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POCA SPOT Has Expanded to Tokyo’s Shibuya Following Hong Kong MTR Launch, Cementing Its Position as a Global K-POP Fan Destination

Tokyo, Japan - June 16, 2026 - (SEATribune) - Infludeo, the company behind K-POP photocard specialty shop POCA SPOT, has opened a new location in Shibuya, Tokyo. Through a partnership with K Village (headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo; CEO: Motonari Kuwahara) — operator of Japan's largest Korean language school network — POCA SPOT by K Village officially launched inside the K Village Shibuya Ekimae (Station-Front) branch on May 15th. Infludeo had previously entered overseas markets by partnering with Hong Kong's mass transit operator MTR, opening POCA SPOT locations at key transit hubs including Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong Station, and West Kowloon High Speed Rail Station. The new Shibuya location marks the company's second overseas market, signaling that Infludeo's global expansion strategy has gained meaningful momentum. POCA SPOT has already established itself as a must-visit destination for K-POP fans at its flagship locations in Hongdae and Myeongdong, Seoul. POCA SPOT is an offline photocard specialty store where fans can purchase K-POP photocards and immerse themselves in collector culture. Because K-POP idol albums include photocards on a randomized basis, these cards have become highly coveted collectibles among fans. The thrill of not knowing which card you'll get, and the anticipation of finally finding that one card you've been chasing, are the core experiences that define POCA SPOT. A standout feature is its Lucky Draw vending machine system, which lets customers pull photocards on the spot — delivering the kind of immediate, in-person excitement that only a physical store can offer. Every photocard sold through POCA SPOT undergoes an in-house authenticity verification process, ensuring that only officially licensed genuine cards reach customers. Backed by proprietary grading expertise, the store provides a trustworthy environment for fans to shop with confidence. POCA SPOT also leverages data from POCAMARKET — Korea's largest photocard trading platform — to curate a selection of cards that reflect what fans are actually seeking and collecting. This Japanese market entry is built on the natural synergy with K Village, a leader in Korean language and culture education. As the number of Japanese learners motivated by K-POP and Korean dramas continues to grow, POCA SPOT has become a new touchpoint where fans can experience Korean culture up close. K Village, for its part, sees this as an opportunity to go beyond language instruction and offer students a way to actively enjoy Korean culture firsthand. Steven Kang, Head of B2B Division at Infludeo, commented: "Our collaboration with Hong Kong MTR showed us just how passionate fans around the world are about POCA SPOT. We'll use the Shibuya launch as a springboard to keep expanding the global K-POP fan experience." Media contact Brand: Infludeo Name: Jiwon Seo Email: hr@infludeo.com Website: https://infludeo.com Phone: +82 10-6675-8374

The $250K Gamble: How Adrian Mateos Outplayed the Elite in Poker’s Ultimate Test

(AsiaGameHub) -   By: Christian Pierce Poker’s high-stakes circuit faces a quiet crisis. Players chase rankings while risking life-changing sums. Adrian Mateos’ $4.3M victory at the 2026 WSOP Super High Roller exposes the brutal math of elite poker: win or vanish. Mateos defeated 55 opponents in a $13.7M prize pool event. His sixth bracelet came after a six-week run netting $11.9M. The final table held $379M in combined career earnings. Bryn Kenney, the all-time money list leader, took second for $2.7M. Mateos now ranks fifth globally with $69.6M lifetime winnings. This win cements high rollers as a closed ecosystem. Only nine players cashed. Phil Ivey bubbled at $533K. Mateos’ quote reveals the grind: “I love the rankings… Bryn is number one. It will be tough to catch him.” The industry’s endgame? Fewer whales, deeper stacks, and a relentless pursuit of legacy over liquidity. Author bio: Christian Pierce, a chief financial columnist and markets commentator specializing in high-stakes gambling economics and player valuation models.

Caesars Sold WSOP For $500M. Why It Just Opened A Permanent WSOP Store On The Strip Anyway

(AsiaGameHub) -   By: Christian Pierce Caesars’ new permanent WSOP retail store has left most gaming industry analysts confused. The company sold WSOP intellectual property to NSUS Group for $500 million in 2024. It’s launching the 2,320 square foot space right as 2026 WSOP attendance is falling across multiple key events. No one expects a seasonal pop-up to drive massive revenue, but a year-round store feels like a misstep at first glance. Jack Binion, 89-year-old son of WSOP founder Benny Binion, cut the ribbon at the June 12 launch ceremony. The store sits in the corridor connecting Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, where the 57th annual WSOP runs through July 15. It is the largest dedicated WSOP retail space in history, with over 100 clothing, accessory and collectible designs. Half the space uses vintage saloon finishes to honor early WSOP history, the other leans into modern poker aesthetics. Caesars retained 20 years of Las Vegas live event hosting rights and select retail licensing rights when it sold the core IP. The store solves a simple, low-risk commercial problem for Caesars. WSOP’s brand value still pulls in casual Strip tourists even in weak tournament years. It ties the WSOP identity firmly to Horseshoe Las Vegas, instead of letting new IP owner NSUS dilute that association elsewhere. Short-term attendance slumps stem from external factors: softer Canadian and UK travel to the US, and new tax rules cutting gambling loss deductions to 90% for US players. Those headwinds will fade long before Caesars’ 20-year hosting rights expire. Caesars will roll out identical small WSOP retail spots at all WSOP Circuit stop casino properties within 24 months. Author bio: Christian Pierce, chief financial columnist and markets commentator specializing in gaming and hospitality industry analysis.

