2 Weeks to Go: Chairperson Maps the Conversations Ahead of SPiCE International 2026

Rules are evolving, payment habits are shifting and operators are raising the bar for the suppliers they back across Asia’s gaming markets. SPiCE International 2026, the Strategic Platform for iGaming Conference & Exhibition, puts those changes on the table for its third edition on 12 – 13 November at Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu, the Philippines. Over two days, operators, suppliers, investors, technology leaders and regulators will focus on the practical questions: how to enter and localise, how to stay compliant, and how to turn conversations into partnerships. Meet the Chairperson: Jonas Diego Ahead of the summit, Jonas Diego, Senior Gaming Consultant and Chairperson of SPiCE International 2026, shared his views on what international suppliers need to know, where the opportunity lies in Southeast Asia and the regulatory shifts to watch. Asked what lesson an international supplier attending for the first time most needs to learn about operating in Asia, Jonas said: The single most important lesson an international supplier needs to learn is that Asia is not a homogeneous territory, and there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ product, operational strategy, or solution. It is a complex tapestry of wildly different regulatory environments, cultural preferences, payment systems, and player behaviours. You have to put in the work by truly immersing yourself, getting to know the market you’re entering and the people you’re going to be selling to. With Southeast Asia shifting toward regulated domestic frameworks, Jonas was specific about where the biggest potential sits: The most exciting commercial opportunity in Southeast Asian iGaming today is capturing the licensed domestic market in the Philippines. Licensed operators accounted for 62% of the Philippines’ estimated revenue benchmark. The remaining 38% unlicensed revenue leakage represents a massive opportunity. While neighbouring ASEAN nations are tightening prohibitions on online gambling or restricting legal play strictly to land-based integrated resorts (such as Thailand’s Entertainment Complex initiative), the Philippines stands alone as Southeast Asia’s only fully regulated, high-growth domestic iGaming market. Looking 18 months ahead, Jonas highlighted the regulatory shift he believes will define the region: Regulators across ASEAN (including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia) are shifting focus from software licensing to financial infrastructure enforcement. For years, government policy across Southeast Asia focused primarily on software licensing, domain blocking, and domain-name service (DNS) takedowns to combat illegal or unauthorised online gambling. Regulators quickly realised this approach was an unending game of ‘whack-a-mole’. The strategic shift toward financial infrastructure enforcement recognises a simple commercial reality: an illegal gambling platform cannot operate if it cannot process player deposits or settle payouts locally. It has the potential to be a true game changer. Drawing on his time as Country Manager in the Philippines, Jonas outlined what the country offers for iGaming operational setups: The operational landscape in the Philippines stands out as a strategic choice for iGaming operators, driven by key regional factors: Established Regulatory Clarity. Unlike many jurisdictions navigating grey areas or recent policy shifts, the Philippines provides a clear, mature regulatory environment. Operating within a defined framework under PAGCOR allows companies to build long-term operational hubs, secure clear banking and corporate structures, and maintain global compliance standards. High-Calibre Shared Services & Technical Talent. The country’s mature BPO and shared services ecosystem means operators can rapidly scale specialised teams across a wide range of business functions while enjoying cost-to-value efficiency without compromising output quality or workforce stability. Deep Local Market Domain Knowledge. The Philippines is unique in being both a premier operational hub for global platforms and a high-growth domestic iGaming market. Local talent possesses firsthand familiarity with player acquisition, local digital payment ecosystems, and retention strategies tailored to Asian market dynamics. What will dominate the conversation in Cebu? As Chairperson, Jonas shared the priorities he expects to take centre stage: With the full transition away from grey-market offshore hubs, I expect conversations will focus heavily on several key issues like PAGCOR’s tax restructuring and MGF, strategies for capturing the 38% unlicensed market leakage, etc. That being said, I also expect several other topics to come up: How B2B providers can adapt software architectures to satisfy PAGCOR’s technical mandates. Establishing operational bases and shared-service hubs in the PH to support regional expansion. Compliance lessons from neighbouring jurisdictions as markets across SEA sharpen their regulatory frameworks. On the Agenda in Cebu Jonas’ themes of market access, regulation, localisation and operational strategy run through both days of the programme. Day One Thursday 12 November Fireside Chat: Too Fast for Regulation? AI, Innovation and the New Rules of Gaming, asking who sets the rules as technology outpaces regulation Product Marketplace: What Operators Are Buying and Why B2B Products Fail to Sell, on what makes a product commercially relevant and ready for procurement Casino Leaders Panel: Integrated Resorts vs. Digital Gaming: Can Both Win?, on how land-based and digital gaming compete for the same future player Day Two Friday 13 November Panel Discussion: Winning Players and Markets: Advertising, Affiliates, Influencers and Compliance, on acquiring quality players in increasingly regulated markets CEO Technology Forum: The New iGaming Stack: Build, Buy or Partner?, on modular infrastructure, localisation and the choices shaping technology investment Panel Discussion: Seamlessly Transitioning Land-Based Players to Digital Platforms, on turning physical footfall into active online accounts Further sessions cover AI in iGaming, prediction markets, esports and creators, capital flows and the much anticipated Startup Pitch Competition. Final Days to Nominate The SPiCE International Eventus Awards 2026, presented on the evening of 12 November, will recognise the leaders, products and businesses shaping Asia’s gaming industry. Nominations close on Friday, 30 October, leaving just a few days to put forward a standout individual, team or product. Nominate now: https://www.spiceseries.com/spice-international-award-nom Secure a Package Now Whether the goal is to put a product in front of operators, align a brand with the event, or join the conversations in person, there is a package to match: Exhibitors: showcase products and solutions directly to operators and decision-makers Sponsors: build brand visibility across two days of content and networking Delegates: access the conference programme and connect with the people shaping the market 12 – 13 November 2026 | Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu, the Philippines Register now: https://www.spiceseries.com/si