Asia
PAGCOR CHIEF: BANNING IGLs COULD CAUSE BIGGER PROBLEMS
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation today said outlawing Internet Gaming Licensees or IGLs, previously called POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) could cause bigger problems since it would drive legitimate operators underground.
“If this happens, it would become harder for us to monitor them, and the number of illegal operators would grow and pose a bigger headache to our law enforcement authorities,” according to PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco.
“On top of these, the government will lose potential revenues of more than Php20 billion annually, without any guarantee that illegal activities will stop,” he said.
Mr. Tengco said it is very likely that when legitimate operators are banned, they will simply hide and vanish, bringing with them their gaming equipment like computers and machines and simply continue to operate without government monitoring and supervision.
“We have no guarantee that, once we ban the legitimate operators, they will simply close shop and return to their countries of origin where they are likely to face prosecution and jail, or worse,” he said.
“So they will just go underground here in the Philippines and continue operating,” the PAGCOR chief said. “Worse, they could join those who are engaged in illegal activities like scamming, hacking and other cybercrimes, which would cause bigger problems to us.”
“Once they are underground, we lose control over them,” Mr. Tengco said.
Despite this, the PAGCOR chief said the agency will respect whatever decision Congress will make on the issue.
“It is the prerogative of our lawmakers to outlaw IGLs, if they believe it will solve our problems.
“However, for us, the real problem are the criminal syndicates masquerading as POGOs. It is only through intensified law enforcement and the cooperation of all sectors that we would be able to address the problem of criminality,” Mr. Tengco said.
The post PAGCOR CHIEF: BANNING IGLs COULD CAUSE BIGGER PROBLEMS appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Aquisitions/Mergers
Nazara’s subsidiary Absolute Sports acquires TJRWrestling.net and ITRWrestling.com
Absolute Sports, a subsidiary of Nazara Technologies and the parent company of Sportskeeda.com, announced today that it has signed definitive agreements, subject to closing conditions, to acquire two IPs, TJRWrestling.net and ITRWrestling.com. These business assets will be acquired from Titan Insider Digital. These IPs add to the already dominant global position of Absolute Sports in the combat sports publishing industry.
TJRWrestling and ITRWrestling established in 2009 and 2020 respectively, have built a robust audience base within the wrestling fan community through their high-quality and in-depth combat sports news and content coverage. Together, they currently attract 1.7 million monthly active users and generate 4.6 million monthly pageviews, predominantly from North America. They generated $722K (~INR 6.1 crore) in revenue in 2024.
The transaction, valued at $1.25 million (~INR 10.5 crore), will be an all-cash asset purchase via the company’s U.S. subsidiary, Sportskeeda Inc., and is expected to close within the next 45 days.
This strategic acquisition bolsters Sportskeeda’s position in the combat sports segment and expands its presence in the U.S., home to the world’s largest pro-wrestling fanbase. The integration of these platforms will also create deeper engagement opportunities for fans and advertisers across digital formats.
Ajay Pratap Singh, CEO of Absolute Sports, commented: “ITRWrestling and TJRwrestling are two of the most respected voices in the global wrestling community. This acquisition aligns perfectly with our vision to be the leading go-to destination for wrestling content worldwide. It also reinforces Absolute Sports’ dedication to expanding its footprint in the fast-growing U.S. media market through a targeted and impactful M&A strategy.”
The post Nazara’s subsidiary Absolute Sports acquires TJRWrestling.net and ITRWrestling.com appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
FBM® is set to elevate the gaming experience at Solaire Entertainment City with the launch of the highly anticipated Jin Qián Link™ slot themes on the cutting-edge Auria casino cabinet. Being the leading e-bingo games provider in the Philippines, FBM® continues delivering innovation with four captivating slot titles inspired by Asian mystique, featuring stunning graphics and exciting gameplay, at one of the country’s premier gaming destinations.
Jin Qián Link comprises four distinct slot themes – Eternal Fènghuáng™, Golden Lóng™, Great Bái Hǔ™, and Lucky Guī™ – each transporting players to a mystical universe. Players will be attracted and engaged by captivating visuals and an immersive soundscape, while Jin Qián Link also offers a rewarding and strategic gaming experience.
Players can chase Mini, Minor, Major, and Grand jackpots within the Jin Qián Link bonus, accessed by incrementing the pagoda. The bonus mode culminates in a double prize when all positions on the five reels are covered. The attractive feature set of this product line includes Luck Has Arrived as a shared feature, anticipating a rewarding round. Triple Wild, available on Golden Lóng and Lucky Guī, and Wild Multiplier, running on Great Bái Hǔ and Eternal Fènghuáng, are the game features completing the features roll of this game series.
Pepe Costa, Country Manager of FBM Philippines, highlighted the relevance of this installation for the brand’s operation in the country. “FBM is committed to delivering exceptional gaming experiences that resonate with players. Jin Qián Link is a testament to this commitment, combining compelling themes with innovative features and the quality and excellence that FBM is known for.”, stated the FBM representative.
About the expectations around the game and FBM’s intents for the short-term future, Pepe Costa shared: “We are confident that Jin Qián Link will be a major success at Solaire Entertainment City. It’s also important to note that Jin Qian Link is just the first in a series of new slot games that FBM will be launching for the Philippine market”. With a legacy dating back to 2001, FBM has established itself as a trusted provider of high-quality gaming solutions. The leadership obtained in the Philippines e-bingo segment placed FBM among the references in the national industry, boosting the operation expansion for new product categories. The Jin Qián Link launch at Solaire Entertainment City further solidifies FBM Philippines’ position in the market and provides Solaire Entertainment City patrons with a new and exciting gaming adventure.
The post FBM® installs Jin Qián Link™ at Solaire Entertainment City appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
This surge marks a critical turning point in the sector with electronic gaming now leading revenue generation, said PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco.
“The E-Games and E-Bingo segment made history by becoming the industry’s top revenue driver for the first time, contributing Php51.39 billion or 49.36% of the total first quarter GGR,” he said.
“This represents not just revenue growth but how consumer behavior continues to shift towards digital, on-demand gaming experiences, accelerated by greater access to mobile technology,” he added.
The PAGCOR chief also noted that the rise of the E-Games industry has drastically reshaped the Philippine gaming landscape.
“As digital platforms take center stage, the Philippine gaming industry is likewise undergoing a paradigm shift. Hence, our goal as a regulator is to strike the right balance between innovation, player protection and long-term industry sustainability,” he said.
Licensed casinos, which have historically dominated the GGR landscape, generated Php49.28 billion, accounting for 47.32% of the industry’s total.
“While there was a minimal dip in revenues from licensed casinos compared to last year’s figures due to growing digital competition, this segment shows sustained strength and relevance,” Chairman Tengco said.
“The performance of brick-and-mortar casinos remains critical to industry stability, particularly in tourism-driven hubs such as Entertainment City and Clark.”
Meanwhile, PAGCOR-operated casinos generated Php3.45 billion in revenues, making up 3.31% of the GGR.
The post PH GAMING INDUSTRY RECORDS PHP104.12B GGR IN 1ST QUARTER 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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