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Thailand Releases Draft Bill for Casino Legalisation

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Thailand’s future casino regulatory body will be based in Bangkok with branches located strategically around the country, reporting directly to a new Policy Committee to be chaired by the Prime Minister, a draft casino bill made public on last Friday reveals.

It also outlines a multi-level approach by which the Policy Committee will be supported by an Executive Committee tasked with establishing the budgetary and staffing entitlements of the regulator itself.

The 22-page draft bill is currently open for public feedback until 18 August, having been released by Thailand’s Council of State after months of discussions.

According to the bill, key to formally legalising “integrated entertainment venues” with casinos in Thailand will be establishing an office to regulate them with a stated purpose to “regulate, supervise, control, promote, and support integrated entertainment venues in accordance” with the Act.

This regulatory body “will have its head office in Bangkok and will establish branches or representatives at any other place as necessary,” the bill says.

Among its stated tasks are supervising, inspecting and monitoring the operations of integrated entertainment venues, addressing public complaints, preventing and remedying “impacts” arising from the venues, and determining the characteristics of individuals prohibited from entering a casino area.

In charge of establishing key casino policy, including those around management, the issuance of licenses, tax rates, permitted business nature, entry levies and restrictions, employee criteria, executive criteria and permitted casino floor space, will be the Policy Committee – to be chaired by Thailand’s Prime Minister and with the Deputy Prime Minister as Vice Chairman.

It will also comprise nine senior government officials as directors including the Minister of Finance, Minister of Tourism and Sports, Minister of Social Development and Human Security, Minister of Commerce, Minister of the Interior, Minister of Justice, Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, Secretary-General of the National Defense Commission and Secretary-General of the Board of Investment, plus six qualified members appointed by the Prime Minister “with knowledge and ability in economics business administration, law or society.”

Those six expert committee members must be Thai nationals and at least 35 years of age. They must not be a government official or an employee of any state agency, have previously held political positions, hold any criminal record or be “an incompetent person or a quasi-incompetent person.”

The Executive Committee, working under the Policy Committee, will be chaired by a person appointed by the Prime Minister and boast nine permanent secretaries from the aforementioned ministries and departments, plus three expert members also appointed by the PM.

According to the bill, licensees will be granted an initial 30-year license term, reviewable every five years, while there are 10 business types listed that can form part of Thailand’s “integrated entertainment venues” – Department store; Hotel; Restaurant, nightclub, discotheque, pub or bar; Stadium; Yacht and Cruising Club; Gaming; Swimming pools and water parks; Amusement park; Area for promoting Thai culture and OTOP products; Other businesses as specified by the Policy Committee.

The post Thailand Releases Draft Bill for Casino Legalisation appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Asia

PAGCOR Enforces Accreditation for All iGaming Service Providers by 2026

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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.

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Aquisitions/Mergers

Gregorio Araneta to Sell its Entire 57% Stake in PhilWeb to Nexora Holdings and Velora Holdings

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Philippine eGames provider PhilWeb’s principal shareholder Gregorio Araneta Inc (GAINC) is going to sell its entire 57% stake in PhilWeb to Nexora Holdings Inc and Velora Holdings Inc for a total consideration of Php1.8 billion (US$30.8 million), representing 829,574,354 common shares.

GAINC is owned by Gregorio “Greggy” Araneta III, a member of the powerful Araneta family and the brother-in-law of Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Given that the transaction would involve control of more than 35% of the outstanding voting shares of PhilWeb, the buyers will be required to conduct a mandatory tender offer to remaining shareholders to acquire full control of the company as per local laws.

PhilWeb noted that the buyers are closely linked to the company, with current PhilWeb President & Director Edgar Brian K. Ng also serving as President, Chairman & a Director of Nexora, while current PhilWeb Vice Chairman and Director Crisanto Roy B. Alcid is a Director and the Treasurer of Nexora.

The post Gregorio Araneta to Sell its Entire 57% Stake in PhilWeb to Nexora Holdings and Velora Holdings appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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DigiPlus Announces Partnership with Bayad

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DigiPlus Interactive Corp. (DigiPlus), the pioneer in digital entertainment in the Philippines, announced an exclusive partnership with Bayad, a trusted authority in bills payment services, to expand over-the-counter (OTC) or physical payment options for players of BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and GameZone.

The partnership was formally signed on October 8, 2025, led by top executives from both companies: Eusebio H. Tanco, Chairman of DigiPlus; Jasper Vicencio, President of AB Leisure Exponent Inc., a subsidiary of DigiPlus; Ray C. Espinosa, Chairman of Bayad; and Lawrence Y. Ferrer, President and CEO of Bayad. The agreement is effective immediately, making DigiPlus Bayad’s only gaming partner for OTC cash transactions.

Through this collaboration, DigiPlus customers gain access to Bayad’s extensive network of payment touchpoints, present across 800+ Bayad Center branches and Bayad Partners in malls, supermarkets and convenience stores nationwide.

Bayad is accredited by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) as an Electronic Money Issuer (EMI). DigiPlus partners only with BSP-accredited payment channels in accordance with the requirements of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), ensuring that all player wallet transactions are processed through secure and compliant payment platforms.

BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and GameZone players can now make cash-ins or deposits through Bayad. Additional features including cash-outs or withdrawals and access through the Bayad App will be rolled out in next phases, providing DigiPlus customers with more options to manage their funds conveniently and safely.

“At DigiPlus, our priority is to deliver engaging entertainment while ensuring safe and reliable services for our players. This partnership with Bayad provides customers with more secure and convenient ways to manage their transactions, reinforcing our commitment to player protection and dependable service at every touchpoint,” said Eusebio H. Tanco, Chairman of DigiPlus Interactive Corp.

“Today, we take another meaningful step forward through our partnership with DigiPlus. Together, we’re expanding access to digital channels and offering new, engaging, and responsible ways for Filipinos to experience convenience and entertainment made possible by accessible and inclusive financial services,” said Atty. Ray C. Espinosa, Chairman of the Board at Bayad.

The Bayad payment channels partnership adds to DigiPlus’ growing customer service network and player support, which already includes its in-house 24/7 customer support, 130+ physical BingoPlus stores nationwide and a surety bond for player wallets. These expanding service touchpoints reflect DigiPlus’ continued commitment to delivering digital entertainment with safe, reliable and accessible service for Filipinos.

The post DigiPlus Announces Partnership with Bayad appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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