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Sri Lanka’s plans to launch its new national gambling regulator have been delayed beyond an internal June target, as authorities seek further expert input before implementing the country’s new regulatory framework, according to local media reports.

The country’s Gambling Regulatory Authority Act came into effect on December 1, 2025, establishing a single regulator for casinos, betting, online gambling and other gaming activities. At the time, the government said the new authority would modernise oversight of the sector and strengthen tax collection, while introducing a more comprehensive licensing regime.

Galderma has announced the launch of Alastin – its premium regenerative skincare brand – across the JPAC region. The brand recently launched in Taiwan, will soon launch in Japan, and has received approval to launch in Singapore and South Korea, with planned market introduction in September and November, respectively.

This expansion follows Alastin’s recent launches in China and Australia and underscores Galderma’s continued investment in JPAC, a region characterised by advanced skincare practices and rapid growth in injectable aesthetics.

The ANJ said Polymarket remained accessible to users in France despite a ban on financial transactions that has been in place since November 2024. Based on Similarweb statistics provided by the regulator, the website received 578,751 visits from 205,057 unique visitors in France in just one month of June.

The regulator claimed that the use of a virtual private network was enough to avoid the ban. It also noted that the homepage could still be accessed, allowing users to view live markets and odds.

Despite Sri Lanka‘s Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) indicating that the first set of gambling regulations would be published by 30 June, the Authority now looks forward to presenting the draft regulations later in 2026, GRA Chairperson N M W N Bandara and GRA Acting Director General Gaya Adikari informed the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) on Tuesday.

“The authority did not expect full operationalisation until 30 November 2026 but rather that regulatory activities would commence in phases with a first set of regulations expected to be published by 30 June 2026,”

In the province of Buenos Aires, the laws governing gambling are being amended, and a bill has been presented to the Legislature to reinforce the regulation of advertising for online gambling operators and to curb minors’ access to their ads.

The event is promoted by provincial deputies Fabián Luayza and Viviana Romero, and comes after a spate of legislative interest in the issue of gambling regulation after the establishment of the Gambling, Lottery and Gambling Addiction Prevention Commission in February 2026.

Under the revised system, the yearly royalty for a full casino license has increased from NPR50 million ($327,800) to NPR55 million ($360,600). The yearly royalty rate for mini-casinos, which use electronic gambling machines, has doubled from NPR15 million ($98,300) to NPR30 million ($196,700).

These changes have been made by the government to raise funds for the state. The updated fees were introduced through the Financial Bill for the 2026-27 fiscal year,

Hafid said the ministry had taken down 3.7 million websites and pieces of content during that period. The figure covers suspected online gambling material that authorities have moved against since the campaign began in October 2024.

The minister said the ministry has also received public reports through an online reporting platform, which identified 156,000 suspected online gambling accounts. In addition, 85,500 mobile phone numbers were reported as suspected of being used in fraudulent activities.

The National Federation of Lottery Betting Shops of the Dominican Republic (Fenabanca) has put forward a set of recommendations to help improve the process of regularizing the lottery betting operations within the country. All the proposals have been forwarded to the government within the scope of the National Regularization Plan for lottery betting shops, sports betting companies, and gaming establishments.

Authorities say the suspects were operating an illegal online gambling and cyber fraud centre in Dili.

Timor-Leste.- Police have arrested 28 foreign nationals on suspicion of operating an illegal online gambling and cyber fraud centre in Timor-Leste’s capital, Dili. According to the Criminal Investigation Police (PCIC), most of those arrested are Chinese nationals, some of whom are believed to have a history of involvement in similar activities in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.

O’SMACH, Cambodia / BANGKOK –

A gambling empire controlled by a powerful Cambodian tycoon ⁠was the landlord of a compound that was used for industrial-scale scamming and human trafficking operations, Reuters has found.

Lim Heng Group leased out buildings on grounds shared with one of its casinos on the Thai-Cambodian border at above-market rates, a rental agreement dated March 2024 seen by the news agency shows.

Las Vegas Sands stock captures the story of a major casino operator that exited its namesake Las Vegas properties to become a pure-play Asian gaming and tourism company focused on Macau and Singapore. The group, identified by ISIN US51669R1077, now generates the bulk of its revenue and profit from large-scale integrated resorts that combine casinos, luxury hotels, retail, entertainment, and convention space.

