QTech Games and Song88, two powerhouses of the emerging markets and Asia-facing landscape, have renewed their support for the SiGMA Asia Invitational Golf Day, a popular charity event that kick-starts the influential iGaming summit which runs from 3-5 June in Manila.

Having hosted the inaugural event last year to universal acclaim, this golf day not only lifts the curtain on one of the sector’s best-attended C-Suite conferences, but also raises vital funds for a broad spectrum of good local causes throughout the Philippines at a challenging economic time.

In 2023, The event donated over $20,000 (1million PHP) through the SiGMA Foundation to help people in need – and could not have been done without the support of renowned suppliers like Aviatrix, Blueprint Gaming, Continent 8, Naga Games, Dragoon Soft and Habanero, who came together with QTech Games and Song88 to raise the much-needed monies. Now, QTech Games and Song88, alongside their partners, are aiming to match and surpass that total for the SiGMA Foundation at this year’s renewal, which will again be held on the opening morning of SiGMA Asia at the magnificent Club Intramuros Golf Course, where jaw-dropping cityscape views intersect with a stunning layout which is carved out around the historic ancient walls of Manila.

In recent months, QTech Games’ videography team has visited the Jose Depiro Formation Center, run by the inspirational missionary priest Joseph Cremona, who is doing such great work to deliver health, housing and education for local low or no-income families and their children. As chronicled in this short video, last year’s funds have already been put towards building two new houses as part of an effort to improve local accommodation and create a hub where its beneficiaries can find security, schooling and an environment in which they can thrive. As part of this ongoing charitable initiative, monies have also been donated to extend an existing concert hall and provide quality new instruments with which promising young musicians can help foster an inspirational and cohesive community for the future.

The golf day will again be organized and held in partnership with Song88, the rising-star sportsbook taking the Far East by storm with a wide variety of sports, exciting player-orientated markets and the latest betting features. Song88 has quickly become one of Asia’s most popular new sportsbooks, painstakingly designed for the demands of Asian customers.

For its part, QTech Games continues to lead the way across developing territories worldwide, thanks to its ever-expanding reach, proprietary gaming tools and services, 24/7 support, and advanced AI technology which combine to bolster its partners’ offerings and elevate the customer experience. QTech Games is setting the gold standard, redefining the future of the online casino industry, with effortless distribution from its definitive one-stop-shop approach for online casino operators, underscored by 80+ providers, over 5,000 casino games and 1,000+ live tables, and counting.

Priest Joseph Cremona said: “We initially set up a music school to help children who would otherwise be idle on the roads, helping to give them a direction in life and develop their talents. Now, though, with the help of the SiGMA Foundation, we are doing so much more in the local community and it’s fantastic to see QTech Games and Song88 taking a real interest beyond their helpful donation and pledging to do more again this year. I am of the mindset that you give the rod, not the fish. No-one here wants to live on handouts, they only want the tools and the chance to work their own way out of poverty and provide a better, more sustainable future for current and coming generations.”

The leadership team at QTech Games and Song88 commented: “We’re really looking forward to welcoming friends old and new back to our charity golf day which, of course, doubles as a fantastic networking event and an important platform for local children’s causes. It’s a fun and relaxed way to start the show for our partners and peers, and we plan to hold more of these clubbable get-togethers at forthcoming industry summits.”

“Priest Joseph has been an inspirational figure here over the past 20 years, and our shared vision is to establish a safe sanctuary that promotes health and education to define more promising pathways for local children’s futures. We will continue to work in lockstep with SiGMA and Song88 to create a closer connection around similar charitable efforts which combine business with the pleasure of giving. This industry Invitational always pays fitting testimony to the spirit and camaraderie of the iGaming sector.”

SiGMA Asia added: “Asia’s iGaming pulse beats fastest in Manila. And this June we’re gathering the best in business: from decision-making government officials to an impressive C-suite of industry heavyweights and even some celebrity influencers. SiGMA Asia is leading the charge for change – and charitable projects like this golf day are just the start of how we are returning value to the local communities in which we operate.”

In an unprecedented move within the iGaming and domain sectors, the sought-after domain name Casino.jp is now open for acquisition for the first time. With a starting price of $4.5 million USD, this domain represents a rare entry point into Japan’s burgeoning gambling market, facilitated by an enterprise-oriented domain brokerage, Domainer.com.

Japan, with its complex gambling laws, is on the brink of a gaming revolution, highlighted by the 2023 approval of the $8.1 Billion casino-centred integrated resort in Osaka. Set to open in 2029, it is a collaboration between MGM Resorts and Orix, as reported by Reuters. This venture is rekindling interest among major operators and investors, eager to explore the untapped Japanese market.

