Day: ខែ​ឧសភា 11, 2026

(AsiaGameHub) –   Gambling is poised to become a key focus within a series of comprehensive reforms targeting Kenya’s tax system.

A draft version of the country’s 2026 finance bill, submitted to the National Assembly, outlines intentions to reinstate a 20% withholding tax rate—reversing the decision made in October 2025 that had lowered it to 5%.

The proposal also revises the timing at which this tax is applied.

Previously, under changes introduced by the Finance Act 2025, the 5% tax was levied when a player withdrew funds from their betting account. If enacted, the 20% rate will be imposed on the net winnings—calculated as the amount won minus the stake placed by the player.

The earlier move to reduce the tax rate was proposed by the Parliamentary Budget Office with the aim of increasing government revenue from Ksh 5.4 billion (£32.9 million) to Ksh 11.4 billion (£69.54 million). However, the swift reversal suggested by the current proposal indicates that the prev…

(AsiaGameHub) –   ReferOn has entered a new phase of growth following the completion of a management buyout.

The affiliate management platform was acquired by former General Manager Alex Bukin, who now serves as the company’s newly appointed Chief Executive Officer.

However, ReferOn’s existing leadership structure will remain in place alongside Bukin.

Bukin commented: “This marks a significant milestone for ReferOn and the start of an exciting new chapter for the business. The management buyout gives us the long-term vision needed to keep advancing the platform.”

“We are committed to product development, enhancing our offerings for partners, and supporting ReferOn’s ongoing expansion across key markets.”

Other organizational updates at ReferOn include Vlad Bondarenko stepping into the role of Chief Product Officer from Head of Product, while former Operations Lead David Harris has been named Chief Operations Officer.

Building on a strong period of progress, day-t…

(AsiaGameHub) –   As Canada’s iGaming sector continues to evolve, operators are under increasing pressure to streamline payment processes while adhering to rigorous compliance standards and mitigating rising fraud risks.

The Payments & Compliance track at SBC Summit Canada will take place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from 19–21 May, focusing on how the industry is adapting. The event will convene operators, regulators, and technology providers to discuss strategies for developing efficient yet compliant systems.

Throughout the track, sessions will address the growing complexity of anti-money laundering (AML) frameworks, the impact of payments on business performance, and the importance of enhanced coordination to safeguard the integrity of both sports and betting markets.

The opening session, titled AML After the Audits: From Box-Ticking to Shared Infrastructure, will examine the industry’s shift toward integrating AML compliance into everyday operations. Panelists incl…

(AsiaGameHub) –   Indonesian police conducted raids resulting in the arrest of over 300 foreign nationals suspected of involvement in illegal online gambling activities.

Among the 321 individuals detained in Jakarta, 228 were identified as being from Vietnam, according to a report by AP News. An additional 57 suspects were from China, while the remaining individuals originated from Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia.

Wira Satya Triputra, Director of General Crimes at the Indonesian Police, stated that the gambling operation, situated near Jakarta’s Chinatown, operated more than 70 online gaming websites aimed at international players.

He added that employees within the operation were assigned various roles, including customer service, telemarketing, and financial administration. Evidence indicated that the establishment had been operational for approximately two months.

During the raid, authorities seized assets such as cash in multiple currencies, computers, mobile phones, and pas…

(AsiaGameHub) –   Chile’s Supreme Court is confronting additional legal repercussions regarding the implementation of restrictions on online gambling operators.

Last week, SubTel, the national telecommunications regulator, announced it would cease efforts to block access to unlicensed gambling websites.

The agency conceded failure, explaining it could no longer rationalize allocating resources to maintain court-ordered IP blocks obtained for the benefit of Polla Chilena and other municipal gambling entities.

In 2023, Polla Chilena secured a federal appeal ruling aimed at imposing restrictions on online gambling operators, as the Chilean government continued to struggle to conclude a long-awaited online gambling regulatory framework.

