Good Morning. Bills and bans appear to be the trend for 2025. The most recent is India’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025, which was passed by the upper house of parliament and now only requires the president’s approval before implementation. But operators are banding together to attempt to appeal the move. Moving to restrictions in the Philippines, TikTok is now banning all gambling ads in the country, amongst a call for a large-scale transformation of the sector. In Macau, things are looking up for this year, as analysts predict GGR could see a double-digit increase, boosted by mass-oriented operators such as Sands.
What you need to know
- India passes bill to ban real money games, despite industry opposition and calls for differentiation of game types.
- TikTok to ban all gambling ads in Philippines, backing Marcos’ push for safer digital platforms.
- Macau’s gross gaming revenue increase this year could hit double digits, says Seaport analyst after meeting with LVS.
On the radar
- Sri Lanka passes bill to establish Gambling Regulatory Authority.
- Suspended Thai PM testifies in court ahead of crucial August 29th verdict.
- MIXI Australia makes final cash bid for PointsBet, extends offer deadline.
- Reef Casino Trust profit drops 23.9% in 1H25 amid regulatory costs.
- SkyCity completes institutional component of equity raising.
AGB Intelligence
INDIA
Parliament passes ban on real money games
India is one step away from passing a total ban on real money games in the country, after the nation’s parliament approved the new bill, despite vehement opposition. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025 now only requires the rubber stamp from the nation’s president to come into effect, potentially curtailing a sector that was estimated to see explosive growth. Operators are now trying to band together to appeal the legislation, lobbying for increased distinction between types of games covered by the ban, such as skill-based games and opinion trading.
Corporate Spotlight
Why Asia’s iGaming operators must rethink risk strategy | SEON
Winning Trust, Stopping Fraud. Asia Pacific’s iGaming market is expanding extremely fast, and a new wave of digital-savvy players is pushing demand through the roof. But the rise in adoption has outpaced regulation in many markets, and fraudsters have taken notice.
Industry Updates
- Yggdrasil releases 4 Wolves of Fortune with popular GEM DoubleMax.
- Product Madness launches NFL Super Bowl Slots.
INTELLIGENCE | ASEAN | CAREERS
