The latest edition of Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia @ the Philippines gets under way this morning (Wednesday, December 10), with a keynote address from Alejandro Tengco (pictured), chairman and chief executive of the country’s casino regulator, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor).
Amid developments in the regulatory outlook for the Philippine land-based and online gaming segments, the casino industry trade show and conference comes at an important moment for the country and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
G2E Asia @ the Philippines 2025 is being held at the Manila Marriott Hotel at the Newport World Resorts casino complex in the nation’s capital Manila, on Wednesday and Thursday (December 10 and 11).
G2E Asia-branded trade events are organised by the American Gaming Association and RX (former Reed Exhibitions).
The organisers promise more than 100 brands will be represented at this year’s exhibition in the Philippines capital, “many of which” currently have “no local presence”.
A line-up of five networking cocktails has been arranged as part of the event’s popular social-events offering.
After lunchtime on day one, Michael Grimes, a principal at GGRAsia – a leading online platform dedicated to business-to-business news about the Asia-Pacific gaming sector – will be in conversation with veteran gaming industry executive Greg Hawkins, president and chief operating officer (COO) at Bloomberry Resorts Corp, the operator of Solaire Resort & Casino in Entertainment City, and Solaire Resort North in Quezon City.
Also in the afternoon on day one, casino industry veteran executive Niall Murray, chairman and chief executive of consultancy Murray International (Macau) Co Ltd, will lead a panel called: “Beyond the Casino Floor: Redefining the Integrated Resort with Non-Gaming Innovation”.
His guests include John Lucas, chief hospitality officer at Newport World Resorts; and Samuel Wilkes, vice president for F&B business development and strategy for Solaire resorts.
GGRAsia’s collaboration
Most conference content for day two was developed by GGRAsia in collaboration with RX.
The opening day-two session sees lawyer Marie Antonette Quiogue, a leading expert in the country’s gaming regulatory landscape, in conversation with guests including Ricardo Banaag, president and CEO of DFNN Inc, a fintech provider for online gaming, sports betting, and national lotteries.
Also on the panel are: Ken Jolly, managing director, Asia, for gaming equipment and content provider Light & Wonder Inc; and Artur Manasaryan, deputy head of business development, for BetConstruct, a service provider to gaming operators.
Another session on day two sees conversation on responsible gaming and the industry’s corporate social responsibility (CSR). The discussion is led by Ryan Hong-Wai Ho, lecturer and programme coordinator (MBA), at the Centre for Gaming and Tourism Studies at the Macao Polytechnic University.
His guests include Vina Claudette Oca, assistant vice president for gaming licensing and development at Pagcor.
Also on that panel is Erick Su, leader at ArenaPlus, a sportsbook platform of DigiPlus Interactive Corp, the firm behind the BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, and GameZone digital entertainment brands in the Philippines. Further providing expert insights is Nerie Aquino, director of gaming compliance, legal and compliance at Okada Manila, one of Entertainment City’s major casino resorts.
Later during day two, GGRAsia’s Mr Grimes will lead industry experts in a discussion on “Opportunities for Casinos in Asia to Lead in Slots and ETG Technology”.
Contributing will be Shirley Tam, executive vice president for casino marketing at Tiger Resort Leisure & Entertainment Inc, operator for the Okada Manila complex.
Also on the panel are representatives of two leading electronic gaming machine suppliers: Vincent Tang, vice president of sales for Asia Pacific at Interblock Asia Pacific Pty Ltd; and Eddie Au, COO at LT Game Ltd.
