Conceptual architectural rendering of the planned Bally's Chicago casino complex. Image credit/source: (Bally's Corporation / HKS Architects) CHICAGO Bally’s Corporation has confirmed that construction on its $1.7 billion permanent casino resort in downtown Chicago remains on schedule for an early 2027 opening, pushing back against recent reports suggesting development had halted. Speaking on an investor update call, company leadership stated that work at the site is continuing daily as the operator balances construction milestones with a strategic review of non-gaming amenities prompted by local regulatory changes. Addressing construction rumors and site progress Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim directly addressed media reports that questioned the pace of work at the former Chicago Tribune Freedom Center site at 560 W. Grand Ave. On an eight-minute update call with stakeholders alongside Wanda Wilson, head of the Bally's Chicago board, Kim clarified that active physical construction has not paused. “There have been inaccurate reports suggesting that construction has been stopped or paused,” Kim said. “Construction continues every day, and there are approximately 1,000 skilled tradespeople working on the construction of the permanent Bally's Chicago resort.” Development at the riverfront site achieved a major structural milestone earlier this year in April, when crews placed the final structural beam on the main casino and hotel frame. The operator is currently preparing to host tours of the construction site for shareholders and investors to showcase physical progress. VGT expansion sparks host agreement review The company's clarification follows a decision in August to re-examine the delivery schedule for certain non-gaming components. The review was triggered after the City of Chicago authorized the expansion of video gaming terminals (VGTs) across municipal venues. In July, Bally’s formally advised city officials that legalizing VGTs constituted a conflict with the economic premises of the original host community agreement signed between the operator and the city. Bally’s argues that decentralized electronic gaming terminals threaten to siphon potential revenue away from the centralized casino development. To protect its capital investment and safeguard investor value, Bally’s informed its primary contractor that it would reassess the timeline for introducing selected ancillary facilities. “Bally's took these actions because our responsibility is clear,” Kim explained. “We are acting to protect our investors, to preserve the value of Bally's Chicago, and to ensure the commitments that underpin this investment and our agreement with the City of Chicago are honored.” Timeline and deliverables for Bally's Chicago Casino opening The operational scope of the resort was previously detailed during a presentation to the Chicago City Council License Committee on September 9. Bally’s President and Interim Chief Financial Officer George Papanier confirmed that while the target opening date remains set for early 2027shifted from an initial 2026 estimate the initial rollout will focus on core gaming and hospitality infrastructure. Upon the planned Bally's Chicago casino opening in early 2027, the facility is scheduled to feature: Main casino floor with full gaming facilities 100 hotel rooms (with eventual expansion planned up to 500 rooms) On-site event center Primary food and beverage establishments mandated under the host agreement Approximately 12% of the project’s total planned amenities are currently undergoing evaluation. These under-review facilities comprise additional hotel capacity along with secondary entertainment and specialized dining concepts. Bally’s emphasized that this evaluation represents a re-sequencing of phase deliveries rather than a cancellation or suspension of building activities. Technical & editorial summary Project metric Details Total Capital Investment $1.7 Billion Location 560 W. Grand Ave. (Former Tribune Freedom Center) Current Target Opening Early 2027 (Revised from 2026) On-Site Workforce ~1,000 skilled tradespeople Initial Hotel Capacity 100 rooms (Targeting 500 in full buildout) Amenities Under Phasing Review ~12% (Non-gaming, hospitality, entertainment) Outlook and strategic context The commercial casino sector in Illinois continues to adjust to expanding gaming options, including sports betting and neighborhood electronic terminals. For Bally's, maintaining momentum on its flagship urban resort remains critical to securing a dominant market share in the Midwestern metropolitan area. While negotiations and amenity adjustments regarding local VGT policy continue with municipal representatives, physical construction on the core casino superstructure moves forward toward its early 2027 grand opening target. About Asia Casino News Asia Casino News covers developments across the casino, iGaming, betting, regulation and gaming industries in Asia and international markets. Our coverage follows the legal, regulatory and commercial changes shaping the global gambling industry. Visit Asia Casino News for more industry news, analysis and gambling guides. Sources Yogonet

