Asia
PBBM Orders Immediate Ban Against All PH POGO Operations
Citing risks posed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) operations in the country, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 74 imposing an immediate ban on offshore and internet gaming in the country.
In issuing the EO 74, President Marcos said “the State has the paramount duty to safeguard national security, maintain public order, uphold the rule of law, protect the safety of its citizens, and ensure the integrity of the social fabric of the nation.”
“…In pursuit of such duty, an unequivocal ban of POGO/IGL operations was pronounced during the State of the Nation Address on 22 July 2024.”
The EO cited the Department of Finance (DOF) study in saying that POGO activities significantly outweigh the economic and social benefits derived from the POGO industry because of the risks and negative consequences such as increased crime rates, social instability and exploitation of vulnerable people associated with them.
The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Report also indicated POGOs have been identified as susceptible to money laundering, fraud and other illicit financial activities, and therefore pose substantial threats to the integrity of the national financial system.
“The high reputational risks associated with POGO/IGL operations deter foreign investment and tourism, undermining the efforts of the National Government in promoting the country as a safe and sustainable investment and tourism destination,” the EO stated.
The President’s order, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Nov. 5, will cover Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators and Offshore Gaming Operations and Services.
All POGOs/IGLs and other offshore gaming operations and other offshore gaming-related/auxiliary/ancillary services with issued licenses, permits are expected to completely cease operations, including the winding up of their affairs, on December 31, 2024 or earlier.
And to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy, Technical Working Groups (TWGs) will be created. The TWG on Employment Recovery and Reintegration will address the impact of the foregoing ban on the affected sectors of the economy and ensure the reintegration of displaced Filipino workers.
This will also involve the provision of assistance and safety nets which include upskilling and reskilling programmes to ensure displaced workers could find new jobs.
The President also issued directives to national government agencies in response to the immediate POGO operations prohibition.
He wants the Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission (PAOCC), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and other law enforcement agencies to intensify their efforts against illegal POGOs/GLs and other offshore gaming operations and services.
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) was instructed to assist the TWG on Anti-Illegal Offshore Gaming Operations in securing the cooperation of homeowners associations to ensure the non-proliferation of POGO/IGL and other offshore gaming operations and services in subdivisions, condominiums and other real estate developments.
The post PBBM Orders Immediate Ban Against All PH POGO Operations appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
Groove joins SiGMA Asia panel on resilience of Asian iGaming licensing
Groove will take part in a regulation-focused panel at SiGMA Summit Asia, with CEO Yahale Meltzer attending and Business Development Director Giusy Campo speaking on the session titled “Jurisdiction Jungle: Who Rules Asia’s iGaming Empire?”.
According to the company, the panel will examine whether Asian licensing regimes can hold up under enforcement, cross-border scrutiny, banking pressure and rising compliance requirements. Topics slated for discussion include audit readiness, payment disruption, tax enforcement, evolving AML expectations and geopolitical shifts.
Giusy Campo, Business Development Director at Groove, said: “The conversation in Asia has matured significantly. Operators are no longer asking just about content volume or time-to-market. They are asking about structural resilience: how a platform handles a studio API failure without impacting player experience, what the data sovereignty protocols are, and whether the compliance architecture is defensive or reactive|”
Campo added: “In a region where banking pressure and regulatory expectations shift rapidly, the platforms that survive will be the ones that built integrity into their stack from the first line of code, not the ones scrambling to patch it in later.” Meltzer said: “The ‘Jurisdiction Jungle’ is not a metaphor for growth; it is a reality for every operator trying to scale across Asia’s fragmented regulatory landscape.” He added: “The mistake some make is treating compliance as a hurdle to clear. We treat it as a design constraint from day one. If your architecture is not built to generate verifiable, immutable audit trails for every transaction, you are not actually ready for Asia’s top tier. Our presence at SiGMA Summit Asia is about having serious conversations with operators who understand that trade-off.”
Groove said it has published a White Paper on navigating the Asian iGaming market, available on its website, and positioned its SiGMA Summit Asia attendance as part of a broader push in Asia following recent expansion moves into LatAm and Africa.
