Asia Gaming Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 43 Week of 8 December 2025
(1) The Grand Ho Tram and Corona Casino oppose the plan to double entry fees for locals
Vietnam doubles local casino fees to VND 50M monthly/VND 2.5M daily despite Ho Tram/Corona objections; permanent access at Corona, five-year pilots at Ho Tram/Van Don under new decree.
(2) China Ecotourism unit secures multiple Zhejiang sports lottery contracts
China Ecotourism’s Lottnal wins second 2025 Zhejiang contract for ~2,500 sports lottery terminals plus March warranty deal, reinforcing leadership in China’s growing, state-backed public-welfare lottery equipment market.
(3) PAGCOR chair Tengco denies conflict of interest amid claims family construction firm has won US$120 million in contracts
PAGCOR chief Tengco denies conflict after family firm wins US$120M contracts since 2022; insists full divestment, fair bidding, no PAGCOR influence, amid growing Philippine scrutiny over officials’ business ties.
(4) India’s Supreme Court defers until late January any ruling on legality of real-money gaming ban
India’s Supreme Court defers online gaming Act ruling to Jan 21, 2026, needing three-judge Bench; ban on real-money games leaves industry suspended, operators decry “de facto enforcement.”
(1) The Grand Ho Tram and Corona Casino oppose the plan to double entry fees for locals
(Photo Credit: Grand Ho Tram)
Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has proposed doubling the monthly casino entry fee for eligible local citizens from VND 25 million ($950) to VND 50 million ($1,900) and raising the daily fee 2.5 times to VND 2.5 million ($95), seeking public feedback on the changes under a revised pilot program. Currently, only three casinos—Corona Resort & Casino in Phu Quoc, The Grand Ho Tram in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and Van Don in Quang Ninh—allow Vietnamese access, with no annual pass available. The move aims to simplify income verification while deterring those without sufficient financial means, though the Ministry of Justice has argued fees are an inadequate proxy for assessing capability.
The Grand Ho Tram Resort and Corona Casino have opposed the hikes, proposing alternatives: Ho Tram suggested converting the VND 50 million to an annual fee (effective monthly cost ~VND 4.2 million/$160, akin to Singapore’s model) while retaining the current VND 25 million monthly rate; Corona advocated for a VND 1.5 million ($57) daily fee and VND 35 million ($1,330) monthly pass, a 30–40% reduction from the ministry’s plan. Both proposals were rejected, with authorities prioritizing higher barriers to curb irresponsible gambling. Locals must still be 21+, have full civil capacity, and face no family exclusions.
The resolution (No. 307/2025/NQ-CP, effective November 26, 2025) extends Corona’s local access indefinitely while granting five-year pilots to Ho Tram and Van Don, evaluating economic/social impacts before deciding permanence. Corona reports locals drove 52% of customers and 88% of revenue pre-pandemic (down to 12% in 2024), underscoring the fees’ potential revenue hit. This pragmatic evolution—balancing accessibility with safeguards—positions Vietnam closer to Singapore’s model but risks stifling tourism recovery; success depends on post-pilot assessments amid broader liberalization debates.
News Source: https://agbrief.com/news/vietnam/11/12/2025/the-grand-ho-tram-and-corona-casino-oppose-the-plan-to-double-entry-fees-for-locals/
(2) China Ecotourism unit secures multiple Zhejiang sports lottery contracts
(Photo Credit: Asia Gaming Brief)
China Ecotourism Group announced on 10 December 2025 that its subsidiary Guangzhou Lottnal Terminal Company has secured a second major contract this year to supply approximately 2,500 traditional sports lottery sales terminals to the Zhejiang Provincial Sports Lottery Management Centre. The win follows a successful July bid and builds on a March contract for extended warranty services on existing terminals in the province.
The company highlighted China’s vibrant sports lottery sector, which supports national fitness, social sports, and cultural-tourism initiatives, with steadily growing sales revenue reflecting market maturity and standardization. China Ecotourism positioned the contracts as validation of its innovative products and high-quality services, pledging to strengthen its industry-leading position.
The repeat Zhejiang contracts underscore Lottnal’s growing dominance in China’s state-authorised lottery terminal market, where proceeds fund public welfare. Amid rising sports lottery expansion tied to wellness and tourism, China Ecotourism is leveraging hardware reliability and service expertise to capture share in a regulated, high-margin segment with limited foreign competition.
News Source: https://agbrief.com/news/china/10/12/2025/china-ecotourism-unit-secures-multiple-zhejiang-sports-lottery-contracts/
(3) PAGCOR chair Tengco denies conflict of interest amid claims family construction firm has won US$120 million in contracts
(Photo Credit: inside Asian gaming)
PAGCOR Chairman Alejandro Tengco has strongly denied conflict-of-interest allegations after a Rappler report revealed his family’s construction firm, Nationstar Development Corporation (founded by Tengco in 2015), won 14 public contracts worth ₱7.1 billion (US$120 million) since he assumed office in August 2022 — triple the value secured in prior years. Tengco insists he fully divested his stake to his children in 2019 and has no influence over Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) contract awards, stating his PAGCOR role does not involve public works procurement.
Tengco emphasized Nationstar’s contracts — including a ₱4.6 billion Davao bypass road project as part of a consortium with China Road and Bridges Corporation — were won through “fair and impartial” bidding, unrelated to flood-control or alleged “ghost” projects. He highlighted the firm’s track record under previous administrations, including Malacañang renovations and pandemic-era modular hospitals, and dismissed suggestions his friendship with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. influenced awards, calling such claims “selective” and politically motivated.
The controversy arrives amid heightened Philippine scrutiny of public officials’ business ties following recent flood-works scandals, amplifying perceptions of cronyism despite Tengco’s divestment claims and legal arguments under RA 3019/6713. While no direct evidence links Nationstar to wrongdoing, the tripling of contract value during his tenure raises governance questions, potentially fueling calls for stricter conflict-of-interest rules and independent audits in an administration already battling corruption narratives.
News Source: https://asgam.com/2025/12/12/pagcor-chair-tengco-denies-conflict-of-interest-amid-claims-family-construction-firm-has-won-us120-million-in-contracts/
(4) India’s Supreme Court defers until late January any ruling on legality of real-money gaming ban
(Photo Credit: Inside Asian Gaming)
India’s Supreme Court deferred its decision on the constitutionality of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act until 21 January 2026, requiring a three-judge Bench to address intertwined challenges from online gaming operators. Passed in August 2025, the law bans real-money games—including casinos and skill-based fantasy sports/esports/poker—with penalties up to three years’ imprisonment and fines, leaving the industry in suspension despite non-notification.
Operators, including Head Digital Works, argue the Act oversteps parliamentary authority, violates state rights under the Constitution, and imposes an unlawful nationwide ban. They claim judicial delay equates to “de facto enforcement,” forcing costly market exits or idleness. The court cited the complexity of federal-state competence issues as justification for the postponement.
The deferral prolongs uncertainty for an industry facing existential threats, potentially stifling innovation and jobs while driving activity underground. A ruling clarifying Union vs. state powers could reshape regulation, balancing consumer protection against economic growth; operators await early 2026 clarity amid preemptive exits by firms like Flutter.
News Source: https://asgam.com/2025/12/12/indias-supreme-court-defers-until-late-january-any-ruling-on-legality-of-real-money-gaming-ban/
