MGM’s Shift to Digital Operations: A Strategic Pivot
MGM Resorts International is setting its sights on digital growth, with its online gambling platform BetMGM taking centre stage. As traditional casino operations face increasing challenges, Deutsche Bank analysts suggest that BetMGM’s performance will be pivotal to MGM’s valuation in 2025. This shift marks a strategic pivot for the company, prioritising innovation and digital ventures over brick-and-mortar casinos.
Fee Increases and Creative Revenue Strategies
Higher Fees in Las Vegas
MGM Resorts began implementing significant fee hikes at its Las Vegas properties in late 2024, increasing resort fees by $3 to $8 per day. Premium hotels like Bellagio, Aria, and Cosmopolitan now charge $55 daily, while mid-tier properties such as New York-New York and Luxor raised fees to $45. Parking fees also saw a steep rise, with valet services jumping to $40 daily. These adjustments are projected to add $70 million to MGM’s net revenue in 2025.
Innovative Revenue Streams
To further boost profitability, MGM is exploring creative revenue strategies, such as tiered seating in restaurants, where guests can pay a premium for prime seating areas. Though unlikely to significantly impact overall revenue, these low-cost measures are expected to improve margins and bolster earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA).
BetMGM: The Cornerstone of MGM’s Digital Expansion
A Major Player in Online Gaming
BetMGM, a joint venture with Entain, remains at the heart of MGM’s digital ambitions. Offering a wide array of online casino games and sports betting options, BetMGM has become a focal point for the company’s growth strategy. Deutsche Bank highlights the potential for MGM to consolidate its stake in BetMGM, enhancing control and streamlining operations—similar to its successful strategy with MGM China in 2011.
Positive Projections for 2025
Despite reporting losses in 2024, BetMGM is expected to transition into positive EBITDA territory in 2025. MGM has committed to improving transparency around BetMGM’s performance, ensuring investors have clear metrics to track its progress. Analysts anticipate that BetMGM’s profitability could significantly impact MGM’s overall valuation.
Challenges in Traditional Operations
Headwinds for Las Vegas Properties
MGM’s Las Vegas casinos face mounting pressures, including increased competition and rising operating costs. Analysts note that these properties require at least 3% annual revenue growth to maintain flat EBITDAR margins, highlighting the importance of diversifying revenue streams.
MGM China Under Pressure
After outperforming competitors earlier in 2024, MGM China experienced a slowdown in the latter half of the year. Rising expenses for new amenities and operational challenges are expected to impact margins in 2025.
Capital Investments and Strategic Goals
Focus on Expansion and Renovation
MGM is expected to increase capital expenditures in 2025, with plans for renovations at MGM Grand Las Vegas and potential investments in its Japan and New York properties. Securing a full casino license for Empire Resorts in New York could further bolster its portfolio, though it would require a $500 million licensing fee and facility upgrades.
Returning Value to Shareholders
MGM has been proactive in stock buybacks throughout 2024, a trend likely to continue into 2025. These efforts underscore the company’s commitment to maintaining strong investor confidence, even as it navigates shifting market conditions.
The Road Ahead: Balancing Innovation and Tradition
As MGM Resorts looks to the future, its success will hinge on balancing innovative digital ventures like BetMGM with the challenges facing its traditional casino operations. By embracing creative revenue strategies, focusing on transparency, and expanding its digital footprint, MGM aims to sustain growth and investor confidence in a competitive landscape.
A Deutsche Bank Outlook
Deutsche Bank’s $48 price target for MGM reflects a careful sum-of-the-parts valuation, placing significant emphasis on BetMGM’s potential to drive future growth. With strategic pivots and a focus on profitability, MGM’s 2025 outlook remains cautiously optimistic.
In a forceful demonstration of regulatory oversight, Sweden’s gambling authority Spelinspektionen has issued an immediate ban against Fortunepanda.com operator Versus Odds B.V., marking a significant moment in the country’s fight against unlicensed gambling. The January 2nd, 2025 enforcement action specifically targets the Curaçao-based company’s unauthorized gambling activities, which had been deliberately targeting Swedish players despite lacking the required licensing.
Deep Dive into the Investigation
The regulator’s thorough investigation revealed a sophisticated operation designed to capture Swedish market share while evading regulatory requirements. Fortunepanda.com maintained extensive Swedish-language materials, including detailed policy documents, comprehensive terms of service, and customer support pages. This wasn’t a case of casual oversight – the investigation uncovered coordinated marketing campaigns specifically crafted to attract Swedish consumers.
