Asia
Macau casino stock prices surge after easing of travel restrictions

In a rare piece of positive news for the gambling and casino industry, casinos in Macau saw their stock prices surge this week after the neighboring province of Guangdong eased travel restrictions to allow more people to visit the gambling capital of the world.
Macau has since 2007 generated more gambling revenue than any place on Earth, outstripping Las Vegas. However, the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, and the subsequent travel bans, have severely damaged the Chinese region economically.
Figures from June reported a 97 percent decline in casino revenue year-on-year, the lowest decline in Macau’s history, while last month’s reports meant Macau suffered year-on-year decline of more than 90 percent for three successive months.
Macau’s financial difficulties during the Covid-19 outbreak have been reflected in other gambling hotspots, including Las Vegas and New Jersey, with thousands of jobs lost and thousands more at risk.
However, this week stock prices rebounded in a big way, offering a glimmer of hope that Macau and its leading casinos are on the road to recovery. Galaxy Entertainment closed at a 6.2 percent gain having at one point surged to 11.1 percent, while Sands China – another prominent company on the Macau strip – closed at a five percent increase.
The stock surges came after Guangdong ended its 14-day quarantine requirements for visitors crossing the Guangdong-Macau border, starting from July 15. Instead of a mandatory 14-day quarantine, visitors must now hold “green” health cards and present a negative Covid test that proves they tested negative within the seven days prior to arriving in Macau.
Considering that Guangdong – with a population of more than 113 million people – was responsible for around half of Macau’s annual visitors last year, this easing of restrictions is a massive boost to Macau’s economy, and economic experts believe the city will start to rebound as a result.
“We expect the removal of the quarantine requirement will lead to a rebound in Macau’s gross gaming revenue following a 77 per cent drop in the first half of 2020, and help reduce gaming operators’ cash burn,” said Sean Hwang, an analyst at Moody’s Investors Service.
“However, we expect the recovery in Macau’s gaming market to be slow, given continued restrictions and new requirements for travel, sluggish economic growth across the region, and the public’s lingering fear of contagion.”
Macau’s biggest strength in ‘normal’ times has proved to be its biggest weakness during the pandemic. A special administrative region in China, Macau welcomes around 35 million visitors each year, the overwhelming majority of whom visit to gamble and enjoy the entertainment associated with the casino resorts.
As the only region in China with legal gambling, Macau has had a near monopoly on Chinese visitors who wish to gamble, plus the many international tourists who visit to enjoy the luxury and decadence on offer in the city.
However, as travel bans ground domestic and international tourism to a halt, Macau’s over-reliance on the casino industry has become horribly exposed. While casino operators in North America, Europe, and other parts of Asia have been able to pivot toward online casino betting services to help soften the economic blow, Macau has been left stranded due to China’s restrictions on online gambling.
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Macau’s reliance on casino revenue has not been lost on the region’s head of government, Ho lat Seng, who in April criticized the “excessive dependence” on the gambling industry as it became clear just how badly hit Macau had been by the economic effects of the pandemic.
“With the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the gaming and tourism industries registered significant declines, with profound impact on industries connected to these areas,” Ho said. “This demonstrates, once again, the vulnerability and the enormous risks of the Macau economy’s excessive dependence on gaming and tourism industries.
“The healthy and stable development of the gambling and tourism sector will continue for a certain period of time and will be the basis of the continued stability of the economy of Macau. Nevertheless, if the monolithism of the industrial structure remains unchanged, it will inhibit the sustainable development of Macao’s economy.”
While Macau undoubtedly needs to do more to diversify its economy, the easing of travel restrictions and the stock market surge for casino operators at least offers some good news after months of nothing but doom and gloom.
Asia
New Resort & Casino Selects IvedaAI for Intelligent Video Surveillance Ahead of Grand Opening

