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Hainan resorts are setting up baccarat tables
They’re not quite casinos, but they’re pretty close – and they could be coming to China sooner than some expected.
On the tropical island of Hainan, at least five Chinese-owned resorts are laying the groundwork for so-called entertainment bars, where players put down real money on games but receive their winnings in the form of points that can be redeemed in local shops, restaurants and hotels, according to people with direct knowledge of the plans.
The resorts’ owners have contacted suppliers of baccarat tables, drawn up blueprints to convert ballrooms into gaming floors and held informal discussions with Hainan officials in recent months, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing private information.
While China currently outlaws casinos outside Macau, the resorts are betting that Hainan will win an exemption for entertainment bars as part of a government push to turn the island known as “China’s Hawaii” about 2,700km south of Beijing into a major tourist destination.
If they’re right, it would mark another big shift in the country’s approach to gaming after officials unveiled landmark measures to promote horse racing and sports lotteries in Hainan two months ago.
It’s unclear whether provincial and national authorities would sign off on such projects – also known as “cashless casinos” – and they’ve given no public indication that a policy change is imminent.
But the recent flurry of activity follows a favourable court ruling on entertainment bars in December, which was interpreted by some observers as an official stamp of approval.
“From our conversations with people on the ground, they are positively excited about the changes that appear to be coming through soon,” said Ben Lee, a Macau-based managing partner at consultancy IGamiX, which has been working with developers in Hainan for a decade. Entertainment bars “would undoubtedly draw mainlanders who have never been overseas to try gaming,” he said.
Casual Punters
The games could provide a boost to Hainan’s tourism-related businesses, while at the same time allowing regulators to avoid many of the money-laundering and capital-outflow risks associated with traditional gambling operations.
Entertainment bars are unlikely to appeal to China’s high rollers, but they could lure casual punters who dislike the hassle of obtaining visas and foreign currencies for overseas trips.
A green light from authorities would probably unnerve investors in casino enclaves like Macau, the Philippines and Cambodia that rely heavily on Chinese customers. While the short-term competitive threat from Hainan would be manageable, that could change if entertainment bars pave the way for an eventual approval of full-blown casinos on the island.
“We may see more interesting developments in the next five to 10 years,” Lee said.
Government representatives in Hainan and Beijing didn’t respond to faxed requests for comment.
An index of Macau casino operators fell as much as 2.1 per cent on Tuesday to a seven-week low, led by SJM Holdings Ltd., Wynn Macau Ltd. and Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd.
Entertainment Bars
Entertainment bars have a checkered history in Hainan. They debuted on the island about five years ago, at the Sanya Bay Mangrove Resort Hotel, where guests could play games including baccarat and swap their winnings for things like hotel rooms, iPads and jewellery.
But that operation was shut down in 2014 as local prosecutors accused the resort of breaking the law. Several other Hainan resorts were also forced to put their plans for entertainment bars on hold.
It took several years for the Mangrove case to work its way through China’s legal system, but in December, a Hainan court ruled that the resort’s gaming operation didn’t break the law after all, according to a court filing posted on a government website.
In another sign of China’s evolving stance, an online version of the points-based gaming model is now being tested by a sports-betting platform in Hainan that’s backed by organisations affiliated with the provincial and central governments.
Called the Hainan International Tourism Island Sports and Gaming Entertainment Project, it will allow players to deposit funds from their AliPay or WePay accounts into a smartphone app and use the money to wager on soccer and basketball games. Winnings can only be spent at select locations, mainly in Hainan, according to Yan Zhi, the project’s founder.
Still, it’s unclear whether China’s leaders will ultimately sign off on entertainment bars, according to Margaret Huang, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence in Hong Kong.
“The government will face challenges to decide their attitude toward a gambling-themed model,” she said. “The balance between regulation and economic development is hard.”
Some observers say the time is ripe for a change. Entertainment bars would not only dovetail with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s efforts to boost Hainan’s economy, they would also help the country develop more homegrown champions in the consumer services sector – another government priority.
While the bulk of gambling revenue in Macau still goes to foreign casino owners like Las Vegas Sands Corp. and MGM Resorts International, Chinese resorts have a dominant presence in Hainan.
To get a feel for the resorts’ optimism that entertainment bars will make a comeback, one only has to walk by the ballroom that housed the Mangrove’s gaming operations back in 2013. Instead of converting the giant space into something new, the resort simply covered it with a black curtain, which could presumably be quickly removed if policy makers give the go ahead. Representatives at the resort declined to comment.
“It’s now a consensus among companies and businessmen in Hainan,” said Liu Feng, director of the Hainan Normal University Free Trade Port Research Centre.
“The expectation is for looser policies and a more open business environment, to build Hainan into an international tourism and consumption destination.”
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
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The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) on Tuesday, September 30, conducted an agency-wide orientation on the responsible use of Microsoft Copilot with governance safeguards in observance of Development Policy Research Month (DPRM).
Anchored on this year’s theme, “Reimagining Governance in the Age of AI,” the online session underscored the need to embrace artificial intelligence responsibly to ensure that innovation is balanced with accountability and transparency in the workplace.
