IAG EXPO returns this month, and while there is no exhibition in 2026 – we promise it will return next year – the addition of a brand new summit day and a line-up of events unparalleled at any other industry trade show in Asia-Pacific makes this a week not to be missed.
The IAG EXPO returns to Manila’s Newport World Resorts this month, highlighted by an exciting new addition to the schedule: the first ever CiG iDEA Summit.
Kicking off the week’s proceedings on Monday 14 September in Hilton Ballroom at Hilton Manila, the CiG iDEA Summit is dedicated to exploring the growing online gaming industry across Asia, with a particular focus on the Philippines. It aims to provide in-depth insights into latest developments within the B2B iGaming space, exploring the many challenges and opportunities this burgeoning industry presents. The summit is presented by IAG’s sister brand Complete iGaming alongside Official Legal Partner Arden Consult.
One of the major attractions of this year’s CiG iDEA Summit is the first-class line-up of speakers set to offer their expertise. These include two appearances by Jessa Mariz R. Fernandez, Assistant Vice President of Remote Operations and Electronic Gaming for Philippine gaming regulator PAGCOR.
Fernandez will deliver the Keynote Address at the CiG iDEA Summit before returning in the afternoon for a discussion with IAG’s Vice Chairman and CEO Andrew W Scott on how to build a sustainable online gaming industry. This is particularly relevant given PAGCOR’s ongoing efforts to implement a comprehensive framework to govern the industry and ensure a healthy long-term future.
Many of the companies now operating under that framework have solid exposure at the CiG iDEA Summit, which will include a fascinating panel session on how localized content is key to cracking the Philippine iGaming market. This high-profile session will bring the biggest names in the B2B sector together, as DigiPlus President Ping Chen, PhilWeb President Brian Ng and Casino Plus CEO Evan Spytma delve into how their companies view their content offering.
Another unmissable session for all industry suppliers is titled, “How to enter the Philippines? Why to enter the Philippines?” This will see IAG’s Managing Editor Ben Blaschke sit down with Arden Consult’s Tonet Quiogue and GLI’s Richard Howarth to explore PAGCOR’s regulatory framework in detail, including an explanation of why certain requirements have been implemented and how they will shape the industry in the months and years ahead.
Similarly intriguing will be a panel session called “Outsourcing or going it alone: what’s the right model?” in which experts look at the strategy behind the online gaming platforms recently launched by the Philippines’ integrated resorts. While many have opted to outsource these operations to PhilWeb, Solaire is going it alone by way of its own proprietary platform. How will this play out for each?
Tonet will round out the day by moderating a session on Special Class BPOs – a hugely important sub-segment of the Philippines’ gaming industry – while Kelsey Wilhelm, CiG’s Senior Contributing Editor, will host a session looking elsewhere in Asia to see how iGaming is developing across the region.
For more information on the CiG iDEA Summit, including the full program, visit www.iagexpo.com.
Back on dry land
The backbone of IAG EXPO ever since its inception has been the IAG Academy Summit. Running across two days on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 September, it not only aims to educate but also to entertain! Originality is the key, with the summit boasting interesting and creative presentation formats plus genuinely engaging speakers with real value to offer. We carefully handpick speakers who are truly experts in their field with the ability to provide unique industry insights, as opposed to those who appear regularly on the Asian gaming conference circuit.
So, who do we have lined up this year? Let’s start with the keynotes! PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco is always an enjoyable watch, bringing his unique perspectives to the day’s events via the Day 1 Keynote Address. And, as has become custom, you can expect him to throw in some breaking news related to PAGCOR’s latest regulatory initiatives.
Another highlight of the IAG Academy Summit will be a Fireside Chat between IAG’s Andrew W Scott and Crown Resorts CEO David Tsai. Under Tsai’s leadership, Crown is a very different organization to the one that earned the ire of Australian authorities six years ago and in the past financial year returned to profitability for the first time since the pandemic.
