IAG Unveils Full Programme for 2026 Academy Summit
Manila Set For Two Days Of Industry Analysis
Inside Asian Gaming has published the full programme for the 2026 IAG Academy Summit, scheduled for 15 and 16 September at Newport World Resorts in Manila. The event sits at the centre of IAG EXPO week and brings together operators, regulators, suppliers and executives from across Asia’s gaming and integrated resort sectors.
The agenda is built around the commercial and regulatory issues shaping the region. Sessions will cover market expansion, technology adoption, player intelligence tools and the changing role of integrated resorts, which combine gaming with hotels, entertainment and other tourism assets.
Regulation And Market Direction Take Centre Stage
Day one opens with PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco, who is set to address the regulator’s plan to separate its regulatory and operating functions. That issue matters for investors and licence holders because clearer separation can improve transparency, sharpen oversight and reshape how the Philippine market is assessed by international stakeholders.
The programme also turns to market development across Vietnam, Japan, Sri Lanka and Laos. For operators and suppliers, these sessions offer a practical view of where capital, partnerships and product demand could shift next across Asia.
Technology Moves From Support Tool To Core Capability
Several sessions focus on facial recognition, player data and the convergence of land-based and online gaming. For non-experts, facial recognition refers to software that identifies individuals through image analysis, while player data covers the behavioural information operators use to personalise service, strengthen security and support responsible gambling controls.
Artificial intelligence is another major theme on day two. AI in gaming can include automated risk detection, customer segmentation, marketing optimisation and operational forecasting. Its growing presence at senior-level events shows that the technology is now being treated as a boardroom issue rather than a back-office experiment.
Operators And Suppliers Bring Commercial Perspective
Day two opens with a fireside chat featuring Crown Resorts CEO David Tsai and Inside Asian Gaming Vice Chairman and CEO Andrew W Scott. The discussion will cover Crown’s return to suitability and its push for profitability across its three Australian resorts, offering a useful read on how major operators are balancing compliance demands with earnings growth.
An operators panel will also feature leaders from Hann Casino Resort, Bloomberry Resorts Corp and NUSTAR Resort and Casino. Their participation should provide a current view of Metro Manila’s locals market, a segment that remains important because domestic demand can steady revenues when international travel patterns fluctuate.
Suppliers from Aristocrat Gaming, Konami, IGT and Light & Wonder will add the product and platform view. That matters because supplier roadmaps often signal where casino floors, digital features and player engagement tools are heading next.
Integrated Resorts Expand Beyond Gaming
The closing session, focused on leisure tourism, reflects a wider shift in Asia’s integrated resort model. Golf, concerts, dining and other non-gaming attractions are increasingly central to how resorts attract broader audiences, extend length of stay and build revenue streams beyond the casino floor.
For B2B stakeholders, that trend creates opportunities well beyond core gaming. Technology vendors, content providers, payment specialists and hospitality partners all stand to benefit as resorts invest in a more diversified guest experience.
Source: Inside Asian Gaming
🌐 Source: Inside Asian Gaming