This appeal was contested by Chilean media stakeholders and eventually reached the Supreme Court. The high court ruled that “online gambling in Chile is illegal unless expressly authorised by law” and instructed telecommunications providers to block offshore betting sites…

(AsiaGameHub) –   The Supreme Court of Chile is facing increased legal repercussions due to the implementation of restrictions on online gambling operators.

Last week, SubTel, Chile’s national telecommunications agency, announced that it would no longer pursue efforts to block access to unlicensed gambling websites.

The agency has conceded defeat, stating that it can no longer justify allocating resources to maintain court-ordered IP blocking measures that were secured in favor of Polla Chilena and other municipal gambling operators.

In 2023, Polla Chilena won a federal appeal ruling aimed at imposing restrictions on online gambling operators, as Chile’s government continued to struggle with finalizing terms for a long-delayed online gambling framework.

The appeal was contested by Chilean media stakeholders and later taken to the Supreme Court, which ultimately ruled that “online gambling in Chile is illegal unless expressly authorized by law” and ordered telecom providers to …

(AsiaGameHub) –   The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is reportedly investigating Entain Australia & New Zealand after the operator allegedly sent emails to inactive customers warning them that they must place a bet or face monthly inactivity fees.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the Ladbrokes Australia brand also failed to disclose to customers their legal right to close their account via the government’s self-exclusion platform, BetStop, and have any remaining balance returned.

This latest development follows Entain’s recent involvement in a court-enforceable undertaking after more than 500 breaches of national self-exclusion rules were uncovered during a separate ACMA investigation.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Entain sends these emails to customers who have been dormant for 18 months, informing them that a $5 per month fee will be applied to their account for holding funds.

The report added that the ACMA confirmed it is reviewing whether the…

(AsiaGameHub) –   After six months of searching, Ainsworth Game Technology (AGT) has appointed Ryan Comstock to serve as its permanent Chief Executive Officer, ending the acting role he had held since October.

Comstock assumed the interim CEO position following the resignation of Harald Neumann, whose tenure became untenable after the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) declined to grant him a gaming license in Austria.

In October, AGT announced it would conduct a comprehensive search for a new CEO, evaluating both internal and external candidates.

Prior to his appointment as Acting CEO, Comstock served as the company’s Chief Operating Officer since 2018. Before joining AGT in 2012, he worked for nearly a decade with Deloitte’s audit and assurance practice, where he specialized in serving gaming, manufacturing, and technology companies.

A statement from AGT explained that the board determined Comstock possessed the necessary attributes and operational experience across all areas of the com…

(AsiaGameHub) –   The Star Entertainment Group has fully completed the refinancing of its debt, securing US$390 million (approximately A$540 million) from WhiteHawk Capital Partners.

In response, the Australian casino operator is advancing its remediation plan to satisfy regulatory requirements as part of a broader strategy to enhance compliance and operational efficiency.

The Star remediation plan

The Star has faced significant regulatory scrutiny in recent times, but continues to implement measures aimed at strengthening its compliance framework.

The successful debt refinancing enables The Star to move forward with its remediation initiatives, aligning with directives from the New South Wales Independent Casino Commission (NICC) and the Office of Liquor and Gaming. These include ‘decentralising the group’s operating model to increase accountability and efficiency at individual property levels for business performance’, alongside technology upgrades designed to ‘foster safer …

(AsiaGameHub) –   Roman Stoica claimed victory in the 2026 PokerStars European Poker Tour Monte Carlo €5,300 no-limit hold’em main event, defeating Bernhard Binder heads-up at Sporting Monte-Carlo. The tournament attracted 1,011 entries, marking the sixth-largest field in EPT history, and Stoica secured €825,000, equivalent to approximately $965,250.

Key Facts

Roman Stoica triumphed over a field of 1,011 players in the EPT Monte Carlo main event.
The total prize pool amounted to around $5.74 million.
Bernhard Binder finished second, earning $602,550 despite starting the final day as chip leader.

