IAG Academy Summit 2026 Unveils Full Programme in Manila
Philippines.- 11 September 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com The IAG Academy Summit 2026 has released its full programme for 15 and 16 September at Newport World Resorts in Manila, presenting two days of high-level discussion around the forces reshaping gaming and integrated resorts across Asia.
The Summit will bring together senior executives, operators, regulators, suppliers and industry specialists to examine emerging markets, regulatory transformation, artificial intelligence, facial recognition, player data and the continuing evolution of the integrated resort model.
The event will form a central part of IAG EXPO 2026, taking place in Manila from 14 to 17 September.
Two Days of Strategic Discussion
The IAG Academy Summit will occupy two full days of the broader IAG EXPO programme.
Its format combines:
- Keynote addresses.
- Fireside chats.
- Panel discussions.
- Operator debates.
- Supplier sessions.
- Market analysis.
- Technology-focused conversations.
The programme is designed to provide a broad view of the present and future of Asian gaming.
Alejandro H. Tengco to Open Day One
The first day, Tuesday 15 September, will begin with a keynote address from PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco.
His presentation will provide an update on the Philippine gaming industry’s development and PAGCOR’s ongoing institutional transformation.
PAGCOR’s Regulatory and Operating Roles
One of the central issues will be PAGCOR’s effort to separate its regulatory role from its operating activities.
The organisation has historically performed both functions within the Philippine gaming system.
A New Structure for PAGCOR
The transformation seeks to create a clearer separation between regulation and casino operation.
Such a shift could materially reshape the institutional architecture of the Philippine industry.
Tengco will also outline his vision for future sector growth.
Philippines at the Centre of Change
Manila provides a particularly relevant setting.
The Philippines is undergoing substantial change involving:
- Gaming growth.
- Integrated resort development.
- iGaming expansion.
- Regulatory reform.
- Tourism investment.
- Greater regional competition.
Many of those themes will run directly through the Summit programme.
Vietnam in Focus
One Day One session will be titled “Vietnam in Focus: A Market on the Move.”
The discussion will examine the evolution of Vietnam’s casino and integrated resort environment.
Hoiana Executives Join the Discussion
The session will feature Alan Teo and David Jorden of Hoiana Resort & Golf.
Their participation will provide first-hand operating insight into one of Vietnam’s major integrated resort developments.
Vietnam as a Developing Opportunity
Vietnam continues attracting interest from gaming operators and investors.
The country combines:
- Tourism growth.
- Large-scale resort development.
- Infrastructure investment.
- International interest.
- Continuing regulatory discussion.
This makes its direction increasingly important to the wider Asian gaming sector.
Emerging Markets Session
The programme will also include a dedicated discussion on Emerging Markets.
It will examine opportunities across jurisdictions including:
- Japan.
- Sri Lanka.
- Laos.
- Other developing Asian markets.
The objective will be to identify which territories could become the industry’s next significant growth engines.
Japan Changes the Regional Landscape
Japan’s integrated resort development represents one of the biggest structural shifts in Northeast Asian gaming.
The arrival of a major new regulated resort market could influence investment flows and tourism competition.
“The Japan Effect”
The session “The Japan Effect: What Happens Next in Northeast Asia?” will examine those implications.
The discussion will look beyond Japan itself towards the response of neighbouring markets.
South Korean Competition
South Korea is expected to feature prominently.
Its casino operators face the challenge of preparing for a new regional competitor capable of attracting premium international tourism.
Headwinds in South Korea
The programme will also examine specific pressures on the South Korean casino market.
Changing tourism flows, regional competition and evolving customer expectations are creating new strategic challenges.
Technology as a Core Theme
Technology will be a major component of the 2026 agenda.
Operators are increasingly adopting tools designed to improve:
- Security.
- Identification.
- Marketing.
- Player experience.
- Personalisation.
- Data analysis.
- Operational efficiency.
Facial Recognition
One session will examine facial recognition technology.
Potential use cases include:
- Customer identification.
- Security.
- Access controls.
- Loyalty.
- Responsible gaming.
Player Data
The Summit will also consider the growing strategic importance of player data.
Operators collect increasingly detailed information about customer behaviour.
The challenge is converting that information into business value while maintaining privacy and compliance.
Personalised Experiences
Better use of data can support more customised:
- Promotions.
- Loyalty programmes.
- Offers.
- Services.
- Communications.
Responsible deployment will be a critical part of that evolution.
