Latest News
PAGCOR celebrates proud achievements for the past 40 years
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) proudly looked back on its past achievements when it celebrated its 40th year at the Marriott Hotel Manila on July 11, 2023.
PAGCOR commemorated its four decades of existence by featuring its accomplishments, particularly its huge contributions to nation building. The agency was created in 1983 by virtue of Presidential Decree 1869, also known as the PAGCOR Charter, issued by then President Ferdinand Marcos.
No less than President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr. graced the event, which proudly highlighted PAGCOR’s successful role as one of the national government’s biggest revenue generator and a reliable partner in the promotion of various endeavors that benefit the Filipino people.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco remarked that for 40 years, the agency’s recorded total Contributions to Nation Building (CNB) amounted to around P607 billion, while its total dividends remittances since 2011 is now at P64 billion. This brings PAGCOR’s actual total contributions to P671 billion.
Chairman Tengco emphasized that after one year under the administration of President Marcos (from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023), PAGCOR’s total CNB amounted to P45 billion, which, by the end of the year, is projected to reach P70 billion.
The PAGCOR chief likewise announced that the agency has been tapped as a funding source of the Universal Health Care Act when it was passed into law in 2019. Under said law, 50 percent of its remittances to the National Treasury has been allocated to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to fund the Universal Health Care (UHC) of the Filipino people.
In terms of its recent contributions to infrastructure, PAGCOR partnered with Melco Resorts (Philippines) Foundation Corporation (MRPFC) – the charitable arm of the City of Dreams Manila in funding the construction and purchase of medical and non-medical equipment for the 51-bed and state-of-the-art Presidential Security Group (PSG) Station Hospital.
The state-run-gaming and regulatory firm, in partnership with the Bloomberry Foundation, also helped establish the OFW Hospital in Pampanga and donated P300 million worth of medical equipment to the said medical facility. PAGCOR also funded the rehabilitation of sports facilities utilized for the 30th Southeast Asian Games by donating P842.5 million to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). The agency likewise donated P350 million to the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City for the procurement of various medical equipment.
Under the current administration, Chairman Tengco shared that PAGCOR will be channeling its resources to the promotion of education and health in the country. The agency will re-launch its School Building Project to help address classroom shortage in public schools nationwide. It will also build e-Libraries to provide learners from remote or depressed communities with an environment that is conducive for e-learning and online research.
Also in the pipeline are Socio-civic Centers and Community Wellness Centers to be built in different parts of the country. The agency will likewise be launching the “Bawat Buhay Mahalaga Serbisyo Caravan” – an all-encompassing endeavor focused on the distribution of educational, medical and financial assistance, among others, to various local government units and their citizens.
The agency will likewise be donating 250 units of Patient Transport Vehicles (PTV) to various local government units, in coordination with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).
PAGCOR will also lead the establishment of the Clark Multi-Specialty Medical Center in Clark, Pampanga to cater to the medical needs of patients from Regions I, II, III and Metro Manila. It will consist, among others, of a heart center, kidney/cancer center and a children’s hospital. This project is intended to alleviate the plight of the Filipinos by bringing quality healthcare closer to people living outside Metro Manila.
The PAGCOR chief added that the agency’s significant socio-civic programs would not have been possible if not for the committed employees who have served as the agency’s strong pillars through the four decades.
Meanwhile, serving as the highlight of the event was the launch of the new logo, which represents the agency’s re-energized role as the main gaming regulator in the Philippines.
“The new PAGCOR logo incorporates the element of fire associated with energy, inspiration, passion, and transformation. It symbolizes the flame that ignites change and drives progress. The logo likewise reflects a beacon which symbolizes guidance, leadership, and direction. It represents a guiding light that helps people find their way,” Tengco added.
“All these taken together, our new logo reflects PAGCOR’s long standing commitment of being a guiding force that illuminates the way forward, drives transformation and development, and brings inspiration and motivation to the lives it touches,” Chairman Tengco furthered.
Latest News
QiH Group completes C-suite hiring spree with new CFO appointment
QiH Group has been in the betting and gaming trade press frequently for its exciting yet steady growth the past few months – mainly in scouting and appointing the best-in-class talent from within the industry.
The latest talent acquisition in the iGaming group’s repertoire is finance and industry stalwart Simon Winder, who joins after seven years with Spotlight Sports Group (SSG). Winder, who has an impressive record in finance, including half a decade with the Football Association as well as time in the music and television industry.
As part of the new C-suite layer in the UK side of QiH’s business, Winder will use his growth-oriented financial expertise to support the business’s rapid growth, set out longer-term finance strategies and work with each department to achieve overall P&L goals.
