Visit Gambling Insider
Macau’s November: A mixed hand for GGR
Macau’s gross gaming revenue (GGR) rose 14.9% year-on-year in November to reach MOP 18.4bn ($2.3bn), bringing the year-to-date total to MOP 208.6bn. Despite the annual increase, however, November ranked among the lowest-performing months of the year, with only June and September trailing behind.
October remained the high-roller month, bolstered by the National Golden Week holiday, while November saw an 11.5% month-on-month dip. Year-on-year growth has been steady, but slowing compared to earlier in the year when increases exceeded 50%. Key operators reflected this trend in their Q3 results, with Galaxy Entertainment and Melco Entertainment posting revenue increases of 11% and 16%, respectively. Overall, Macau’s GGR climb may not have hit the jackpot, but it’s certainly holding its own.
VGCCC’s Kimmitt resigns: Grandbaby beats the House
Annette Kimmitt, CEO of the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC), is stepping down in March 2025 to embrace a new role: full-time grandmother. Her decision marks the end of a transformative tenure during which the VGCCC levied AU$260m (US$166.7m) in fines and initiated 88 disciplinary actions in 2023 alone.
Kimmitt took on the challenge of revitalising the struggling regulator and turned it into what VGCCC Chair Fran Thorn calls “the nation’s strongest gambling regulator.” Although retiring from full-time executive roles, Kimmitt will remain active on private boards.
QTech’s Malaga move: viva la innovación!
QTech Games has opened a new tech hub in Malaga, Spain. The facility will support supplier integrations and retail solutions, targeting markets across Africa, Europe and Latin America. Malaga was chosen for its strategic location, favourable timezones and access to a talented workforce. To staff the hub, QTech has partnered with recruitment specialist ESR Talent. With the company set to boost innovation in the Costa del Sol, QTech hopes its future is as bright as the new hub’s sunny surroundings.
GR8 Tech ushers in new era with leadership shuffle
It’s all change at GR8 Tech as Oleksandr Feshchenko prepares to take over as CEO on 1 January 2025, succeeding Evgen Belousov. Under Belousov, the company’s client base grew eightfold to support nearly 50 operator brands globally. As part of this executive shuffle, Sergey Ghazaryan has also been appointed as Chief Revenue Officer.
Getting Spicy: Habanero hot in Peru
Habanero has expanded its reach into Peru’s regulated market. The company received accreditation from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR), enabling it to offer its titles to Peruvian players.
This move aligns with Habanero’s Latin American growth strategy, adding Peru to a portfolio that includes Colombia, Panama and Buenos Aires. Arcangelo Lonoce, Head of Business Development, called Peru an “up-and-coming market” and expressed excitement about solidifying the company’s reputation as a supplier in the region.
By royal appointment: Sir Philip Davies deals himself in at Star Sports
Former MP Sir Philip Davies has been announced as the new Chairman of Star Sports Group, succeeding Russ Wiseman. Davies, who started his career in his mother’s betting shop, brings both personal and parliamentary experience to the role.
Founder Ben Keith praised outgoing Chairman Wiseman for his contributions and expressed confidence in Davies’ ability to lead Star Sports into its next phase. Davies himself celebrated the return to his roots, stating, “The industry is very much in my blood.” With a growth-focused strategy and a wealth of experience in both the private and public sectors, Star Sports hopes to have stacked the odds in its favour under Davies’ leadership.
