Philippine President to Sign EO Banning Offshore Gaming
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is preparing to sign an executive order to officially ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs).
In July, after raids of POGOs in Tarlac and Pampanga provinces, Marcos called for an immediate shutdown of the industry, which served offshore customers, especially in mainland China, and has been tied to a laundry list of crimes including money laundering, online scams, human trafficking and even murder.
Currently, law enforcement is investigating claims that the Pampanga facility is the site of mass graves.
Sen. Win Gatchalian, an outspoken POGO critic, is now scrutinizing Philippine Inland Gaming Operations (PIGOs), which offer online games to domestic players. He’s called out loopholes in PIGO regulations that let almost anyone gamble online.
“Even minors can open an eGaming account using a fake name and age,” said Gatchalian. “Since you can provide a fake name, you can also do money laundering.”
Star Secures New Financing in Hopes of Allowing New CEO to Right Ship
On Sept. 16, the Australian Financial Review reported that Star Entertainment has reached verbal agreements with its lender for a new financing plan that is aimed to allow the company’s new CEO, Steve McCann, some time to get the ailing company back on track. Formal agreements are expected to be finalized in the near future.
Per the AFR, the package includes an immediate AU$100 million (US$67.7 million) infusion to help with costs related to the company’s new Queen’s Wharf development, and a second installment of approximately the same amount that is dependent on certain conditions.
Star, which has not traded on the ASX since Aug. 29, is currently working with the NSW Independent Casino Commission to resolve problems outlined in the second Bell Inquiry, which found the company unsuitable for licensure in NSW.
Macau Prepares for All-Important Golden Week Crowds
The Macau gaming industry is bracing for a flood of mainland Chinese tourists for the week-long Golden Week holiday in October.
Demand for accommodations is high. Six of Galaxy Entertainment’s eight hotels have been sold out since June 1. MGM Macau and MGM Cotai are also fully booked. Golden Week takes place twice a year, in spring and fall. The October celebration is a welcome antidote to Macau’s “seasonal trough,” a lull in visitation and gaming revenue that usually follows Golden Week in May.
Last year at this time, almost 1 million people visited Macau for Golden Week, which kicks off with National Day on Oct. 1.
Conservative Muslims Vow to Close Malaysia’s Only Casino
An Islamic political party has vowed to close Resorts World Genting if it wins the next general election. Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) now controls four of Malaysia’s 13 states and hopes to add Pahang in the next election, to be held by early 2028.
Asian studies professor James Chin of the University of Tasmania says the rise of PAS reflects of “a sea change in Malaysian politics. … Political Islam has become mainstream in Malaysia.”
Resorts World Genting is the flagship of the multibillion-dollar Genting Group, which now has casinos in the U.S., the U.K. and Singapore. The mountaintop resort includes the world’s largest hotel, with 7,500 rooms, an amusement park, a golf course and other attractions. Its gaming floor offers a total of 3,000-plus slots and more than 400 tables. The property must renew its gaming license every quarter.
Thai Lawmaker Concerned about Casino Monopoly
With support from new Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thailand is moving closer to legal casino resorts. In her inaugural address Sept. 12, Paetongtarn Shinawatra listed “entertainment complexes” with gaming on her 10-point list of “urgent policies” to lift the economy.
Coalition party Bhumjaithai supports the plan, but doesn’t want international companies to run the show. MP Korrawee Prissananantakul says the government should consider owning and operating its own casinos, so “all Thais would benefit … not only certain investors.” He said casinos should not be concentrated in Bangkok—which could host three of a proposed seven resorts—but spread across Thailand to share the wealth.
So far, four of Macau’s Big 6 casino concessionaires have expressed interest in Thailand: the Las Vegas Sands Corp., MGM Resorts International, Wynn Resorts and Galaxy Entertainment Group.
Former Duterte Spokesman Harry Roque on the Run
Harry Roque, once the spokesman for former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, is now the subject of a police manhunt. Roque was allegedly the “legal head” of Lucky South 99, a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO) implicated in online scams, human trafficking and murder.
Authorities stormed the compound in June, seizing cash, illegal drugs and video footage of POGO workers being abused inside the facility. They also discovered bank documents belonging to Roque, which supported claims by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) that the attorney “pressured PAGCOR to grant licenses to these scam farms.”
The House Quad Committee has twice cited Roque for contempt, and now is calling for his arrest. In a social media post, Roque said he’s being hounded by a “kangaroo court,” and added, “I don’t care.” He is believed to still be in the Philippines.
Melco to Open Cyprus Sales Office
Melco Resorts & Entertainment plans to open a sales office in the Mediterranean republic of Cyprus, where it will promote Macau as a tourism destination.
Melco is one of Macau’s Big 6 casino concessionaires, and also operates an integrated resort (IRs) in Manila. In 2023, it opened its first European resort, in Limassol, Cyprus, where it also has three satellite locations. Next year, the Hong Kong-listed developer will open a new $1 billion IR in Sri Lanka under its “City of Dreams” brand.
The company currently has promotional offices in Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines.
