For over ten years, industry insiders have speculated about Macau’s vulnerability as new gaming hubs emerge across Asia. Singapore and Manila once challenged its dominance, and now Japan, Thailand, and the UAE are drawing attention as potential competitors. Nevertheless, experts maintain that Macau’s status as the region’s premier gaming center remains solid. Mary Mendoza, an…
Macau saw a sharp increase in gaming-related criminal investigations in the first quarter of 2025, with 567 cases reported — a 61.5% rise compared to the same period in 2024. Authorities attribute much of this growth to newly enforced legislation targeting illegal money exchange operations, locally known as “money exchangers,” which came into effect in…
Brazil’s Senate is moving forward with Bill 2.985/2023, which aims to tighten regulations on gambling advertisements. Sponsored by Senators Styvenson Valentim and Carlos Portinho, the proposal addresses concerns about the growing presence of betting ads in sports and media and the potential harm to public health. Key Advertising Restrictions Proposed Originally intended as a total…
Despite Japan’s strict gambling laws, millions of Japanese people continue to place bets on illegal online gambling sites. According to a recent report from Japan’s Council of Sports Ecosystem Promotion, gamblers in Japan wagered approximately 6.45 trillion yen (around US$45 billion) on unregulated online gambling platforms in 2024. Current Gambling Landscape in Japan Gambling in…
A former professional footballer who developed a gambling addiction after trying to fit in with teammates is encouraging others struggling with addiction to “talk to someone.” Tony Kelly was signed by Bristol City at age 16 but was later released, eventually playing non-league football in London two years afterward, where his gambling problems began. Speaking…
Casinos usually don’t openly share the payout percentage of their slot machines, except in certain marketing cases—like when the information is displayed directly on the machine itself. So, unlike online slots where you can easily check the RTP (Return to Player) through the game’s info screens, physical slot machines don’t offer that transparency. Online casinos…
One of the most common questions from slot players is: How can I find loose slot machines — the ones with higher payouts? While slot games don’t typically disclose their payback percentages, and the same title can be set to different payout levels at different casinos, there are still smart ways to improve your odds….
Many players feel a sense of distrust toward slot machines, believing casinos can manipulate them at will to increase profits. You’ve probably heard some of these claims: “California casinos don’t have minimum payout rules, so they set slots to 60%.” “Tribal casinos don’t report paybacks, so their machines pay less.” “Casinos lower payouts on weekends…
The payback percentage of a slot machine refers to how much money, on average over its lifetime, it’s programmed to return to players — expressed as a percentage. For example, if a machine takes in $1 million in total bets and pays out $900,000, its payback percentage is 90%. The remaining 10% is the casino’s…
One of the most common questions I get is: “In your opinion, is there a better time of day to win at slot machines?” And honestly, I’ve heard just about every theory imaginable. But here’s my honest take, based on personal experience and conversations with slot manufacturers and casino staff. Morning. Afternoon. Evening. Weekends. Holidays….