Asia Gaming Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 42 Week of 1 December 2025
(1) Genting’s New York casino licence buffers risks in Malaysia
The licence comes as the company’s Malaysia casino faces constraints amid local political headwinds.
(2) Casino Kam Pek Paradise closes, Casino Fortuna next in line as Macau satellite casinos wind down
The wave of satellite casino closures in Macau continued this week as Casino Kam Pek Paradise closed on December 1st, while Casino Fortuna is set to cease operations on December 9th, operator SJM Resorts confirmed.
(3) Belle Corp-linked online gaming provider partners with new streaming platform promoting PAGCOR-licensed sites
Belle Corp-linked eCasino operator Buenas PH has been named as presenting partner for the upcoming Battle of the Streamers – a program being overseen by livestream entertainment platform YGS Live.
(4) Grand Ho Tram gains massive boost from locals gaming permission, bringing the party from Saigon
Vietnam has radically reshaped its casino gaming landscape, offering a huge opportunity to The Grand Ho Tram by allowing local gaming. While the decision was not entirely unexpected, according to an expert, the repercussions will be profound, and usher in a new wave of play to the geographically significant region.
(1) Genting’s New York casino licence buffers risks in Malaysia
(Photo Credit: GGR Asia)
Genting Group has secured one of New York City’s coveted casino licenses, permitting the Malaysian conglomerate to transform its Queens slot-machine facility into a US$5.5 billion Las Vegas-style resort. The license, issued by New York State on December 1 alongside permits for Mets owner Steve Cohen and Bally’s, enables Genting’s Resorts World to develop a 500,000-square-foot gaming floor with 800 tables, positioning it as the city’s largest casino.
The expansion provides a critical hedge against rising religious conservatism in Malaysia, where political pressure threatens Genting’s core operations. As the opposition Islamic party vows to shutter the company’s flagship casino if elected, Genting is accelerating overseas growth in markets like the U.S., U.K., and Singapore. The New York resort—featuring 2,000 hotel rooms and a 7,000-seat venue—plans to open a gaming hall within six months, gaining a “speed to market” advantage over competitors.
Analysts project Genting Malaysia’s net profit could quadruple to RM1.9 billion by 2030, with shares rising 60% since April lows. The move also counters expanding Asian competition from venues in Manila, Vietnam, and Japan, reducing regional concentration risk while capturing growth in a U.S. market where three NYC-area licenses remained unallocated since a 2013 referendum.
News Source: https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/gentings-new-york-casino-licence-buffers-risks-malaysia
(2) Casino Kam Pek Paradise closes, Casino Fortuna next in line as Macau satellite casinos wind down
(Photo Credit: Asia Gaming Brief)
Macau’s wave of satellite casino closures continued as SJM Resorts confirmed the shutdown of Casino Kam Pek Paradise on December 1 and the impending closure of Casino Fortuna on December 9, leaving Hotel Landmark as the last remaining satellite under an SJM license. These closures reflect the ongoing implementation of Macau’s revised Gaming Law, effective since January 2023, which phases out the legacy satellite casino model in favor of a more consolidated industry structure.
The Kam Pek Paradise closure directly affects 584 SJM-employed staff, all of whom will be retained within the group, while non-direct employees receive priority consideration for company vacancies. SJM also outlined operational transitions, noting that all gaming tables and slot machines will be redeployed to its self-operated casinos, and customer chip and rebate redemptions will be honored at other SJM properties post-closure.
Paradise Entertainment, operator of Kam Pek Paradise, reported HKD382.6 million in revenue from the property in the first half of 2025 but will now focus on its electronic gaming equipment segment, which saw an 83.7% surge year-on-year. With most SJM-licensed satellites already closed or absorbed—such as Casino L’Arc, acquired for HKD1.75 billion—SJM reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Macau’s “healthy, orderly and sustainable” gaming sector under the new regulatory framework.
News Source: https://agbrief.com/news/macau/02/12/2025/casino-kam-pek-paradise-closes-casino-fortuna-next-in-line-as-macau-satellite-casinos-wind-down/
(3) Belle Corp-linked online gaming provider partners with new streaming platform promoting PAGCOR-licensed sites
(Photo Credit: inside Asian gaming)
Belle Corp-linked eCasino operator Buenas PH has been named the presenting partner for the “Battle of the Streamers,” a flagship weekly program overseen by livestream entertainment platform YGS Live. The platform positions itself as a brand-safe network dedicated to iGaming and entertainment content, exclusively featuring streamers who promote sites licensed by Philippine regulator PAGCOR.
Powered by Pragmatic Play, the Saturday program brings top iGaming creators together in a competition featuring a ₱11 million prize pool, culminating in a grand finals event at City of Dreams Manila on January 18, 2026. The initiative reinforces YGS Live’s commitment to responsible gaming by discouraging promotion of unlicensed platforms and including ₱3 million in community giveaways.
Julius “Banoobs” Mariano, Founder of YGS Live, emphasized that the partnership with Buenas PH—backed by PSE-listed Pacific Online Systems Corporation—aims to elevate Philippine iGaming toward a safer, more responsible environment by leveraging creators’ influence to shape a healthier gaming culture. The collaboration underscores the industry’s shift toward regulated, community-driven content.
News Source: https://asgam.com/2025/12/02/belle-corp-linked-online-gaming-provider-partners-with-new-streaming-platform-promoting-pagcor-licensed-sites/
(4) Grand Ho Tram gains massive boost from locals gaming permission, bringing the party from Saigon
(Photo Credit: Asia Gaming Brief)
Vietnam has transformed its casino landscape by granting The Grand Ho Tram the right to allow local residents to gamble—a decision experts anticipated yet recognize as transformative for the region. This move places the resort, backed by Warburg Pincus and led by CEO Walt Power, in a prime position to attract patrons from Ho Chi Minh City, a populous hub previously limited to foreigner-only slot parlors.
Gaming expert Ben Lee highlights Ho Tram’s proximity to Ho Chi Minh’s lucrative market, where pre-COVID monthly GGR reached $30–50 million from slots alone. The property, currently operating 90 tables and 400 machines (expandable to 1,000), now stands to capture local players who previously traveled to Singapore or Australia. Lee notes that while Corona Resort’s remote location limited local revenue, Ho Tram’s accessibility offers unprecedented growth potential.
Local gamblers must pay an entry levy (VND1 million/day or VND25 million/month) and prove minimum monthly income of VND10 million. With initial build-out costs estimated at 4.2billion(1.5 billion spent to date), reinvesting future gains into expansion—like a potential third tower adding 1,200 rooms—could evolve Ho Tram into an integrated international destination, solidifying Vietnam’s gaming industry growth.
News Source: https://agbrief.com/intel/27/11/2025/grand-ho-tram-gains-massive-boost-from-locals-gaming-permission-bringing-the-party-from-saigon/
