Over the weekend, Bitcoin surged past its prior records and topped $125,000 for the first time, sending waves through global financial markets. The climb was fuelled by a convergence of institutional inflows – especially via spot Bitcoin ETFs – and shifting investor sentiment toward digital assets as hedges amid macroeconomic uncertainty. At one point, the cryptocurrency peaked near $125,689 before settling back slightly, marking a nearly 2.7 % gain over its previous all-time high of about $124,480.
Las Vegas Sands Corporation (LVS) has officially announced the shutdown of its Sands Digital Services (SDS) arm, marking a decisive end to the company’s short-lived experiment in online gaming. The decision underscores LVS’s renewed commitment to its core strengths in land-based casino operations, particularly in Macau and Singapore, where it continues to operate world-class integrated resorts.
India has recently moved to formalize its prohibition of online money-gambling via the draft rules under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming (PROG) Act, 2025, published by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The draft defines “online money games” as those involving user deposits, stakes or wagers in expectation of monetary return, and bars both offering and advertising such platforms. To enforce this, violations would be non-bailable offences, authorized officers would have powers for warrantless searches, and companies can face stringent penalties both criminal and financial.
The Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) in Singapore is reportedly delving into baccarat side-bet data to assess whether these additional bet types could be exploited for illicit financial activity. According to recent media coverage, regulators are interested in how granular side-bet wagering patterns might reveal money laundering, fraud, or other criminal behavior.
The Philippines’ Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has secured a new freeze order in connection with a sweeping scandal involving alleged misappropriation linked to casino operations, bringing the total value of immobilized assets to almost USD 70 million. This latest move underscores intensifying efforts by authorities to clamp down on illicit flows tied to gaming and infrastructure irregularities.
Author: Janice Chew • Monday, 06/10/2025
