Asia

Macau casino stock prices surge after easing of travel restrictions

Published

6 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.

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

PG Soft revealed as Title Sponsor for Global Game Connect 2026

Published

1 hour ago

March 11, 2026

Wladimir P.

pg-soft-revealed-as-title-sponsor-for-global-game-connect-2026

PG Soft, the world-class digital mobile games company, has been confirmed as the Title Sponsor of Global Game Connect 2026 (GGC), which will take place from 16–17 March 2026 at the prestigious Cinnamon Life venue in Sri Lanka.

Organised by HUIDU, Global Game Connect has quickly established itself as a key event within the iGaming industry. The conference brings together global leaders from across the sector, including platforms, operators, API integration providers, payment solution suppliers, and compliance specialists.

The sponsorship highlights PG Soft’s ongoing investment in emerging markets and its commitment to supporting the development of the industry at a regional level. With Sri Lanka identified as a strategic expansion market in 2026, the partnership strengthens the company’s brand presence while contributing to the continued growth of the country’s iGaming ecosystem.

As part of the agreement, PG Soft will receive prominent brand visibility throughout the event, including across promotional materials, exhibition entrance archway displays, and the registration area. The sponsorship also includes a comprehensive HUIDU advertising package, covering membership promotion, press exposure, and targeted digital marketing support.

Spanning two days, Global Game Connect 2026 will feature a forward-looking conference agenda covering a range of key industry topics. Discussions will explore emerging market trends, growth strategies, player data and analytics, regulatory compliance, as well as the evolving role of blockchain technology and artificial intelligence within modern gaming ecosystems.

A PG Soft spokesperson said:

“Global Game Connect 2026 provides an ideal platform to encourage meaningful discussions around innovation, regulation, and the future of the iGaming industry. Sri Lanka is becoming increasingly important as a regional iGaming hub, and we’re proud to support the event alongside HUIDU.”

The post PG Soft revealed as Title Sponsor for Global Game Connect 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Asia

GodLike Esports’ gaming creator Sharkshe unveils upgraded gaming room powered by Red Bull

Published

23 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

godlike-esports’-gaming-creator-sharkshe-unveils-upgraded-gaming-room-powered-by-red-bull

GodLike Esports star Sharkshe has revealed her newly upgraded gaming room, created in partnership with Red Bull to deliver a premium streaming and content production setup.

Sharkshe, one of India’s leading female gaming creators, boasts over 500,000 YouTube subscribers and is known for her lifestyle content and livestreams featuring games like Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI).

The revamped room is designed to elevate both her streaming and content creation. It features moveable custom studio lights for flexible shooting angles, allowing Sharkshe to produce a variety of content without leaving her room.

Red Bull branding is integrated throughout the setup, including a Red Bull cooler, custom can holders, and a mesh wall for hanging memorabilia and personal items. The layout doubles as a fully functional content studio.

The upgraded space will now serve as Sharkshe’s central hub for livestreams, videos, and other creative content, enhancing the experience for her audience.

The post GodLike Esports’ gaming creator Sharkshe unveils upgraded gaming room powered by Red Bull appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Agilysys Inc

Winford Resort & Casino Manila Philippines Deploys Agilysys Hospitality Technology to Elevate Operations and Service

Published

1 day ago

March 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

winford-resort-&-casino-manila-philippines-deploys-agilysys-hospitality-technology-to-elevate-operations-and-service

Agilysys Inc., a leading global provider of hospitality technology solutions, announced that Winford Resort & Casino Manila Philippines, has deployed Agilysys InfoGenesis POS to centralize food and beverage operations across 11 venues and integrate in real time with their Total Rewards System (TRS).

Located in Manila’s historic San Lazaro Tourism and Business Park, the 22-story integrated resort features 128 rooms and suites, multiple dining outlets, premium entertainment facilities and a full casino operation. To support this high-volume environment, Winford transitioned from legacy POS systems requiring manual processes to a fully automated platform aligned with the technology standards of Newport World Resorts.

With InfoGenesis POS, dining transactions now connect directly real time to guest loyalty and reward data through seamless TRS integration, improving transaction speed, billing accuracy and operational efficiency while delivering a more streamlined experience for guests and staff.

Since the deployment, Winford staff have noted the intuitive nature of the new system. Key benefits identified during training and initial use include:

• Intuitive Workflows: The system is easy for staff to navigate, significantly reducing training time and minimizing order errors.

• Integrated Rewards: Real-time synchronization with TRS eliminates manual workarounds, allowing guests to earn and redeem rewards effortlessly across the property.

Arman Reyes, Assistant Director of IT at Winford Resort & Casino, said: “Agilysys InfoGenesis POS stood out as the ideal choice for Winford Manila because of its flexibility, seamless integration with our systems, and real-time data insights. We wanted to replace our legacy software with a truly modern solution that is intuitive for our team, scalable for our operations, and agile enough to consistently deliver exceptional guest experiences. InfoGenesis empowers us to achieve greater efficiency and mobility across our property, helping us serve our guests better every day.”

Tony Marshall, Vice President & Managing Director for Agilysys Asia Pacific, said: “We are proud that Winford Resort & Casino Manila chose Agilysys InfoGenesis POS to be the backbone of their dining and retail transactions. InfoGenesis is designed specifically for complex, high-volume environments like Winford, ensuring exceptional performance even during peak times. By integrating POS with the resort’s loyalty ecosystem, the property is now able to deliver a more seamless and rewarding guest experience. This partnership underscores our commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions that drive efficiency and elevate the guest experience in the Asia-Pacific region.”

The implementation of InfoGenesis POS reinforces Winford Resort & Casino’s commitment to investing in best-in-class technology to maintain its position as a leading integrated resort destination and establishes a strong foundation for the future innovation and growth.

The post Winford Resort & Casino Manila Philippines Deploys Agilysys Hospitality Technology to Elevate Operations and Service appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.