Hong Kong-based International Entertainment Corporation (IEC) has obtained a provisional licence to operate a casino in Manila.

In June the firm, which operates New World Manila Bay Hotel and Casino through its subsidiary Marina Square Properties (MSPI), said it planned to redevelop an unnamed existing hotel to create a new integrated resort (IR) in the capital.

In a filing on Friday, it confirmed it has received a letter from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (PAGCOR) conditionally approving the issuance of a provisional licence.

The firm said: “MSPI and PAGCOR will further negotiate for the terms of the provisional licence agreement to be entered into between PAGCOR and MSPI in relation to the grant of the provisional licence.

“As and when there is further development in relation to the provisional licence agreement, the company will comply with all relevant requirements, and where necessary, make further announcements in accordance with the Listing Rules as and when appropriate.”

Asia’s leading distributor enhances its premium offering for India with a rising star of the RNG scene

QTech Games, Asia’s leading games distributor, has announced its latest key supplier deal for the Indian market in a new partnership with RNG provider Woohoo Games.

Under the terms of the agreement, Woohoo’s breakout product portfolio has been made available to QTech Games’ clients and their players, adding more power to a pioneering platform setting the pace for bringing the best online games to market across emerging territories.

Woohoo’s targeted suite of games for India includes timeless classics, such as Andar Bahar and Teen Patti, alongside exciting new RNG additions like Cricket Kings, whose immersive soundscapes and stunning graphics are tailored to give players an engaging experience in a cricket-mad territory.

This ever-evolving production line further bolsters QTech Games’ comprehensive catalogue of gaming domains, which now offers a definitive one-stop shop for worldwide operators. In an industry of small margins, QTech has secured suppliers a gateway to markets whose accessibility might otherwise require a significant sales force. The agreement naturally broadens Woohoo’s own global footprint, opening up an array of established and “margin” markets for accelerated growth.

As the fastest-growing distributor in Asia over the past few years, QTech’s platform boasts the broadest gaming portfolio around, localised for each region, with native mobile apps, powerful reporting and marketing tools, and 24/7 local-language support.

Ulf Norder, CCO at QTech Games, said: “Many studios and operators have tried to implement their own Asian strategy but underestimated the time it takes to build relationships in this nuanced part of the world. However, Woohoo Games’ product perfectly aligns with our own expertise in India, so it’s been a welcome and effortless collaboration. Like us, Woohoo have adopted a modern RNG methodology, prioritising mobile games that maximise any user interface’s real-estate in an efficient, uncluttered fashion. This wise move speaks to India’s huge population of 1.4 billion, near universal access to 4G, and dropping costs for smartphones and the internet

“By coupling state-of-the-art graphics to engaging gameplay and competitive commercial rates, Woohoo have quickly established themselves as a “go-to” portfolio, above all in the breakout Indian market where their localised games perfectly capture and cater to player appetites. We’re delighted to be one of the first platforms to go live with their ground-breaking collection of engaging titles that will give our targeted approach another competitive edge.”

Woohoo Games’ Head of Business Development, Ed Whittington, added: “QTech Games is blazing a trail across Asia and the unfolding Indian market, where everyone wants a piece of the pie. We can’t wait to see how our games connect with different and diverse audience sets across the biggest continent whose patchwork quilt of diversity is particularly pronounced.

“Woohoo has a proven pitch in India’s bustling bazaar, becoming one of the most promising RNG games providers in the region with popular table games and a raft of progressive slots whose volatility variance and multiplier mechanics make for improved gameplay and digital hangtime for all players. We’re always refining and adding new games, and have plenty more in the pipeline over the coming 12 months. This partnership builds more momentum behind our expansion strategy and we look forward to seeing how our games perform across numerous new regions.”

Google has removed the Paytm App, one of India’s biggest digital payment apps, for several hours from its online store for breaching gambling rules, a day before the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament.

Betting is illegal in India, but the countdown to the 53-day IPL has seen a profusion of online ads for fantasy sports sites, which are allowed in many parts of the country. Paytm had recently launched a fantasy cricket tournament that involved cash bets and violated the Google Play Store’s policies.

“Today afternoon, we received communication from Google that they are suspending our app because they believe this to be a violation of their Play Store policies on gambling,” the company said.

However, the app was back on the platform Friday evening after removing a “cashback” feature on “a recently-launched game on the application,” the Press Trust of India reported.

“Update: And we’re back!” Paytm tweeted.