TLDR Industry suppliers at G2E Asia said regulatory obstacles continue to slow technology adoption across Asia-Pacific gaming markets Light & Wonder and Aristocrat executives called for closer collaboration between gaming companies and regulators during product development Cashless payment technology in casinos remains clunky due to regulatory processes, not the technology itself Philippine land-based operators launching online platforms under PAGCOR’s PIGO scheme are struggling because they lack in-house digital expertise Experts warned that operators using white-label providers to run online businesses risk losing control of their most valuable asset — the customer database
The Asia-Pacific gaming industry is facing a familiar problem. Technology exists to modernize casino operations, but regulatory barriers and internal capability gaps keep getting in the way.
That was the message from a panel at the G2E Asia event held on Wednesday, where executives from some of the industry’s biggest suppliers said more needs to change before the region can catch up.
Jamie Dorbian, managing director for international at Light & Wonder, said gaming companies need to do a better job of working with regulators early in the product development process. He said the industry’s tendency to keep new projects under wraps often backfires when those products reach the approval stage.
Dorbian pointed to cashless payments as a clear example. Consumers routinely use their phones to pay for groceries, coffee, and transport. But inside some casinos, the cashless experience remains awkward and complicated.
He said the problem is not the technology. It is the regulatory framework around it.
Regulators Struggling to Keep Up
Kurt Gissane, chief revenue officer at Aristocrat, echoed those concerns. He said gaming is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the world, but the barriers in Asia-Pacific are steeper than in other regions.
Gissane said this is especially true for