During their inquiry, Spelinspektionen attempted a covert test purchase on the platform. While this test wasn’t completed, the evidence gathered throughout the investigation painted a clear picture of deliberate circumvention of Swedish gambling laws. The regulator’s findings extended beyond just Fortunepanda.com, uncovering a network of related sites including Artcasino.io, Hazcasino.com, and Vegazcasino.com, all operating under the Versus Odds B.V. umbrella and all targeting Swedish players without proper authorization.
The Broader Context: Sweden’s Growing Illegal Gambling Challenge
This enforcement action arrives at a crucial juncture in Sweden’s gambling landscape. Recent data from AB Trav och Galopp (ATG), Sweden’s horse racing operator, has revealed an alarming trend: visits to unlicensed gambling websites have multiplied tenfold since 2019. While the country maintains a relatively healthy channelization rate – meaning 70-82% of gambling activity occurs on licensed platforms – the persistent and growing presence of illegal operators poses a significant threat to consumer protection and market integrity.
Regulatory Framework Under Scrutiny
Sweden’s gambling regulations require all operators to obtain local licensing before offering services to Swedish residents. This licensing system isn’t merely bureaucratic overhead – it’s designed to ensure operators meet strict standards for consumer protection, responsible gambling practices, and financial security. Versus Odds B.V.’s operation under a Curaçao license, which holds no validity in Sweden, represents a direct challenge to this regulatory framework.
Call for Comprehensive Reform
The Swedish National Audit Office has recently pushed for a thorough review of the country’s Gambling Act, highlighting the need for adapted regulations to address emerging challenges in the digital gambling landscape. The Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) has thrown its support behind this initiative, emphasizing that current regulations may need strengthening to effectively combat unauthorized operators.
Pioneering the Regulated Market
On 1 January 2025, Brazil officially launched its regulated sports betting and gaming market, marking a new chapter in the nation’s gambling industry. Among the first to meet the stringent standards of the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA) under the Ministry of Finance are Grupo Aposta Ganha, a leading operator, and Betby, a top sportsbook supplier.
Aposta Ganha: Licensed and Ready
Grupo Aposta Ganha has been a prominent player in Brazil’s betting scene for six years. With its operations now fully licensed under the new regulatory framework, the company received registration number 0022 in the Betting Management System (Sigap). This milestone allows Aposta Ganha to provide a secure and responsible gaming experience tailored to the Brazilian audience.
Rene Santos, Co-CEO of Grupo Aposta Ganha, shared the significance of this achievement:
“Strict criteria laid out in the application will bring stronger consumer protection and market integrity. Our hard work has seen us join an exclusive tier of companies authorised to offer an entertaining and 100% secure gaming experience throughout the country.”
Operating from São Paulo, Aposta Ganha is dedicated to delivering localised gaming experiences that reflect Brazil’s vibrant culture and strong sports enthusiasm.
Betby: Certified for Success
Betby has also made its mark by securing Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) certification in December 2024. This certification ensures the sportsbook supplier meets Brazil’s technical standards for platform functionality, information security, and sportsbook operations.
Ilze Ramolina, Head of Legal at Betby, expressed optimism about the Brazilian market:
“Brazil represents one of the most dynamic and high-potential markets globally. Securing GLI certification underscores our commitment to integrity, compliance, and long-term success in this region.”
Betby’s sportsbook solutions are customised for Brazil, with designs tailored to resonate with the nation’s love for sports, particularly football.
Brazil’s Thriving Market
Brazil’s regulated betting industry is poised to become one of the largest globally, driven by the country’s deep-rooted passion for sports and its expanding digital gaming audience. Operators like Stake have also entered the market, prioritising compliance and localisation strategies to meet the SPA’s high standards.
Looking Ahead
As Aposta Ganha and Betby establish themselves in Brazil’s regulated environment, their successes underline the importance of compliance, innovation, and localised offerings in capturing this burgeoning market. Their efforts signal a promising future for Brazil’s gaming industry, setting a high benchmark for new entrants.
CasinoPlus, a licensed online gaming provider under the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), has unveiled groundbreaking partnerships with seven integrated resort (IR) licensees across the Philippines, including several in Manila. This bold move aims to bring the excitement of traditional casino experiences into the digital world through a regulated and streamlined platform.
Bridging Physical and Digital Gaming
CasinoPlus’s initiative is focused on enabling land-based casinos to seamlessly transition to the online gaming space. According to CEO Evan Spytma, the company is dedicated to reducing the time and effort required for casinos to adapt to this new format.
“What we’re doing is shortening the timeline for land-based casinos to establish their online presence,” Spytma shared. CasinoPlus provides the necessary technology, infrastructure, and operational expertise, making it easier for traditional operators to thrive in the digital era.
The company offers a full-service package, from equipment and gaming paraphernalia to daily operational support. This approach allows casino licensees to use their “online quota” effectively, with no upfront costs. “We introduce our players to these casinos and share revenue with operators,” Spytma explained, though the details of the revenue-sharing model remain confidential.
