Chips.gg Weekly iGaming Roundup (June 9 - June 15)
North Carolina: The Tar Heel State’s Betting Boom Is Just Getting Started
What a ride it's been for North Carolina. What began as a cautious toe-dip into legal sports betting has turned into a full-on cannonball into a booming market. In just over a year, the state’s sportsbook handle has surged to hundreds of millions each month and May 2025 was no exception. May’s handle? $550 million. That’s a 3.3% increase year-on-year. And a whopping 39% jump from April. Even with seasonal dips (looking at you, April), the overall trend is sky-high. March Madness sent March 2025’s handle soaring to $685 million, breaking state records.
Hold rate in May was a solid 11.65%, giving operators a strong return while keeping bettors engaged. Translation? The balance between odds, player wins, and operator revenue is hitting just the right note.
Who’s ruling the roost? The big three: FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM are leading the charge. FanDuel, with roots in fantasy sports and a Scottish startup dream, continues to win hearts with its slick UI and trusted brand. DraftKings stays aggressive with its marketing, but has dialed back the flashy promos as the market matures. BetMGM, backed by decades of land-based casino knowledge, is making its hybrid approach work wonders.
North Carolina is the poster child for how quickly a new market can mature but it’s also a cautionary tale. Regulatory shifts can come fast and hard. Staying agile is the name of the game.
It’s official. The Philippines Senate passed the Anti-POGO Act of 2025 with a clean sweep.
The Philippines is shutting the door on its offshore gaming industry and slamming it shut with conviction. No abstentions. No opposition. Just a firm “we’re done here” from every corner of the chamber.
What does this mean? Every form of offshore gaming tied to the POGO model is now criminalized from setting up an office to leasing space or tech platforms. All POGO-linked assets? Forfeited. Seized. Destroyed. There’s no coming back. Penalties are tough. We’re talking: Up to 12 years in prison, Fines up to PHP50 million (nearly $900,000), Deportation for foreign offenders after serving time
The decision follows a wave of public frustration, high-profile raids, and damning ties to crime, cyberfraud, and even human trafficking. March’s major raid in Porac, Pampanga exposed chilling links to illicit operations. Enough was enough. PAGCOR has been stripped of its licensing power for offshore operators, closing the chapter on a once-booming sector that started under President Duterte back in 2016.
What happens to displaced workers? Roughly 40,000 employees were impacted. Many are expected to shift to Special-Class BPOs, a more tightly regulated alternative. Compliance is no longer a checkbox it’s a cornerstone. The Philippines is rebranding, choosing social stability over offshore revenue. Operators looking to work in the region must think long-term, transparent, and local-friendly.
X Joins Forces with Polymarket: Prediction Markets Just Went Mainstream
So, here’s the juicy one. X.com just locked arms with Polymarket, making it the platform’s official prediction market partner. This is more than just a handshake. It’s a massive pivot from the rumored deal with Kalshi, a CFTC-regulated platform tied to Trump Jr. That deal fizzled, allegedly due to souring vibes between Musk and the Trump camp.
Instead, X is doubling down on decentralization and disruption with Polymarket. Why does this matter? Because Polymarket isn’t your typical startup. It’s the brainchild of Shayne Coplan, who dropped out of NYU and turned his Ethereum obsession into a $3.2B bet-processing beast during the 2024 US elections.
The platform lets users trade shares on real-world outcomes using USDC and Polygon-powered smart contracts. Think of it like Wall Street, but for questions like Will Biden drop out? or Will Bitcoin hit 100K?
Here’s where it gets spicy. Polymarket is still blocked in the US due to a 2022 CFTC settlement, while Kalshi isn’t. So this partnership is a global play. And it’s getting smarter, Grok, X’s AI chatbot, will start explaining market moves in real time. It’s prediction markets with commentary baked in.
Macau’s Satellite Casino Era Ends: What Comes Next for Operators Like SJM?
Macau is closing the book on an era. By December 31, 2025, all 11 of its remaining satellite casinos will shut down, part of a sweeping shift to bring gaming operations directly under license holders.
The move follows the city’s 2022 gaming reforms, which scrapped the old profit-sharing model. From now on, casinos have to be owned or managed outright by concessionaires. No more third-party operators running the show.
SJM Holdings is feeling this the most. With nine of the 11 affected satellites under its umbrella, they’re closing venues like Casino Casa Real, Kam Pek Paradise, and Emperor Palace, while absorbing Ponte 16 and L’Arc Macau into their direct portfolio. That’s a lot of restructuring, and it won’t be easy.
Melco and Galaxy, on the other hand, are handling just one closure each. Analysts say they’ll weather the storm just fine. Labor is another big story here. Around 5,600 employees will be shifted around, and all eyes are on how smoothly these transitions go. The government is optimistic with no mass layoffs expected.
Financially? Analysts believe SJM may feel a squeeze in the short term, especially if regulators don’t approve their gaming table reallocations. But the long game looks healthier. Macau’s consolidating and aiming for quality over quantity. It’s a move toward a cleaner, more efficient gaming landscape.
This week’s headlines show a sector in transition, a little turbulence and a lot of opportunity. Until next week, stay smart, stay sharp, and stay ahead.
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