Good Morning. Things move quickly in Asian gaming, and operators are subject to swift regulatory overhauls that can drastically reshape the playing field. For those in Sri Lanka, new legislation effective this year is pressuring companies to absorb increased costs and face lower profitability, questioning their determination. Looking at Cambodia, Prince Bank is facing liquidation, with its founder Chen Zhi facing US sanctions for fraud. And in the Philippines, Century Entertainment aims to tap the online gaming market by signing an agreement with its joint venture partner.
What you need to know
- Sri Lanka has introduced sweeping changes to its gambling tax regime, sharply raising licence fees and shifting to turnover‑based levies.
- Cambodia’s Prince Bank, established by accused fraudster Chen Zhi, has been ordered to liquidate by the country’s central bank.
- Century Entertainment JV enters the mobile gaming market in the Philippines with an agreement with JV partner WPT.
On the radar
- Osaka to sell central expo land adjacent to MGM integrated resort.
- MGM China, Melco Resorts and Wynn Macau announce year-end bonus.
- Illegal gambling dens in Seoul exclude Koreans: Report.
- Chinese tourists dominate international arrivals to Vietnam in 2025.
- AGEM Index falls by 4 percent monthly in December.
- Aristocrat extends/increases $500M share buy-back program to 2027.
AGB Intelligence
SRI LANKA
Authorities in Sri Lanka have turned up the heat on gaming operators, after implementing sweeping changes to the nation’s gambling tax regime, including increased license fees and a shift to turnover-based levies. Industry observers say the move is aggressive, and is causing operators to absorb the changes with “almost no time to prepare”. Profitability is now in question, causing operators to weigh how valuable it really is to conduct business in the country.
Industry Updates
- Michael Bauer named CEO of Zitro Digital as Zitro prepares for ICE 2026.
- Soft2Bet announces Diego Simeone as ambassador for Betinia and CampoBet.
- TCSJOHNHUXLEY showcases cutting‑edge solutions at ICE Barcelona 2026.
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