Macau’s David Group announces new casino resort in Fiji

’s National Police Agency (NPA) issued a stark warning last week, revealing that over one in three individuals apprehended in the recent crackdown on online gambling were teenagers. The alarming statistics underscore a troubling trend of rising in illegal gambling activities, sparking concerns over addiction and detrimental impacts. 

According to the Korea Times report, authorities apprehended a total of 2,925 individuals during the six-month crackdown targeting adolescent participation in online gambling, spanning from September 25 last year to March 31. Of these, a staggering 1,035, constituting 35.4 percent, were teenagers. 

Among the teenage offenders, 798 were high school students, 228 were middle school students, and seven were university students. Authorities also reported that even elementary school students were involved, with the youngest perpetrator being a 9-year-old who wagered 10,000 won. 

The crackdown resulted in the referral of 566 teenage offenders to specialized counselling centres with parental consent, aimed at addressing underlying issues and providing necessary support. Additionally, 75 adults faced imprisonment, and criminal proceeds totalling 61.9 billion won (€41.9 million) were confiscated. 

Police investigations shed light on the methods employed by online gambling sites to lure teenagers, including peer invitations, smartphone messages, online advertisements, and social media promotions. Baccarat emerged as the most favoured game among teenage gamblers, followed by sports betting, casino games, and Powerball or slot machines. 

The simplicity of registration processes, such as signing up with bank accounts or gift vouchers, facilitated teenage engagement in gambling activities. The report said that over 1,000 financial accounts under adolescents' names were identified for managing gambling funds and related transactions. 

Police highlighted the misconception of gambling as a harmless pastime among teens, exacerbated by cybergambling programs resembling simplistic gaming interfaces. Additionally, recent arrests revealed operators manipulating programs to expedite wins and losses, employing strategies like odd-even, ladder, and penalty kicks. 

With plans to resume the crackdown in May, the NPA remains resolute in its commitment to combating teenage involvement in online gambling. Woo Jong-soo, head of the National Office of Investigation, emphasized stringent enforcement against both gamblers and site operators to address the pressing issue of youth gambling. 

Upcoming SiGMA event: SiGMA Asia 2024, 3 – 5 June. Find all the details .

The Tropicana has always been a symbol of the city’s vibrant nightlife and gaming culture., marking the end of an era. Interestingly, the closure was not a result of financial struggles. In fact, the Tropicana was profitable right up to its closing date, according to Peter Carlino, CEO of Gaming & Leisure Properties Inc. (GLPI), (pictured above), the company that owns the resort’s land. During GLPI’s first-quarter earnings call, Carlino confirmed that the Tropicana was cash flow positive when it ceased operations.

This statement was further supported by Brandon Moore, GLPI’s Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel. He explained that the closure was strategically timed to align with the initial pitch for the A’s stadium, suggesting that the Tropicana’s shutdown was not premature but rather right on schedule. The closure of the Tropicana was a strategic move to pave the way for the liquidation of assets and the eventual demolition of the property. This will allow for the commencement of the A’s project and the integrated resort in 2025.

Clark County has already granted Bally’s Corp., the casino operator and tenant o The permit stipulates that the demolition must occur by October 20. The chairman of Bally’s board of directors, Soo Kim, revealed plans for an implosion in September or October. This timeline provides the Oakland Athletics, the Major League Baseball team relocating to a $1.5 billion, 33,000-seat indoor stadium, ample time for construction.

Moore emphasized that the closure was not an attempt to cut costs or expenses. Instead, it was a matter of on-time closure. With the employees aware of the impending shutdown, Bally’s faced challenges in maintaining adequate staffing levels to keep the resort operational.

GLPI had no expectations for the Tropicana to remain open beyond the actual closing date. As the Tropicana chapter closes, a new one begins with the A’s stadium project. The strategic closure of the Tropicana is a testament to the dynamic nature of Las Vegas, a city that continually evolves to offer new and exciting experiences to its visitors. As we bid farewell to the Tropicana, we look forward to the birth of the A’s stadium and the integrated resort, set to reshape the city’s landscape in the coming years.

 The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation () has reported a significant surge in its first-quarter income for 2024, reaching a staggering PHP25.24 billion (€408.5 million), marking a remarkable 42.57 percent increase compared to the same period last year.  

In a press release, PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco  satisfaction with the firms' performance.   

"We 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," he said.  