Okada Manila’s on-site online casino showcase isn’t a gimmick—it’s the future of PH gambling

(AsiaGameHub) -   By: Christian Pierce Land-based casino operators in the Philippines have faced growing revenue pressure for years. Online gaming has captured a large share of local player spending, pulling revenue away from physical resort floors. Most operators long treated digital play as a separate, even competing, product line. That split has cut off potential repeat revenue from guests once they leave the resort property. Okada Manila launched its Okada Online Casino Win Zone on June 12, on its mass-market gaming floor. The space features live-table gaming, live-slot products and eGaming demo stations. It serves as a physical showroom for the group’s PAGCOR-licensed Okada Online Casino, which is only available to players located in the Philippines. Guests can test the platform on-site, then continue playing the same offering after leaving the resort. Earlier in 2026, Okada parent Tiger Resort, Leisure and Entertainment signed an online gaming partnership with PhilWeb for its digital products, covering platform tech, content, customer service and marketing support. This setup ties resort visits, loyalty accounts and online play into a single continuous experience for players. It eliminates the friction of introducing existing offline customers to the group’s digital offering. Every major land-based casino operator in the Philippines will roll out similar on-site online gaming showrooms by the end of 2027. Author bio: Christian Pierce, chief financial columnist and markets commentator covering Southeast Asian gaming and hospitality sectors.

Valve’s €220M Dutch Showdown: How Steam’s Lock-In Forced Gamers to Overpay

(AsiaGameHub) -   By: Oliver Hawthorne Dutch PC gamers are demanding €220 million back from Valve. They say Steam’s pricing and payment rules have overcharged them for years. This fight could upend how the entire PC gaming market sets prices. The Consumer Competition Claims Foundation launched GameClaim to lead the charge. Early calculations put total overpayments at €220 million. Average users could get €130 plus interest. High-spending gamers might receive more. The claim covers three key grievances. First, Steam forces users to use its Wallet for in-game purchases, charging a 30% commission. No alternative payment processors are allowed, driving up costs for skins, loot boxes, and season passes. Second, Valve allegedly pressures publishers to keep prices the same on rival stores. Even platforms like Epic Games Store, which takes just 12% commission, can’t offer cheaper games. Valve denies this—Gabe Newell testified the company doesn’t dictate prices elsewhere. Third, the case revives old geo-blocking claims. In 2021, the EU fined Valve for blocking Eastern European keys in Western Europe, a decision later upheld by courts. Valve faces similar legal battles globally: Wolfire Games filed an antitrust suit in the US, a UK claim targets its commissions, and a New York case accuses it of loot box gambling. Steam’s dominance creates a cycle of inflated prices. Publishers pass Valve’s 30% commission to consumers. They can’t cut prices on other platforms without risking access to Steam’s massive user base. This locks everyone into higher costs. If the Dutch claim wins, it will set a global precedent. Platforms will lose the power to force price parity. Consumers will finally see competitive pricing across PC gaming stores. Author bio: Oliver Hawthorne, Principal Correspondent at TechGlobal Review, covers tech antitrust and gaming industry shifts with 10+ years of international reporting experience.

Starmer’s Under-16 Social Media Ban: It’s Not Just Child Safety – It’s A Global Regulatory Test For Big Tech

(AsiaGameHub) -   By: Oliver Hawthorne The biggest tension here isn’t just keeping kids safe online. It’s the clash between platform growth targets and strict new regional online safety rules. Major social platforms have long relied on teen users to drive ad inventory and network effect stickiness. This ban, if passed, will force them to rewrite core user onboarding and content recommendation logic overnight. Multiple platform compliance teams I’ve connected with already have emergency meetings scheduled this week to map risk exposure. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s plan follows Australia’s existing regulatory framework, dubbed an “Australia plus” model by The Guardian. It will ban under-16s from all major social platforms including TikTok, Instagram, X and YouTube. Gaming apps avoid an outright ban but must remove features like stranger chat for young users. Under-18s also lose access to romantic or sexual AI chatbots, and rules will target late-night algorithmic scrolling loops. The government may use existing Online Safety Act age verification powers, though new legislation could still be required. Platforms won’t accept these restrictions passively. They will likely push for softer age verification rules that don’t cut off teen access entirely, while shifting more ad spend to adult-focused content verticals. The ban will also create a loophole for unregulated smaller apps that fly under the regulator’s radar, as teens seek workarounds via VPNs or fake accounts. Regulators must allocate at least triple their current online safety enforcement budget to track unregulated app providers for this policy to work. Author bio: Oliver Hawthorne, Principal Correspondent for a leading global technology review, covering digital platform regulation for over a decade.

The Strait is Open. The Machines Bought First.

