On 7 August 2025, Tecnet Asia, the official regional distributor for APEX Gaming, facilitated the launch of the Clover Link Extreme system at Solaire Resort Entertainment City in Manila—marking its first appearance in the Asian market. This introduction represents a significant milestone, bringing APEX Gaming’s dynamic slot experience, previously popular in Europe, to the thriving casino floor of one of the Philippines’ premier integrated resorts.
In a significant regulatory development, Crown Melbourne has been granted a two‑year extension, pushing the deadline for implementing mandatory carded play across all table games from December 2025 to December 2027. This adjustment followed newly introduced legislation in Victoria, which acknowledged the technological hurdles associated with deploying systems not foreseen when the Royal Commission’s recommendations were made in 2021.
Sri Lanka is making a bold play to revive its flailing economy by transforming tourism into a cornerstone sector. Last year, tourism represented just 4% of GDP, but the government is now aiming to elevate that to a striking 10%. A new $1.2 billion integrated resort—City of Dreams Sri Lanka, a joint venture in Colombo between John Keells Holdings and Melco Resorts—is central to this strategy. The project is expected to pull in affluent tourists, particularly from India and China, with a target of 3 million arrivals in 2025, up from 2 million in the prior year.
Australia’s Star Entertainment Group is facing mounting financial pressure as its lenders—under the Senior Facility Agreement (SFA)—have rejected the terms it proposed for covenant waivers on its AU$430 million (US$279 million) loan. These waivers would cover its obligations for the quarters ending September 30 and December 31, 2025, but the board has deemed the lenders’ conditions “unacceptable” to the company’s interests.
Macau Legend Development Ltd has warned of a sharp downturn in performance for the first half of 2025, forecasting a net loss of approximately HKD 1.42 billion (US$182 million). This represents a dramatic increase compared to the HKD 109.9 million loss recorded in the same period last year. The setback highlights how regulatory shifts and operational challenges are reshaping the satellite casino landscape in Macau.
Author: Janice Chew • Thursday, 28/08/2025