Hear Tsai go into detail about the changes Crown has made – both customer-facing and behind-the-scenes – and what it is like operating today under Australia’s strict regulatory regime.
Other topics set for the microscope include Metro Manila regional gaming, the impact of MGM Osaka on South Korea’s casino industry, and a fascinating panel exploring how data is the key to loyalty marketing and why this will be more important than ever for those Philippine integrated resorts looking to create synergies between their land-based operations and their new online gaming platforms.
As usual, IAG will also bring you our annual Suppliers Panel and our Operators Panel – the latter being yet another full throttle affair that will bring together Bloomberry Resorts Corp President and COO Greg Hawkins with NUSTAR’s Sean Knights and Hann Casino Resorts’ Rod Hackman.
The 2026 IAG Academy Summit will be an unmissable event for those keen to learn from the brightest minds in the industry.
Guardians of gaming
In 2025, IAG partnered with Philippine gaming regulator PAGCOR to host the first edition of The Regulators Forum (TRF): an initiative aimed at bringing regulators from across Asia-Pacific together to share knowledge and learn about the latest in industry best practice.
Now officially part of IAG EXPO week at Newport World Resorts, this year’s TRF will focus on how PAGCOR has responded to its biggest challenges over the past few years, with a strong representation from the regulator.
The day’s events will kick-off with a Keynote Address from PAGCOR’s Tengco, who will return later in the day for a Fireside Chat in which he and IAG’s Andrew W Scott will discuss the “decoupling” of the agency’s dual roles as a regulator and an operator. It is widely expected that the sale of PAGCOR’s Casino Filipino sites will get underway before the end of 2026.
Another interesting session will look back on the Philippines’ ill-fated POGO (offshore gaming) regime and how the country’s various government agencies worked together to eradicate the problem.
And with a strong compliance culture being the ultimate end game for PAGCOR, international test labs GLI and BMM will each deliver in-depth presentations explaining the role they can play for companies operating within regulated Asian gaming space.
TRF is an invite-only event. For more information visit www.iagregulators.com.
A warm welcome
One of the most anticipated nights at IAG EXPO each year is our welcome drinks and official opening event, Manila After Dark. Taking place at Grand Bar & Lounge, this edition of MAD is traditionally the most popular of the six MADs IAG hosts each year, attracting a crowd of well in excess of 300.
Famous for its free flow drinks, delectable canapes and of course the barrel draw prize giveaway, Manila After Dark at IAG EXPO provides a unique opportunity for all segments of our industry to come together for some casual networking while letting their hair down.
We should point out, too, that this year’s MAD has around 20 sponsors – a clear indication of how popular the evening has become and why everyone who is anyone wants to be there!
The night of nights
What else would the IAG EXPO be without the IAG Academy IR Awards? It was 2021 when IAG launched the IAG Academy IR Awards as a standalone event in Macau during the pandemic, honoring three Rising Stars and three Industry Icons in a simple ceremony at The Londoner Macao.
The full awards event as we know it today didn’t start until 2023 but has quickly grown to become the most prestigious industry awards in the Asia-Pacific region.
What makes the IAG Academy IR Awards different? Integrity. Unlike other awards that tend to be awarded to clients or the biggest sponsors, the IAG Academy IR Awards follow a formal, audited nomination and judging process that sees the judging panel of 100 highly experienced industry personalities cast their votes through a specially designed online platform.
Any categories in which a judge has a vested interest are discounted, with the winner of each category decided by who has the most votes once they are tallied. This means that all award winners can celebrate in the knowledge that they have truly earned the respect of those within the industry.
The IAG Academy IR Awards is also a tremendously fun night, paced to ensure there is never a dull moment while providing ample time to enjoy the fine food on offer from the hospitality team at Newport World Resorts.
Awards are presented by an array of industry identities, including none other than Alejandro H. Tengco himself!
A night to reach for the stars!