(AsiaGameHub) -   By: Lucas Caldwell The algos just front-ran a peace treaty. Bitcoin’s surge past $65,422 on June 14, 2026, wasn't about crypto adoption. It was a pure, cold macro risk unwind. Traders had priced the Strait of Hormuz closed. A single Truth Social post from Donald Trump flipped the script. The machines reacted before the diplomats finished their statements. This is the new market reality: geopolitical risk is now a high-frequency trade. The official facts are stark. Trump announced the Iran deal was complete. He authorized the toll-free reopening of the Strait and removed the U.S. naval blockade. A formal signing is set for June 19 in Switzerland. Technical talks will cover demining and nuclear commitments. The Strait handles 20-25% of global seaborne oil trade. Reuters and The Guardian confirmed the deal, mediated by Pakistan. Oil prices tanked instantly. WTI fell 3.2% to $84.88. Brent dropped 3.4% to $87.33. The subtext is a trader’s playbook. This conflict began on February 28, 2026, with U.S.-Israel strikes under Operation Epic Fury. Iran retaliated, closed the Strait with mines and drones, and a U.S. naval blockade followed on April 13. Crypto traders treated it as a macro risk trade: sell on escalation, buy on ceasefire talks. The pattern held. Lower oil means cooler inflation. That implies a less aggressive central bank rate path. Better liquidity. Bitcoin is the canary for that shift. The game theory is now about the $65,000 level. Can it hold as support? Momentum depends on it. But the real volatility isn't over. The signing ceremony on June 19 is a potential pivot. Any hiccup in demining or compliance could flip sentiment instantly. The market has priced the peace. It hasn't priced the messy implementation. The billions in lost Iranian oil revenue and the delicate nuclear commitments are still live wires. The capital is now betting the peace will hold, freeing liquidity for risk assets everywhere. Author bio: Lucas Caldwell, a tech opinion leader with millions of followers on X/Twitter, dissecting the intersection of algorithmic trading, geopolitics, and digital asset flows.

Brazil’s 25,000 Betting Licence Dump Is Far More Than a Transparency Stunt

(AsiaGameHub) -   By: Adrian Kingsley Brazil’s betting regulatory space has operated as an opaque black box for years. Potential operators had no clear public benchmark for licence approval. Consumers had no way to verify if a betting platform met legal compliance standards. Regulators had no formal mechanism for public oversight of licensing decisions. That long-standing deadlock just broke entirely. The Ministry of Finance officially announced it will release over 25,000 redacted fixed odds betting licence files. All personal data and confidential commercial information will be stripped before publication. A joint task force with the Comptroller General of the Union will oversee the review process. Cleared documents will be posted publicly on the ministry’s official website. The government frames the move as a core part of its commitment to administrative transparency. For industry players, the files will lay out clear, real-world standards for licensing approval and compliance requirements. The announcement coincides with planned heightened regulatory oversight during the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The Secretary of Prizes and Betting, or SPA, has already coordinated with prosecutors and consumer protection bodies to align enforcement. Advertising will be a top priority, with strict checks on bonus offers, celebrity campaigns, influencer content and underage exposure, per rules set out in Law No. 14.790/2023. Brazil will also host its first Responsible Gaming Seminar on June 16 to formalize expectations for operators ahead of expected betting surges. The unstated core goal is to curb the wave of unregulated betting activity that usually accompanies major football tournaments. This policy shift will lock in a formal two-tier market structure for Brazilian betting, where licensed compliant operators gain long-term regulatory certainty and unlicensed actors face near-total erasure from the local market within a year. Author bio: Adrian Kingsley, an internationally renowned public administration scholar with 18 years of research on global gaming regulatory frameworks.

London’s Last Bet: Flutter Cashes Out as Wall Street Claims the House

(AsiaGameHub) -   By: Robert Kensington This is a classic, brutal case of capital following growth and leaving regulatory baggage behind. The board’s decision to abandon London isn't about sentiment; it's a cold calculation that the UK market no longer justifies the administrative overhead. [Official Announcement Facts]: Flutter Entertainment will drop its London Stock Exchange listing on August 3, 2026. Shares will trade there for the final time on July 31. The company will keep its New York Stock Exchange listing under FLUT. The board reviewed trading volume, listing costs, and UK regulatory duties. They decided London no longer served the company or shareholders. New York became the primary listing venue in 2024. [True Commercial Intentions]: The pivot was always about FanDuel. US sports betting and online gaming drive growth. Institutional trading concentrated in New York. Reuters data shows the US generated 42% of Flutter revenue. FanDuel holds a 39% share of the US online sports betting market. The Irish Stock Exchange was already jettisoned. London is just the next cost center to be cut. The $19 billion company is simplifying its story for US investors. This reshuffling makes Flutter a pure-play US betting stock. European assets like Betfair and Paddy Power become legacy operations. The market will now value the firm based on FanDuel's margins and stateside expansion. London’s loss is a definitive signal. The real money in gambling flows through American wallets and Wall Street’s ledger. Author bio: Robert Kensington, an overseas entrepreneurial veteran with decades of experience in real-economy industrial investment and expansion.

The Manila Pavilion’s Ghost: A $64 Million Pause That Speaks Volumes on Asia’s Tourism Illusion

(AsiaGameHub) -   By: Robert Kensington This isn't a pause. It's a surrender. Acesite's decision to freeze the Waterfront Manila Pavilion rebuild until 2028 isn't a cautious delay; it's a brutal admission that the post-pandemic tourism and gaming recovery story in the Philippines is fundamentally broken. Management is staring at a spreadsheet where costs have exploded and demand has evaporated. They’re not waiting for a better time. They’re waiting for a miracle. [Official Release Facts]: The board approved the suspension via a Philippine Stock Exchange filing. Reconstruction costs have ballooned to PHP3.6 billion, more than double the earlier estimate that relied on PHP1.5 billion in insurance from the 2018 fire. The company had PHP764 million in retained earnings earmarked but now refuses to pour more in. They cite soaring prices for materials, labor, fuel, plus extra structural work. The old plan, a phased soft launch in Q1 2026, is dead. The hotel will stay closed, with only annual maintenance funded to keep the shell safe. [True Commercial Intentions]: The cost overruns are a convenient scapegoat. The real story is a complete loss of faith in the market's near-term viability. Management explicitly states reopening talks won't resume before 2028 unless "key industry numbers improve." They list the real killers: weak foreign room sales, a stalled tourism recovery they blame on the "protracted U.S.-Israel-Iran war," and a "serious plateau" in Manila casino demand as online gaming cannibalizes it. Even visa-free access for Chinese tourists hasn't moved the needle. This isn't a construction halt. It's a capital strike. The company is demanding a specific return threshold: visitor arrivals, hotel occupancy, average room rates, and gaming revenues must be strong enough to support debt and deliver investment returns. Their cold, calculated verdict? "The earliest estimate of this is 2028." They are essentially writing off the next four years. This isn't planning. It's hibernation. This move signals a harsh reality check for Manila's integrated resort district. When a major player mothballs a prime asset for half a decade, it's a vote of no confidence in the entire local ecosystem. Expect capital to flow elsewhere, and watch for competitors to reassess their own expansion plans. The market share reshuffle won't be about who grows fastest, but who can survive the longest winter with the deepest pockets. Author bio: Robert Kensington, an overseas entrepreneurial veteran with decades of experience in real-economy industrial investment and expansion across Southeast Asia.

