Why trust is becoming Asia’s new competitive advantage in gaming
For years, discussions about growth in Asia’s gaming industry centred on market liberalisation, expanding player bases and new commercial opportunities driven by technology. At multiple sessions during SiGMA Asia 2026, however, one word repeatedly emerged as the defining theme: trust.
In this context, trust extends well beyond regulatory compliance. It encompasses effective governance, public-private collaboration, payment security, player protection and market transparency. As gaming markets across Asia mature, building trust is increasingly being viewed not simply as a regulatory obligation, but as a strategic advantage that supports long-term growth.
“The goal is to create a framework where innovation, consumer protection, economic growth and public trust can coexist harmoniously,”
said Dr Mark Anthony King, Chairman of MAK LLC Governance Advisory.
His remarks reflected a wider consensus across the conference: innovation, growth and player protection are not competing priorities. Instead, they must develop together within a well-designed regulatory and governance framework.
Trust has become a competitive advantage beyond compliance
During the sessions Powering Success: Governance & Growth in Asia’s Digital Gaming Economies and Asia’s Safest Bet: Regulation or Revenue?, industry leaders agreed that attracting international operators and investment now depends on far more than the ability to obtain a gaming licence. What increasingly matters is whether a market offers a stable, transparent and predictable regulatory environment.
As jurisdictions across Asia mature, businesses are looking beyond market size towards regulatory systems that support long-term investment and continued innovation. Rather than focusing solely on rapid expansion, operators are placing greater emphasis on transparent regulation, policy consistency, and governments willing to work with the industry to create a sustainable market.
Throughout the discussions, Dr King repeatedly stressed that trust is not only a relationship between regulators and operators. It also underpins assurance among players, investors and the wider public.
This shows wider developments across the region. From the Philippines’ regulatory reforms to continuing discussions around gaming frameworks in Thailand and Japan, policymakers are increasingly recognising that clear, transparent and predictable regulation is fundamental to attracting international businesses and investment.
Good regulation is a driver for market growth
Speakers also argued that governance is the foundation for building market trust. Several panellists said the role of governments should go beyond introducing rules or restricting markets. Instead, regulators and industry should work together to create an environment that balances innovation with the public interest.
Armando Bartolome, Founder and President of GMB Franchise Developers, said that developing a healthy market requires cooperation between both sectors.
“The private sector cannot function without the government, and the government cannot function without the private sector.”
He argued that collaboration between regulators and industry can improve policymaking, establish consistent market standards, reduce regulatory uncertainty and strengthen investor faith.
Catherine Jalandoni, Chair of the Global AI Council Philippines, added that regulation must find a balance between encouraging innovation and managing risk. She said regulators should develop frameworks that are not so restrictive that they stifle technological progress, while remaining robust enough to sustain public trust. In other words, effective regulation should enable innovation to flourish within a predictable legal environment rather than suppress it.
The POGO experience shows that trust takes longer to build than growth
The rise and fall of the Philippines’ POGO sector was repeatedly cited as one of the most important case studies for Asia’s gaming industry. During the session After POGOs: Rebuilding the Philippine Gaming Equation, speakers argued that the end of POGO operations did not signal the end of opportunity. Instead, it prompted the industry to reconsider how to build a more transparent market capable of attracting international capital.
For investors, the decisive factor is not market size but regulatory certainty. Peter Williams, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Continent 8 Technologies, said:
“Capital follows certainty and predictability.”
His comments reflected a wider shift across Asia. While businesses previously prioritised population growth and rapidly expanding markets, investors are now paying closer attention to consistent legal frameworks, transparent regulation and policy environments that sustain long-term business development.
Casino Plus Chief Executive Officer Evan Spytma noted that international investors often ask for legal certainty before discussing commercial opportunities. He said foreign investors want to see legislation clearly set out in law rather than policies that could change with a new administration. For businesses, predictable regulation builds stronger long-term confidence than short-term incentives.
Regulation or revenue? The goal is a market people can trust
The debate Asia’s Safest Bet: Regulation or Revenue? approached the issue from opposing perspectives but reached a similar conclusion.
Representing the revenue first position, Steve Chow, Partner at Yolo Investments, argued that in emerging markets, consumer demand usually develops before regulation catches up. While commercial growth may initially outpace legislation, he stressed that effective enforcement ultimately determines whether regulation succeeds.
“The regulation means nothing without enforcement.”
His point echoed themes raised in the earlier discussions. Whether the focus is governance, public-private cooperation, or attracting international investment, meaningful trust depends on consistently implemented regulations.
Representing the regulation-first perspective, Ray Lee, Business Development Director at TaDa Gaming, argued that regulated markets provide the strongest framework for sustainable business growth.
“As for long-term strategies, it would definitely be regulated markets.”
The debate concluded without declaring either position the winner. Both speakers acknowledged that different markets require different approaches depending on their stage of development. Rather than choosing between regulation and growth, they agreed that Asia’s gaming industry needs a model capable of supporting innovation, commercial opportunity and long-term market confidence simultaneously.
The next stage of competition in Asia’s gaming industry
The discussions at SiGMA Asia 2026 demonstrated that trust has moved beyond a regulatory issue into a common thread linking governance, investment, innovation and business development.
Businesses need trust to attract players and commercial partners. Investors need trust before committing long-term capital. Governments need trust to establish regulatory systems that manage innovation in the public interest.
The next phase of competition in Asia’s gaming industry will therefore be defined less by which jurisdiction expands fastest and more by which can build the most trusted market environment.
Across the region, markets are gradually moving away from a model of expansion first and regulation later. For operators, building trust now directly influences whether investors, partners and players are prepared to make long-term commitments. For governments, transparent and predictable regulation will determine whether their markets continue to attract international businesses and capital.
Although the three SiGMA Asia sessions focused separately on governance, the post-POGO landscape and regulatory strategy, they all arrived at the same central question: how can Asia build lasting trust? The answer is neither stricter regulation nor faster expansion alone, but achieving the right balance between the two.
Big ideas need the right stage. From 30 November to 2 December 2026, SiGMA South Asia transforms Colombo into a hub for 3,500+ delegates and 150+ exhibitors shaping the future of gaming across the region.