The Catalyst Behind the Buzz

Why should the iGaming and domain communities take notice? For starters, the anticipated opening of the Osaka Resort in 2029 is set to shake up the Asian gambling landscape, currently dominated by Macau. With Macau generating over $22.7 billion USD in 2023 alone, the new resort poses a formidable challenge, promising to divert significant revenue streams with its projected annual earnings of $3.5 billion USD, almost half of that reported by Las Vegas entirely in 2023.

Domain Names: The Gateway to Industry Dominance

The value of premium gambling domain names cannot be overstated, having commanded staggering sums in the past. Icons like Slots.com and Casino.com were sold, in 2010 and 2003 respectively, for as much as $5.5 million USD each, underscoring the critical role of a powerful domain in establishing market presence. “Choosing the right domain is the first step in making a bold market entry,” states Ian Garner Chief Domain Officer of Domainer.com, emphasizing the importance of domains in branding and market visibility. Domainer.com’s recent $15 million USD brokerage of a deal for NFTS.com further illustrates the high stakes involved in domain trading.

Navigating Japan’s Gambling Regulations

While Japan’s gambling laws are currently restrictive, the government is progressively legalizing new forms of betting, including sports-related activities like horse races, boat races, and indoor cycling. However, the online gambling scene remains tightly controlled, with the anticipated legalization in some sectors sparking a significant potential for growth. As regulations evolve, early investment in a domain like Casino.jp could position an entity advantageously, ready to capitalize as the market opens further.

In Conclusion:

Casino.jp is more than a domain—it’s a key to unlocking Japan’s lucrative, yet tightly regulated gambling industry. This is a strategic call to entities poised to establish a foothold in a market on the cusp of substantial regulatory changes. Interested parties are encouraged to contact Ian Garner through Casino.jp’s contact page or directly via Domainer.com to explore this unparalleled investment opportunity.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) today said 10 Chinese nationals and 26 Filipinos have been arrested in two separate operations against illegal gaming operations and online scams in Laguna and Parañaque City since Tuesday.

The first operation in Biñan, Laguna on Tuesday, May 1, resulted in the arrest of 16 people who were running an illegal online raffle on Facebook. The raiders are from the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) and the PAGCOR security group.

The suspects, which run the FB Page Lucky Dream 4, were caught red-handed in their office located inside a subdivision while livestreaming their 50th raffle event.

Earlier today, May 2, another group of suspects that included 10 Chinese nationals were arrested by joint elements of the CIDG-NCR and PAGCOR inside a house in Multinational Village, Parañaque for violation of the Anti Trafficking in Persons Act (RA 9208), Alien Registration Act (RA 562) and Cybercrime Prevention Act (RA 10175).

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said the arrests are part of the state gaming agency’s intensified campaign against illegal online gambling and other illicit activities through strengthened collaboration with law enforcement agencies.

“We have been receiving reports of illegal online activities including those in social media platforms. As the country’s gaming regulator, it is our duty to protect the public – especially the youth — from these illegal online gambling sites,” he said.

PAGCOR Senior Vice President for Security Cluster Raul Villanueva said Lucky Dream 4, which has 111,000 followers on Facebook, was conducting live online raffles that offered second-hand modified motorcycles as prizes.

Villanueva said that in one raffle event, the group can sell an average of 40,000 to 50,000 tickets, with each ticket costing Php40.

“They have amassed over Php8 million from the time they started this illegal online operation because in one draw, they can sell as many as 50k tickets,” Villanueva said.

“Ang masaklap nito, karamihan sa miyembro ng grupong ito ay kabataan. Ang pinaka-matanda sa kanila ay 27 years old pa lang,” he said.

“The Lucky Dream 4 group is obviously engaged in an illegal online gaming activity. Negosyo na ang ginagawa nila. They need to secure a license from PAGCOR if they want to operate an online gaming platform,” Villanueva added.

In the Parañaque raid, Villanueva said authorities arrested seven male and three female Chinese nationals believed to have been part of a group that managed to escape from an earlier raid on a large gaming compound in Bamban, Tarlac last March.

Nine Filipino female workers were also rescued, while one 1 Filipino male serving as a bodyguard was arrested for possession of an undocumented .45 caliber pistol.

The raiders also confiscated around 75 mobile phones, 30 desktop computers, 50 laptops, assorted credit cards, two cars and one motorcycle along with assorted Chinese government documents.

Two vaults were also found in the house located at 18 Teheran Street inside the exclusive subdivision.

Police said the Chinese suspects were engaged in scamming activities such as love and cryptocurrency scams similar to the illegal activities in the Bamban, Tarlac compound which was raided last March.