Official logo of the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). Image credit/source: National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). WASHINGTON, D.C. The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) has publicly defended its decision to grant corporate membership to prediction market operator Kalshi, following high-profile exits from prominent U.S. state gaming authorities. The controversy surrounding the NCPG Kalshi membership has triggered a wave of departures from the national non-profit organization. Over recent months, major regulatory and harm-prevention bodies including the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB), the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC), and the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling severed their ties with the NCPG. The departures stem from regulatory concerns over prediction markets, which offer event contracts tied to sports outcomes, economic indicators, and political elections. Multiple state jurisdictions classify these event contracts as unlicensed or illegal gambling, putting regulatory authorities at odds with platforms expanding consumer trading into sports and political domains. The NCPG Kalshi membership and "functionally gambling" products Despite the regulator pushback, the NCPG maintains that engaging directly with prediction market operators is necessary to fulfill its core mission of harm reduction. Kalshi joined the council under its newly created Financial Services and Trading subcategory, contributing $2 million to help build out the NCPG's Financial Trader Health and Safety Initiative. Addressing the growing controversy, NCPG President Derek Longmeier emphasized that consumer exposure to prediction markets and financial event trading has grown exponentially, particularly among younger demographics. "Prediction markets have moved rapidly to a mainstream product used by millions of Americans. Regardless of how prediction markets are currently legally defined, NCPG believes it is functionally gambling and can expose consumers to many of the same risks and harms associated with traditional gambling," said Derek Longmeier, President of the NCPG. "We've been clear about this well before we launched our Financial Trader Health and Safety Initiative earlier this year. And the exposure today in scale, in speed, and in reach to new and often young users is unprecedented. NCPG is neutral on whether prediction markets should be legal. We are not neutral on the need to prevent and reduce gambling-related harm wherever it occurs." Independence and minimum safeguards Longmeier also addressed questions regarding financial contributions, assuring stakeholders that corporate funding does not buy regulatory influence or editorial control over policy positions. "Membership, funding or collaboration does not give any person or organization control over NCPG's research, advocacy, policy positions, or public statements," Longmeier explained. "We welcome engagement from gambling companies, sports leagues, prediction market platforms, financial-services organizations, regulators, policymakers, consumer advocates, researchers, community organizations, and prevention, treatment, and recovery professionals to advocate for and build real consumer protections such as responsible-engagement tools, self-exclusion options, age verification, clear risk disclosures, and direct lines to help." "Our goal is to get ahead of harm, and we consider the aforementioned protections to be minimum standards for entities offering gambling and functionally gambling products." The evolving boundary between trading and iGaming The rift highlights an expanding friction between traditional state gambling regulations and federally oversighted financial trading platforms. While federal regulators like the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and federal courts continue to navigate the legal boundary of event contracts, state gaming commissions have taken an aggressive stance against platforms offering sports-adjacent or political wagering without state-issued gaming licenses. For the NCPG, maintaining neutrality on legal status allows the council to advocate for player protection tools directly within emerging financial trading apps, even as state regulators argue that membership risks legitimizing unlicensed entities. About Asia Casino News Asia Casino News covers developments across the casino, iGaming, betting, regulation and gaming industries in Asia and international markets. Our coverage follows the legal, regulatory and commercial changes shaping the global gambling industry. Visit Asia Casino News for more industry news, analysis and gambling guides. Sources Gamingintelligence "National Council on Problem Gambling defends Kalshi’s membership"

Interface screenshot of the card game Tongits Go. Image credit/source: PlayJoy / Tongits Go. If you want to know how to play Tongits Go, start with one important distinction: learning the rules is not the same thing as learning a guaranteed way to win. Tongits is a Filipino card game built around forming combinations, managing unmatched cards and making decisions based on the cards available during a round. JILI's Tongits Go is its own digital implementation. JILI describes it as an Indian Poker game and says it involves competing against three other players, three types of victory settlements and special-hand rewards. That means a useful Tongits Go guide needs to cover more than the basic instruction to “draw, meld and discard.” A player also needs to understand what makes a useful meld, why a discard matters, how Sapaw can change a hand, and what happens when a player chooses a Fight or another round-ending option. At the same time, not every detail found on an online casino's Tongits page should automatically be treated as a universal JILI