Flutter Entertainment, a global leader in online sports betting and iGaming, has inaugurated its cutting-edge Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Hyderabad, marking a significant milestone in its global expansion strategy. With an investment of $3.5 million, this 80,000 sq ft hub, (approximately 7500 sq metres), located at RMZ Spire in Knowledge City, is set to become a beacon of innovation and excellence.

The Hyderabad GCC is already bustling with over 700 employees specialising in data engineering, game integrity services, HR operations, procurement, safety and security, and customer operations. By the end of 2024, Flutter aims to increase its headcount to 900, focusing on roles in data analytics and engineering. This expansion is part of Flutter’s commitment to attract top talent in order to drive global business growth.

Phil Bishop, COO of Flutter Entertainment, drew attention to the strategic importance of this expansion, stating, “Our Hyderabad GCC is designed to foster creativity and growth, strengthening our presence in the Indian employment and skills market.” Ashish Sinha, Managing Director of Flutter Entertainment India, (photo above on the left) completely agreed, and remarked that India’ has significant potential for the company’s growth and innovation.

The Hyderabad hub will play a pivotal role in supporting Flutter’s global brands, including Paddy Power, Sisal, Sky Betting & Gaming, PokerStars, Sportsbet, and Betfair. This move aligns with Flutter’s global vision of continuous improvement in product and technology across its diverse portfolio.

Flutter Entertainment’s new GCC project in Hyderabad is not just an expansion but a strategic investment in the future of iGaming and sports betting, leveraging India’s rich talent pool to drive global innovation and growth.

In Indonesia, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kominfo) is gearing up to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to win the war on illegal online gambling.

Teguh Arifiyadi, Director of Application Control at the Directorate General of Informatics Applications, is a strong advocate for using AI to eliminate illegal gambling websites and apps. He explained how AI enables the rapid detection and blocking of online gambling sites at a rate that would be impossible otherwise.

“We are harnessing the latest technology to detect and block online gambling sites. With machine learning, our systems can learn from existing patterns and continuously update blocking methods in line with the technological advancements used by perpetrators,” he stated.

The AI-driven system not only prevents access to these sites but also helps to suppress the emergence of new sites, which often appear within hours of older ones being blocked.

Arifiyadi acknowledges, however, that while advanced technology is crucial, it is not sufficient on its own due to the enormous financial turnover involved in online gambling activities.

Kominfo has recently strengthened its partnership with several key agencies, including the Indonesian National Police, the Financial Services Authority (OJK), and the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK).

Kominfo’s partnership with OJK focuses on blocking bank accounts used for online gambling transactions, while the Indonesian National Police ensures that those involved in illegal gambling are prosecuted. As part of these efforts, PPATK has already blocked 4,548 accounts suspected of being used for gambling deposits in 2024.

The turnover of online gambling in Indonesia is expected to exceed $20 billion by the end of the year. The government, led by Kominfo, has vowed to eradicate illegal gambling, which is viewed by authorities as a threat to the population, particularly to lower-income groups, who make up the majority of the estimated three million participants.

In recent years, the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) has revealed an exponential increase in the flow of money within the illegal online gambling sector. From $129 million in 2017 to $323 million in 2020, the turnover surged to $21 billion by 2023, according to official figures.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed the urgency of regional cooperation to combat cross-border crimes. Wang?highlighted recent joint operations between China, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, which resulted in the arrest of over 50,000 individuals involved in gambling and fraud. ?

Wang called for stronger border controls, improved intelligence sharing, and continued joint efforts to apprehend and repatriate criminals. He emphasised that sustained regional stability depends on consistent cooperation among neighbouring countries.  

According to a report by Global Times, Chinese experts have praised Wang’s proposal, noting that it reflects China’s strategic approach to fostering long-term regional stability through practical cooperation. The Ninth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, reinforced this commitment, with leaders from six countries issuing a joint statement to combat cross-border crimes. Chinese observers underscored the importance of collective efforts in addressing the spillover effects of crimes like drug trafficking and smuggling, which threaten both regional and global security.?

Last week, Wang met with Myanmar’s leader Min Aung Hlaing in Nay Pyi Taw, focusing on enhancing cooperation to combat cross-border crimes, particularly online gambling and telecom fraud. Min emphasised Myanmar’s commitment to China as a trustworthy neighbour and expressed his willingness to strengthen ties, especially in law enforcement. He underscored the importance of collaboration in securing both nations’ interests, particularly in cracking down on activities that threaten regional stability. 

Min reiterated Myanmar’s support for China’s sovereignty and the one-China principle. The discussion also covered advancing Belt and Road cooperation, with both leaders expressing a desire to strengthen partnerships in various sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture, and energy. ?

Wang, meanwhile, reaffirmed China’s support for Myanmar’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, emphasising non-interference in Myanmar’s internal affairs. He praised the resilience of China-Myanmar relations, which have weathered the evolving international landscape.  

Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo reportedly left the Philippines in July, according to Senator Risa Hontiveros. During a Senate plenary session, Hontiveros revealed that Guo had departed the country and was in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by July 18.  

The senator stated that Guo used her Philippine passport to exit the country and later travelled to Singapore to reunite with her family, who had flown in from China. Hontiveros expressed outrage, questioning how Guo managed to leave despite assurances from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) that she would be barred from departing the country.  

Earlier, the Philippines’ Office of the Ombudsman ousted Guo from her mayoral post. According to the Ombudsman’s probe, Guo’s connections to Baofu Land Development Inc., which controlled the property housing the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) operations, persisted even after she assumed the mayoral office in 2022. ??

Following Hontiveros’ revelations, Senator Raffy Tulfo echoed concerns about the possibility that Guo left the country on a chartered plane. Tulfo highlighted the lack of adequate processing centres for passengers of private aircraft, noting that these individuals could bypass standard immigration procedures. He emphasised the need to trace any chartered or private planes that left the country on the day of Guo’s departure and to identify the customs, immigration, and quarantine officials on duty at that time.   

In a related development, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco disclosed that intelligence reports indicated Guo left the Philippines without passing through immigration controls. Tansingco confirmed that Guo had flown to Malaysia and subsequently to Singapore. He noted that although Guo’s name was listed on the Department of Justice’s immigration lookout bulletin, her departure was not recorded in the BI’s system, raising concerns about potential lapses in monitoring informal exit points managed by other aviation or maritime agencies.  

Amid these conflicting reports, Guo’s lawyer, Stephen David, maintained that she was still in the Philippines. David stated that he spoke with Guo online on Sunday, and she assured him that she had not left the country. He added that Guo had recently sworn under oath before a notary public in Bulacan, further affirming her presence in the Philippines. David acknowledged the potential legal repercussions if the notarization was conducted without Guo’s physical presence and pledged to follow up on Senator Hontiveros’ claims.  

The controversy surrounding Guo’s whereabouts has left many questions unanswered. While senators continue to probe the circumstances of her reported departure, the BI faces scrutiny over its failure to track her movements. As investigations proceed, the truth behind Guo’s location and the implications for Philippine law enforcement and immigration protocols remain in the spotlight.?