Leveraging the PIGO Licensing System
These partnerships operate within the Philippine Inland Gaming Operator (PIGO) framework, which links online games to physical gaming machines or tables at licensed casinos. This model provides land-based operators with an opportunity to reach a broader audience while maintaining a connection to their physical establishments.
Under PIGO regulations, casino licensees enjoy an additional 25% allocation to their quotas for gaming tables and slot machines when used for online operations. Spytma described this system as a “new revenue stream” that also strengthens brand recognition.
“When online players interact with live slots or table games, the brand and logo of the integrated resort are prominently displayed,” he explained. Additionally, CasinoPlus enables casinos to promote on-site events and offers directly to their online audience, encouraging cross-channel engagement.
A Booming Online Gaming Industry
CasinoPlus’s success is rooted in its own operations, such as the Hotel Stotsenberg and Casino in Clark. This integrated resort, located two hours from Manila, is undergoing renovations as part of the company’s commitment to both online and land-based gaming.
Online gaming has significantly boosted the Philippine gambling industry. Pagcor reports that the electronic gaming sector generated gross gaming revenue (GGR) of PHP35.71 billion (around $605.1 million) in the third quarter of 2024—a staggering 464.4% increase year-over-year.
Pagcor Chairman Alejandro Tengco projects GGR for 2024 to exceed $6 billion, a record-breaking milestone for the industry. Tengco credits this growth to advancements in technology and the increasing accessibility of smartphones, which have transformed gaming into a convenient and popular pastime. “The future of gaming is online,” Tengco stated, highlighting the sector’s limitless potential.
Building the Future of Integrated Gaming
CasinoPlus is poised to become a pivotal player in this evolving landscape. By fostering partnerships with Philippine casino licensees, the company is not only expanding its reach but also enabling land-based operators to tap into the growing demand for digital platforms.
Spytma envisions a fully integrated network where online players can connect directly with specific casinos. “Operators can promote events and offers to CasinoPlus players, eventually drawing them to their properties,” he noted.
With its innovative approach and strategic alliances, CasinoPlus is redefining the gaming experience in the Philippines, blending traditional and digital worlds for a dynamic and engaging future.
Redstone has unveiled its latest slot game, Funky Fruits, a vibrant addition to its portfolio that combines classic fruit machine nostalgia with modern, eye-catching features. The new release is now live and ready to dazzle players with sparkling diamonds, engaging gameplay, and a chance to win big.
A Fresh Take on a Timeless Theme
With a 5×3 reel layout and five fixed paylines, Funky Fruits offers a sleek design that appeals to both new and experienced players. Packed with medium volatility, the game strikes the perfect balance between frequent wins and the potential for larger payouts. Players can aim for a maximum win of up to 1,500 times their wager, with an RTP of 95.96%.
Symbolic Gameplay with Big Rewards
True to its name, Funky Fruits features a classic fruit theme with cherries, oranges, strawberries, and apples serving as the low-value symbols. The medium-value tier includes bells, bars, and grapes, while the iconic red lucky sevens represent the high-value symbols, offering payouts as high as 600x the stake.
The slot also introduces two types of scatter stars:
- Silver stars appear on reels 1, 3, and 5, awarding 20x the player’s bet when three align.
- Gold stars offer even higher rewards of 3x, 20x, or 100x the bet for three, four, or five matches.
Adding to the excitement, expanding wilds in the form of sparkling diamonds appear on reels 2, 3, and 4, covering entire reels and substituting for all symbols except scatters.
Features at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
| Theme | Classic fruit with a modern twist |
| Low Value Symbols | Cherries, oranges, strawberries, apples (2x-20x bet) |
| Medium Value Symbols | Bells, bars, grapes (4x-100x bet) |
| High Value Symbols | Red lucky sevens (2x-600x bet) |
| Scatters | Silver stars (20x bet), gold stars (3x-100x bet) |
| Wilds | Expanding diamonds on reels 2, 3, and 4 |
| Progressive Jackpots | Three randomly awarded jackpots |
Progressive Jackpots for Added Excitement
One of the game’s standout features is its three progressive jackpots, which can be triggered randomly during gameplay. This adds an element of unpredictability and the potential for life-changing wins, making every spin an exciting prospect.
Available Now: Play Funky Fruits Today
Funky Fruits is already turning heads with its combination of classic charm and innovative features. To celebrate the launch, Redstone has made a free demo version available, giving players the chance to try the game before wagering real money.
Whether you’re a fan of traditional fruit machines or looking for the next big jackpot, Funky Fruits promises a sparkling slot experience that is not to be missed. Spin the reels today and let the diamonds light up your gameplay!