rule. Player arrangements, automated actions, timers and some settlement details can depend on the particular implementation. The guide below focuses on the mechanics that matter while clearly separating documented game features from practical strategy. What is Tongits Go? Tongits Go is JILI's digital Tongits-style card game. JILI's official game page classifies it as Indian Poker, lists its publication time as November 2022, and describes three broad features: competition against three other players, three types of victory settlements and special-hand rewards. Traditional Tongits is generally played with a standard 52-card deck. The central objective is to organize cards into valid combinations called melds while reducing the value of cards that remain unmatched. The basic concepts are familiar: Melds are valid card combinations placed together. Sets contain cards of the same rank. Sequences or runs contain consecutive cards of the same suit. The draw pile supplies cards during play. The discard pile records cards that players have thrown away. Sapaw refers to adding an appropriate card to an existing exposed meld. Tongits is a winning route associated with getting rid of the cards in your hand. Fight involves comparing remaining card values under the applicable rules. JILI's description adds digital settlement and special-hand mechanics to this familiar structure. It does not, however, publish every detailed rule on the public game-description page. That is why implementation-specific claims should be checked against the current game interface or applicable game rules before publication. How to play Tongits Go step by step The easiest way to understand how to play Tongits Go online is to think about every turn as a three-part decision: What can I draw? What can I combine? What should I discard? Your answer changes as cards are exposed and discarded. Start with your hand and the discard flow A Tongits round begins with cards being dealt to the participating players. Traditional Tongits sources commonly describe a three-player structure, although the exact starting-card arrangement should not be generalized to every Tongits Go implementation without verification. The important beginner principle is to organize your cards immediately. Look for: Three cards of the same rank Four cards of the same rank Three or more consecutive cards of the same suit Cards that are one step away from creating a useful sequence High-value cards that have no obvious combination After cards are organized, the game proceeds through drawing and discarding. The exact opening action can vary depending on the implementation, so players should follow the current JILI interface rather than assuming that every digital version follows one identical deal sequence. Build valid melds A meld is the foundation of Tongits. A basic set could be: 7♠ 7♥ 7♦ All three cards have the same rank. A sequence could be: 4♣ 5♣ 6♣ The cards are consecutive and share the same suit. Another sequence might be: 9♥ 10♥ J♥ Q♥ The important point is that a sequence requires consecutive cards of the same suit. Simply having consecutive ranks in different suits does not create the same type of run. Forming a meld removes those cards from your unmatched-card total. This matters because a round can ultimately be decided by the value of cards that remain outside your melds. A common beginner mistake is to treat every pair as something worth protecting indefinitely. A pair can become useful, but holding it too long can also leave a player with several unmatched high-value cards. Use Sapaw when the table allows it Sapaw is one of the most useful concepts to understand because it changes the value of cards already exposed on the table. The basic idea is that a player can add a suitable card to an existing meld. For example, suppose an exposed sequence is: 5♦ 6♦ 7♦ If the applicable rules permit it and you hold 8♦, adding that card to the sequence can turn a previously unmatched card into part of the meld. Likewise, an exposed three-of-a-kind can potentially accept the fourth card of that rank. Sapaw therefore does more than make the table look more complete. It can reduce the cards remaining in your hand and change your potential score if the round reaches a comparison. However, players should not assume that every interface permits every possible Sapaw action. The exact implementation should always take precedence. Draw and discard with the remaining cards in mind Drawing a card is not automatically good simply because the card could become useful later. After drawing, ask: Does the card immediately complete a meld? Does it create a strong sequence possibility? Does keeping it require holding several other cards? Does another player appear to be collecting the same rank or suit? If the round ended soon, how much value would remain unmatched? The discard decision is equally important. A card that does not contribute to a realistic combination may be a better discard than a high-value card that is already close to completing a meld. The goal is not to predict the exact next card. It is to make the current hand easier to finish while avoiding unnecessary exposure of useful cards to opponents. What are the main Tongits Go rules and winning conditions? The broad structure of Tongits revolves around getting rid of cards through melds or ending the round under an applicable comparison or settlement condition. JILI's official description confirms that Tongits Go has three types of victory settlements, but its public game page