Stoica Achieves His Largest Live Tournament Payout
The 31-year-old St. Petersburg native now boasts nearly $1.6 million in live tournament earnings. His win at Monte Carlo surpassed his previous best result—a $431,367 payout from a €3,250 mystery bounty event during the 2025 EPT Barcelona festival.
This triumph also grants Stoica one of the premier titles on the European poker circu…

(AsiaGameHub) –   Mega Casino has launched Blazing Rainbows, a new Playtech slot available exclusively on its platform before a broader release.

Good to Know

Blazing Rainbows is now available exclusively at Mega Casino.
Playtech developed the game with cascading wins, prize symbols, and free games.
The slot features medium volatility and offers a maximum win of up to 10,000x the bet.

Playtech Slot Gets Early Release At Mega Casino
Mega Casino has gained early access to Blazing Rainbows, the latest online slot from Playtech. The casino, part of Kinetic Digital, already offers a variety of Playtech casino and live casino games.
Blazing Rainbows features a vibrant visual theme centered around pots of gold, prize symbols, and cascading reels. Its key gameplay element revolves around an overlay feature that transforms a single spin into multiple winning opportunities as symbols fall and consecutive wins chain together.
The game also includes a Free Games round with progressive levels. Higher prize tiers, …

(AsiaGameHub) –   As gambling gains prominence on university grounds and throughout Pennsylvania, Penn State has introduced a new initiative focused on responsible gaming.

Key Information

The “Know the Odds” campaign is being led by the Penn State Collegiate Recovery Community.
Emphasis is placed on early intervention, raising awareness, and reducing the stigma associated with gambling addiction.
Last week, Happy Valley Casino debuted in State College, featuring slot machines, table games, dining options, and a bar.

University Recovery Group Highlights Gambling Dangers
Via its Collegiate Recovery Community (CRC), Penn State is integrating gambling harm prevention into the broader dialogue regarding recovery on campus.
This organization, dedicated to assisting students and faculty in addiction recovery, operates the “Know the Odds” initiative. Its goal is to enable earlier detection of gambling issues and reduce the embarrassment associated with seeking assistance.
This initiat…

(AsiaGameHub) –   Ainsworth Game Technology Ltd has confirmed Ryan Comstock as its new chief executive, with the appointment taking effect immediately.
The Australia-listed slot machine manufacturer stated that Comstock already possesses the necessary gaming regulatory licensing approvals from his previous roles at the company. He joined Ainsworth in 2012, was appointed chief operating officer in 2018, and assumed the acting CEO position on October 13, 2025, following Harald Neumann’s resignation.
Ainsworth explained that its board evaluated Comstock during the six months he served as acting CEO before finalizing the permanent appointment. The company noted:
“The board assessed that Mr Comstock has the required attributes and experience developed across all operational areas of the company to fulfill the role of CEO.”
Ainsworth also highlighted his deep understanding of the business and the initiatives he spearheaded during his interim tenure. It added:“His comprehensive knowledge acros…

(AsiaGameHub) –   Macau’s gaming tax receipts reached just over MOP9.07 billion, equivalent to roughly $1.12 billion, in April, based on fresh data released by the Financial Services Bureau.
The April figure was 2.3% higher than the MOP8.87 billion logged in March. Over the first four months of 2026, Macau has gathered MOP34.87 billion in gaming tax revenue, a 16.9% increase compared with the same stretch last year.
Gaming Still Drives Most Of Macau Revenue
Casino-related taxes remain the primary pillar of Macau’s public finances. Gaming taxes accounted for nearly 86.5% of the MOP40.30 billion in current government revenue recorded through April 30.
Under the 10-year concession system effective since January 1, 2023, Macau levies an effective 40% tax on casino gross gaming revenue, with the six concessionaires operating within this framework.
Nevertheless, tax receipts do not correspond directly to casino GGR for the same calendar period. Payments typically arrive at government offices after …