Japan.- Police have detained nine people accused of operating a payment network that allegedly enabled people in Japan to gamble on overseas online casino websites. Those arrested by Saitama and Aichi prefectural police include Yuta Suzuki, who is accused of being a senior member of the payment processing organisation Tenmei.

Casino slot supplier Velvix Corp says it has signed a cooperation agreement with LaVie Resort & Casino Manila in the Philippines, with an initial deployment of 16 electronic gaming machines (EGMs) at the property.

Under the agreement announced on Monday, Velvix will supply 16 of its CurlX slot machines featuring jackpot functions, as well as providing associated signage, backend system support, installation, training, maintenance, and technical assistance.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has initiated an audit into gambling among the state’s Asian communities to shed light on whether casino marketing and outreach strategies cross into predatory practices. A Boston Globe investigation found that New England casinos have actively targeted Asian communities through shuttle buses, postcards, ads in Asian-language newspapers, billboards, and booths at cultural festivals.

South Korea’s foreigner-only casinos are gaining renewed momentum this year, triggered by a steady recovery in inbound tourism and expectations of a surge in Chinese group travel in the second half, according to a recent analysis by Shinhan Securities.

Unlike other tourism segments that move with domestic consumption, casino performance is closely tied to inbound flows, making the pace of Chinese visitor growth the key variable for the remainder of the year.

During the presentation, Aristocrat’s management said the company typically secures a higher share in openings and expansions than its portfolio average. That point formed part of the group’s wider case for why new projects and property developments matter to its land-based business.

The company also cited an estimate from betting and gaming consultancy H2 Gambling Capital that land-based slot machine revenue is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 3% between 2025 and 2030.

Cambodia’s casino regulator, the Commercial Gambling Management Commission (CGMC), has discussed boosting oversight of the casino sector and its governance, says local media outlet The Khmer Times.

The meeting was reportedly led by the casino regulator’s secretary general, Yeth Vinel.

Attendees at the session discussed plans to improve inspection standards, and strengthen management of licensed gaming professionals, said the news outlet in a Thursday report.

In its July 1st Asia-Pacific Sector Roundup Q3 2026 report, S&P gaming analyst Flora Chang described the regional gaming sector as facing ‘moderate demand amid macro challenges’.

S&P said Macau’s gross gaming revenue growth is likely to moderate in the coming quarters because of softer demand and a higher comparison base. However, the agency said growth should remain at 5 percent to 7 percent, supported by good visitation and steady premium mass demand.

Australia-listed slot machine maker and digital content provider Aristocrat Leisure Ltd says new casino openings and expansions in Asia – as well as in Europe and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – offer the company “growth and share gain opportunities”.

That is according to a presentation delivered during Aristocrat’s 2026 Investor Briefing, held on Wednesday and led by the company’s chief executive and managing director, Trevor Croker.

The June result added another softer month to Macau’s gaming run this year. In aggregate for the first six months, the city’s GGR totalled MOP126.90 billion, an increase of 6.8% over the comparable period last year.

This decrease month-over-month resulted in an essentially flat performance for the second quarter in comparison with the corresponding quarter last year. In particular, casino GGR dropped by 0.1% year-over-year to MOP61.03 billion, down from MOP61.11 billion in the second quarter of 2025.

Largely, the betting and iGaming ecosystem has been fuelled by the World Cup as operator engagement is generally on the up. However, for Macau casinos, it continues to be a burden on overall revenue.

June Gross Gaming Revenue decreased by a total of 12% to MOP 18.5bn (£1.7 bn), with the World Cup splitting the gambling spend of VIPs, who would normally be dedicated to Macau resorts.

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said applications for voluntary self-exclusion had been submitted through the country’s e-government portal between the launch of the system and June 1 this year. Of the total submitted, about 48% are still active.

Hong Kong.- Police have arrested adult actress and model Erena So Hoi-lam for allegedly promoting an unlicensed online gambling platform through social media advertisements. The arrest was made on Thursday, June 25, by officers from the West Kowloon regional crime unit following an investigation into an offshore betting website suspected of using local personalities to attract customers.

Galaxy Entertainment Group stands as the only Hong Kong-listed casino operator on Forbes’ newly published “Global 2000” list of the world’s largest public companies, and one of four Asia-facing gaming names to feature in the ranking.

