Asia

Sri Lanka Gets 10 Applications for Casinos

Published

2 years ago

January 15, 2024

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Sri Lanka has received 10 applications to set up casinos under new regulations issued, and they are in various stages of evaluation, State Minister for Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.

Opposition legislator Athureliye Rathana, a monk, questioned whether two companies, including one called Golden Island Hospitality (Pvt) Ltd had been issued licenses.

He questioned whether a casino had been approved for the Lotus Tower, and whether casinos will be set up in Kandy and Jaffna.

Opposition legislator Lakshman Kiriella requested that casinos not be set up in Kandy, the Sri Pada and Anuradhapura which had a religious significance.

Minister Siyambalapitiya said the applications were in various stages of evaluation and no licenses have been issued so far.

Under regulations gazette last year, there were four casinos which were charged 500 million rupees as an renewable fee for five years.

They also had to pay 15 percent on revenues and collect a 50 dollar fee from Sri Lankan casino players.

The government planned to increase the fee to 200 dollars over three years to discourage locals playing casinos, he said.

Rathana thero questioned why casinos were being set up when people did not have money to eat.

Siyambalapitiya said there was criticism when valued added tax were raised but when alternative sources of revenue was found by taxing foreigners, traditional criticisms were being made that had kept the country back.

“I clearly said 10 applications have been received. We have to remember already regulated casinos which operated without paying a license for many years. We are talking about taxes, asking not to impose VAT, but when a tax is charged from tourists, they we are told not to do this,” Siyambalapitiya said.

“Then are you asking to raise taxes on locals? There is a big problem in going forward with the reality. Always with this traditional opposition this country has gone down the tubes (waler pull-lerter gi-yar). It is the same thing today. We have to realize this Honorable Speaker,” Siyambalapitiya added.

Asia

GRA Renews Singapore Pools Licence for Five-year Term

Published

6 days ago

October 22, 2025

Niji Narayan

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The Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) has renewed the licence of Singapore Pools (Private) Limited (Singapore Pools) to conduct betting operations, gaming and lotteries under Section 54 of the Gambling Control Act 2022 (GCA). The tenure for the licence will be five years with effect from 25 October 2025, following GRA’s assessment that Singapore Pools has fulfilled the requirements under Section 54 the GCA.

The post GRA Renews Singapore Pools Licence for Five-year Term appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Arnold Hur

Thirteen Leading Universities Partner with Gen.G for its Practicum Abroad Programme to Prepare Students in Seoul for Esports Careers

Published

6 days ago

October 22, 2025

Niji Narayan

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Global esports and gaming organisation Gen.G announced that it has partnered with thirteen distinguished universities across the US to participate in the Gen.G Practicum Abroad programme, which offers students the opportunity to take part in an intensive, three-week programme to study in the heart of the esports industry in Seoul, South Korea.

The thirteen institutions are: Conestoga College, Augustana University, Buena Vista University, Illinois College, Manchester University, Seton Hall University, Shenandoah University, Syracuse University, St. Thomas University, University of Kansas, Maharishi International University, Randolph-Macon College and University of Hawai’i.

“This is our most ambitious program since the launch of our Gen.G Practicum Abroad program, bringing together some of the best universities in the country to expand their educational programs on campus. The students will be fully immersed in Korea with hands-on experiences to give them a 360-degree view of the esports industry,” said Arnold Hur, CEO of Gen.G.

Gen.G professionals will lead the Gen.G Practicum Abroad programme, which includes custom esports programming, mentorship by industry professionals, special lectures, industry “lunch-and-learns,” and professional networking, all while immersing students in Korean culture and its history in esports. Students will also visit competitive organisations and gaming publisher studios.

The post Thirteen Leading Universities Partner with Gen.G for its Practicum Abroad Programme to Prepare Students in Seoul for Esports Careers appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Asia

PAGCOR Enforces Accreditation for All iGaming Service Providers by 2026

Published

2 weeks ago

October 15, 2025

Niji Narayan

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The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has given gaming affiliates, developers and support service providers until early 2026 to comply with its newly implemented B2B Accreditation Framework, a regulatory system that formalises participation in the iGaming supply chain.

Companies that submit applications by December 31, 2025, will qualify for a three-year initial accreditation, while unaccredited foreign content providers face removal from licensed platforms after March 31, 2026.

The framework, which took effect on October 2, sets mandatory accreditation requirements for all third-party entities providing gaming content, systems or technical support to PAGCOR-licensed operators.

Accreditation covers several categories, including gaming affiliates, game content providers (GCPs) and support service providers (SSPs). Gaming affiliates may act as aggregators that distribute multiple game titles to operators, while GCPs are developers or studios supplying electronic game software or live-streamed content.

Accreditation is valid for two years from the date of PAGCOR Board approval, an increase from the previous one-year term.

Foreign data or content streaming providers that fail to secure accreditation by the March 2026 deadline will have their content deemed “non-compliant and unauthorized.” They may appoint a Philippine-registered company or a PAGCOR-accredited Gaming System Administrator as their exclusive distributor instead of setting up a local office.

PAGCOR has warned that licensed operators using unaccredited service providers may face sanctions.

The post PAGCOR Enforces Accreditation for All iGaming Service Providers by 2026 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.