Asia
Business Groups Support POGO Phaseout
Business groups and stakeholders expressed their support for the phaseout of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), citing its “social and reputational” costs to the country.
In a joint statement, the Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF), the Makati Business Club (MBC), and the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) cited the crimes supposedly associated with POGOs.
“We fully support the Department of Finance’s (DOF) push to phase out all POGO operations, and urge our legislators and the Executive Department to take all actions necessary to execute in an orderly way,” the statement read.
The Department of Finance (DOF) has shared a similar sentiment, with Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno earlier saying the industry has already been disallowed in other countries such as China and Cambodia.
“The social and reputational costs of government sponsorship of operations that are globally frowned upon far outweigh any economic benefits,” the statement read.
“Conflicting mandates and the lure of corruption have rendered it and other involved government agencies incapable of effectively regulating POGOs,” it added.
Data from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) show that revenues from POGOs have hit P4.438 billion from January to August this year, higher than the P3.91 billion collected for the full year 2021.
Last year’s collection fell short of the P32.1-billion goal, in line with Republic Act 11590 or the POGO Law, signed in September 2021 by then-President Rodrigo Duterte.
“The total ban will only result in temporary economic stains, as opposed to the enduring socio-economic consequences and heavier disruption if we do not act now,” the business groups said.
“The Chinese government has been quite categorical in its objections to POGO, which they characterized as harming not only China’s interest and China-Philippines relations but also hurt the interests of the Philippines,” they added.
Finance Undersecretary Bayani Agabin earlier this month said the country can recover the potential losses from the exit of POGOs in other industries with high value added.
Asia
Bloomberry Resorts Corporation Appoints Gregory Francis Hawkins as Director, President and COO

Bloomberry Resorts Corporation (BRC) has appointed Mr. Gregory Francis Hawkins as its Director, President and Chief Operating Officer.
Mr. Hawkins joined Bloomberry in November 2023 to head Solaire Resort North as Chief Operating Officer (COO). In December 2024, with the retirement of the previous BRC President and COO, Mr. Hawkins was appointed as Acting COO of Bloomberry Resorts and Hotels, Inc. (BRHI) to oversee both Solaire Resort North and Solaire Entertainment City. In February 2025, he was designated as Acting COO of BRC.
Mr. Hawkins has extensive experience in the hospitality and gaming industries having previously held senior roles in various jurisdictions including the Philippines, Macau, Australia and New Zealand.
The post Bloomberry Resorts Corporation Appoints Gregory Francis Hawkins as Director, President and COO appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
New Resort & Casino Selects IvedaAI for Intelligent Video Surveillance Ahead of Grand Opening

Iveda, a global leader in AI-driven video surveillance and smart-city technologies, announced that Subic Sun Development Inc. has chosen the IvedaAI platform as the video surveillance solution for the soon-to-open Subic Sun Resort, Convention & Casino. IvedaAI was selected early in the build-out to inform camera placement and ensure frictionless integration with future-ready, AI-powered analytics. Located on the former U.S. naval base in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone—a special economic hub that hosts thousands of international and local businesses—the resort will feature 500 guest rooms, a state-of-the-art convention center, a luxury casino and two Accor-brand hotels, Ibis Styles and Mercure, scheduled to open in December 2025.
The decision comes as global resort operators sharpen their focus on safety, service and operational efficiency. The global resort market generated $347 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach nearly $945 billion by 2030, an 18.5% CAGR. IvedaAI’s AI-enabled video analytics will help property staff lower security costs, respond to incidents faster and unlock data-driven insights that boost both guest satisfaction and bottom-line performance.
“Iveda being selected as a premier security and surveillance provider before the first Subic Sun Resort guest ever checks in is a powerful endorsement of our commitment to providing state-of- the-art monitoring technology. By designing camera layouts around IvedaAI’s real-time analytics, Subic Sun can optimize coverage, reduce blind spots, and deliver safer, smoother guest experiences—without a costly equipment overhaul. We expect more ground-up projects to follow this blueprint,” said David Ly, CEO and Founder of Iveda.
Iveda Philippines—Iveda’s joint venture focused on nationwide smart-city deployment—secured the Subic Sun contract and will oversee the on-site rollout. The win represents the team’s first major hospitality project and advances its plan to generate US $3 million in smart-city revenue by FY 2026, building on the broader initiative it announced last year.
The post New Resort & Casino Selects IvedaAI for Intelligent Video Surveillance Ahead of Grand Opening appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
FUN88 Thailand Celebrates 17th Anniversary with 17 Spins, Rewards & Newcastle Match Trip

FUN88 Thailand, a top online gaming platform, is celebrating its 17th birthday with a special month-long event full of exciting rewards and lucky missions. The promotion, running from June 2 to 30, allows members to win amazing prizes like a 7-day trip to watch a live English Premier League Newcastle United match, a luxury Royal Oak watch, 17 spins for a special Anniversary Badge and many more guaranteed rewards.
With the theme “Play with FUN, be FUN”, FUN88 promises a fun and rewarding experience for all players.
How to take part in FUN88’s 17th birthday to win big:
• BE FUN Lucky Spin: Complete daily or event missions to earn spins. Every spin is a guaranteed win. Grand prizes include a NUFC new season football trip to England, a luxury Royal Oak watch and more.
• Daily Check-In: In the new Rewards Lobby, members who topped up in the past 7 days can check in daily for rewards up to 12,888 THB.
• Top-Up on 8th, 18th, 28th: Get 5 extra spins just by topping up on these special dates.
• Extra Missions: Try missions like Virtual Sports, SOS Insurance Slots, or join “Road to World Cup I” for even more spins.
• Anniversary Badge: Spin the BE FUN Wheel 17 times during the event and get the exclusive 17th Anniversary Badge.
All event details are available on the FUN88 Promotions page.
The post FUN88 Thailand Celebrates 17th Anniversary with 17 Spins, Rewards & Newcastle Match Trip appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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