Asia
Football Betting Business in Vietnam Mandates Bidding Process

The international football betting business project will be required to conduct a bidding process to select investors, according to a recently issued government decree. Decree 23/2024 issued by the Government outlines the necessity of conducting bidding processes to select investors in accordance with the Bidding Law.
As per this decree, investors must participate in a bidding process if they intend to operate international football betting activities in Vietnam. In addition, projects related to investment in horse and dog racing, including betting activities, are also subject to bidding when two or more investors express interest.
This regulation is reiterated in Decree 06, which addresses the business of betting on horse racing, dog racing and international football, issued in 2017. At that time, the government allowed a pilot business to operate international football betting through a bidding process.
As of now, no business has been granted permission to pilot such ventures. Last year, a representative of a lottery business stated in their development strategy until 2025 that they plan to launch international football betting activities in compliance with the law.
Towards the end of 2021, the Ministry of Finance proposed amendments to Decree 06, introducing new points such as permitting betting on European national football championships and allowing players to purchase betting tickets online.
During that period, the Ministry of Finance also submitted to the government proposed changes to two conditions for investors. First, investors must have a minimum capital investment of VND1 trillion ($40.5 million), with the ownership ratio of all foreign investors not exceeding 50%. Additionally, companies must commit to contributing to the state budget a minimum of 5% of betting revenue in cash (excluding taxes).
However, this new decree has yet to be issued, which poses a challenge to the regulators in selecting pilot businesses.
Every year, law enforcement agencies uncover and prosecute illegal football betting rings that bet billions of Vietnamese dong on football matches around the world. Advertisements for online betting websites with names such as FB88, Fi88, Bet88 and others, flood the internet.
The illegal football betting market in Vietnam is estimated to be worth tens of billions of USD a year, yet the state struggles to control the flow of money and collect taxes.
Many foreign investors have expressed interest in the international football betting business in Vietnam. Several countries around the world have legalised this form of betting.
Analysts suggest that to attract investors in the betting sector, the Government needs a stringent and appropriate regulatory framework. This would provide citizens with a legal rather than an illegal option for their pastimes. In turn, the state budget would benefit from tax and fee revenue from betting activities.
Asia
DigiPlus Officially Incorporates Singapore Hub to Power Global Growth

DigiPlus Interactive Corp, the Philippines’ leading digital entertainment company, has taken a step forward in its international growth strategy with the official incorporation of DigiPlus Global Pte Ltd in Singapore.
Fully owned by Diginvest Holdings Inc, a 100% subsidiary of DigiPlus Interactive, the newly established DigiPlus Global will serve as the company’s international hub—driving its global ambitions through strategic partnerships, talent acquisition and corporate support. The entity is formally registered under Singapore’s business activity classification for head and regional offices, acting as DigiPlus Interactive’s centralised administrative and management office.
While the Singapore entity will focus solely on regional support services, it will not operate any gaming platforms in Singapore, in full respect of the country’s regulatory framework.
“This is not just an expansion; it’s a foundational step in our growth strategy. By anchoring our international presence in Singapore—one of the world’s most advanced business ecosystems—we are accelerating DigiPlus’ transformation into a globally recognized force in digital entertainment,” said DigiPlus Interactive Chairman Eusebio Tanco.
The move enables DigiPlus to deepen its access to global expertise, strengthen cross-border collaboration and build high-value relationships in key markets. It will also accelerate the company’s ability to pioneer the next wave of digital entertainment innovations as it continues to grow its digital platforms—BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and GameZone—which already dominate the Philippine market.
The post DigiPlus Officially Incorporates Singapore Hub to Power Global Growth appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
KONAMI GROUP CORPORATION Named “Most Honored Company” in the Gaming Sector in Extel’s “2025 Japan Executive Team” Survey
KONAMI GROUP CORPORATION has been named “Most Honored Company” in the gaming sector in Extel’s (formerly Institutional Investor) “2025 Japan Executive Team” survey.
This survey is conducted by Extel to select listed Japanese companies with outstanding IR activities based on votes from 541 investors and analysts from 237 firms, nominating a total of 533 companies.
In the gaming sector, KONAMI GROUP CORPORATION ranked first in the categories of “Best CEO” (Sell-Side), “Best Investor Relations Professional,” “Best Investor Relations Program,” and “Best Company Board,” and as a result, the company has been named the “Most Honored Company.”
To increase our corporate value, KONAMI GROUP CORPORATION places high priority on constructive dialogue with shareholders and investors to deepen mutual understanding. In FY2025, the company held over 400 IR meetings, with our top management actively participating in quarterly financial results briefings and overseas IR roadshows. The “Most Honored Company” designation is in recognition of these efforts.
KONAMI GROUP CORPORATION will continue to work to achieve sustainable growth and enhance our corporate value over the medium-to-long-term through our IR activities.
The post KONAMI GROUP CORPORATION Named “Most Honored Company” in the Gaming Sector in Extel’s “2025 Japan Executive Team” Survey appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
S8UL makes StarCraft II debut with the signing of veteran South Korean player GuMiho