The Prediction Market Crackdown: How the CFTC is Dismantling State Sovereignty to Protect Kalshi

(AsiaGameHub) -   By: Jonathan Barrett The CFTC is suing New Mexico to block state gambling enforcement. This opens another court fight over sports event contracts. It is a raw jurisdictional power grab. The agency wants to stop state officials from enforcing local laws. They claim prediction markets are federally regulated derivatives. States see them as unlicensed online betting. This legal battle defines who controls the sector. It is a fight over black letter law versus state sovereignty. The timing is aggressive. The CFTC is asserting dominance before states can consolidate their grip. Chairman Michael Selig frames this as protecting exclusive jurisdiction. He argues New Mexico is trying to nullify decades of precedent. The lawsuit follows a separate action by Attorney General Raúl Torrez against Kalshi. The CFTC filing insists states cannot use gambling laws to control derivatives exchanges. They point to earlier federal rulings that blocked state action. This legal posture is rigid. The agency believes it has the sole expertise to regulate these markets. They are not interested in a compromise on gambling policy. New Mexico argues Kalshi bypassed strict gaming frameworks. The state only allows sports betting at physical tribal casinos. Torrez claims the operator ignored rules on compulsive gambling entirely. New Mexico is now the eighth state sued by the CFTC. It joins Rhode Island, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and New York among others. The agency says these states are invading the Commission's exclusive jurisdiction over swaps. Nevada remains the key exception where courts ruled against the platforms. This creates a fragmented map of enforcement across the country. Legal timing explains the CFTC's sudden aggression. The agency released proposed prediction market rules this week. These rules would allow many sports event contracts. They would limit contracts tied to injuries or officiating decisions. State gaming regulators see this federal plan as online sports betting in disguise. The CFTC views it as standard commodity derivatives oversight. This semantic difference drives the entire conflict. One side sees a financial instrument. The other sees a slot machine on a smartphone. Operators are caught in the crossfire of this federal versus state war. Kalshi and similar platforms must navigate these contradictory legal landscapes. They rely on federal backing to operate online without state gambling licenses. This strategy works until a state decides to fight back. The CFTC is effectively providing legal cover for these companies. They are drawing a line around the derivatives market. States are losing their ability to police what happens on their own soil. The federal preemption argument is winning so far. The federal government will eventually force a unified regulatory framework that renders state gambling compacts obsolete for digital prediction markets. Author bio: Jonathan Barrett, a lead focus editor for an independent overseas public affairs weekly.

Roxy Casino’s License Revocation: How Cambodia’s Regulatory Crackdown Exposes Deep Sector Fault Lines

(AsiaGameHub) -   By: Adrian Kingsley Cambodia’s revocation of Roxy Hotel & Casino’s license isn’t just a routine enforcement act. It’s a high-stakes test of the country’s ability to rein in a casino sector tangled with online scams and human rights abuses. The move comes amid mounting external pressure to crack down on criminal networks operating under licensed premises. Officially, the Commercial Gambling Management Commission (CGMC) pulled Radiant Pearl Investment Ltd.’s license after reviewing devices seized in a May 21 raid. Officers detained 25 Chinese nationals and took phones, computers, and surveillance gear. The CGMC has since asked the Cambodia Financial Intelligence Unit for bank account details tied to the company’s owners. This material will go to Svay Rieng Provincial Court prosecutors for further action. Industry insiders know Bavet’s proximity to Vietnam makes this action far more sensitive. The border town is a key casino hub, and any misstep risks alienating cross-border investors or drawing further international scrutiny. Authorities cite 91 casino closures in April and 250 scam center raids over nine months as proof of progress. But Amnesty International’s April report links casino complexes to trafficking and forced labor. The real impact goes beyond numbers. Casino operators now face strict demands to vet tenants, bank routes, and connected businesses for fraud ties. This compliance overhaul will strain smaller operators who lack resources for rigorous checks. It also forces regulators to balance enforcement with protecting a sector that drives local economic activity. Cambodia’s casino sector governance will remain a fragile balance between revenue and regulatory credibility. Author bio: Adrian Kingsley, an internationally renowned scholar specializing in public administration and cross-border regulatory policy.

