Macau
CLSA expects Macau's gaming sector EBITDA to fall 11% year on year in the third quarter, to $1.84 billion. Weaker gaming revenue and higher commissions and rebates are pressing on operator margins.
Tax receipts from gaming moved the other way, up 5.9% in January–September to $9.22 billion. Gaming-related crime also rose: 1,951 cases over the nine months, 12.3% more than a year earlier, with fraud and illegal currency exchange behind most of them. Suspicious transaction reports filed by casinos climbed 7.9% over the same period.
Japan and the Philippines
Japanese authorities have again asked MGM Osaka to firm up its demand forecasts and to set out how casino revenue will support the project's non-gaming side. The Philippines is widening visa-free entry for Chinese travellers and is working towards 6.4 million visitors. The head of PAGCOR pointed to startups as a driver of investment in the country's gaming industry.
On the product side, PopOK Gaming released 'Deus da Fortuna', a Chinese-themed slot. GR8_TECH announced a technical update that speeds up frontend loading and response across connection conditions worldwide.
