Two Weeks To Go: SPiCE International 2026 Chairperson Outlines Key Industry Conversations

Regulatory frameworks are evolving, payment habits are shifting and operators are raising expectations for their suppliers across Asia’s gaming markets. SPiCE International 2026 will bring industry stakeholders together to examine these developments on 12–13 November at Shangri-La Mactan in Cebu, the Philippines.

The third edition of the Strategic Platform for iGaming Conference & Exhibition will bring together operators, suppliers, investors, technology leaders and regulators to discuss market entry, localisation, compliance and commercial partnerships.

Meet The Chairperson: Jonas Diego

Ahead of the event, Jonas Diego, senior gaming consultant and chairperson of SPiCE International 2026, shared his views on the priorities for international suppliers, opportunities in Southeast Asia and the regulatory changes shaping the region.

Asked what international suppliers attending an Asian market for the first time should understand, Diego 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.”

Philippines Presents Domestic Market Opportunity

With Southeast Asia moving towards regulated domestic frameworks, Diego identified the Philippines as a key commercial opportunity.

“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.”

Diego also highlighted a potential shift in regulatory enforcement over the next 18 months, with authorities across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia, placing greater emphasis on financial infrastructure.

He said:

“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.”

The Philippines As An Operational Hub

Drawing on his experience as a country manager in the Philippines, Diego outlined three factors that he believes make the country an option for iGaming operational setups.

He pointed to the regulatory framework under the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), which he said can provide businesses with a defined environment for establishing operational hubs, banking and corporate structures, and compliance processes.

He also highlighted the country’s business process outsourcing (BPO) and shared-services sector, which supports the development of specialist teams across a range of business functions.

Finally, Diego cited local market knowledge, including experience with player acquisition, digital payment systems and retention strategies tailored to Asian markets. He described the Philippines as both an operational base for international platforms and a domestic iGaming market.

Key Topics Expected In Cebu

As chairperson, Diego expects discussions to address changes in the Philippines’ regulatory and commercial landscape, including PAGCOR’s tax restructuring and minimum guaranteed fees (MGF), as well as approaches to reaching players currently using unlicensed operators.

Other anticipated topics include:

• Adapting B2B software architectures to meet PAGCOR’s technical requirements.

• Establishing operational bases and shared-services hubs in the Philippines to support regional expansion.

• Applying compliance lessons from neighbouring jurisdictions as regulatory frameworks develop across Southeast Asia.

SPiCE International 2026 Conference Agenda

The event programme will explore market access, regulation, localisation and operational strategy across two days.

Day One – Thursday, 12 November

• Fireside Chat: Too Fast for Regulation? AI, Innovation and the New Rules of Gaming – examining how regulation responds to technological change.

• Product Marketplace: What Operators Are Buying and Why B2B Products Fail to Sell – exploring commercial relevance and procurement priorities.

• Casino Leaders Panel: Integrated Resorts vs. Digital Gaming: Can Both Win? – considering the relationship between land-based and digital gaming.

Day Two – Friday, 13 November

• Panel Discussion: Winning Players and Markets: Advertising, Affiliates, Influencers and Compliance – examining player acquisition in increasingly regulated markets.

• CEO Technology Forum: The New iGaming Stack: Build, Buy or Partner? – exploring modular infrastructure, localisation and technology investment.

• Panel Discussion: Seamlessly Transitioning Land-Based Players to Digital Platforms – discussing how to convert physical casino footfall into online accounts.

Further sessions will cover AI in iGaming, prediction markets, esports and creators, capital flows, and the Startup Pitch Competition.

Final Days To Nominate For The Eventus Awards

The SPiCE International Eventus Awards 2026 will take place on the evening of 12 November, recognising individuals, products and businesses in Asia’s gaming industry.

Nominations close on Friday, 30 October. Entries can be submitted through the official awards nomination page.

Exhibitor, Sponsor And Delegate Packages Available

Eventus International is offering packages for businesses looking to showcase products, increase brand visibility or participate in the conference and networking programme.

• Exhibitors: Present products and solutions to operators and decision-makers.

• Sponsors: Build brand visibility across the event’s content and networking activities.

• Delegates: Attend the conference programme and connect with industry stakeholders.

Event details: 12–13 November 2026, Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu, the Philippines.

Registration is available through the SPiCE International website.

Sponsorship and exhibition enquiries:

Lou-Mari Burnett
Chief Operating Officer
Eventus International
loumari@eventus-international.com