Finland’s Stringent Gamble Rules: Balancing Access and Protection

(AsiaGameHub) -   By: Elena Rostova Finland's draft gambling rules are out. They cap online slot stakes. Under 25: €10 per spin. Older: €20. Autoplay's banned. Spins must last 2.5 secs. Consultation ends Aug 5, 2026. Ministry released rules under Gambling Act 10/2026. Focus on player harm, loss limits, RTP. Over 50 licence apps. Online slots need manual starts. Game info must be clear. 15-min play reminders. RTP varies by game. Loss limits differ by age. Venues and machines capped. Helsinki casino open till 4am. Reform ends Veikkaus' monopoly. Author bio: Elena Rostova, public policy expert specializing in gambling compliance evaluations.

Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Reports Record High Profit Brand Transformation Delivering High-quality Earnings Growth

Results Highlights Chow Tai Fook Jewellery delivered strong FY2026 performance on the back of successful brand transformation, achieving high-quality earnings growth against macro uncertainties and significant gold price volatility. Revenue grew 5.3% to HK$94,398 million, underpinned by steady growth from design-led and higher-margin iconic collections. The Group achieved an operating profit of HK$18,850 million (+27.8% YoY) and a record high profit attributable to shareholders of HK$9,004 million (+52.2% YoY). Gross profit margin expanded to 32.3%, supported by higher gold prices and increased contribution from the retail business and design-led jewellery. Operating profit margin expanded 360bps to a five-year high level of 20.0% driven by strong business performance and continued disciplined cost management. Return on Equity (“ROE”) increased to 28.4%, which represented a sustained improvement against our 5-year historical average of 20.5%. The Group opened its first global flagship store in Hong Kong in February 2026, alongside newly designed stores across the Chinese Mainland and key international markets, while expanding into luxury lifestyle categories. The Board has proposed a final dividend of HK$0.45 per share, bringing the full-year total to HK$0.67 per share, a payout ratio of 73.4%, reflecting our commitment to sustained shareholder returns. Financial Summary   For the year ended 31 March 2026 HK$ million 2025 HK$ million YoY Change Revenue 94,398 89,656 +5.3% Gross profit 30,500 26,455 +15.3% Gross profit margin 32.3% 29.5% +280 bps Operating profit(1) 18,850 14,746 +27.8% Operating profit margin 20.0% 16.4% +360 bps Profit attributable to shareholders of the Company 9,004 5,916 +52.2% Earnings per share       Basic (HK$) 0.91 0.59 +53.7% Diluted (HK$) 0.90 0.59 +52.5% Full year dividend per share(2) (HK$) 0.67 0.52 N/A   (1)  Aggregate of gross profit and other income, less selling and distribution costs and general and administrative expenses (2)  The payout ratio for FY2026 approximated 73.4% (Hong Kong, China, 11 June 2026) Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (“Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group”, the “Group” or the “Company”; SEHK stock code: 1929), today announces its annual results for the year ended 31 March 2026 (“FY2026”). Record Results Underscore the Continued Success of Brand Transformation The Group demonstrated strong resilience as revenue grew 5.3% to HK$94,398 million in a year marked by macroeconomic uncertainty and significant gold price volatility. Gross profit margin of 32.3% was up 280bps, driven by the surge in gold price and a higher contribution from the design-led and higher- margin iconic collections, successfully launched since 2024. Operating profit grew 27.8% to HK$18,850 million and profit attributable to shareholders grew 52.2% to a record high HK$9,004 million. Operating profit margin of 20.0% was up 360 bps to a five-year high level. The Group’s Return on Equity (“ROE”) increased to 28.4%, which represented a sustained improvement against our 5-year historical average of 20.5%. The Board has proposed a final dividend of HK$0.45 per share, bringing the dividend per share for the year to HK$0.67, a full-year payout ratio of 73.4%.  The strong performance was powered by a customer centric approach driven by three key levers of growth: (1) Redefining Chinese luxury globally, (2) Rejuvenating portfolio and operational efficiency and (3) Reimagining new horizons. Dr. Henry Cheng, Chairman of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, said, “We are committed to investing boldly in our brand – elevating desirability, forging deeper emotional connection with customers, and expanding our global resonance through immersive retail experience, exquisite craftsmanship, compelling storytelling and digital engagement that blends our rich heritage and cultural artistry with contemporary lifestyle.” Commenting on the annual results, Ms. Sonia Cheng, Vice-chairman of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, said, “We are delighted that the Group achieved record high results and high-quality earnings, validating the success of our brand transformation. As a leading global Chinese luxury group, Chow Tai Fook is charting a course to bring Chinese aesthetics, craftsmanship, and heritage storytelling to the world stage while setting a new benchmark for the industry. Redefining Chinese Luxury Globally The global luxury landscape has been dominated by Western culture. Our ambition is to redefine Chinese luxury globally, showcasing the contemporary Chinese culture, innovation and exquisite craftsmanship to the world. The successful launch of our signature collection – DAWN Collection, has clearly demonstrated Chow Tai Fook’s innovation and creativity, being the first jewellery brand to blend Chinese aesthetics with modern craftsmanship. Since its launch in April 2026 till the end of May 2026, DAWN Collection has delivered remarkable initial results, with Retail Sales Value (“RSV”) of over HK$500 million, outperforming the debut of some of the signature collections to date. Furthermore, more than 20% of customers purchasing this Collection were new to us in the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, underscoring the effectiveness of our signature collections in driving new customer acquisition. During the year, we unveiled our first High Jewellery Collection, “Timeless Harmony”, championing Eastern aesthetics through culturally rooted, world‑class craftsmanship and expanding the brand’s presence in the global high jewellery segment. In March 2026, we appointed David Tse as Global Creative Director, bringing deep luxury expertise from his tenure as Creative Director at Hermès in China, to lead our global storytelling and deepen brand desirability. Blending heritage with contemporary designs, our signature collections continue to resonate with the growing base of culturally conscious consumers. The Rouge Collection, Joie Collection and Chow Tai Fook Palace Museum Collection sustained strong sales momentum in FY2026, contributing close to HK$10 billion to our RSV, while the iconic HUÁ Collection contributed HK$43 billion to our RSV. Rejuvenating Portfolio and Operational Efficiency In February 2026, the Group opened its first global flagship store on Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, marking a significant milestone in its brand transformation journey. The approximately 10,000-square-foot flagship is the Group’s largest store across Hong Kong and Macao, showcasing the brand’s nearly century-long legacy, craftsmanship and creativity through it’s “Heritage Pavilion” and diverse offerings. The flagship offers consumers an elevated retail experience that reflects our evolving ambition as the leading global Chinese luxury group. As of FY2026, we had a total of 8 newly designed luxury-format stores in prime locations in the