The Microsoft Copilot Chat Masterclass was facilitated via Microsoft Teams by AI Workforce Specialist Christeen Padilla, with 98 employees from PAGCOR’s corporate offices and branches in attendance.
Padilla introduced Microsoft Copilot Chat, a secure AI-powered assistant designed to boost productivity through features such as drafting correspondence, summarizing reports, generating ideas, and answering work-related queries.
She also distinguished between the free Copilot Chat, which provides web-sourced responses, and the M365 Chat version, which delivers organization-specific replies.
Employees with an M365 Chat license can also access specialized tools such as Researcher, Analyst, Prompt Coach, Writing Coach, Idea Coach, Career Coach, Learning Coach, Surveys, and Microsoft 365 Admin.
Citing industry data, Padilla noted that 86 percent of AI-assisted chat application users in the Philippines had adopted Copilot in 2024, reflecting the country’s rapid shift toward AI-powered workplace solutions.
While highlighting Copilot’s potential to streamline tasks and improve efficiency, the orientation also placed strong emphasis on governance safeguards to ensure its responsible use. These include compliance with enterprise data protection standards, observance of organizational policies, and vigilance in distinguishing between web-based and internal data to protect sensitive information.
The post PAGCOR WORKERS BRIEFED ON SAFE USE OF AI CHAT TOOL appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Broadway Gaming, a leading provider of online bingo and casino, today announced the appointment of Mark Cleary as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Founder and outgoing CEO David Butler will assume the role of Executive Chairman.
The leadership transition marks a key milestone in Broadway Gaming’s growth journey, positioning the company for its next phase of scale and strategic development.
“Mark is a deeply respected leader who has helped shape the success of Broadway Gaming,” said David. “This transition has been carefully planned, and I have full confidence in his ability to lead the company forward. As Executive Chairman, I’ll continue to be actively involved in driving our long-term vision, partnerships and potential mergers and acquisitions.”
Mark has served as COO since 2018, overseeing operations, compliance, payments and HR. Under his leadership, Broadway Gaming has expanded its footprint across key markets and delivered sustained growth and engagement.
“I’m honoured to take on the CEO role and lead an exceptional team,” said Mark.
“Broadway Gaming has an exciting future ahead, and I’m committed to building on the strong foundations that David has laid to deliver even greater value for our players, partners, and people.”
Broadway Gaming will continue to focus on innovation, customer experience, and responsible gaming as core pillars of its long-term strategy.
The post Broadway Gaming Announces Leadership Transition as COO Becomes CEO appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Atlaslive, a leading B2B software company and iGaming platform provider, has entered into a partnership with Magnum, a financial institution in Brazil regulated by the Central Bank and focused on secure digital transactions.
This collaboration enables Atlaslive operators to offer an additional local payment option integrated directly into the Atlaslive platform. By doing so, it supports operators in regulated markets with secure, compliant, and fast payment flows tailored to Brazil.
“Expanding and diversifying payment access is central to our promise of flexibility,” said Milica Jovanovic, CBDO at Atlaslive. “By partnering with Magnum, we’re reinforcing our ability to help operators grow in Brazil with payment solutions that are reliable, transparent, and built for scale.”
Magnum, authorized by the Central Bank, brings proven expertise in digital banking and payment services. For operators, this means localized solutions aligned with Brazil’s financial regulations and digital economy.
“Joining forces with Atlaslive allows us to bring our technology to a wider network of operators,” said Mário Graziano, Head of Business Development. “We are excited to support secure, fast, and convenient payment journeys that align with Brazil’s evolving digital economy.”
The agreement reinforces Atlaslive’s growth in Latin America, where regulated payment options play a decisive role in compliance, licensing, and player trust.
About Atlaslive
Atlaslive is a B2B software company delivering a fully managed iGaming platform for regulated markets. Designed for fast launches, real-time control, and modular scalability, the platform supports operators across LATAM and EMEA.
About Magnum
Magnum SCD is a financial institution in Brazil authorized by the Central Bank to provide digital accounts, payments, and credit services. As a direct PIX participant and official Visa card issuer, Magnum enables instant and reliable transactions. Combining compliance, transparency, and innovation, Magnum offers payment infrastructure that supports sectors including betting, retail, and digital commerce.
This document is provided to you for your information and discussion only. This document was based on public sources of information and was created by the Atlaslive team for marketing usage. It is not a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any gambling-related product. Nothing in this document constitutes legal or business development advice. This document has been prepared from sources Atlaslive believes to be reliable, but we do not guarantee its accuracy or completeness and do not accept liability for any loss arising from its use. Atlaslive reserves the right to remedy any errors that may be present in this document.
About Atlaslive
Atlaslive, formerly known as Atlas-IAC, underwent a rebranding campaign in May 2024. It is a B2B software development company that specializes in creating a multifunctional and automated platform to optimize the workflow of sports betting and casino operators. Key components of the Atlaslive Platform include Sportsbook, Casino, Risk Management and Anti-Fraud Tools, CRM, Bonus Engine, Business Analytics, Payment Systems, and Retail Module. Follow the company on LinkedIn to stay updated with the latest news in iGaming technology.
The post Atlaslive Partners with Magnum to Expand Local Payment Access in Brazil appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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