S8UL strengthens its EWC roster following the announcement of their participation in multiple titles, including Chess, EAFC 25, Tekken 8, Call of Duty (COD): Warzone, and Apex Legends Mumbai, May 8, 2025: S8UL, a global force in esports and gaming content, is proud to announce its entry into the legendary world of StarCraft II with the signing of veteran South Korean player Pyung Jae Koh, better known by his iconic gamer tag GuMiho, a.k.a. “The Towel Terran.”
This marks S8UL’s first foray into the real-time strategy (RTS) genre and signals its continued commitment to global expansion across esports titles that have defined competitive gaming history.
A fan-favorite and master tactician, GuMiho is recognised across the global StarCraft community for his creative playstyle, unorthodox strategies, and trailblazing use of mech-based unit compositions. A staple of the Global StarCraft II League (GSL) since the Wings of Liberty era, GuMiho rose to global prominence after winning the GSL Code S
Championship in 2017, defeating soO in a 4–2 final that etched his name in StarCraft history. His unique style of playing with a towel draped over his hands to absorb sweat and maintain precision earned him the moniker “The Towel Terran,” while his dominance with mechanical Terran builds gave rise to another title: “The Mech God.”
GuMiho’s recent achievements reaffirm his elite status in the competitive StarCraft II scene. In December 2024, he edged out Protoss standout Clem in a tense 3–2 series at HomeStory Cup XXVI, building on the momentum of his nail-biting 4–3 grand final victory over ShoWTimE (also Protoss) at HomeStory Cup XXV just months earlier. Earlier in the year, he delivered a commanding run to the finals of WardiTV 2023, ultimately finishing second after a hard-fought series against Zerg titan Dark. These standout results reinforce GuMiho’s reputation as one of the scene’s most resilient and inventive players, proving that even after years at the top, he continues to evolve and compete at the highest level.
Speaking about his new journey with S8UL, GuMiho said: “Joining S8UL feels like stepping onto a new playing field with the same hunger to win. Their drive to break barriers in esports matches my own competitive spirit. I’m ready to give it my all and compete at the highest level again, this time with S8UL by my side.”
Animesh Agarwal a.k.a. 8Bit Thug, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL, commented on the signing: “GuMiho is a living legend, and we’re beyond thrilled to welcome him to the S8UL family. Our journey into StarCraft II is about paying homage to the roots of esports and competing with the best. GuMiho’s legacy of innovation, consistency, and competitive spirit embodies everything S8UL stands for. This is a proud moment for Indian esports as we strengthen our EWC aspirations with one of the game’s all-time greats.”
As S8UL prepares to compete across multiple titles at EWC 2025, including Apex Legends, EAFC 25, Call of Duty: Warzone, Tekken 8, Chess, and now StarCraft II, the organization continues to demonstrate that excellence in esports knows no borders, no genres, and no limits.
With three consecutive ‘Esports Content Group of the Year’ wins at the Esports Awards and global recognition through initiatives like the MOBIES Global Impact Award, S8UL is now writing a new chapter in the global esports story.
The post S8UL makes StarCraft II debut with the signing of veteran South Korean player GuMiho appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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