Mainland. These stores delivered significantly higher productivity, which was approximately 8 to 10 times the average Same Store Sales (“SSS”). These newly designed stores also had a substantially higher contribution from fixed-price jewellery. We also selectively opened stores in high-footfall locations, backed by enhanced visual merchandising, optimised product mix and elevated retail experience. As a result, the average monthly RSV of new stores aged less than two years reached approximately HK$1.6 million, up 57% YoY. In view of the success of the newly designed luxury-format stores, we plan to expand its network in the Mainland from the current 8 stores to 50 by FY2030. In the Mainland, SSS increased by 6.9% in FY2026, supported by our ongoing brand transformation initiatives and continued store optimisation. In Hong Kong and Macao, consumer demand strengthened notably post Mainland VAT reform on gold trading, with SSS rising 16.8% in FY2026. SSS growth in Hong Kong was 13.3% and Macao was 29.4% for the year. During the year, the Group also advanced digitalisation and launched our in-house AI Agent platform, deploying over 12 agents across functions such as visual merchandising, the GenAI jewellery creative centre, and AI live streaming, to drive operational efficiency and enhance customer engagement. Reimagining New Horizons The Group’s FY2030 ambition is to double the RSV of our international operations compared to FY2026; and to have an international footprint of over 100 stores. In line with our ambition, the Group expanded the Chow Tai Fook universe into new geographies, channels, product categories, and experiences that resonate with the constantly evolving lifestyle and aspirations of customers in FY2026. With the ambition to reshape global luxury and further strengthen our brand influence among global audiences, newly designed luxury-format stores were launched at Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore, Siam Paragon in Bangkok, and Westfield Sydney in Australia – marking our first entry into Oceania. This brings the total number of CHOW TAI FOOK JEWELLERY POS in Other Markets to 63. In FY2027, we will open further newly designed luxury-format stores across Southeast Asia and North America, while exploring opportunities in the Middle East in the next two years. As the first global Chinese jewellery brand to enter the luxury lifestyle arena, the new luxury home-décor line “Chow Tai Fook Home” brings craftsmanship, cultural heritage and attention to detail to refined home décor and functional art, including tableware collections developed in collaboration with renowned French porcelain house Bernardaud, where Western craftsmanship meets Chinese cultural heritage and gold artistry. Together with CTF Accessories which covers hair adornments, gold medallions and watch strap accessories, the new lifestyle offers will capture diverse market segments, broaden our customer base and create synergies with our core jewellery business. In FY2026, we continued to collaborate proactively with renowned IPs to reach new audiences. Our Black Myth Collection received overwhelming market response, with a significantly higher male mix than the Group average. Meanwhile, collaborations with Disney, Chiikawa and the NBA attracted new loyalty members, which accounted for 35%–55% of these IP collaborations’ customers, with a significant percentage of younger generations. HEARTS ON FIRE, a member of the Group, has continued its transformation into a modern global luxury diamond jewellery brand within the Group. During the year, HEARTS ON FIRE delivered resilient performance with its iconic INSIDE/OUT Collection contributing to 13% of the brand’s global revenue. The brand also expanded its retail presence in Asia with five new luxury retail locations, strengthening visibility in key luxury markets. Business Outlook The strong financial and operational performance highlights the success of our brand transformation strategy and paves the way for further growth. We are now entering the definitive phase of our multi-year transformation journey to our centenary in 2029, accelerating the pace and ensuring the precision of our full-scale strategic execution in FY2027 and beyond. Our sharpened focus is on elevating brand desirability, enriching the retail experience, and strengthening product differentiation. Despite continuing external market volatility and macroeconomic uncertainty, we remain cautiously optimistic in the markets where we operate. We are firmly committed to our brand transformation journey – redefining Chinese luxury globally, rejuvenating portfolio and operational efficiency and reimagining new horizons. We will continue to rigorously uphold financial discipline in cost and capital management, driving high-quality growth, sustainable earnings and returns for our shareholders. FY2030 Ambitions As we approach our centenary, we envision a Chow Tai Fook universe where jewellery seamlessly intertwines with the lifestyle of our customers – enriching their appreciation of cultural heritage, artistry, and craftsmanship. We see luxury as a universal language that transcends borders and cultures, where jewellery and lifestyle come together to express a shared vision of beauty, elegance, and creativity. Looking ahead to FY2030, we have set out the following ambitious targets: Financial performance: We aim to achieve above-market revenue growth, and sustain a high ROE of above 25% by FY2030; Store network evolution: We target to complete the full renovation and elevation of our POS portfolio by FY2030, delivering a cohesive and distinctive retail experience across all locations. In parallel, we plan to expand our network of newly designed luxury-format stores in the Mainland from the current 8 stores to 50 by FY2030; International expansion: We aim to double the RSV of our international operations compared to FY2026; and to have an international footprint of over 100 stores. Sustainability: We will target a 50% reduction in Greenhouse Gas emissions by FY2030, using FY2024, the first year of our brand transformation journey, as the base year. Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited Since its founding in 1929, CHOW TAI FOOK, the flagship brand of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, has been celebrated for its bold designs and meticulous attention to detail. Our commitment to innovation and craftsmanship has made us synonymous with excellence, value, and authenticity. As the global Chinese luxury group, we blend contemporary designs with traditional techniques to create timeless pieces. Each collection reflects our customers’ stories and lives, celebrating their special moments. We aspire to inspire and captivate generations to come, weaving the story of CHOW TAI FOOK into their own. Our brand portfolio includes the iconic CHOW TAI FOOK flagship brand, HEARTS ON FIRE, ENZO, and MONOLOGUE, offering a wide variety of products that also includes an expanding range of cutting-edge IP collaborations. With over 5,000 stores worldwide, we offer a seamless client journey across all touchpoints that includes a network across China as well as a growing number of global locations. Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (SEHK: 1929) has been listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since December 2011. We are committed to delivering sustainable long-term value for our stakeholders by continually enhancing earnings quality and driving higher value growth.   Media Enquiries: Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited Haide Ng Associate Director, Corporate Communications Tel: (852) 3115 4402 Email: haideng@chowtaifook.com 11/06/2026 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Media archive at www.todayir.com

