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
Delasport Teams Up with Betable Group in UK and Philippines Partnership
Leading iGaming supplier Delasport has agreed a strategic partnership with Betable Group, that will see the pair working closely together in both the UK and the Philippines.
The deal means Betable Group brands in both markets will gain access to Delasport’s comprehensive sportsbook solution, on top of the existing Betable Gaming platform that offers both casino and bingo.
The strategic partnership will initially launch in the Philippines, before expanding to the UK shortly.
“This partnership is a win-win-win for Delasport, Betable, and their customers,” said Delasport’s CEO Oren Cohen Shwartz. “The UK and the Philippines are extremely appealing markets – one is mature and developed, while the other is emerging and full of potential. Thanks to Betable’s professionalism and reach, we can now quickly deliver our award-winning solution to more operators worldwide.”
Charlie Noble, COO at Betable Group, added: “Integrating Delasport’s sportsbook product now allows our partner operators in the UK and the Philippines to offer players a complete gaming experience. We’ve been extremely impressed by Delasport’s sportsbook product, and this partnership underlines our commitment to delivering the very best to both our operator partners and the end user.”
Delasport’s Plug & Play iFrame solution is an operator favourite, due to a range of unique features that sport bettors love to engage with.
The post Delasport Teams Up with Betable Group in UK and Philippines Partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
India Investigates Google Over Policies for Real-money Games
India’s competition oversight body has ordered a probe into Google over its policies for real-money games on its platform
The investigation comes after a complaint by online gaming group WinZO that called Google’s policies restrictive.
WinZO contacted India’s Competition Commission (CCI) back in 2022, after it was excluded from Google’s Play Store, despite some of its competitors being allowed.
Google’s policy had allowed for real-money games which include rummy and fantasy sports but the company was rejected for carrying games in other categories that Google did not accept – including car racing, puzzles and Indian carrom.
“By granting preferential treatment to select app categories, Google effectively creates a two-tier market where some developers are accorded superior access and visibility while others are discriminated against and thus, left with a competitive disadvantage,” indicates a letter from the CCI.
The post India Investigates Google Over Policies for Real-money Games appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
GR8 Tech Expands Infrastructure into Asia with 25% Performance Boost
To better serve clients in the target Asian region, GR8 Tech has expanded its technical infrastructure with new, automated server setups. The upgrade enables rapid platform deployment across markets, delivering optimized, high-performance experiences for Asian users with 99,96% uptime even during top sporting events such as the World Cup or IPL.
“Our expansion into Asia is not merely a strategic move, but an opportunity to set a new standard in iGaming. The initiative allows us to better meet client needs, providing reliable performance that builds trust and boosts engagement,” said Yevhen Krazhan, CBDO at GR8 Tech.
Previously, product load times in Asia were hindered by reliance on centralized servers in Frankfurt, leading to delays that affected user experience. In response, GR8 Tech deployed the platform’s main frontend as a standalone solution and established a new data center in Asia, which has significantly reduced load times and enhanced service delivery to clients across the region. As a result, web performance metrics have improved by 25% in the region.
To further enhance performance, GR8 Tech selected an optimal content delivery management provider to bring services closer to clients and improve access speed. The platform also implemented front-end optimizations to boost operational efficiency. The migration will continue with backend infrastructure improvements, reducing the number of frontend-to-backend calls and further enhancing service reliability and speed.
“The migration to Asia is a pivotal project for GR8 Tech, with our SRE, Sportsbook, and Platform teams working closely to deploy the solution, achieving significant improvements in web performance and enabling faster market launches. The project embodies the kind of collaboration that excites us – harnessing our combined strengths to build high-performance infrastructure and establish our leadership in key Asian markets,” said Artur Ashyrov, CTO and Deputy CEO at GR8 Tech.
The post GR8 Tech Expands Infrastructure into Asia with 25% Performance Boost appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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