Asia
PAGCOR Chief Says Philippine Gaming Industry Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ajejandro H. Tengco said increased demand for leisure, travel and entertainment will sustain the growth trajectory of the Philippine gaming industry in the coming years.
During the RGB Connect Gala Night at Hilton Clark Sun Valley Resort in Pampanga over the weekend, Mr. Tengco said the lifting of travel and movement restrictions has fueled demand for dining, shopping and other outdoor activities that were not possible during the pandemic.
āAnd so, one year into the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., our gross gaming revenues have returned to near the levels of 2019 which was the year PAGCOR achieved its all-time high for Philippine GGR levels,ā he said.
āToday, we expect the 2023 GGR to match, if not surpass, our 2019 record. Not bad considering that many of our traditional high rollers and junkets have not fully returned, but our domestic players and the influx of new tourists have filled the void,ā he added.
Mr. Tengco said future growth of the local gaming industry will also be supported by the opening of more integrated resorts including those in Clark.
āClark is projected to become a major gaming and tourism hub before the end of this decade. If you go around Clark, you can see its immense potential.
āYou can see the infrastructure in place, you can see the surrounding tourist destinations, and you can see the new buildings and new commercial districts being developed in all directions,ā he said.
On the side of PAGCOR, Tengco said the state gaming agency is also embarking on a modernisation programme to increase revenues.
āWe expect the delivery of 3,000 brand new slot machines by January next year. We have an agreement in place with a supplier for a revenue-sharing scheme for these new machines which we expect to generate at least P18 billion in revenues in the next five years,ā he said.
āWe are also modernizing our table games by replacing our old ones with new and more sophisticated gaming tables to attract more players and further increase revenues,ā he added.
On top of its casino modernisation programme, Mr. Tengco said PAGCOR is likewise procuring a system for its online platform, to be called casinofilipino.com, āto give PAGCOR a significant share of the very lucrative and very profitable online market.ā
Asia
Delasport Signs a Sports Deal with Philippinesā Leading Regulated Operator OKBET
Award-winning iGaming supplier in regulated markets Delasport has just signed a sports deal with Philippinesās number 1 operator OKBET.
The leading software developer will provide sports-services to their new partner, enhancing the experience of sports bettors in the Philippines even further.
āWeāre proud to supply our services to such a strong partner as OKBET, and to an exciting and steadily growing market as the Philippinesā, Delasportās CEO Oren Cohen Shwartz comments on the agreement.
Regulated Philippines is marking a stable 5% year-to-year growth with the number of users expected to reach almost 6 million by 2029.
This is yet another deal for Delasport, with the global supplier’s expansion in regulated markets happening at full force.
Same goes for OKBET who have been holding the number one operator spot in iGaming in the Philippines for a long time now.
āI’m excited that OKBET and Delasports are joining forces to redefine the landscape of online sports gaming in the Philippinesā, OKBETās COO Wayne Thong also comments on the deal. āThis partnership combines OKBET’s local market expertise with Delasports’ global industry leadership, creating new opportunities for innovation and customer satisfaction. OKBET and Delasports share a common vision for the future: a vibrant and dynamic platform that caters to the diverse interests of sports enthusiasts. By combining cutting-edge technology with a deep understanding of user preferences, this collaboration aims to set new standards for the industry.ā
Asia
Uzbekistan Legalises Online Betting and Lotteries
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a decree on April 19 titled āOn Measures to Improve the Regulation of the Organization and Conduct of Lotteries and Risk-Based Games in the Republic of Uzbekistanā. The document abolishes the ban starting from January 1, 2025, and introduces a legal framework for the organisation of risk-based games online and betting activities.
The issue of legalising betting activities has been a long-standing topic in Uzbekistan. In December 2019, the president signed a decree to legalise bookmakers, but this decision was revised in April 2022. In April 2023, the head of state instructed the development of a regulatory framework for betting activities.
The National Agency for Advanced Projects (NAAP), the authorised state body for regulating and licensing activities in this sector, provided insights on the necessity of introducing state regulation in the gambling sector in Uzbekistan. The agency emphasised the need to prevent illegal gambling businesses, protect playersā rights and generate additional income for the state budget.