WHAT WATON’S NEW PLATFORM – MoTA IS DESIGNED TO HELP USERS DO

EQS Newswire / 09/06/2026 / 16:00 UTC+8 (9 June 2026, Hong Kong) Waton Financial Limited Unveils MoTA: An AI-Native Investment Team Operating System and Agent Marketplace That Lets Anyone Build, Manage, and Command Their Own Professional Investment Research Team Waton Financial Limited today unveiled MoTA (Manager of Trading Agents), an AI-native investment team operating system and Agent marketplace that redefines what AI can do for investors. MoTA is not a stock-picking chatbot or a black-box trading bot. It is a platform designed to let users build, manage, and command their own team of specialized AI Agents across the full investment workflow — from portfolio definition to trade execution. The Problem Professional investment research has always required a team: factor researchers, fundamental analysts, technical analysts, risk managers, portfolio constructors, and trade execution officers. Each role demands specialized talent and expensive infrastructure. For individual investors and small teams, assembling such a capability has been cost-prohibitive — until now. The Solution MoTA transforms the user from a passive consumer of AI signals into an active leader of an AI-powered investment team. Its four integrated modules work together to deliver a seamless, end-to-end experience. First, Talents — the Agent Marketplace. Users browse, compare, and hire specialized AI Agents by role. Each Agent is purpose-built for a specific investment function — fundamental analysis, technical analysis, risk management, trade execution, and more. Agents can be swapped and composed as strategies evolve. Second, Team — composing your investment team. Users assemble multiple Agents into a structured team. Analysts feed research inputs, the Portfolio Manager evaluates and writes memos, the Risk Manager reviews exposure, and the Trader validates routing. The human user retains final sign-off authority at every stage. Third, Portfolio — the portfolio cockpit. A real-time overview of holdings, assets, P&L, risk, and exposure. Users see exactly what is moving across positions, where risk sits, and where returns originate — all in one unified view. Fourth, Decision — the Decision Center. Every Agent-generated suggestion surfaces in the Decision Center with full context: source Agent, signal, reasoning, and current status. Users can click into the full workflow or execution path, compare competing analyses, and manage an actionable queue of decisions. Every recommendation is structured, traceable, and auditable. These four modules connect in a continuous workflow: Portfolio to Decision to Team to Trade. Why MoTA Is Different Traditional AI investing tools offer a single AI chat box, scattered research answers, black-box signals, no role separation, and AI value that is hard to measure. Reviews are tied to AI silos. MoTA provides a multi-Agent investment team, a connected Portfolio-to-Trade workflow, an auditable Decision Center, dedicated Analyst and PM and Risk and Trader roles in coordination, unified metrics such as ROI and win rate and cost per run and override rate, and a unified path for portfolio, decisions, Agents, and trades. The Vision Behind MoTA Waton Financial Limited's mission with MoTA is clear: to make professional-grade multi-agent investing tools more accessible, more transparent, and more user-controlled. MoTA does not replace human judgment — it amplifies it. The platform frees users from the burden of being a full-stack investment expert and elevates them to a higher role: the builder, manager, and decision-maker of their own AI investment team. As AI moves from content generation into workflow execution, investing — inherently a multi-role, multi-step, multi-constraint process — is a natural fit for this transformation. MoTA is designed to bridge the gap between what AI can do and what the investment workflow actually needs. About MoTA MoTA (Manager of Trading Agents) is Waton Financial Limited's flagship AI-native investment team operating system and marketplace for specialized investing Agents. It enables users to create fully customizable investment teams, assign specialized AI Agents to each role, and receive structured, traceable, and auditable investment suggestions across the entire Portfolio-to-Trade workflow. About Waton Financial Limited Waton Financial Limited is a publicly listed financial services and technology company that designs, owns, and operates the MoTA platform. Waton is committed to building AI-native infrastructure for investment teams and making professional-grade multi-agent investing tools accessible to a broader audience. Welcome to MoTA. Welcome to the new era of investing.   Media Contact Email: ir@watonfinancial.com Website: https://wtf.us Explore MoTA: https://mota.ai   Disclaimer: This press release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. This is not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. 09/06/2026 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Media archive at www.todayir.com View original content: EQS News