Iveda, a global leader in AI-driven video surveillance and smart-city technologies, announced that Subic Sun Development Inc. has chosen the IvedaAI platform as the video surveillance solution for the soon-to-open Subic Sun Resort, Convention & Casino. IvedaAI was selected early in the build-out to inform camera placement and ensure frictionless integration with future-ready, AI-powered analytics. Located on the former U.S. naval base in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone—a special economic hub that hosts thousands of international and local businesses—the resort will feature 500 guest rooms, a state-of-the-art convention center, a luxury casino and two Accor-brand hotels, Ibis Styles and Mercure, scheduled to open in December 2025.
The decision comes as global resort operators sharpen their focus on safety, service and operational efficiency. The global resort market generated $347 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach nearly $945 billion by 2030, an 18.5% CAGR. IvedaAI’s AI-enabled video analytics will help property staff lower security costs, respond to incidents faster and unlock data-driven insights that boost both guest satisfaction and bottom-line performance.
“Iveda being selected as a premier security and surveillance provider before the first Subic Sun Resort guest ever checks in is a powerful endorsement of our commitment to providing state-of- the-art monitoring technology. By designing camera layouts around IvedaAI’s real-time analytics, Subic Sun can optimize coverage, reduce blind spots, and deliver safer, smoother guest experiences—without a costly equipment overhaul. We expect more ground-up projects to follow this blueprint,” said David Ly, CEO and Founder of Iveda.
Iveda Philippines—Iveda’s joint venture focused on nationwide smart-city deployment—secured the Subic Sun contract and will oversee the on-site rollout. The win represents the team’s first major hospitality project and advances its plan to generate US $3 million in smart-city revenue by FY 2026, building on the broader initiative it announced last year.
The post New Resort & Casino Selects IvedaAI for Intelligent Video Surveillance Ahead of Grand Opening appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
FUN88 Thailand Celebrates 17th Anniversary with 17 Spins, Rewards & Newcastle Match Trip

FUN88 Thailand, a top online gaming platform, is celebrating its 17th birthday with a special month-long event full of exciting rewards and lucky missions. The promotion, running from June 2 to 30, allows members to win amazing prizes like a 7-day trip to watch a live English Premier League Newcastle United match, a luxury Royal Oak watch, 17 spins for a special Anniversary Badge and many more guaranteed rewards.
With the theme “Play with FUN, be FUN”, FUN88 promises a fun and rewarding experience for all players.
How to take part in FUN88’s 17th birthday to win big:
• BE FUN Lucky Spin: Complete daily or event missions to earn spins. Every spin is a guaranteed win. Grand prizes include a NUFC new season football trip to England, a luxury Royal Oak watch and more.
• Daily Check-In: In the new Rewards Lobby, members who topped up in the past 7 days can check in daily for rewards up to 12,888 THB.
• Top-Up on 8th, 18th, 28th: Get 5 extra spins just by topping up on these special dates.
• Extra Missions: Try missions like Virtual Sports, SOS Insurance Slots, or join “Road to World Cup I” for even more spins.
• Anniversary Badge: Spin the BE FUN Wheel 17 times during the event and get the exclusive 17th Anniversary Badge.
All event details are available on the FUN88 Promotions page.
The post FUN88 Thailand Celebrates 17th Anniversary with 17 Spins, Rewards & Newcastle Match Trip appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
Groove Strengthens Asian Market Footprint with Standout Participation at SiGMA Asia 2025

Groove Technologies, a leading provider of seamless platform and aggregation solutions, made a powerful impact at SiGMA Asia 2025, solidifying its position as a key partner for businesses scaling across Asia’s booming digital economy. Held from June 1 to 4, the event provided the perfect platform for Groove to showcase its cutting-edge technology infrastructure tailored to the region’s unique demands.
Groove engaged with dozens of industry leaders, demonstrating its next-generation platform and back-office, Groove Command, which combines real-time processing, multi-currency agility, and AI-powered tools, critical features for Asia’s fast-moving markets.
The Manila event highlighted Groove’s seamless integrations with over 150 popular games studios, as well as its portfolio of over 15,000 games which is adding over 100 new games every month.
Rachel Tourgeman, Head of Partnerships at Groove Technologies, sharing insights about innovation, saying: “Asia’s online gambling landscape is evolving at lightning speed, and Groove is at the forefront, bridging gaps between local preferences and global scalability.”
Tourgeman added: “The conversations at SiGMA Asia confirmed that businesses here need a partner who understands regulatory and cultural nuances while delivering reliability. Our platform, with its data-driven recommender matching players to games, is built for exactly that.”
The event also served as a launchpad for Groove’s new Instant Tournaments Hub, announced during an exclusive networking session. This expansion underscores the company’s commitment to providing localised support for Asian enterprises navigating complex regulations.
Trusted by high-growth businesses worldwide, Groove turns iGaming complexity into a competitive edge with its blend of entertainment ecosystem expertise and technological innovation.
Yahale Meltzer, Co-Founder and COO of Groove Technologies, reflected on the event’s success: “SiGMA Asia 2025 wasn’t just about visibility, it was about validation. The demand for our solutions in markets like the Philippines, India, and Australia exceeded expectations. With our strengthened regional infrastructure and partnerships, Groove is poised to become the iGaming backbone for Asia’s digital growth story.”
The post Groove Strengthens Asian Market Footprint with Standout Participation at SiGMA Asia 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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