The post Groove joins SiGMA Asia panel on resilience of Asian iGaming licensing appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Asia
BMM Testlabs to Exhibit at SiGMA Asia Summit 2026
BMM Testlabs announced its participation in the SiGMA Asia Summit May 31-June 3 at the SMX Convention Center Manila.
Attendees can visit BMM Testlabs at Stand No. 2619 to learn how the Company supports suppliers, operators and regulators across regulated gaming markets worldwide through its comprehensive compliance and product certification services.
BMM will highlight its ability to test and certify gaming products to every regulator’s standard, anywhere in the world.
In the Philippines, BMM Testlabs is licensed to provide testing and certification services for slot machines, table games, electronic table games, iGaming, bingo, retail and online sports betting, poker and mobile gaming solutions.
BMM Testlabs’ Vice President, Business Development – Asia Jeffrey Fong said: “SiGMA Asia Summit continues to be an important event for the gaming industry across the Asia-Pacific region. We are proud to support suppliers, operators, and regulators with trusted compliance expertise that helps bring products to market efficiently and responsibly. Our global experience, combined with our strong regional knowledge, allows us to help our customers grow confidently in regulated gaming markets throughout Asia and beyond.”
BMM Testlabs continues to expand its support of regulated gaming markets worldwide through its global network of laboratories and technical experts, helping customers achieve faster market access while maintaining the highest standards of quality, security and regulatory compliance.
The post BMM Testlabs to Exhibit at SiGMA Asia Summit 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Asia
BetConstruct AI Showcases AI-Powered Solutions at G2E Asia 2026
BetConstruct AI participates in G2E Asia 2026 (May 12–14, The Venetian Macao, Stands A1023 & A1029) — Asia’s most significant gathering for operators, innovators and industry decision-makers, and this year, the event puts AI and other emerging innovations at its centre.
The spotlight at the stands will be on the Best Sportsbook for the World Cup 2026: Special Bets, Powerfull and Bet on League form a ready-to-deploy tournament package that lets operators capture the full commercial weight of the world’s biggest sporting event — zero development cycles, zero platform risk.
For the World Cup activation – all at zero cost. New partners unlock a 50% platform setup discount applied immediately, plus 100% Core Suite Access — meaning the Sportsbook and the rest of BetConstruct AI’s offerings are completely free for the first 3 months (50% off for 4-12 months). Third-party tools come at 51% off for 3 months.
Layered on top at this event, the AI Suite — CRM AI, Umbrella AI, AI Game Recommendation System and Betting Mate — handles everything from churn prediction and risk management to real-time personalisation and conversational betting. Beyond all of this, we’re bringing the full picture: The Sportsbook Platform offers over 140,000 pre-match events and 12,000+ monthly esports live events, while the Casino Platform integrates 350+ providers via a unified aggregation API.
The Affiliate Ecosystem, with its Affigates sub-brand, offers 7000+ vetted affiliates and AI-based scoring, completing the acquisition side of the picture.
The post BetConstruct AI Showcases AI-Powered Solutions at G2E Asia 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
AGCO7 days agoAGCO Takes Enforcement Action Against Two Companies for Allowing Their Games on Unregulated Gaming Websites
-
Apple6 days agoIBJR hails App Store approval as a milestone in the fight against illegal betting in Brazil
-
Caleta Gaming7 days agoCaleta Gaming launches Cluster Cup high-volatility football-themed slot
-
AB Trav och Galopp7 days agoRichard Woodbridge Elected to ATG Board of Directors
-
Brazil6 days agoEsportes da Sorte campaign celebrates fans’ resilience in support of Brazil
-
apuestas deportivas6 days ago¿Por qué Pix es central en la lucha contra el mercado ilegal de apuestas?
-
Africa6 days agoBroadway Platform Partners with Ghanaian Operator Afrinova
-
game release7 days agoSpinomenal adds Desperado Drifter Hold & Hit 3×3 to slot portfolio



