Good Morning. Short-term pain, long-term gain. The Philippines’ gaming regulator PAGCOR is standing firm on recent revenue softness, calling it a necessary consequence of tightening responsible-gaming measures rather than a warning sign. Chairman Alejandro Tengco said that enhanced payment controls—including delinked e-wallets and restricted channels—are essential for building a compliant, modern gaming ecosystem. Meanwhile, in Macau, Fitch expects the city’s growth to ease to 4 percent in 2026 as softer mainland demand slows the recovery, though gaming strength and policy support provide some buffer. In Australia, new data shows Victoria’s poker-machine numbers have stayed near their statutory cap for two decades, but per-capita spending has continued to edge down.
What you need to know
- PAGCOR links weaker revenues to tighter payment rules, calling the slowdown a key step toward a safer and more resilient gaming ecosystem.
- Macau’s 2026 growth is projected to slow to 4% as mainland demand weakens, but gaming and policy support help soften the impact.
- Poker machines in Victoria have remained close to their statutory cap for more than two decades, but per‑capita gambling losses dropped.
On the radar
- Macau’s last satellite casino Landmark to shut down on December 30th.
- Sands China drops 2026 Hamasaki concert amid China–Japan tensions.
- China Ecotourism unit secures multiple Zhejiang sports lottery contracts.
- Vietnam’s Grand Ho Tram, Corona oppose plan to double local entry fees.
AGB Intelligence
PHILIPPINES
PAGCOR links softer revenue to sustainability push
PAGCOR says the recent dip in gaming revenues reflects the necessary impact of stronger safeguards introduced to modernize the country’s digital gaming ecosystem. Speaking at G2E Asia in the Philippines 2025, Chairman Alejandro H. Tengco explained that new payment controls—such as delinking e-wallets and restricting certain channels—temporarily slowed activity in the third quarter. PAGCOR Chairman said these measures improve compliance, financial traceability, and player protection as the industry expands, emphasizing that short-term disruptions are essential to ensure long-term integrity and alignment with global regulatory expectations.
Industry Updates
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- MGM dominates the 2025 MORS Gold Pin Competition with 10 awards.
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