Sri Lanka’s government has announced that it plans to have its newly proposed Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) up and running by June 2026, marking an effort to bring coherence and oversight to the country’s fragmented gambling sector. The legislative groundwork is already in motion: in August 2025, Parliament passed a revised gambling bill that consolidates earlier statutes covering casinos, betting, and horse racing, and empowers the GRA to regulate and license all gaming activities, monitor compliance, and enforce anti-money laundering rules.
The contest for downstate New York’s commercial casino licenses has shrunk to just three bidders: Resorts World New York City, Bally’s Corporation, and the joint Steve Cohen / Hard Rock International proposal. This follows the surprising exit of MGM Resorts, which withdrew its bid for a full casino at its Empire City Casino in Yonkers.
A retail outlet in Macau that sells cigarettes and liquor was recently raided after authorities uncovered illegal money exchange operations amounting to MOP 6.3 million. According to local reports, the store was facilitating unlicensed currency swaps—effectively operating as an underground exchanger that violates Macau’s stricter rules on gaming-related money flows.
Macau’s VIP baccarat segment delivered a standout performance in the third quarter of 2025, with gross gaming revenue (GGR) climbing by 29.1% year-on-year to MOP 16.9 billion (≈ US$2.11 billion). Sequentially, VIP GGR also nudged higher by 3.4%. Meanwhile, the mass-market segment advanced more modestly—rising 7.1% year-on-year and 2.6% quarter-on-quarter to MOP 36.5 billion. This dual growth contributed to a total industry GGR of MOP 62.7 billion, up 12.5% year-on-year and 2.4% from Q2.
Macau’s casino resorts are scheduled to host over 60 shows during the fourth quarter (October–December) of 2025, according to GGRAsia’s tally. This marks a notable decline from the nearly 100 offerings staged across Macau properties in the third quarter—reflecting both scheduling pullbacks and shifts in priority amid major national events.
Author: Janice Chew • Friday, 17/10/2025
