Asia

Macau casino stock prices surge after easing of travel restrictions

Published

5 years ago

July 17, 2020

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.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

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.

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Asia

BETBY EXPANDS ASIAN MARKET PRESENCE THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH BROADWAY PLATFORM

Published

2 days ago

September 25, 2025

George Miller

betby-expands-asian-market-presence-through-partnership-with-broadway-platform

Reading Time: 2 minutes

BETBY, the innovative sportsbook provider, has entered into a new partnership with Broadway Platform, a leading operator that manages over 30 online platforms while also delivering bespoke B2B services and B2C brands worldwide. As part of the deal, Broadway Platform will integrate BETBY’s award-winning sportsbook solution across its portfolio.

Through this collaboration, Broadway Platform will gain access to BETBY’s comprehensive sportsbook, featuring 500,000+ events per month, 8,000+ betting markets, and coverage of 125+ sports and 50+ esports disciplines.

The agreement also includes Betby Games, BETBY’s proprietary esports feed, which delivers 400,000+ live matches per month across 25 sports simulations with 100% video coverage, as well as AI Labs, a full suite of AI-driven sportsbook tools. With dedicated modules for odds creation, risk management, UX optimisation, and operations, AI Labs empowers operators with real-time insights, personalisation, and operational efficiency.

The Broadway Platform project is supported by SPRIBE, a leading iGaming company recognised for its innovative products and next-generation, mobile-first gaming experiences that resonate strongly with modern players. SPRIBE has made a significant impact on the online gaming industry, and its involvement underlines the ambition and innovative spirit of the collaboration.

Broadway Platform’s move to partner with BETBY underscores the supplier’s commitment to innovation and scalability, while strengthening its focus on the Asian-facing market, where it has been actively localising its solutions to meet regional demands.

Stefanos Karakidis, Business Development Director at BETBY, commented: “We are delighted to partner with Broadway Platform, a company with an outstanding reputation in both B2C and B2B operations. By integrating our sportsbook, Betby Games, and AI Labs, Broadway is set to enhance its offering and deliver a cutting-edge experience to its customers. This partnership highlights our shared vision of growth, innovation, and market leadership.”

Giorgi Tsutskiridze, Chief Commercial Officer, added: “Working with BETBY marks an important step for us as we extend our global footprint. Their technology, depth of content, and AI-driven tools provide us with the flexibility and scale needed to deliver a world-class betting experience. We are confident this collaboration will unlock significant opportunities for growth.”

The post BETBY EXPANDS ASIAN MARKET PRESENCE THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH BROADWAY PLATFORM appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

ArenaPlus

DigiPlus Announces Partnership with PhilFirst

Published

4 days ago

September 23, 2025

Niji Narayan

digiplus-announces-partnership-with-philfirst

Reading Time: 2 minutes

DigiPlus Interactive Corp., the Philippines’ premier digital entertainment provider behind BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and GameZone, announced a landmark partnership with Philippine First Insurance Co. Inc. (PhilFirst), the country’s first domestic insurance company. Together, they have introduced the Philippines’ first-ever surety bond programme for online gaming players – setting a new benchmark in player protection. The programme takes effect immediately.

For players, this means more peace of mind every time they log in, as long as their eKYC (electronic Know-Your-Customer) information is up to date and they continue to play within the platform’s guidelines. Whether it’s a casual gamer or a loyal fan celebrating a big win, they can enjoy BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and GameZone knowing their wallets and balances are even better protected.

Through this initiative, eligible players benefit from an added financial safeguard. The surety bond protects player balances of up to ₱1 million per player, without requiring customers to purchase a separate policy.

“DigiPlus is proud to be the first in the industry to roll out this level of consumer protection. We are committed to putting our players first. With this surety bond, they can play confidently on BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and GameZone, knowing that their funds are safeguarded,” said DigiPlus Chairman Eusebio H. Tanco.

How does the DigiPlus surety bond work?

Eligibility: Players must be eKYC-verified, have made at least one successful deposit, and be in good standing within the platform’s guidelines.

Coverage: The surety bond safeguards player wallets and balances up to ₱1 million per player.

Activation: Protection is in place immediately and applies automatically for all eligible players across BingoPlus, ArenaPlus and GameZone.

This latest measure strengthens DigiPlus’ commitment to reliable customer service and protection, adding the surety bond to its 24/7 customer support and 130+ physical BingoPlus stores nationwide, which already serve as convenient and trusted outlets for players.

With the addition of the surety bond, DigiPlus continues to raise industry standards – delivering not only engaging and innovative gaming offerings but also a stronger guarantee of trust, security and peace of mind for its customers.

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

Asia

Gamban Now Available in Japanese

Published

4 days ago

September 23, 2025

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Gamban is now available in Japanese, making it easier for Japanese speakers to access the blocking software and take steps towards a life free from gambling harm.

“With the help of designers based in Tokyo, we’ve created a dedicated website built to feel familiar for people in Japan. By tailoring the experience this way, we have made it easier for more users to navigate the website, understand Gamban and take their first step towards recovery,” the Company said.

“While Gamban was created to block gambling sites, we also want to provide as many people as possible with the right information, in the right language, at the right time.

“This update is part of our continuous aspiration to make Gamban accessible to as many people as possible, wherever they are and whatever language they speak. By offering Gamban in Japanese, we aim to remove barriers for those who may otherwise struggle to find the right tools to help them quit online gambling.”

Matt Zarb-Cousin, co-founder of Gamban, said: “We are committed to not only translating but also localising Gamban so it looks and feels familiar to people, wherever they might be. Our mission is not only to make blocking software as good as it can be, but also as accessible as possible.”

The Company added: “We’ve been fortunate to receive input and support from Japanese organisations such as The Society Concerned About Gambling Addiction, helping us ensure the translation is accurate, accessible, and culturally appropriate for users in Japan.”

The post Gamban Now Available in Japanese appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.