesday research note, the group indicated that its analysis found that the region could become ‘the largest US regional gaming market at maturation’.

The three license winners – Bally’s Corp, Queen’s Future (a joint venture between Seminole Hard Rock and Steven Cohen), and Genting New York – are expected to commit nearly $20 billion in building or revamping existing properties, most likely sourced from ‘lending at the project level’.

The new licenses allow for a ‘significant increase in slot supply and the introduction of nearly 1,200 tables’, with ‘solid ROI prospects across the three projected when compared against only the IR-related capex’.

Each of the three bidders must pay a $500 million licensing fee and pledge a minimum of $500 million in capital investments.

Factoring in non-income generating costs, such as the license fee and community investments, ‘this could make potential returns look less enticing on the $20 billion of committed spending’, note the CBRE analysts.

The group notes that, ‘despite this, we believe each project will be economically viable with returns sufficiently above each operator’s cost of capital’.

Genting is expected to be the first to see a return on its investment, likely even five years ahead of competitors, given that it doesn’t have to develop a site from the ground up.

The group plans the largest gaming floor as well as nearly 2,000 hotel rooms and a 7,000 seat arena.

Genting’s Resorts World New York City (RWNYC) aims to open a permanent casino with 4,000 machines and 250 tables just six months after licensing, far earlier than rivals, eventually expanding to 6,000 slots and 800 tables by 2029.

The estimated price tag of RWNYC’s expansion is about $5.5 billion.

Allwyn structural shift grants direct 67.1% voting power in Reef Casino Trust, doesn’t affect Iris takeover bid

Kelsey Wilhelm
-
0
Allwyn structural shift grants direct 67.1% voting power in Reef Casino Trust, doesn’t affect Iris takeover bid

Amongst a planned takeover of Australia’s Reef Casino Trust (RCT), majority shareholder Allwyn AG has shifted its structure to directly acquire 67.1 percent voting power in RCT.

According to a Thursday notice from RCT, Allwyn conducted an ‘upstream offshore transaction’ to combine Allwyn International AG and Allwyn AG, with Allwyn AG becoming the sole shareholder of Allwyn Austria Holding 1.

The move shifts the voting power directly to Allwyn AG, however RCT notes that the transaction ‘is independent of and unrelated to the takeover bid of RCT by Iris Cairns’.

RCT furthered that the transaction ‘is not a competing bid for RCT’.

RCT is currently negotiating the planned takeover by Iris, which had been scheduled to close on March 13th, but is likely to extend beyond the March 31st deadline, to give regulators more time to complete their assessments.

RCT agreed to a sweetened takeover offer from Iris earlier this year, with the bidder increasing its price to AU$3.87 ($2.52) per unit from AU$3.72 ($2.42).

The revised offer values the trust at about AU$192.7 million ($125.6 million) and raises the deal’s break fee to AU$1.9 million ($1.2 million).

Based in Sydney and part of Iris Capital, the Iris Hotel Group operates 13 hotels and two casinos — Casino Canberra, the country’s first legal casino, and Lasseters Hotel Casino in Alice Springs.

RCT’s two largest unitholders — France’s Accor and Casinos Austria International — which together control more than 71 percent of units, have signaled support and intend to accept the offer unless a higher rival proposal emerges.

The takeover still requires an 80 percent minimum acceptance level, Queensland casino and liquor approvals, and final sign-off on related share-purchase agreements. Iris lodged its bidder’s statement in August, with RCT issuing its target’s statement in late September.

RCT in late February reported a 6.4 percent uptick in FY25 net profit, to AU$5.41 million ($3.82 million), boosted by a 4.8 percent uptick in revenue – to AU$26.74 million ($18.88 million).

1...939495...1,809Page 94 of 1,809