In August 2025, the Philippines recorded 457,438 foreign visitor arrivals, down from 508,726 in July and about 3.2 % lower year-on-year, signaling that tourism recovery is facing headwinds. The decline was largely dragged by sharp drops in arrivals from its two key East Asian markets: South Korea and China.
In the aftermath of Super Typhoon Ragasa, which pummeled Macau with hurricane-force winds and severe flooding, Melco Resorts & Entertainment mobilized around 100 volunteers under its “Simple Acts of Kindness” programme to assist the local community. The storm had triggered Macau’s highest typhoon warning — Signal No.10 — and led to widespread disruptions including power outages and flooding in low-lying districts.
In a swift follow-up to its earlier shutdown of the Grand Dragon satellite casino, Melco Resorts & Entertainment has officially completed the closure of its Mocha Kuong Fat slot club at 11:59 pm on 24 September, under the supervision of Macau’s gaming regulator, the DICJ. The DICJ confirmed that it coordinated with multiple government departments to ensure the suspension process proceeded legally and orderly—including managing premises evacuation, handling cash and gaming assets, and ensuring compliance with regulatory protocols.
Macau’s casinos officially resumed operations at 2 a.m. on September 25 after being shuttered for approximately 33 hours in response to the onslaught of Super Typhoon Ragasa. The shutdown was triggered when the government raised the tropical cyclone warning to Signal No. 8 at 5 p.m. on September 23, with later escalation to No. 10 reflecting the storm’s severity. During that window, authorities evacuated staff and patrons from casinos, suspended ferry services, and halted border crossings and flights.
Japan has introduced a revised law effective September 25, 2025, targeting the proliferation of illegal online gambling and aiming to curb gambling addiction. The new regulation bans the establishment of new online casinos and blocks the posting of online advertisements promoting such sites, including on social media. While the law does not yet impose harsh penalties for noncompliance, it empowers authorities to demand operators shut down when directed and requires tech platforms and websites to remove gambling-related content when ordered.
Author: Janice Chew • Friday, 26/09/2025
