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Saudi’s Savvy Games and Esports Delegation Conducts High-level Visit to Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu

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HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation and Vice Chairman of Savvy Games Group (Savvy), and Brian Ward, CEO of Savvy, have this month led a senior business delegation to China. The delegation was accompanied by senior leaders from VSPO, the leading Chinese esports company, including Dino Ying, co-founder and CEO, and Danny Tang, co-founder, CFO and head of strategy.

Visiting Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu, the delegation engaged with current and future partners in China’s games and esports industry. The visit further strengthened commercial partnerships between China, the world’s biggest esports market, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as it implements Vision 2030 and becomes a leading global hub for gaming and esports.

In 2023, Savvy, wholly owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, invested $265 million into VSPO, becoming the largest international investor. Savvy’s long-term investment is helping VSPO to continue to deliver on its global strategy and accelerate the growth of mobile esports.

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The meetings in the visit also covered preparations for the inaugural Esports World Cup (EWC) which will take place in Riyadh in the summer of 2024.

HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, Vice Chair of Savvy Games Group, said: “We learned so much from this trip. We will work with VSPO to connect global esports markets and build Saudi Arabia into the hub of the global esports and gaming market. Through long-term investment and capital deployment, we will build a sustainable and profitable global esports ecosystem.”

Brian Ward, CEO of Savvy Games Group, said: “China’s position as the largest esports market, with over 400 million fans and significant industry revenue, underlines the valuable role the Chinese market will play in supporting the continued development of Saudi Arabia’s thriving gaming and esports sector. This visit provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen Savvy’s connection with our partners at VSPO, as well as building our insights and network within one of the world’s foremost games and esports markets.”

Dino Ying, Chair of VSPO, said: “Two years ago, I communicated with Savvy for the first time in a Zoom call. At that time, I realized that although we were from two different markets, our ideas on technological innovation, the future of esports, player ecology and professionalization were very consistent. That’s why we were already thinking about how to cooperate, not whether to cooperate. Now we are more confident because we have a shared vision and a friendship, and we plan to make more innovation for the industry together with Savvy in the future.”

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Asia

Digital gaming disruption tackled in 1st AsPac Regulators’ Forum

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Regulators from across the Asia-Pacific region underscored the need to adapt to digital disruption in the gaming industry during the first-ever Regulators’ Forum held in Manila on Thursday, September 11.

In her keynote address, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) President and COO Wilma Eisma said that while gaming jurisdictions across the region vary in size and maturity, they share common challenges such as cross-border transactions, rapid digitalization, and balancing economic benefits with social responsibility.

“In the Philippines, electronic gaming has become a significant growth driver and PAGCOR has responded with initiatives that ensure accountability, security, and consumer protection while allowing the industry to thrive responsibly,” Ms. Eisma said.

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However, she said that digitalization, remote gaming, and emerging platforms are testing the limits of traditional oversight models.

“By exchanging best practices, aligning responsible standards, and keeping pace with innovation, we can ensure that the region’s gaming industry grows not just in size but in trust, resilience, and sustainability,” she said.

Ms. Eisma said PAGCOR has introduced reforms such as stricter advertising rules, stronger financial safeguards, and expanded responsible gaming programs but noted that the greater challenge lies in keeping pace with the rapid evolution of online and remote gaming.

The PAGCOR executive also expressed hope that the Regulators’ Forum will become an annual platform for dialogue, with an expanded edition already being planned for 2026.

“I am confident that this Regulators’ Forum will evolve into a hub for knowledge, collaboration and shared commitment,” she said. “Together, let us set the tone for gaming regulation in Asia: one that is innovative, collaborative and firmly anchored on integrity.”

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The event was organized by PAGCOR and Inside Asian Gaming (IAG) and hosted by Newport World Resorts. It gathered regulators, operators, and stakeholders from across the region to tackle concerns on player protection and financial integrity, among others.

The post Digital gaming disruption tackled in 1st AsPac Regulators’ Forum appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Galaxy Entertainment Opens New Overseas Office in Singapore

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Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) has opened a new overseas office in Singapore. This strategic initiative marks a new chapter in GEG’s growth trajectory and underscores its commitment to promoting Macau as the “World Centre of Tourism and Leisure” to a broader audience across Southeast Asia.

