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40 FOREIGN NATIONALS IN ANGELES CITY RESCUED DURING ILLEGAL POGO RAID

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A total of 40 foreign nationals working in an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) company in Angeles City, Pampanga were rescued on September 17, 2022 by the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

According to DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos, the rescue operations was a result of the inter-agency commitment among PAGCOR, DILG, Department of Justice (DOJ), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to put an end to the POGO-related kidnappings and human trafficking cases in the country.

Alongside the rescue of foreign workers, PAGCOR and DILG formally ordered the closure of the illegal POGO establishment in Angeles City.

The rescued POGO workers will be turned over to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for the checking of their documents and working permits.

Earlier today, PAGCOR also revoked the license of a POGO service provider in Pasig City – the Crimson Tulip BPO, Inc. – following the rescue of over 100 kidnapped and illegally detained POGO workers in Cainta, Rizal.

The NBI together with the BI led the operations after they received a call from the Chinese Embassy, requesting for the rescue of Chinese nationals.

The NBI reportedly rescued 70 Chinese, 16 Vietnamese, two Taiwanese, one Malaysian and 44 Filipinos who were allegedly forced to work in a fraudulent online POGO operations.

PAGCOR said that the license revocation of Crimson Tulip BPO, Inc. shows the state-run gaming firm’s commitment to help address all illegal POGO-related kidnapping cases, as these put the legitimate POGO operations in a bad light.

Since PAGCOR regulated the POGO operations in 2016, the industry helped the state-run gaming agency’s revenue generation efforts. Aside from this, regulated POGO operations created a multiplier effect on the revenues of various industries such as the real estate, food, transportation, construction, and telecommunication, to name a few.

Likewise, POGO-related taxes collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue help the government’s revenue collection program.

But amidst recent reports on kidnapping and human trafficking involving POGOs, PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco said earlier that if POGO-related crimes in the country are not abated, the consequences may affect even the legitimate POGO operators.

On September 14, 2022, PAGCOR organized an inter-agency meeting with the DILG, DOJ, PNP, and the NBI to address the cases of kidnapping and human trafficking related to illegal POGO operations in the country.

The DILG, which has already started a crackdown against human trafficking, gave the PNP and other participating agencies a timeline of two weeks to abate all POGO-related illegal activities in the country.

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Gen.G Opens “GGX”, the Next-Gen Cultural Gaming Space

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Global esports organisation Gen.G Esports (Gen.G) announced the official grand opening of GGX (Gen.G Gaming Xperience), a multi-dimensional cultural gaming space that brings its brand philosophy to life to an offline space in the heart of Seoul. Launching on Saturday, June 21, GGX marks the first-ever flagship venue by an esports brand that redefines the traditional PC café, offering a high-performance gaming zone alongside curated lifestyle experiences across food, merchandise, community and coaching.

Located near DDP, a cultural and artistic landmark in Seoul at Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, GGX spans 1570 square meters and includes 252 premium gaming stations equipped with top-tier specs. Each seat features NVIDIA RTX 5070 GPUs, LG UltraGear monitors, Logitech gaming peripherals, ultra-fast internet and Gen.G x SIDIZ custom-designed gaming chairs, with an estimated hardware value of KRW 4.5 million (USD 3300) per station, delivering a fully immersive play environment.

More than just a gaming space, GGX will act as Gen.G’s flagship space – an open, ever-expanding ecosystem where brands, fans and creators come together to create a unique experience. From concept to execution, GGX was co-developed with industry-leading partners such as Otoki, Monster Energy and SIDIZ, creating a space that blends gaming, content and community in new ways.

Inside GGX, visitors can enjoy a variety of immersive experiences, including:

“OTOKI G.ROUND”, a food & beverage lounge co-developed with Otoki, offering exclusive signature menu items

An iconic photo spot and photo booth featuring GenRang, Gen.G’s official mascot

A merchandise store, showcasing Gen.G uniforms, exclusive partner collaboration items and GGX-limited items

A community lounge with a capacity for over 100 people – designed as a space for fans to connect and share their passion for gaming, and engage in community-driven activities.

In collaboration with Gen.G Global Academy (GGA), GGX also offers coaching programmes and skill-up classes for gamers of all levels. Led by former pro players, these sessions include in-depth strategic game analysis, aim training and team-based gameplay. The venue will also host regular fan meetups, watch parties and branded community events, creating a dynamic environment for fans to connect and grow together.

Steve Lee, Head of Partnerships at Gen.G, said: “GGX goes beyond just gaming – it’s a cultural hub where fans, players, and brands come together to create meaningful experiences. Through spaces like this and continued innovation, Gen.G aims to lead the sustainable growth of the esports industry.”

GGX is operated by Superplay, a leading IP management company in the gaming and esports space, with proven experience designing fan-centric spaces such as T1 Basecamp Hongdae, KT Rolster R Café and Genshin PC Lounge. Superplay and Gen.G co-developed GGX over several months, from spatial design to branded content and programming.

Junghyun Kim, CEO of Superplay, said: “After months of development with the Gen.G team, we’re proud to finally unveil GGX. We hope it becomes a must-visit destination for gaming and esports fans from Korea and around the world.”

The post Gen.G Opens “GGX”, the Next-Gen Cultural Gaming Space appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Bloomberry Resorts Corporation Appoints Gregory Francis Hawkins as Director, President and COO

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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.

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New Resort & Casino Selects IvedaAI for Intelligent Video Surveillance Ahead of Grand Opening

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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.

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