Casino

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) reported a 5.1% decline in total revenues for 2025, falling to US$1.8 billion, driven primarily by subdued performance in the land-based casino sector. Despite challenges, online gaming and licensing segments offered partial offset, mitigating the overall revenue contraction. Analysts cite weaker domestic visitation, regulatory changes, and heightened competition as key factors affecting casino footfall.

BetMGM is strengthening its digital payments infrastructure to offer casino customers a broader range of secure, flexible deposit and withdrawal options. The move reflects a wider industry shift toward frictionless financial transactions, where speed, convenience and regulatory compliance are central to user experience. By integrating traditional banking channels with modern digital wallets and prepaid solutions, the platform aims to accommodate diverse customer preferences while maintaining strict security standards.

Stricter regulations in India’s equity futures and options (F&O) segment are reshaping the behaviour of retail traders, with many speculative participants now migrating toward alternative high-risk avenues. Market observers say recent steps by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to curb excessive derivatives speculation have reduced leverage and increased compliance requirements, cooling activity in short-term trading strategies.

A Paris criminal court has convicted and sentenced former casino executive Jean-Michel Naouri in a high-profile corruption case that has reverberated through France’s gaming and business sectors. The judgment, delivered after a lengthy trial, found Naouri guilty of leveraging his influence to secure improper benefits and distort competitive processes. The sentence underscores French authorities’ intensifying focus on corporate accountability and ethical governance in regulated industries.

The Indiana House of Representatives has cleared a significant legislative hurdle by passing a casino expansion bill for the state’s northeast region during its second hearing, incorporating an amendment that refines regulatory and operational provisions. Proponents argue the measure will stimulate local economic development, create jobs, and enhance tourism by expanding legal gaming opportunities in underserved areas. The amendment — designed to address concerns about revenue allocations and oversight — garnered bipartisan support while ensuring tighter governance frameworks.

Kazakhstan is preparing to broaden its regulated gaming industry through the planned development of new casino zones across four designated regions. The move signals a strategic effort to stimulate regional economies, diversify tourism, and attract foreign investment. Officials believe that expanding licensed gaming infrastructure will generate employment, boost hospitality demand, and increase tax revenues. The initiative reflects a broader policy trend in Central Asia, where governments are exploring controlled entertainment sectors as engines of growth.

Louisiana’s casino industry reported a remarkable 10% year-on-year increase in gaming revenue for 2025, signaling strong consumer demand and resilience in the state’s entertainment sector. Revenue growth was driven by increased activity across riverboat casinos, racinos, and land-based properties, with notable contributions from both slot machines and table games. Analysts attribute the uptick to a combination of favorable economic conditions, tourism rebound, and strategic marketing by operators.

Global portfolio managers are steadily increasing allocations to Asia-focused casino and integrated resort operators, reflecting shifting growth dynamics in the international gaming industry. While Western markets face regulatory pressures and slower consumer spending, Asian jurisdictions are benefiting from rising middle-class wealth, tourism recovery, and large-scale resort developments. Investors view the region as offering stronger long-term earnings visibility, supported by infrastructure expansion and government-backed tourism initiatives.

The Lumbee Tribe’s recent land acquisition near the Interstate 95 corridor has sparked renewed discussion about the future of tribal gaming and regional economic development. The purchase positions the tribe to potentially pursue a large-scale casino and entertainment complex in one of the East Coast’s most heavily traveled routes. While regulatory approvals remain a key hurdle, the move reflects a broader strategy among tribal nations to leverage gaming as a pathway toward economic self-sufficiency.

Nebraska’s casino sector has achieved its strongest financial performance on record, driven by a wave of property expansions and increased consumer engagement across newly developed gaming facilities. The surge in revenue underscores how strategic infrastructure investments and broader entertainment offerings are reshaping the state’s emerging gaming market. Lawmakers and regulators view the milestone as validation of the state’s measured approach to legalized gambling, which aims to capture in-state spending that previously flowed to neighboring jurisdictions.