Jamie Walters, CEO and co-founder of QiH Group, said that Winder’s appointment completes the C-level scaling the business set out to achieve at the beginning of FY 2024-2025.
“We’ve made no secret of the fact that our business is growing fast. FY2023 delivered 75 percent growth in both revenue and profit and 2024 is on track to achieve the same again,” Walters explains. “Simon is an integral part of the formula we need to support this growth and to help take QiH Group into the next phase of our business. Massive thanks to our incredible HR Director, Andrea Talreja, and her incisive and insightful executive search that has brought us the support at C-level that we need to forge ahead.”
Winder, who will take up his post 1 November 2024, said: “After a wonderful and rewarding seven years with SSG, it’s great to be moving to a young company with the reputation for innovation, growth and compliance that QiH Group has. Having watched the affiliate’s progress from the outside these past four years, it will be extremely fulfilling to be part of the action!”
Winder joins newly appointed CMO David Murphy, CTO Sachin Saxena and COO Andrew Lee in managing the company from the London office, but across both the Skopje and London teams.
* * *
For more information on QiH, Simon or to arrange an interview, please contact: [email protected] or [email protected]
About QiH Group
Founded in 2014, QiH is an innovative and industry-leading digital marketing business in the iGaming industry. With offices in London, UK and Skopje, North Macedonia, we specialise in digital marketing within the iGaming industry in multiple markets around the globe. Our companies include: Digital Adventures, with its suite of iGaming aggregator brands that deliver traffic to the biggest operators in the industry; Wizard Interactive, an affiliate partner for top-tier US-based online casinos looking for high-quality traffic and Tau Marketing Services, a suite of three consumer-facing, multi-geo casino brands run through the Aspire network.
The post QiH Group completes C-suite hiring spree with new CFO appointment appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
VIRGIN BET AND PRESENTING STAR NATALIE PIKE BRING ‘WOMEN’S DAY’ TO DONCASTER RACECOURSE
Virgin Bet is excited to announce the second iteration of its ‘Women’s Day’ event, which will take place at the Virgin Bet November Handicap on Saturday, 9th November, at Doncaster Racecourse.
The day will serve as a platform to celebrate women in racing, making it the latest effort in Virgin Bet’s long line of social impact initiatives to help create a more inclusive environment.
Building on the success of the inaugural Women’s Day at Ayr Racecourse last season, this celebration aims to further highlight and honour the invaluable contributions of women in racing.
The event at Doncaster Racecourse is open to everyone, embodying Virgin Bet’s brand mission, ‘A Good Bet’. This campaign emphasises the brand’s dedication to breaking down pre-existing barriers within sports and culture at large.
As part of the day’s proceedings, in addition to enjoying Doncaster’s spectacular race offerings, attendees can attend two panels led by presenter Natalie Pike, with the first starting at 10:45 am in the Exhibition Hall. Combining celebration with insight, these discussions will encourage reflection and spark conversation, connecting racing fans with legendary women transforming horse racing while also addressing diversity in the sport.
Panellists will include:
Panel 1: Women of Horse Racing
- Sophie Green (Trainee Clerk of the Course, Southwell Racecourse)
- Charlotte Russel (General Manager, Go Racing In Yorkshire)
- Rachel Harwood (Executive Director, Doncaster Racecourse)
Panel 2: Creative Inclusivity in Racing
- Dawn Goodfellow (CEO, Racing Welfare)
- Emma Kay (Founder, WalkSafe)
Additionally, as part of Virgin Bet’s raceday sponsorship, a donation will be made to Racing Welfare. Their work ensures the well-being and success of British horseracing’s workforce. Virgin Bet’s support for Racing Welfare highlights the importance of giving back to the community that keeps the industry running.
The Virgin Bet November Handicap marks the beginning of Virgin Bet’s continued partnership with Arena Racing Company (ARC) for a series of key meetings throughout the 2024/25 season. This partnership extends to fellow LiveScore Group brand LiveScore Bet.
Virgin Bet’s Personal Safety Partner, WalkSafe, will also be integrated into the race day. Founded in 2020, WalkSafe was developed to give the public as much information about their surroundings as possible. The app, WalkSafe+, enables users to plan the safest route home, along with a host of additional features to help ensure a safer experience for all.
Racegoers will be able to learn more about the innovative and free-to-download app over the course of the raceday, and get the chance to speak with its founder, Emma Kay, who strives every day to educate and highlight the importance of safety in all walks of life. Emma will also feature on one of the panels, sharing her insights and experiences as part of the discussions.
