Asia

Newly-Built PAGCOR-Funded Evacuation Facilities in Cagayan Province Inaugurated

Published

2 years ago

March 13, 2023

Three municipalities in the province of Cagayan became the latest beneficiaries of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation’s (PAGCOR) Multi-Purpose Evacuation Center (MPEC) project after the state-run gaming agency inaugurated the newly-constructed facilities on March 10 and 11, 2023.

The PAGCOR-funded basketball-court type multi-purpose facilities worth P12.7 million each were formally unveiled in the towns of Amulong, Solana and Penablanca.

In the municipality of Solana, the evacuation facility built in the flood-prone barangay Malalam-Malacabibi was already used as a temporary shelter last October after the gates of Magat Dam were opened to release water following the onslaught of Tropical Storm Paeng.

According to Solana Municipal Mayor Jennalyn Carag, despite being partially completed, the PAGCOR-funded evacuation facility already provided safe refuge to 80 families from low-lying communities in their town.

“When Tropical Storm Paeng hit us, the water level in Magat Dam rose. There are barangays in our town that have been isolated, such as barangay Dasun, Bauan and Malalam-Malacabibi. Even when this evacuation center was just being built, it has already given us a lot of help,” said Carag.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

In the town of Penablanca, PAGCOR’s evacuation facility was built in the remote barangay of Minanga, which is almost two hours away from the town center and has no access to telecommunication. The community’s mountainous location and partly unpaved roads make it challenging for the local government to deliver swift aid to locals whenever they are affected by natural disasters.

“In recent years, we have been tested by various calamities like that only widespread flooding here in the province of Cagayan in 2020,” Penablanca Mayor Washington Taguinod said. “This was followed by another widespread flooding in 2021 and, in 2022, we felt the strength of the earthquake that hit the Ilocos region. The establishment of this PAGCOR evacuation center in Minanga barangay became our priority because of its distance from the population. This is a non-telco area, which means it is difficult for residents to seek immediate help when a disaster occurs.”

With the completion of the PAGCOR-funded evacuation center in the far-flung barangay Minanga, Taguinod said that the locals, including the indigenous peoples living at the foot of Sierra Madre, will be assured of a safe shelter as well as a venue where the local government can download relief goods and other basic government services in times of disasters.

Meanwhile, Amulong Municipal Mayor Elpidio Rendon also expressed his gratitude to PAGCOR for giving the vulnerable sectors of their community a secure evacuation shelter during calamities.

“In Amulong, we have identified typhoons, landslides, drought and flood as major hazards. The flood alone affects 17 of the 47 barangays. This situation pushes us to raise the adaptive capabilities of our communities that are exposed to flooding. This evacuation center will be of great help to the vulnerable members of our community, such as the elderly, children and pregnant women, especially during the onslaught of natural disasters,” said Rendon.

PAGCOR’s Vice-President for Corporate Social Responsibility Group, Ramon Stephen Villaflor, who graced the inauguration of the evacuation facilities in Cagayan, explained that instead of constructing a two-story building, the state-run gaming firm provided funding for four basketball-court type multi-purpose facilities in towns that are most vulnerable to flooding.

Besides Amulong, Solana and Penablanca, the town of Iguig also received a basketball-court type evacuation facility. Final inspection of the project in Iguig was already conducted.

Meanwhile, apart from the province of Cagayan, PAGCOR also recently inaugurated two-story multi-purpose evacuation centers worth P50 million each in the towns of Floridablanca and Candaba in Pampanga. Over 200,000 residents from said municipalities stand to benefit from the modern and spacious buildings. To date, a total of 24 MPECs have been completely built and inaugurated nationwide while 53 are still undergoing construction.

Asia

SEGA SAMMY CREATION Launches “Prosperity Peaks™” in Macau

Published

3 days ago

July 24, 2025

George Miller

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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.

Asia

12BET Goes Crypto with Big Rewards

Published

4 days ago

July 23, 2025

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: < 1 minute

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.

Asia

Enforcement Directorate of India Issues Fresh Summons to Meta, Google in Online Betting Probe

Published

4 days ago

July 23, 2025

Niji Narayan

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

Executives of tech giants Meta and Google did not depose before the Enforcement Directorate of India (ED) on Monday and have now been given fresh summons for July 28 in a money laundering case linked to promotion of illegal online betting and gambling platforms.

The representatives of the two companies sought deferment of the July 21 summons, saying they need time to collect relevant information and documents before they present themselves for questioning and recording of their statements at the federal probe agency.

The executives have been given a one-week extension and asked to depose on July 28. Once they depose, their statements will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

A Google spokesperson said that the company was “committed to keeping our platforms safe and secure, prohibiting the promotion of illegal gambling ads.”

“We are extending our full support and cooperation to investigating agencies to hold bad actors responsible and keep users safe,” the spokesperson said.

There was no response from Meta.

The federal agency is probing several platforms allegedly hosting illegal betting and gambling links, including instances of advertisements placed for them on various social media outlets and app stores.

The tech giants are understood to have been called by the ED to know how such illegal platforms can place ads on their portals.

Some actors, celebrities and sports persons are also under the scanner of the agency in these cases, and are expected to depose.

The ED has claimed illegal online betting and gambling platforms cheated people of their hard-earned money, and also laundered and evaded paying taxes of up to several crores of rupees.

Google said its “continuous AI advancements, complemented by human expertise, ensure all ads on our surfaces comply with local laws and our strict ad policies, and protect users from evolving threats.”

“Last year alone, we removed 247.4 million ads and suspended 2.9 million advertiser accounts in India,” the firm said.

The ED is investigating more than a dozen cases linked to illegal gambling and betting platforms across the country, including the Mahadev Online Book (MOB) app, whose main promoters hail from Chhattisgarh.

The post Enforcement Directorate of India Issues Fresh Summons to Meta, Google in Online Betting Probe appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.