Alsup’s $1.3M WSOP Monster Stack Victory: A Poker Milestone

(AsiaGameHub) -   By: Robert Kensington Richard Alsup claimed Event #18: $1,500 Monster Stack at 2026 WSOP. He turned 11,933 entries into $1,302,125. His second WSOP bracelet and first seven-figure live score. Prize pool hit $15,841,057. Salvatore Dicarlo took second for $900,000. Alsup outlasted a massive field. His new score is almost five times his prior best. Career earnings now over $3.9M. "I stayed positive and felt I'd win," he told PokerNews. The Monster Stack is known for big fields and life-changing payouts. Final table had pros. Alsup started sixth. He cracked Dicarlo's aces twice. Heads-up, he survived river help. Final hand: ace-seven beat ace-king. Dicarlo got $900K, Alsup the bracelet. Poker's a game of moments; Alsup's win cements his spot. Author bio: Robert Kensington, overseas entrepreneurial veteran with decades in real-economy investment and expansion.

Your Pokémon Go PokéStop Scans Might Be Tied to Defense Tech—Here’s Why the Denials Don’t Add Up

(AsiaGameHub) -   By: Ethan Gallagher Pokémon Go players didn’t sign up to fuel defense tech. But their casual PokéStop scans are now tangled in a partnership between Niantic Spatial and Vantor, a firm focused on military-grade navigation. The denials from both companies feel like thin smoke covering a bigger fire. Official facts tell a clean story. Scopely bought Niantic’s game division, including Pokémon Go, for $3.5 billion in 2025. Niantic Spatial, the geospatial AI arm left behind, announced a December 2025 partnership with Vantor. The goal is a GPS-denied positioning system for drones and autonomous platforms. Both firms insist Vantor never received Pokémon Go scan data. Industry subtext paints a murkier picture. Vantor’s core work is defense-focused navigation. Any link to consumer-generated geospatial data raises immediate red flags, even if the data itself isn’t directly shared. Official statements double down on separation. Niantic Spatial says it lost access to Pokémon Go data once the game moved to Scopely. It adds those scans were just one input for its AI models. Vantor claims it relies solely on its own satellite imagery and 3D data. But the subtext lingers. Niantic Spatial used years of player scans to train its geospatial AI before the split. That trained tech is now being paired with Vantor’s defense systems. Players opted in to build better AR experiences, not to contribute to tools that could be used in military operations. Defense tech supply chains will keep quietly tapping consumer data pools, no matter how many corporate splits or denials companies hide behind. Author bio: Ethan Gallagher, a Silicon Valley Hardware Architect and Infrastructure Strategist with 15 years designing geospatial and defense-focused tech systems.

Suvarna’s Third WSOP Bracelet: Indian Poker Makes a Strong Statement

(AsiaGameHub) -   By: Christian Pierce Santhosh Suvarna claimed his third WSOP bracelet by winning Event #29: $50K High Roller. He took home $1,922,870. The event had 167 entries, a $7.9M prize pool, and 26 paid. Suvarna now shares India’s WSOP bracelet record with Nipun Java. Suvarna’s live earnings exceed $22.6M. His latest win boosts Indian poker’s profile. The final table saw Zlotnikov early, then Suvarna closed gaps. He beat Lee heads-up. His $1.9M is third-largest career score. Author bio: Christian Pierce, chief financial columnist focusing on poker’s competitive and financial dynamics.

BOYLE’s IBIA Move Isn’t Just About Integrity – Here’s What They’re Not Telling You

(AsiaGameHub) -   By: Robert Kensington Most industry observers write this off as a routine compliance check. Most big regulated betting operators join IBIA just to check a box for regulators. But there is far more going on under the surface here. I chatted with a mid-sized European betting operator last month over coffee. He told me any operator that won’t join these days is definitely hiding something. The official announcement lays out clear, positive talking points. BOYLE Sports will join IBIA's global monitoring and alert network. It will share data on suspicious betting patterns with regulators and law enforcement. IBIA's network already includes more than 90 companies and 200 betting brands. The platform monitors over $300 billion in annual sports betting turnover. BOYLE says the move reflects its commitment to transparent, responsible betting. The unspoken industry goal here is much more practical. Joining IBIA gives BOYLE more credibility with European regulators. Regulators across the continent are cracking down on unethical betting activity. BOYLE is a major licensed player across Ireland, Great Britain and Gibraltar. It has high profile sports sponsorships that put it under public scrutiny. It needs to shore up its reputation to expand into new regulated markets. IBIA gets more scale and broader sports coverage for its monitoring work. More members mean more data, which makes the entire network more effective. This wave of big regulated operators joining IBIA will squeeze unregulated smaller players out of key European markets. Author bio: Robert Kensington, an overseas entrepreneurial veteran with decades of experience in global gaming industry investment and expansion.

World Cup Betting Threat Forces Korea’s Stringent Crackdown

(AsiaGameHub) -   By: Elena Rostova South Korea blocks 1,280 illegal betting sites ahead of World Cup 2026. Regulators fear unlicensed ops target fans. Jan-June 8 saw 5,279 correction cases. World Cup runs June 11 to July 19. Blocked sites cover more than football. Live betting a key concern. Unlicensed sites steal funds. Case numbers climb. 2024 had 69,350 cases. Korea's strict gambling rules stay. Author bio: Elena Rostova, public policy expert specializing in compliance assessments for governments or sovereign wealth funds