Hong Kong‑listed investor Success Universe Group Limited has formally disclosed financial support totalling around HKD 839 million (approximately US $106.9 million) for Pier 16 – Property Development Ltd, the operating company behind Macau’s iconic Ponte 16 resort. This financial assistance includes an extended lending facility and an outstanding shareholder loan of approximately HKD 342 million, reflecting the group's ongoing commitment to sustain and enhance the coastal entertainment destination.
In a strategic move marking its first major hospitality expansion into mainland China, Macau gaming concessionaire SJM Holdings Limited has finalized an approximately US $101.2 million (RMB 724 million) acquisition of 12 floors of office space in Hengqin—an island next to Macau—intending to convert the space into a three‑star hotel by as early as 2028. This deal builds upon preliminary plans announced in December 2024 and reflects a meaningful shift toward broader Greater Bay Area integration and tourism diversification .
In a notable departure from expectation, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made no mention of a domestic online gambling ban in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28, 2025. Despite widespread public and legislative pressure calling for outright prohibition or tighter regulation of iGaming, the President’s silence drew attention—and praise—from policy analysts who interpret it as a deliberate and considered move.
In a historic milestone, the Philippines' online gaming sector crossed the US $2 billion threshold in gross gaming revenue (GGR) during the first half of 2025, propelled by an unprecedented surge in digital betting activities. Data released by PAGCOR confirms that total GGR reached ₱214.75 billion (approximately US $3.75 billion), marking a 26 percent year-on-year increase.
Condé Nast–ranked Boracay and the scenic shores of Cebu are set to be transformed into world‑class boutique integrated‑resort (IR) destinations, with Alliance Global Group Inc. (AGI) and its Travellers International arm spearheading a US $600 million investment—potentially scaling up to US $2 billion over time.
Author: Janice Chew • Wednesday, 30/07/2025