The presidentās decree aims to introduce advanced foreign experience and modern technologies in regulating the organisation of risk-based games and lotteries to increase investment attractiveness, tourist potential and attract additional funds to the country.
The measures outlined in the decree include the creation of legal foundations for the legalisation of activities related to risk-based games online, betting activities, and lotteries, implementation of mechanisms to protect citizensā rights and interests, prevention of gambling addiction and the generation of additional state budget revenue.
Starting from January 1, 2025, a taxation system will be introduced for license holders, where organisers of online games, betting activities and lotteries will pay a turnover tax. This system aims to prevent the concealment of taxable revenue and is expected to generate additional tax revenues for the state budget.
Overall, the implementation of the decree is intended to establish a reliable foundation for the legal regulation of activities related to organising risk-based games online, betting activities and lotteries in Uzbekistan, protect citizensā interests, combat gambling addiction and provide additional sources of income for the state budget.
Asia
PAGCOR POSTS 42% SURGE IN 1ST QUARTER INCOME TO PHP25.2 BILLION
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) today said its total income for the first quarter of 2024 has reached Php25.24 billion, a 42.57% increase compared with the same period last year.
The three-month earnings put the state gaming firm on track to reach the Php100 billion annual income for the year, which would be a first in the 40-year history of the state gaming firm, according to PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco.
āWe are happy to announce that PAGCOR is able to sustain our growth trajectory in the first quarter of 2024 and this should help position us into achieving another record breaking year,ā Mr. Tengco said.
PAGCORās net operating income after expenses during the quarter stands at Php18.99 billion, which is 54.22% higher than the January-March 2023 figure of Php12.32 billion.
Gaming operations accounted for the bulk of Q1 revenues with Php22.29 billion. Of this amount, 43.46% or Php9.69 billion came from the E-Games sector (eBingo, eGames and Bingo grantees) while licensed casinos (integrated resorts) brought in Php8.04 billion (36.06%).
However, revenues from PAGCOR-run casinos under the Casino Filipino brand continued to slide, earning Php3.7 billion or 16.62% of the 1st quarter total. This is down from the 20.68% share it contributed to PAGCORās revenues in 2023.
Offshore gaming operations for its part contributed Php860.89 million or 3.86% of the 2024 1st quarter total gaming income.
āAs we said earlier, the E-games sector will be our major source of gaming revenues this year and in the next few years as innovation and technological integration allows the sector to offer more excitement and convenience to gamers,ā Mr. Tengco said.
āOur robust earnings also bode well for the governmentās various socio-civic programs including funding for the Universal Healthcare Program which provides health insurance to millions of poor Filipinos through Philhealth,ā he added.
Of the agencyās nearly Php19 billion net income in the first quarter of 2024, Php15.56 billion will go to its Contributions to Nation-Building. This includes the 5% franchise tax; 50% government share; shares for LGUs hosting PAGCOR casinos; other socio-civic projects; 5% share of the Philippine Sports Commission; funding for the Sports Incentives and Benefits Act; and 1% share of the Board of Claims to compensate persons who are wrongfully convicted.
PAGCORās previous earnings record was established in 2019 before the pandemic outbreak. In the first quarter of that year, total income was at Php19.49 billion, a number easily surpassed by this yearās first quarter earnings by nearly 30%
-
Baltics6 days ago
Evoplay bolsters presence in Lithuania with Betsafe deal
-
Compliance Updates6 days ago
EGBA Welcomes European Parliamentās Approval Of New EU Anti-Money Laundering Framework
-
Interviews6 days ago
The Full Spectrum Strategy: How Betting on Both Popular and Lesser-Known Sports Pays Off
-
Conferences in Europe6 days ago
CasinoBeats Summit 2024: Providing the Tools to Balance Innovation and Regulation in the Digital Age
-
Latest News7 days ago
William HillĀ Announced as Official Betting Partner of Qipco Guineas Festival
-
Balkans6 days ago
Expanse Studios Launches in Bulgaria with Inbet
-
Latest News6 days ago
Aristocrat Leisure Completes Acquisition of Neo Group Ltd. (f/k/a NeoGames) for $29.50 per Share
-
Latest News7 days ago
56 suspicious betting alerts reported by IBIA in Q1 2024