This second iteration of Women’s Day, now making its debut at Doncaster, serves as a potential alternative to traditional Ladies’ Day. Virgin Bet, in partnership with Doncaster Racecourse, is proud to continue fostering a celebratory environment, reminding everyone that racing truly welcomes all.
Dominic Vye, Marketing Director, Virgin Bet, said:
“Horse racing owes much of its success to the incredible women who contribute so much behind the scenes, and it’s time we celebrate their achievements. At Virgin Bet, as part of our ‘A Good Bet’ brand campaign, we want to make sport more accessible and highlight brilliance, no matter who the subject is, and this initiative is doing exactly that.”
Presenter and ‘Women’s Day Sponsored by Virgin Bet’ collaborator, Natalie Pike, added:
“It’s been amazing to return and once again be part of this fantastic initiative with the teams at Virgin Bet and Doncaster Racecourse. I hope this year’s event will continue to inspire and uplift the incredible women in horse racing. Creating an inclusive and safe environment for everyone in the sport is so important, and I’m proud to help bring attention to that.”
Rachel Harwood, Executive Director of Doncaster Racecourse, continued:
“We are proud to celebrate Women’s Day here at Doncaster Racecourse. This initiative shines a spotlight on the essential role women play in our sport. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to remind everyone that racing is for everyone, and we hope all racegoers feel that sense of inclusivity and belonging.”
“We’re also delighted to have Virgin Bet’s Personal Safety Partner WalkSafe integrated as part of their sponsorships with us. The experience and safety for all spectators at our racecourses is a priority, so it’s fantastic to see this as part of Virgin Bet’s ‘A Good Bet’ initiatives, which aims to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all.”
To purchase tickets, please visit: www.tickets.doncaster-racecourse.co.uk
The post VIRGIN BET AND PRESENTING STAR NATALIE PIKE BRING ‘WOMEN’S DAY’ TO DONCASTER RACECOURSE appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Australia
NSW Govt Appoints New Board Members to ILGA
The NSW Government has made appointments to the board of the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA), including a deputy chairperson and two new members.
Associate Professor Amelia Thorpe and Nicholas Nichles have been appointed following a rigorous public expression of interest selection process. Additionally, existing member Chris Honey has been appointed deputy chairperson.
ILGA is a statutory decision-maker responsible for a range of liquor, registered club and gaming machine regulatory functions including determining licensing and disciplinary matters.
The appointments follow the end of the term of appointment for outgoing deputy chairperson Sarah Dinning, and also fill vacancies that existed on the board.
Mr Honey, who was appointed a member of ILGA earlier in 2024, has been named deputy chairperson until the end of his current appointment term (11 February 2027).
Mr Honey has extensive experience in the advisory and restructuring field, including working extensively in highly regulated sectors.
Associate Professor Thorpe and Mr Nichles have both been appointed for four years commencing 6 November 2024.
Associate Prof Thorpe is with the Faculty of Law & Justice at the University of New South Wales and an Acting Commissioner of the NSW Land and Environment Court.
Mr Nichles was previously a Consul General and Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner for Australian Government agency Austrade, based in the US.
The new appointments bring the ILGA board membership to seven. The new appointments will join chairperson Caroline Lamb, new deputy chairperson Mr Honey and current members Cathie Armour, Jeffrey Loy APM and Dr Suzanne Craig.
The post NSW Govt Appoints New Board Members to ILGA appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
Felipe Costa Nadalini Account Executive at Optimove5 days ago
Leading Brazilian Lottery Operator Grupo da Sorte Selects Optimove as CRM Marketing Solution to Accelerate Growth through Personalized Journey Orchestration
-
Central Europe5 days ago
ComeOn Group’s Sportsbook hub in Austria relocates to new office space to facilitate further growth
-
Asia5 days ago
Skillhub Online Games Federation forges strategic partnership with IESF to bring International Esports Championships to India
-
Australia4 days ago
ALLIANCE PARTNERS TABCORP AND 1/ST CONTENT COMPLETE DEAL WITH THE JOCKEY CLUB OF TURKIYE TO DELIVER TURKISH RACING TO AUSTRALIA VIA SKY RACING
-
Latest News4 days ago
MGA Games presents Wild Wonderful Fairy, a casino slot featuring Expanding Symbols and a Free Spins Screen
-
Baltics4 days ago
Genome launches SEPA instant payments, adding another valuable feature for iGaming companies
-
CasinCity5 days ago
Announcing the Launch of CasinCity Crypto Casino: Where Every Player is a VIP from the Start
-
Asia4 days ago
GG.BET is inviting BLAST Premier: World Final attendees to the GG.BOOTH to take part in some fun activities