Singapore, one of Asia’s most vibrant and cosmopolitan countries, has long been a key source market for Macau. The new office, located in the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District, will serve as a dedicated hub to enhance connections with the Singaporean business community, as well as showcasing to Singapore and the broader Southeast Asian Region Macau’s dynamic evolving tourism landscape-highlighting its rich cultural heritage, luxury hospitality and increasingly diverse world-class leisure and entertainment experience offering.

The opening of Galaxy’s Lion City office is closely aligned with the Macao SAR Government’s vision to diversify tourism offerings and expand visitor demographics. Through its ramped-up Singapore presence, GEG aims to curate bespoke travel experiences tailored to the preferences of Singaporean and regional travelers, ensuring seamless journeys from planning to arrival.

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GEG’s new office will support tourism, meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) inquiries, reinforcing its role as a versatile hospitality leader and a trusted partner for business tourism.

In addition, GEG’s Singapore office reflects the Group’s forward-thinking approach to innovation, customer-centricity and regional collaboration. It also signals GEG’s intent to enhance brand visibility and foster meaningful connections with travelers and stakeholders across Asia.

To celebrate the grand opening, GEG hosted an elegant gala dinner at JW Marriott Singapore, welcoming distinguished guests, business partners and media representatives. Mr. Elmen Lee, Director of Integrated Resort Services at GEG, introduced to the guests the Group’s three flagship properties in Macau-Galaxy Macau and Galaxy International Convention Center, Broadway Macau and StarWorld Hotel.

Mr. Lee said: “Singapore has always been an important source market for Macau. The taste and sophistication of Singaporean travelers naturally align with Macau’s experiential tourism offering. We firmly believe that Galaxy Entertainment Group’s diverse offerings will attract more Singaporean visitors to visit us and explore more. In support of the Macao SAR Government’s vision to promote tourism diversification, Galaxy Entertainment Group is continuing to expand its international visitor base to inject more vitality into Macau.”

Galaxy Macau, Broadway Macau and StarWorld Hotel bring together luxurious accommodations, award-winning dining, premium shopping and world-class entertainment facilities; each with its own unique character. With Galaxy Macau home to nine of the world’s leading luxury hospitality brands under one roof, catering to the diverse needs of international travelers; the Galaxy trio collectively showcases the excellence of Macau’s hospitality industry.

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The post Galaxy Entertainment Opens New Overseas Office in Singapore appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Kazakhstan Considers Criminal Penalties for Promoting Online Casinos

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Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA) has identified 34 bloggers promoting online casinos on social media, with 11 already facing administrative penalties. The agency has stated that fines alone are not deterring repeat offenders and is now considering introducing criminal liability for such activities.

A law passed in 2024 strictly prohibits outdoor advertising for bookmakers, online casinos and betting pools, as well as their promotion in media, films and video content. According to the FMA, over the past two and a half years, more than 200 illegal gambling operations have been dismantled, and 224 individuals have been held criminally accountable. However, the agency notes that the primary threat now stems from online casinos based abroad.

Since the beginning of this year, authorities have blocked more than 17,000 links, mostly mirror sites for foreign platforms. Despite these efforts, some Kazakhstani payment service providers continue to facilitate transactions linked to such websites. The FMA has pledged to intensify investigations into these financial intermediaries.

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Influencer marketing remains a key channel for online gambling promotion. In the first half of the year alone, 34 influencers were identified as advertising gambling services, with 11 fined. But according to the FMA, revenues from such promotions far exceed the cost of the fines, creating incentives for repeated violations.

In response, the agency is exploring whether bloggers’ actions could be legally interpreted as aiding and abetting illegal gambling, a charge similar to promoting financial pyramid schemes, which already carries criminal penalties under Kazakhstani law. Currently, fines for illegal advertising on social media start at 200,000 KZT (approximately $420).

The post Kazakhstan Considers Criminal Penalties for Promoting Online Casinos appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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