In late July 2025, Philippine Finance Secretary Ralph Recto unveiled one of the most sweeping regulatory shifts under consideration for the country’s online gambling sector. During Post‑SONA discussions in San Juan City, Recto revealed that the government is exploring raising license fees on e‑gaming platforms from the current 25 percent up to 30 percent, 35 percent—or even 40 percent of gross gaming revenue (GGR).
As Portugal opens a high-stakes public tender for five casino concessions in Espinho, Póvoa de Varzim, and the Algarve, industry insiders expect Pansy Ho’s Estoril Sol to vigorously pursue renewal of its longstanding Póvoa de Varzim license. The Portuguese government has formally announced the launch of the tender, which covers 15-year licenses across three regions, with bids due by September 5, 2025. The existing contracts—extended through year-end as part of pandemic support—are now being put up for competitive award to the highest quality and financially sound candidates.
Hong Kong‑listed investor Success Universe Group Limited has formally disclosed financial support totalling around HKD 839 million (approximately US $106.9 million) for Pier 16 – Property Development Ltd, the operating company behind Macau’s iconic Ponte 16 resort. This financial assistance includes an extended lending facility and an outstanding shareholder loan of approximately HKD 342 million, reflecting the group's ongoing commitment to sustain and enhance the coastal entertainment destination.
In a strategic move marking its first major hospitality expansion into mainland China, Macau gaming concessionaire SJM Holdings Limited has finalized an approximately US $101.2 million (RMB 724 million) acquisition of 12 floors of office space in Hengqin—an island next to Macau—intending to convert the space into a three‑star hotel by as early as 2028. This deal builds upon preliminary plans announced in December 2024 and reflects a meaningful shift toward broader Greater Bay Area integration and tourism diversification .
In a notable departure from expectation, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made no mention of a domestic online gambling ban in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28, 2025. Despite widespread public and legislative pressure calling for outright prohibition or tighter regulation of iGaming, the President’s silence drew attention—and praise—from policy analysts who interpret it as a deliberate and considered move.
Author: Janice Chew • Thursday, 31/07/2025