Net operating income after expenses during the quarter stood at PHP18.99 billion (€307.3 million), reflecting a substantial 54.22 percent increase from the figures recorded in January-March 2023, which totalled PHP12.32 billion (€199.4 million).  

Gaming operations emerged as the primary revenue driver for PAGCOR in the first quarter, generating PHP22.29 billion (€360.8 million). Within this segment, the e-Games sector, comprising eBingo, eGames, and Bingo grantees, contributed PHP9.69 billion (€156.8 million), while licensed casinos, including integrated resorts, brought in PHP8.04 billion (€130.1 million).  

“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 allow the sector to offer more excitement and convenience to gamers,” Tengco said.  

However, revenues from PAGCOR-run casinos under the Casino Filipino brand experienced a decline, contributing PHP3.7 billion (€59.9 million), down from their share in 2023.  

Offshore gaming operations also made a notable contribution to PAGCOR's earnings, accounting for PHP860.89 million (€13.9 million) or 3.86% of the total gaming income for the first quarter of 2024.  

Tengco also emphasized the positive impact of PAGCOR's robust earnings on various socio-civic programs, including funding for the Universal Healthcare Program, which provides health insurance to millions of underprivileged Filipinos through Philhealth.  

Out of the nearly PHP19 billion (€307.5 million) net income in the first quarter of 2024, PHP15.56 billion (€251.8 million) will be allocated towards Contributions to Nation-Building. This encompasses various initiatives such as the 5 percent franchise tax, government shares, funding for local government units (LGUs) hosting PAGCOR casinos, socio-civic projects, and support for sports development.  

's latest earnings surpassed its previous record set in 2019 before the pandemic outbreak, indicating a robust recovery and growth trajectory for the corporation. In the first quarter of 2019, total income stood at PHP19.49 billion (€315.4 million), a figure comfortably surpassed by the first quarter of 2024 by nearly 30 percent.  

Upcoming SiGMA event: SiGMA Asia 2024, 2 – 5 June. Find all the details .

Indonesia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (Kominfo) has announced the formation of a multi-agency task force in a decisive move against online gambling.. This initiative is a significant step in the country’s ongoing battle against online gambling, an activity that remains entirely illegal across the nation. The task force, as revealed by Kominfo, will consist of representatives from various government agencies.

The government has already implemented a series of stringent measures

The first line of defense is the Registration Requirement. Every website operating within the country’s borders must register with the government. This registration process is not merely a formality. It equips the authorities with broad powers, compelling platforms to disclose user data when required.

Next, the government has enacted the Intermediary Liability Regulation (MR5) in 2020. This law mandates websites to grant Indonesian law enforcement access to any user content, including private communications and storage. Any failure to comply can result in the website being blocked entirely, a stern reminder of the government’s resolve.

Content Removal from social media and interna Social media and internet platforms are obligated to remove content deemed unlawful at the request of any government agency. The response time is swift - urgent requests must be addressed within four hours, while non-urgent ones have a 24-hour window.

The government also wields the power of Penalties for Non-compliance. Internet and social media platforms that fail to comply with the rules face the risk of fines. Repeat offenders could find their platforms blocked in Indonesia, and their staff could even face criminal sanctions.

These include the Financial Services Authority (OJK), the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK), and the police. This information was reported by the local media outlet, Bernama. The task force’s primary objective is to combat online gambling, with each agency playing a specific role. Kominfo will supervise the digital space, OJK will manage accounts, PPATK will oversee fund flows, and

This was stated by Usman Kansong, the Ministry’s Information and Public Communications Director. In addition to domestic efforts, the task force will collaborate with Interpol to tackle cross-border cases. This international cooperation is crucial given the government’s previous struggles in blocking foreign operators. Minister Budi Arie further emphasized the Ministry’s commitment by issuing a warning to all social media platforms, cellular operators, and internet service providers against facilitating any form of online gambling promotion. He stated, “We have done everything within the authority of Kominfo.

We from the Ministry of Communication and Information are fully determined. At the beginning of the week, I gathered all our teams at Kominfo to work together to eradicate online gambling.” This task force is the latest in a series of actions taken by Indonesia against online gambling. In 2012, the country announced similar plans to eliminate such activities, citing the significant amount of money gambled by locals on the Euro 2012 football championship as a primary concern.

Indonesia’s multi-agency task force represents a united front in the country’s war against online gambling. It is a testament to the government’s determination to curb this illegal activity and protect its citizens from the potential harms associated with it. The success of this initiative will undoubtedly set a precedent for other nations grappling with similar issues.