Scatter Games PH team went to SBC Summit last week. SBC is one of the world’s biggest iGaming events, where you can see everything – new games, the most famous game makers, celebrities – and meet everyone – casino operators, regulators, and other kinds of iGaming companies from around the world.
There was a lot happening, but most of it isn’t very relevant to you if you just play online in the Philippines. But these three global trends we can definitely relate to.
1. Illegal casinos are a huge problem on social media
The topic of illegal casinos and their mastery of social media came up again and again. Remember the fake Netflix casino we wrote about the other day? There are hundreds of cases like this all around the world.
The speakers at SBC called on platforms like Facebook, X, TikTok, and Kik to do more to stop ads and live streams from unlicensed casino sites.
Some licensed casinos are starting to take the matter into their own hands. Gambling operator PAF from Finland, for example, is working with Meta on a test that helps Facebook to identify licensed operators and their real website addresses.
This would be very useful in the Philippines too. Many Filipino players find casinos through Telegram, Facebook, and streamers. The problem is that a nice-looking Facebook page or a popular streamer doesn’t prove that a casino is legal.
2. Casinos are being pushed to do more to protect the player
Responsible gambling was another big topic at SBC.
There was a lot of talk about what casinos can do when a player starts losing control. Clearly, just telling people to “gamble responsibly” is not enough.
The new player protection mechanics include things like deposit limits, spending limits, self-exclusion, and generally making it easier for a player to close the account.
Technology and what it can do for player protection was discussed a lot too. Obviously, online casinos collect information about how people use their accounts, e.g. how often they play, how long their sessions are, and how their gaming patterns change over time. This can help casinos to notice warning signs even before the player asks for help. A casino could then show a warning, suggest a break, offer spending controls or, in more serious cases, restrict the account.
3. More Global iGaming companies are looking at the Philippines
The Philippines wasn’t just mentioned in passing at SBC. There was a full Far East discussion covering the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Japan and Macau. The main question was how these markets can allow legal gambling businesses to grow while getting tougher on offshore and illegal operators.
The Philippines already has a regulated online gambling market (under PAGCOR). At the same time, we have all seen that the authorities have been putting more pressure on iGaming businesses, especially the ones operating outside the legal system.
At SBC, there was clear interest from companies looking at the licensed side of the Philippine market. Philippine consultancy Arden Consult came to Lisbon specifically to meet international operators, platforms, suppliers and technology companies interested in entering the country. But the message wasn’t simply “come to the Philippines.” Companies were told that they need the licence, company structure and regulatory setup if they want to enter the market legally.
What we brought home from SBC
SBC showed us that the Philippine online gambling market is changing quickly. More companies want to enter the market, regulators are putting more pressure on illegal operators, and casinos are being pushed to take player protection more seriously. For Filipino players, that should mean more choice, but also more reason to check who is actually licensed before depositing. These are the areas we’ll be watching closely on ScatterGamesPH.
