SiGMA Group has announced that, due to the COVID-19 global crisis, both the SiGMA Manila and AIBC Manila expos, planned for June 8-9 2020, will now be rescheduled to May 27-28, 2021.

In line with SiGMA Group’s commitment to facilitating new business opportunities for key players in the global iGaming and emerging tech sectors, and together with Clarion Gaming’s ICE Asia, SiGMA Manila will also carry out an online conference in 2020. ICE-SiGMA Asia DIGITAL will take place on June 8-10.

The three day conference will cater for both gaming and tech audiences, with free-of-charge content geared towards bringing the industry together in what has been a difficult time for businesses. Delegates who register for the online conference will also get a free standard ticket for Manila 2021.

Founder and CEO of SiGMA Group, Eman Pulis said, “In line with SiGMA Group’s commitment to facilitating new business opportunities for key players in the global iGaming and emerging tech sectors, the digital conference will embrace the difficulties we are facing at a time when working together has never been more important. COVID-19 has provided a unique opportunity to rethink how we live and work.”

The interactive experience will feature a series of panel discussions and keynotes from leading industry contributors, bringing top speakers together for discussions that will engage the community and shape the future as we adapt to a fast-changing global environment.

After careful consideration, and due to growing concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19), SiGMA Group has decided to reschedule their flagship Asia events SiGMA Manila and AIBC Manila  to May 27-28, 2021. The company said that while they remain committed to SiGMA Manila, the health and safety of their exhibitors, attendees, partners, and employees is of paramount importance, making this the only responsible course of action.

Clarion Gaming, Managing Director, Kate Chambers said, “My team and I continue to empathise    with our Global Gaming community as well as industries and supply chains around the world that are being affected by COVID-19. We understand the deep impact the virus continues to have with our friends and colleagues across the Asia region and Globally, and our best wishes go out to them.

“These are unprecedented times, and we would like to keep our communication channels open and understand the challenges unfolding across the Asia Gaming community.”

Founder and CEO, Eman Pulis said, “The situation with COVID-19 is still unpredictable but one thing is certain – we remain fully committed to the Asia front with SiGMA Manila. I moved with my family from Europe to Asia last year to make this work and leave no stone unturned. There’s just so many events being pushed to the second half of 2020, that, in everyone’s best interest we feel pushing the show to May 2021 gives us enough time to regroup and launch with a dynamite inaugural show.”

Together with Clarion Gaming’s ICE Asia, the Manila super show was set to take place on June 8-9 this year. SiGMA Group said that rescheduling the 10,000 attendee event is the only responsible course of action which will enable the successful events company to provide the experience that their customers, partners, and employees expect and deserve in a safe environment.

Commenting on the situation, Yabo Serena, the Head of Marketing for Yabo Group said, “We love what SiGMA has been doing in Europe and Asia and look forward to the inaugural show next year in Manila.”

Given the extra eleven months to prepare, SiGMA has also decided to increase the amount of floor space available. “We believe the appetite for iGaming business in Asia will grow even stronger. In other words, expect an even bigger show in 2021, pandemic permitting!” continued Eman Pulis.
A company spokesperson added, “We would like to thank everyone for their continued support. We will be working with our suppliers and partners to finalise further details and will share more information about our plans in the coming weeks.”

Singapore is set to establish a new Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) by 2021 to consolidate and optimise all gambling regulatory resources within a single agency.

The GRA will see the current Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA), which oversees Singapore’s casinos, and the Gambling Regulatory Unit, which regulates remote gambling services and “fruit machines,” come under one umbrella.

The GRA will also govern terrestrial gambling services currently overseen by the Singapore Totalisator Board, illegal gambling activities enforced by the Singapore Police Force and even responsible gambling measures currently controlled by the Ministry of Social and Family Development.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that while Singapore’s current gambling regulatory framework has delivered positive outcomes, there are “emerging trends” that can have a significant impact on the gambling landscape.

“For example, technology has changed the way people gamble and made it more accessible. Business models have evolved to suit changing customer preferences by introducing gambling elements in products that are traditionally not seen as gambling,” the MHA said.

In response, the new GRA “will consolidate and optimize gambling regulatory resources within a single agency. This will allow GRA to stay even more effectively abreast of technological and global trends, respond faster to emerging products in particular those that cut across different domains, and take a more holistic approach to gambling policies and issues.”

“Even as we update our laws, MHA will retain a generally prohibitive stance towards gambling, and continue to maintain a risk-based regulatory approach towards existing gambling operators,” it said.

Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, the two integrated resorts in Singapore, are going to shut down their operations this week after the government announced strict new measures to combat the spread of COVID-19.

With only essential services and key economic sectors permitted to continue operating as of April 7, Marina Bay Sands announced that it would suspend all integrated resort services until May 4. No new hotel reservations will be accepted and MBS said it would look to make alternative arrangements for any guests already staying in the hotel who are due to stay beyond the start of the closure period.

Resorts World Sentosa will also suspend most of its operations, including the casino and popular attractions Universal Studios Singapore, S.E.A. Aquarium, Adventure Cove Waterpark and Dolphin Island.

“In the meantime, we will continue to look after our RWS family, including the marine life under our care,” the company said.