Asia Gaming Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 58 Week of 30 March 2026
(1) Asia Pioneer Moves to Secure Distributor Licenses in UAE and Singapore
Asia Pioneer Entertainment reported profit of HK$6.1 million (up 60.5%), driven by Macau EGE sales, while seeking distributor licenses in UAE’s Abu Dhabi and Singapore, securing HK$20 million credit, and planning casino solutions expansion.
(2) Hokkaido, Japan Opens Research Tender as It Reassesses Casino Resort Plans
Hokkaido launched a bidding process on 23 March for research into developing an integrated resort with a casino.
(3) Indonesia Sees Another Post-Eid Surge in Online Gambling Deposits
Indonesian authorities are warning that online gambling deposits are spiking again after Eid al-Fitr, repeating last year’s pattern.
(4) DigiPlus eyes land-based expansion while backing stricter online gaming controls
DigiPlus Interactive Corp welcomes tighter regulation of the Philippines’ online gaming sector, arguing that stricter but clearer rules will support a more stable and sustainable industry.
(1) Asia Pioneer Moves to Secure Distributor Licenses in UAE and Singapore
(Photo Credit: IGAMINGTODAY)
Asia Pioneer Entertainment (APE), a Macau-based electronic gaming equipment distributor, reported robust 2025 results with revenue up 29.7% to HK$65.8 million and net profit surging 60.5% to HK$6.1 million, fueled by Macau casino orders for products from suppliers like Spintec, IDX Games, Konami, and Jumbo. The electronic gaming equipment segment drove HK$63.7 million in revenue (up 31.3%), including sales of 198 electronic table game units and 34 machines, supplemented by repair, consultancy, and technical services.
Chairman Allen Huie highlighted sustained Macau demand alongside international expansion, announcing applications for distributor licenses in Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Singapore to supply EGE to casinos there. To fund growth, APE secured a HK$20 million credit facility from Macau’s BNU bank, while planning to broaden offerings into casino operations solutions like table game tools.
With over 20 years of Macau experience and strong relationships, APE aims to leverage this foundation for a wider regional platform beyond its core market, which generated over HK$51 million in 2025, with emerging contributions from Sri Lanka, Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, and China.
News Source: https://www.igamingtoday.com/asia-pioneer-moves-to-secure-distributor-licenses-in-uae-and-singapore/
(2) Hokkaido, Japan Opens Research Tender as It Reassesses Casino Resort Plans
(Photo Credit: IGAMMINGTODAY)
Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island, launched a new bidding process on March 23 for a service provider to research the feasibility of developing an integrated resort (IR) with a casino, marking a key step toward potential participation in Japan’s second round of IR applications set for May-November 2027. The contract, running through January 29, 2027 and funded by JPY9.98 million (US$62,439) from the fiscal-year 2026 draft budget, tasks the provider with creating a development schedule, interviewing three IR operators, analyzing business models suitable for the prefecture, attending expert panels, and delivering a comprehensive report to inform policy decisions.
This research broadens beyond a basic feasibility study, aiming to evaluate large-scale IR viability in Hokkaido, while considering economic impacts, infrastructure needs, and regional fit. Tomakomai city, a port on the central south coast, remains the sole locality publicly expressing interest in hosting, positioning it as the frontrunner for any recommended site in the prefecture’s forthcoming “basic stance” revision due by autumn 2026. The study responds to national timelines clarified by a March 10 Cabinet Order, requiring prefectures and cities to partner with private operators on detailed IR District Development Plans for central government approval.
Hokkaido’s deliberate pace reflects caution amid past hesitations, balancing tourism potential against environmental concerns in its rural, nature-rich landscape. Success could elevate the region’s economy through jobs, hotels, and entertainment, mirroring Osaka’s pioneering IR. Yet challenges persist: local opposition, high development costs, and strict regulations on gaming addiction and anti-money laundering measures demand rigorous analysis. As Japan seeks to rival global gambling hubs like Macau and Singapore, Hokkaido’s outcome could influence other prefectures eyeing the 2027 window.
News Source: https://www.igamingtoday.com/hokkaido-opens-research-tender-as-it-reassesses-casino-resort-plans/
(3) Indonesia Sees Another Post-Eid Surge in Online Gambling Deposits
(Photo Credit: IGAMMINGTODAY)
Indonesian authorities are seeing a sharp rise once again in online gambling deposits after the Eid al-Fitr holiday, repeating a pattern observed last year. The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), which monitors bank transactions for signs of illegal betting, said suspicious gambling‑related deposits spiked during and immediately after Eid this year, with late‑March figures already well above those in January and February. The agency has not yet released exact numbers but plans to disclose them in April.
Last year, the same pattern appeared around the Eid period in late March. In January 2025, Indonesian gamblers deposited IDR 2.96 trillion ($175 million) into illegal sites, rising slightly in February before dipping in March. In April, however, deposits jumped 96% to IDR 5.08 trillion ($300 million), then fell back in May. PPATK officials say this recurring jump after the holiday suggests that gambling activity surges when money circulation increases and people have more free time.
The agency uses an automated system to scan bank accounts and can quickly freeze accounts linked to suspicious gambling deposits or withdrawals. Despite online gambling remaining illegal and under a government crackdown, many people still use casino apps and online platforms. Authorities have seized tens of millions of dollars from shut‑down gambling and money‑laundering operations, but the social toll is growing. Mental‑health facilities are overwhelmed by gambling addicts, and doctors say the problem is also driving up crime and is increasingly linked to divorce cases in civil courts.
News Source: https://www.igamingtoday.com/indonesia-sees-another-post-eid-surge-in-online-gambling-deposits/
(4) DigiPlus eyes land-based expansion while backing stricter online gaming controls
(Photo Credit: Asia Gaming Brief)
DigiPlus Interactive Corp is a leading licensed online gaming operator in the Philippines and involves in bongo and sports betting. It supports a tighter regulatory framework for the sector, arguing that stricter but clear rules would make the industry more sustainable instead of threatening its long‑term growth. The company is actively participating in a Senate technical working group discussing measures such as tighter controls on payment channels and marketing, aimed at improving consumer protection, compliance, and transparency. DigiPlus executives say they do not expect a total ban on licensed online gaming and view the current discussions as constructive and largely focused on higher standards rather than outright prohibition.
Despite a major disruption in August 2025, when its products were de‑linked from a large mobile wallet platform, DigiPlus recorded strong 2025 results, with net income of PHP12.6 billion ($176.7 million) and total revenue of PHP84.2 billion ($1.4 billion), up from about PHP75 billion a year earlier. Gross gaming revenue rose roughly 12 percent year‑on‑year, although management said performance would have been much higher without the disruption, which cut revenues by about 25 percent from the second to the third quarter of 2025 and another 10–15 percent in the fourth quarter.
The company has shifted more than half of its users to its own proprietary platform and expects to fully recover by late 2026. It has also expanded deposit options, improved customer service, and introduced new features like player‑balance insurance. DigiPlus sees tighter regulation and the government’s crackdown on illegal operators as catalysts for consolidation, while its own strategy includes a move into land‑based gaming through a PHP12 billion ($200 million) investment in International Entertainment Corp and plans to strengthen its omni‑channel, AI‑driven business in the Philippines and abroad.