A new passport for the playbook. Paradise Entertainment is leaning into regulated markets as it takes its gaming technology business further from Macau, with LT Smart now approved by Singapore’s GRA as an Approved Manufacturer. The approval gives the group a stronger credential as it promotes electronic tables, slots and gaming systems across the region.

Sovilj said the expiry of LT Game’s patent creates a sizable opportunity for ETG manufacturers. He said Spintec believes the market is large enough for several suppliers to secure a share of it.

He also said the company’s position in Macau is supported by the recognisability of its software and its existing footprint in the city.

Sean McCreery has joined Solaire Resort & Casino in Manila, the Philippine capital, as its new chief operating officer (COO). Mr McCreery confirmed the move in a social media post on LinkedIn.

He took on the role earlier this month, according to the update.

Palasino Holdings Ltd, a Hong Kong-listed operator of four land-based casinos in the Czech Republic and an online gaming business, reported net profit attributable to the owners amounting to HKD13.8 million (US$1.8 million) for the financial year ending March 31. That was down 10.4 percent on financial-year 2025’s HKD15.4 million.

In a Tuesday filing, it said reasons for the decline included an “employee benefits increase of HK$13.5 million to attract talent which enhanced our competitiveness in the employment market”.

Although the regulated market in Peru keeps developing, industry insiders highlight illegal operators and sports integrity issues as the key long-term challenges of the sector.

Carlos Fonseca, a gaming law specialist and CEO of Gaming Law SAC, emphasized in his opinion article in El Peruano that the success of the Peruvian regulatory approach hinges on the right balance of consumer protection, competitiveness of the market, and effectiveness of control and supervision.

Prices for the top and three lower tiers of the “NBA China Games 2026 Experience Packages” promoted by Sands China Ltd, will be higher than the packages for the 2025 preseason games, according to GGRAsia’s checks of publicity materials from the Macau casino operator. The benefits in the 2026 packages may not be directly comparable with those for 2025.

A video-camera and artificial-intelligence (AI) -assisted “Bet Attributor” function for Angel Group’s ‘smart’ casino-table technology is poised for use in several Asia-Pacific gaming markets.

That is according to Aaron Raj (pictured), chief technology officer (CTO) at the Japanese group’s Angel Australasia Pty Ltd unit. He was speaking in an interview with GGRAsia at the recent Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia 2026 casino trade show and conference held at The Venetian Macao.

Macau.- Lawmakers in Macau have renewed concerns over the use of automation in casinos after a second-generation humanoid robot dealer was showcased at G2E Asia by Chow Tai Fook. During a Legislative Assembly session, legislator Leong Sun Iok warned that the technology could threaten local employment in the gaming sector.

According to Leong, comments made during the expo about falling production costs and the possible future adoption of robotic dealers by casino operators immediately raised concerns among gaming workers.

New government data shows strong growth in online casino spending as the country moves towards a regulated igaming market.

New Zealand.- The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) Zealand has said that spending on online gambling in New Zealand has reached NZ$1.36bn (US$758m) per year. The data comes as the country prepares to launch a regulated sector under the Online Casino Gambling Act 2026, which came into effect earlier this month.

Asia’s gambling sector is beginning to feel the strain of tensions in the Middle East after the rising cost of living and falling tourism have led to declining gambling revenues across the Philippines.

According to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chair and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro Tengco, the beginning of the year got off to a rocky start as the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran continues to create greater inflationary pressure and dampen consumer spending power.

Macau.- The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) has reported that the number of Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) events in Macau remained steady in the first quarter of 2026 at 425. However, although the number of participants in meetings and conferences rose by 30 per cent, the overall number of MICE participants and attendees decreased by 8.7 per cent year-on-year to 181,000 as the number of exhibitions saw a small drop.

Indonesia.- The government of Indonesia has raised concerns over the exposure of children to online gambling, describing the issue as a serious threat to minors’ safety and development. According to Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Arifah Fauzi, data from the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs shows that close to 200,000 Indonesian children have been exposed to online gambling. Around 80,000 of those affected are reportedly under the age of 10.

Large-scale integrated resorts (IRs) in Entertainment City, in Metro Manila, recorded gross gaming revenue (GGR) of just above PHP37.47 billion (US$574.6 million) in the three months to March 31, according to data from the country’s casino regulator, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor).