does not spell out every settlement rule. This is important because some online guides use traditional Tongits terminology while describing platform-specific implementations. Gameplay screen of a mobile Tongits card game featuring active card melds and player profiles. Image credit/source: funfusegames Tongits A Tongits win generally refers to a player successfully disposing of the cards in their hand through valid combinations and play. For a beginner, the practical lesson is simple: do not focus only on collecting combinations. Pay attention to whether your overall hand is moving toward a point where you can actually finish. A hand with several partial combinations can look promising while still leaving difficult unmatched cards. In-game interface of a digital Tongits card game featuring action choices such as Fight and Challenge. Image credit/source: funfusegames Fight or Draw A Fight is associated with comparing remaining unmatched card values when the applicable round-ending conditions are met. The basic strategic question is: How strong is my remaining hand compared with what I can reasonably infer about the other players? If your unmatched cards have already been reduced substantially, a comparison may be more attractive than continuing to expose yourself to additional draws. But this is not a guaranteed calculation. You do not know every opponent's hidden card. Some sources use “Draw” as a separate round-ending or settlement concept. Because the precise terminology and settlement can vary between implementations, the current JILI interface and game rules should be treated as authoritative for the specific version being played. In-game interface of a digital Tongits card game featuring action choices such as Fold and Challenge. Image credit/source: funfusegames Fold Some online implementations also provide a Fold option. Folding is fundamentally different from winning. It is a decision to exit or concede under the rules of the particular game rather than continue pursuing the round. Because the consequences of folding can be implementation-specific, do not assume that the same penalty or settlement applies across all Tongits Go platforms. In-game interface of a digital Tongits card game showcasing the "SUNOG" (burned) event during a match. Image credit/source: funfusegames Sunog or Burned status Sunog, sometimes translated as Burned, is another traditional Tongits concept that can affect a player's settlement. The basic idea is associated with having no exposed meld when a round ends under certain conditions. However, the exact JILI implementation and its settlement consequences should be verified against the current game version. This is an example of why copying traditional Tongits rules directly into an article about Tongits Go can be misleading. Shared terminology does not necessarily mean identical digital settlement. How does Tongits Go scoring work? Scoring is one of the areas where beginners can easily become confused because traditional Tongits rules and digital game settlements may overlap without being identical. Card values Traditional Tongits commonly assigns point values to cards so that unmatched cards can be compared at the end of a round. A commonly used structure is: Card Traditional point value Ace 1 2–10 Face value Jack 10 Queen 10 King 10 For example, an unmatched K♥, 8♣ and 3♦ would have a combined value of 21 under this traditional counting approach. That does not mean the same number automatically determines every JILI Tongits Go payout or multiplier. JILI confirms that the game has multiple victory settlements and special-hand rewards, but its public description does not provide a complete scoring table. Therefore, any JILI-specific multiplier, payout or settlement value should be verified against the current implementation before being stated as a fixed rule. Unmatched cards matter Even before the round ends, unmatched cards provide useful information about the state of your hand. Consider two hypothetical hands: Hand A: 2♠ 3♠ 4♠ + 7♥ 7♦ 7♣ + K♣ Hand B: K♠ Q♦ J♣ + 9♥ 8♣ 4♦ + 6♠ Hand A has two obvious melds and only one high-value unmatched card. Hand B contains several potentially useful cards but no completed melds. The first hand is therefore structurally stronger under the basic Tongits objective, even though the second hand might improve with future draws. This is the distinction between evaluating the current position and predicting the next result. What Tongits Go strategy actually helps? A useful Tongits Go strategy is less about discovering a secret system and more about making better decisions with the information visible on the table. Reduce high-value unmatched cards If a King, Queen or Jack is not contributing to a realistic combination, keeping it for too long can increase the value of your unmatched hand. That does not mean every high card should immediately be discarded. A King that completes a set or sits in a realistic sequence structure can be more valuable than a low card with no connection to anything. The better rule is: Evaluate the card's role in your entire hand, not its face value alone. Read the discard pile The discard pile provides information. Suppose you need one more 9 to complete a sequence. If several relevant 9s have already appeared in the discard pile, the probability of drawing the exact card you want is affected. Similarly, if an opponent repeatedly avoids taking a certain card, that may provide some information about what they do not currently need. But these observations are