Asia
Digitain – GGE 2019 Retrospective
![Digitain - GGE 2019 Retrospective](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Digitain-GGE-Asia.jpg)
Suren Khachatryan takes a glance back at last week’s G2E Asia summit and looks forward to what it will take to succeed in emerging Asian territories.
The Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia once again showcased the biggest marketplace for the largest continent, with the definitive must-attend event on Asia’s igaming circuit last week. Now well-established in its 13th renewal, welcoming around 18,000 visitors and 200 exhibitors from all corners of the globe, its prominent place on the tradeshow circuit seems assured.
Digitain was on-site at The Venetian’s D719 stand, where once again we were able to meet existing partners, drive new business and showcase our latest products, uniquely localised for every region. It was a hugely rewarding experience, thanks to the newly configured twin-level expo hall, alongside a series of fresh set of informative conference tracks.
Moreover, Macau offered a timely conference at which to meet coherently, debate the merits and let good ideas win at a pivotal time for the industry as a whole. Whatever the conundrum: emerging territories and cultural taste, partitioned regulation, player engagement, acquisition and bonusing alternatives, social media marketing, post-event retention strategy… all these questions needed answers. And sometimes tough ones. So it was great to trade thoughts on broad plans and specific innovations with other industry leaders, in order that we might converge on the wisest road forward, with G2E Asia providing the perfect lens through which to distil details of every colour.
The overall growth of the igaming industry remains incredibly encouraging, particularly in these growth markets, and the international advance of sportsbook continues unchecked in most developing countries. That said, innovation remains the watchword, both in the markets you offer and the tools with which you allow your clients to engage. Staying positively demarcated from the competition is naturally crucial, and that’s what Digitain does best with our ever-evolving product portfolio.
For me, though, the overarching question was: will Asia fashion its own watershed PASPA moment for sportsbook? Comparisons to the U.S. may at first seem facile. However, the truth is that this patchwork Asian quilt of taste and regulation (not to mention competing tax bands which could inherently price any greedy regions out of the market, or send their players to off-shore illegals) is very reminiscent of what’s slowly unfolding stateside in sports betting.
In general, Digitain has experienced substantial growth in several international markets over the past 12 months. Strategically, in order to accommodate this expansion, we will be opening sales and business development offices in four core areas, including the Philippines. These offices shall locally service existing clients and partner needs as well as increasing our inquiry pipeline.
Make no mistake, this industry will always change and naturally evolve as we respond to opportunities and challenges – often two sides of the same coin. Yet the significance for suppliers and partners coming together to exchange their expert knowledge (be it niche or overarching) remains undimmed as we search for the most effective path through the regulatory woods. A flexible platform, which offers tools and technologies forged from hard-won worldwide experience, constitutes the key in a market where the mass market is belatedly taking off, as VIPs somewhat subside. You need to be nimble, responsible and compliant to take full advantage.
So, while there will always be more lessons to learn in this fluctuating industry, you’ll seldom go far wrong if you observe those three core tenets.
Asia
PAGCOR BRAVES FLOODS TO HELP DISASTER-HIT COMMUNITIES
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At the height of the downpour and massive flooding in Metro Manila and nearby provinces Wednesday, volunteer teams from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) started bringing relief packs to affected communities.
Classes and government work were suspended on Wednesday and Thursday due to the widespread flooding, but PAGCOR volunteers went into action nevertheless.
“Even at the height of the flooding, and even before the President ordered government agencies to provide assistance to affected communities, PAGCOR employees already went to action to help those in need,” PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said.
The PAGCOR chief said that since July 24, the agency has delivered more than 21,000 food and non-food relief packs for thousands of affected families.
“After the heavy rains subsided and it was safe to do so, we started bringing immediate aid to flooded communities in Caloocan City on Wednesday, followed by relief operations in Valenzuela, Malabon and Malolos, Bulacan the next day,” he said.
Mr. Tengco added that PAGCOR was scheduled to distribute relief goods to the cities of Marikina and Navotas on Friday as well as to affected towns in Bulacan like Calumpit and Bulakan which were all submerged in floodwater.
“It has been second nature to PAGCOR to immediately respond to the needs of affected communities in times of disasters,” he said.
“We understand that while it is part of our mandate to contribute to nation-building, it is also our moral obligation to help ease the plight of Filipinos in times when they need help the most,” the PAGCOR chief added.
He said PAGCOR’s relief operations are ongoing, with more employees volunteering to help repack relief goods Saturday and Sunday in the agency’s warehouse in Imus, Cavite to support distribution efforts in the coming days in Bataan, Batangas and Cavite.
Asia
AGTech Wins Lottery Terminal Supply Tenders for Shaanxi, Zhejiang and Jiangsu Provinces
![](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/4-9.jpg)
Lottery and integrated technology and services company AGTech Holdings Limited (AGTech) has announced that one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries has successfully won procurement tenders to supply lottery terminals to Sports Lottery Administration Centres in Shaanxi province, Zhejiang province and Jiangsu province of the People’s Republic of China.
AGTech already has previous success in the China market, having won a bid in 2018 for supplying its new dual, touchscreen lottery terminals to the Chinese provinces of Guizhou, Shanghai and Hebei.
Even before this, AGTech introduced new instant win games, launched in partnership with Chinese logistics firm SF Holdings across Shenzen, Nanchang, Changsha and Nanjing.
Asia
Philippine President Marcos Announces Ban on POGOs
![](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2-8.jpg)
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has banned the establishment of any new Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), also known as Internet Gaming Licensees (IGLs), with immediate effect. Existing POGO operators will have until the end of the year to wind down their operations.
The verdict, not entirely unexpected, was delivered during his State of the Nation Address in Manila on Monday following widespread pressure from a Senate investigation into illegal POGO-linked activities.
“Effective today, all POGOs are banned. I hereby instruct [gaming regulator] PAGCOR to wind down and cease the operations of POGOs by the end of the year,” Marcos said in his SONA.
The decision to shut down POGOs follows a series of recent raids on illegal POGO compounds in Pampanga and Tarlac amid allegations they had been engaging in human trafficking and scam activities.
A full ban, proposed by multiple senators, had also gained the support of the Department of Finance (DOF) and the National Economic and Development Authority.
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