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.
NODWIN Gaming, South Asia’s leading esports and gaming company, has announced that Sony LIV has acquired the Hindi and English language media rights for select matches of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, further amplifying the tournament’s reach and representation across India.
As part of the partnership, Sony LIV will stream select matches from the Esports World Cup in India, bringing the action to millions of fans in languages they resonate with. The Hindi-language broadcast will be available exclusively on the Sony LIV app and official website.
In addition, Sony LIV will also stream the weekly shows, behind-the-scenes features and player interactions spotlighting EWC athletes and teams, curated for both core and casual esports audiences. This collaboration follows NODWIN Gaming’s recent partnership with the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) to manage media rights and regional distribution across South Asia.
Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, said: “Our goal is to bring the Esports World Cup to as many passionate fans across South Asia as possible, and this partnership with Sony LIV is a major step in that direction. It combines Sony LIV’s incredible reach with NODWIN’s focus on building localized, fan-first esports experiences. With both Hindi and premium English content, we are creating a viewing experience that feels personal, immersive, and truly regional.”
With the addition of Sony LIV as the exclusive Hindi broadcast partner and NODWIN Gaming as the strategic regional media and marketing partner, the EWC is poised to reach unprecedented heights in South Asia. This aligns with the mission of making esports more inclusive, accessible and locally relevant.
With top-tier Indian talent competing across multiple titles, the Esports World Cup 2025 presents a unique opportunity to showcase India’s growing presence in global esports and to unite audiences around a shared national dream.
The post NODWIN Gaming Partners with Sony LIV for Streaming Rights of Esports World Cup 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
SEGA SAMMY CREATION INC. proudly announces the first installation of Prosperity Peaks™, the latest addition to their successful Dice series, now live on casino floors in Macau. Building on the proven success of its earlier Dice games, this new title continues the legacy with powerful features and a design tailored for Asian players.
The Asian themed Prosperity Peaks™ retains the fan-favorite Dice Wild and Wild Reels features that have defined the series, while introducing an enhanced Jackpot Bonus that delivers more frequent and rewarding win opportunities. Players will experience the thrill of hitting Jackpots more often, adding extra excitement to every spin.
The company stated today that “The Prosperity Peaks™ Link game is designed uniquely for Asia and it’s highly anticipated when we first showcased in recent gaming shows. We deliberately brings all the elements fun and excitement to promote better entertainment on the gaming floor altogether.”
The initial launch in Macau is just the beginning. Prosperity Peaks™ will also be coming soon to additional properties throughout Macau and extended to other key markets.
The post SEGA SAMMY CREATION Launches “Prosperity Peaks™” in Macau appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
As cryptocurrency adoption surges worldwide—driven by landmark legislation and growing investor confidence—12BET, continues to lead in embracing digital innovation. Recent U.S. Congressional moves to pass crypto-focused legislation, alongside India’s evolving regulatory stance, mark a global shift towards mainstream acceptance of digital assets.
12BET, a pioneering name in the igaming world since 2007, invites crypto users to experience fast, secure and flexible transactions through its wide range of supported cryptocurrencies. Players can choose from the widely used USD-pegged stablecoin USDT (Tether), Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and the community-favourite Dogecoin (DOGE). These crypto-friendly payment options ensure seamless access to 12BET’s full entertainment portfolio—meeting the expectations of a new generation of tech-forward players.
“As cryptocurrency continues to reshape how people handle money, we’re proud to give our players modern payment options that reflect our values of fairness and transparency. We’re building a platform that moves in step with global innovation and player-first features,” said Rory Anderson, spokesperson for 12BET.
To celebrate this growing momentum, 12BET is offering all eligible users a spin on their Lucky Wheel, with prizes including an iPhone 16 Pro Max, a 2.5g 999 gold bar and a DJI Osmo Pocket 3—available for a limited time.
This move comes amid growing global crypto adoption, with recent legislative efforts like the GENIUS Act and CLARITY Act in the US, and increased regulatory clarity in markets like India. As the global crypto market surpasses $4 trillion, 12BET is doubling down on its mission to deliver a future-ready, player-first gaming experience.
The post 12BET Goes Crypto with Big Rewards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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