clues, not predictions. A discard does not reveal an opponent's complete hand, and a previous card sequence cannot guarantee what the next draw will be. Track exposed melds Visible melds reduce uncertainty about some cards. If three cards of one rank have already been exposed, fewer cards of that rank remain unseen. This can help a player evaluate whether holding a related card is still sensible. It can also affect Sapaw decisions. A card that can extend an exposed meld may have more immediate value than the same card would have in isolation. Avoid revealing useful information unnecessarily Every exposed meld tells the table something about your hand. This does not mean players should avoid melding. Melds are central to the game. Instead, the strategic question is whether the immediate benefit of reducing your hand outweighs the information other players gain from seeing your combination. The answer depends on the situation and the applicable rules. Evaluate Fight decisions instead of guessing A Fight decision should be based on the information you actually have. Consider: Your unmatched-card total How many melds you have exposed What cards have already appeared Whether opponents appear to have reduced their hands How much uncertainty remains What the applicable JILI settlement rules say What you should not do is treat a particular sequence of cards as a guaranteed signal that a Fight will succeed. There is no reliable “magic number” that guarantees a winning Fight without knowing the opponents' hidden cards. Can timing, patterns or a betting system guarantee a win? No strategy should be presented as a guaranteed way to win Tongits Go. Understanding the game can improve the quality of your decisions, but it does not eliminate uncertainty. A few common misconceptions deserve particular attention. “The game is due to give me a good card.” Previous draws do not create an obligation for the next draw to be favorable. “A certain time of day produces better cards.” There is no evidence in the supplied research establishing a reliable timing advantage. “A betting progression guarantees recovery after a loss.” Changing bet sizes does not change the underlying cards you receive. “The last few cards reveal the next card.” Discard history can provide information, but it cannot reveal an unknown card with certainty. For the exact digital dealing or RNG implementation behind a particular JILI deployment, the supplied research does not establish enough technical information to make a specific claim about its internal randomization method. That aspect is Needs verification rather than something players should infer from gameplay patterns. The useful distinction is between decision-making and prediction. You can choose whether to keep, meld, Sapaw, discard or Fight. You cannot guarantee what unseen cards will appear. How is JILI Tongits Go different from traditional Tongits? JILI Tongits Go shares recognizable Tongits concepts with the traditional Filipino card game, but it should not simply be treated as a digital copy of every traditional rule. Feature Traditional Tongits concept JILI Tongits Go Card combinations Sets and same-suit sequences Uses Tongits-style combination mechanics Draw and discard Core part of play Core digital gameplay flow Sapaw Adding to exposed melds Relevant to researched Tongits Go guides; exact implementation should be checked Tongits Round-winning route JILI describes multiple victory settlements Fight/Draw End-round comparison concepts Present in researched Tongits Go explanations; exact settlement should be verified Special hands Traditional rules vary JILI explicitly confirms special-hand rewards Digital interface Not applicable Timers and automatic actions may be implementation-specific Regulatory classification Traditional card game PAGCOR lists Tongits Go, ID 199, as a TABLE game under JILI The last distinction is particularly important. JILI's first-party page establishes the game's identity and major features, while PAGCOR's regulatory material confirms that Tongits Go appears on its JILI approved-game list. Neither source should be interpreted as saying that every website displaying a JILI Tongits Go logo is automatically authorized. How to check an online casino before playing Tongits Go If you plan to play Tongits Go online casino games for real money in the Philippines, checking the website is a separate task from checking the game. PAGCOR's Electronic Gaming Licensing Department states that it regulates gaming operations within the Philippine territory and processes approval of electronic gaming platforms and games. Its regulatory page also provides a list of PAGCOR-accredited gaming system administrators and registered brands and domain names/URLs. PAGCOR launched PAGCOR Guarantee in June 2025 specifically to help the public verify whether online gaming providers are duly licensed. The regulator says the service contains a regularly updated list of licensed internet gaming platforms and encourages players to verify a platform before playing or making payments. A sensible verification process is therefore: Check the exact website domain. Do not assume that a similarly named website is the same operator. Use PAGCOR's current verification resources. Compare the domain against the regulator's registered information. Check the game's status separately. PAGCOR's approved-game materials can establish whether a particular game appears in the approved list. Do not treat a game-provider logo as proof of operator authorization. A website can