Asia
Hong Kong casino consortium to buy Wigan Athletic
![](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Hong-Kong-Casino-Online.jpg)
International Entertainment Corporation a Hong Kong-based casino consortium, is moving into buy Wigan Athletic, the English football club that has played in the English Premier League. The Wheelan family has been the owners of the club since 1995. But the Hong Kong group has now agreed to buy their majority stake.
The Wheelan family has confirmed the development.
The deal requires approval from Hong Kong Stock Exchange approval and consent from the English Football League.
If the deal materialises, the new owners will take charge of a club that will go into the Championship next season after Paul Cook’s side won promotion from the third tier.
Wigan, relegated from the Premier League in 2013 after winning the FA Cup days earlier, spent eight seasons in the top tier thanks to the investment of Dave Whelan, who bank-rolled their rise from lower league obscurity and funded the construction of a new stadium.
Formers sports retail tycoon Whelan, 81, ceded day-to-day control of Wigan to his grandson David Sharpe in 2015.
“After several months of discussions, negotiations and due diligence, we have now agreed, in principle, to transfer the entire shareholdings of Wigan Athletic Holdings Limited, which owns the majority shareholding in the operating companies of Wigan Athletic Football Club and the DW Stadium, to International Entertainment Corporation (IEC), subject to Hong Kong Stock Exchange approval and EFL consent,” Sharpe said in a statement on Monday.
“It is important to confirm that this process, which has taken longer than expected, has now reached the next stage.
“Whilst we await formal approval and consent by the aforementioned parties, which may take some time, the Whelan family will do whatever it can to support the business operations and IEC during this transition.
“This continued support will ensure that the management team can lead the business during this important transition period which will include the summer player transfer window as the club and the first-team manager prepare for the exciting challenge of competing in the EFL Championship next season and beyond.”
IEC, a Hong Kong-based group incorporated in the Cayman Islands, describes itself as a hotel operator and also manages the “leasing of properties for casino and ancillary leisure and entertainment operations.”
The group owns the AG New World Manila Bay Hotel and casino in the Philippines capital.
Source: AFP/de
Asia
Nazara Technologies partners with Government of Telangana to Launch Nazara AI Center of Excellence (CoE)
![](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nazara-Technologies-partners-with-Government-of-Telangana-to-Launch-Nazara-_20240905_121347_0000.png)
Nazara Technologies, India’s leading and only listed diversified gaming and esports company, has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Telangana. Through this strategic partnership Nazara aims to establish a pioneering AI Center of Excellence (AI CoE) focusing on gaming and digital entertainment, positioning Nazara as a leader in AI-driven gaming and digital entertainment space and Telangana as a global hub for AI innovation.
The Nazara AI CoE will drive research, development, and innovation in areas such as gaming, interactive media, gamified learning, and other digital content, leveraging cutting-edge technologies like AI, VR/AR, blockchain, and Web 3.0. By fostering policy development, supporting startups, enhancing skills, and engaging global expertise, the Nazara AI Center of Excellence aims to empower a dynamic and inclusive community
Nitish Mittersain, Jt. MD & CEO, Nazara Technologies, said: “Telangana’s proactive approach in fostering industry growth through public-private partnerships and policy development has created the ideal ecosystem for this initiative. This collaboration will enable Nazara to further our mission of integrating AI and emerging technologies across our diverse portfolio, positioning us as a leader in AI-driven innovations in gaming and digital entertainment.”
Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology and Industries, Mr. D. Sridhar Babu, said: “This partnership with Nazara Technologies, a leader in Indian gaming, marks a significant step in positioning Telangana as a global leader in AI-driven digital innovation. The Nazara AI CoE will empower startups, enhance skills, and attract cutting-edge technology investments, creating a diverse and dynamic ecosystem. By joining forces with Nazara, we are committed to driving economic growth and setting new standards in responsible AI applications in gaming and beyond.”
Asia
PAGCOR brings swift aid to 5,500 families in flood-hit communities
![](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/PAGCOR-brings-swift-aid-to-5500-families-in-flood-hit-communities_20240904_130712_0000.png)
Braving heavy rains and floods, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) provided timely relief goods to several communities affected by the combined effects of Tropical Storm Enteng and the southwest monsoon this week.
Over 5,500 families received food and non-food packs during PAGCOR’s relief operations on September 2 and 3. The food packs contained rice, canned goods and grocery items while the non-food packs included mosquito nets and toiletries.
On Monday, September 2, PAGCOR delivered relief items to the local governments of San Pedro, Laguna and Bacoor, Cavite. Both cities experienced severe flooding due to continuous heavy rains.
The following day, the agency extended assistance to affected residents in San Mateo, Rizal.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said part of the agency’s nation-building commitment is the provision of timely relief goods to victims of natural disasters.
“The typhoon season is here again. Unfortunately, many families who live in disaster-prone communities are in a very vulnerable situation,” he said.
“Part of our social responsibility commitment is to help ease their plight by providing them with immediate aid like food and other essentials.”
The PAGCOR chief added that the agency’s relief efforts for areas affected by Tropical Storm Enteng will continue as more communities in Luzon and Metro Manila seek out the state gaming firm’s help. #
Asia
Esports World Cup Foundation Signs MoU with China Media Group and VSPO
![](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/4-2.jpg)
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), on August 25, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Media Group’s National Institute for Esports Development (NIED) and VSPO, the largest esports company in Asia, at the New Global Sport Conference (NGSC24).
The three-way agreement, signed during the New Global Sport Conference at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh, is a significant step forward for the industry and aims to leverage the resource advantages of each organisation. It fosters collaboration within the sports culture industry, with a particular focus on esports and gaming.
The signing ceremony was attended by Mr. Faisal Bin Homran, Chief Product Officer of Esports World Cup Foundation; Mr. Xu Qiang, Director of the Youth Sports Programme Centre of China Media Group and Executive Vice President of NIED; and Dino Ying, Founder, Chairman and CEO of VSPO.
Under the terms of the MoU, all three organisations will collaborate on a wide range of initiatives within China. Key areas of cooperation include esports event broadcasting on CCTV, the application of cutting-edge technologies, market expansion and the promotion of event content.
Faisal Bin Homran said: “I welcome this collaboration between the Esports World Cup Foundation, China Media Group’s National Institute for Esports Development and VSPO. Together, with our combined platforms, expertise and resources, we are confident we can elevate the industry to new heights and continue to engage and inspire fans and audiences throughout China.”
Ying said: “It’s a huge honor to be a strategic partner with the Chinese Media Group and the Esports World Cup Foundation with the establishment of the CMG National Institute for Esports Development, which marks another key sign of Beijing’s support for esports development.”
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