The GGR tally for the private-sector casinos in Entertainment City was down 11.1 percent from a year ago, showed the data.

As Inspire Entertainment Resort enters its third year since opening, there is growing interest in the background behind its decision to recruit interns in the triple digits for the first time since it began operations. The company had struggled with the burden of loans taken out to cover its initial investment costs and underperformed financially, resulting in its management rights passing to a private equity fund after just over a year—a process marked by trial and error. However, Inspire is now seen as having secured the momentum needed to stabilize its business.

As more markets open to betting, regulators face mounting pressure from illegal gambling, rapid technological change, and shortages of skilled personnel, Ben Haden, president of the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR), said last week at G2E Asia.

The morning session, held on the final day of the conference, featured Haden alongside Rui Proença, managing partner at MdME. In a fireside chat, the pair discussed how regulatory oversight is adapting to new risks while balancing innovation with consumer protection.

SBC Summit Tbilisi will return to the Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace on July 15-16. The event explores gaming market opportunities across Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Press release.- SBC Summit Tbilisi, presented by EGT and Amusnet, will return to Georgia this July with a conference agenda focused on helping stakeholders explore opportunities across Eastern Europe and Central Asia as the region’s gaming markets continue to evolve.

The mandate ends a near 10-month standstill period for India gaming community and wider stakeholders, who in August 2025 were informed of the disruptive decision of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to approve the terms of PROGA to impose a federal ban on all online platforms, services and apps that provide access to Real Money Games (RMGs)

Police raids in Indonesia have led to the arrest of more than 300 foreign nationals, who have allegedly been involved in illegal online gambling operations.

Of the 321 arrested in Jakarta, 228 were from Vietnam, according to reports from AP News. A further 57 were from China, and the rest came from Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia.

Gaming technology supplier TCS John Huxley Ltd will show some of its latest products featuring ‘smart’ sensors and “camera-recognition” capability at this year’s Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia casino industry trade event and conference in Macau.

Authorities in Japan are weighing up all the options, including the possibility of implementing website blocking, as illegal gambling activity in 2025 reached record levels.

The gambling industry is shifting fast, with new markets opening and digital growth accelerating worldwide. Understanding where growth is happening is no longer optional for operators and investors. building scalable infrastructure.

Light & Wonder Inc’s “Dual Strike” blackjack table game product with progressive jackpot capability is available in the Asia-Pacific region, the technology supplier has confirmed to GGRAsia. The product (pictured) was mentioned in a recent social media post. It will be shown by Light & Wonder at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia casino industry trade show and conference at The Venetian Macao next month.

The Cambodian government has ordered the closure of 91 casinos alleged to have been involved in online scam activities, as authorities intensify a nationwide enforcement campaign targeting cybercrime networks. According to a government statement reported by Chinese news agency Xinhua, more than 250 suspected scam centres have been raided over the past nine months.

Vietnam’s integrated casino resorts continue to post losses despite higher domestic participation under the country’s pilot program allowing local citizens to gamble. The latest financial disclosures show that the sector’s large-scale projects are still struggling to turn revenue growth into profit.

A total of 28 luxury Macau hotel brands – all within casino resorts – indicate they have sold out their rooms for at least three nights of the upcoming Labour Day holiday season in early May, which for mainland residents spans five days. The room-demand snapshot is based on GGRAsia’s checks of the respective official booking engines of those hotels.

Today, online gambling is a dynamic and multifaceted world of digital gaming that continues to evolve and attract players from around the globe. In the coming years, this industry promises explosive growth, accompanied by technological breakthroughs and bold regulatory shifts that will make gambling not just entertainment, but a part of everyday digital life.

Sands China Ltd’s “reinvestment” spending to retain mass-market casino players seems to have fallen sequentially in the first quarter judged by particular metrics, suggest a number of analysts.

Opinion.- As the igaming industry continues its rapid global expansion, one truth has become impossible to ignore: players may be separated by geography, language, and regulation, but their expectations are consistent. They want seamless, intuitive experiences that work, regardless of which market they play in.

Japan recorded a sharp rise in illegal online gambling cases in 2025, with authorities identifying a record number of incidents and individuals involved. According to local media reports, data released by Japan’s National Police Agency showed that enforcement actions were taken against 317 people.

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