display a recognizable game title without that fact alone establishing its regulatory status. Check the current version and rules. If the interface has different timers, player arrangements or automatic actions, use the rules displayed by that implementation rather than assuming every Tongits Go table works identically. This distinction is one of the most important gaps in generic “how to play” articles: game approval and website authorization are related but separate verification questions. Responsible gambling when playing Tongits Go online Learning Tongits Go strategy can make the game easier to understand, but it should not be confused with a reliable income method. Card-game decisions can influence how a player manages a hand, but they cannot guarantee a profitable session. If playing for money, treat the activity as entertainment rather than a way to recover expenses or generate dependable income. Useful boundaries include: Set a spending limit before playing. Do not increase stakes simply to recover losses. Do not borrow money to continue playing. Take breaks when the game stops feeling recreational. Do not chase a previous result because you believe a win is “due.” Use responsible-gaming tools offered by authorized operators where available. PAGCOR maintains a Responsible Gaming Code of Practice for regulated gaming establishments. Players should also use the responsible-gaming information made available by the operator they choose. Frequently asked questions about Tongits Go How many players play Tongits Go? JILI's official description says Tongits Go involves competing against three other players. That makes the game's documented JILI setup different from generic descriptions that simply refer to a three-player Tongits table. The exact opponent presentation and whether opponents are human-controlled or automated should be verified in the current implementation. What cards make a meld in Tongits Go? The commonly documented Tongits combinations include sets of the same rank and sequences of consecutive cards from the same suit. For example, 8♠ 8♥ 8♦ is a set, while 5♣ 6♣ 7♣ is a sequence. What is Sapaw in Tongits Go? Sapaw is the act of adding a suitable card to an existing exposed meld. It can help reduce the number of unmatched cards in your hand, subject to the rules of the particular implementation. What is the most important Tongits Go strategy for beginners? Start by managing your unmatched cards, recognizing valid melds, watching the discard pile and understanding the consequences of a Fight or other round-ending decision. There is no verified strategy that guarantees a win. Can I predict the next card from previous results? No reliable prediction system has been established in the supplied research. Previous cards can provide information about what has already appeared, but they do not guarantee the identity of the next unseen card. Is Tongits Go approved by PAGCOR? PAGCOR's JILI application kit dated May 19, 2026 lists TONGITS GO, Game ID 199, Version 1, as a TABLE game. This establishes its presence on that approved-game list at the stated date. That does not by itself establish that every website offering Tongits Go is authorized. The operator and exact domain should be verified separately using current PAGCOR resources. Is Tongits Go the same as traditional Tongits? They share important concepts such as melds, drawing, discarding and round-ending decisions, but JILI Tongits Go has its own digital implementation and explicitly advertises multiple victory settlements and special-hand rewards. Platform-specific rules should therefore be checked rather than assuming that every traditional Tongits rule applies unchanged. Are timers and automatic actions the same on every Tongits Go platform? Not necessarily. The supplied research identifies inconsistencies among current online descriptions, so exact timer lengths, automatic actions and interface behavior are Needs verification for the particular JILI deployment being used. Final thoughts Learning how to play Tongits Go is most useful when the rules and the decision-making process are understood together. The fundamentals are straightforward: identify valid melds, manage the cards that remain unmatched, pay attention to the discard pile, use Sapaw when the rules permit it, and understand the consequences of round-ending choices such as Tongits and Fight. The harder part is knowing what the available information actually tells you. A strong hand does not guarantee a win. A useful discard does not reveal an opponent's complete hand. A sequence of previous results does not guarantee the next card. And a betting system cannot turn an uncertain card game into a guaranteed outcome. For Philippine players, there is another layer of due diligence: verify the specific online gaming platform and domain, not merely whether the Tongits Go game itself appears in an approved-game list. That combination of understanding the actual mechanics, making decisions from observable information, and independently checking the platform is a more reliable way to approach Tongits Go than any supposed “sure-win” formula. About Asia Casino News Asia Casino News is an independent digital publication covering the global iGaming industry, with a particular focus on Asia-Pacific. Our coverage includes ongoing analysis of casino games, gambling regulation, iGaming companies and developments affecting the global gambling industry. Sources JILI - Tongits Go official game page PAGCOR - JILI approved-game list, May 19, 2026