Convergence of Land-Based and Online
The programme will examine the increasingly blurred line between physical casino gaming and digital gambling.
Operators are moving towards more integrated customer experiences.
Omnichannel Gaming
Customers may begin their relationship with a gaming brand on a smartphone and continue it inside a physical resort.
That creates a need for connected loyalty, data and product ecosystems.
David Tsai Opens Day Two
Wednesday 16 September will begin with a fireside chat featuring Crown Resorts CEO David Tsai.
He will speak with IAG Vice Chairman and CEO Andrew W Scott.
Crown Resorts’ Transformation
The conversation will explore Crown Resorts’ latest phase of corporate development.
Topics will include:
- Leadership transition.
- Return to suitability.
- Corporate transformation.
- Profitability.
- Management of its three Australian resorts.
Return to Suitability
Crown underwent extensive regulatory scrutiny in recent years.
Its return to suitability has been one of the most significant milestones in its recovery.
Tsai will discuss how the business is evolving after that process.
Profitability as the Next Challenge
With regulatory remediation progressing, the focus increasingly shifts towards commercial performance.
Balancing compliance, investment and returns across three major properties will be a central part of the discussion.
Metro Manila’s Local Gaming Market
Day Two will include a deep dive into the Metro Manila locals market.
Local players remain essential to the commercial performance of Philippine integrated resorts.
Beyond International Tourism
Although Manila attracts international visitors, domestic customers provide an important foundation.
Understanding local behaviour can help operators optimise:
- Visit frequency.
- Product mix.
- Spending.
- Entertainment.
- Food and beverage.
- Loyalty.
Artificial Intelligence in Gaming
Artificial intelligence will form another major programme theme.
The Summit will examine both current and future applications.
Current AI Applications
Gaming businesses are already exploring AI in:
- Marketing.
- Customer service.
- Fraud detection.
- Responsible gambling.
- Personalisation.
- Forecasting.
- Operations.
Future AI Opportunities
The discussion will also consider where the technology may move next.
AI could alter both internal processes and the guest experience.
Philippine Operators Panel
A major Day Two panel will bring together senior executives from leading Philippine operators.
Participants include:
- Rod Hackman, Hann Casino Resort.
- Greg Hawkins, Bloomberry Resorts Corp.
- Sean Knights, NUSTAR Resort and Casino.
Direct Operator Perspective
The panel will provide first-hand views on:
- Growth.
- Competition.
- Tourism.
- Regulation.
- Technology.
- Product development.
Putting several major operators together should provide valuable comparisons across different business models.
Hann Casino Resort
Hann continues developing its position within the Philippine integrated resort sector.
Its growth gives it an increasingly important perspective on the country’s competitive landscape.
Bloomberry Resorts
Bloomberry Resorts Corp is one of the Philippines’ largest gaming groups.
Its experience makes it a significant voice in discussions about Manila’s future.
NUSTAR Resort and Casino
NUSTAR also provides insight into integrated resort development outside Metro Manila.
Its inclusion broadens the conversation towards regional destinations.
Supplier Perspective
The Summit programme also includes a dedicated supplier panel.
Senior Asia-Pacific executives from several major international gaming companies will participate.
Aristocrat Gaming
Aristocrat Gaming will contribute its view of product development and changing player expectations.
The company maintains a major position in global gaming machines and systems.
Konami
Konami will also join the session.
Its long history in Asia gives it a distinctive regional perspective.
IGT
IGT brings experience across global gaming and lotteries.
Its participation adds another major international technology viewpoint.
Light & Wonder
Light & Wonder completes the group of leading suppliers highlighted in the programme.
The company has accelerated both digital and international expansion.
Asia’s Next Generation of Players
A key discussion will be how suppliers can serve younger customers.
Their expectations are increasingly shaped by:
- Video games.
- Smartphones.
- Social media.
- Streaming.
- Instant digital experiences.
Product Innovation
Suppliers will need to develop new mechanics, interfaces and forms of entertainment.
The challenge is innovating while retaining the core qualities that make casino gaming compelling.
Integrated Resorts Beyond Gaming
The final session, “The Era of Leisure Tourism,” will examine the changing integrated resort model.
Casino gaming is no longer the only major attraction.
Golf
Golf is increasingly used by Asian resorts to attract premium leisure travellers.
It can be combined with hospitality, dining and gaming to broaden the overall proposition.
Concerts and Entertainment
Live entertainment also plays a growing role.
Major concerts can attract customers who may not otherwise visit for gaming.
Hospitality and Dining
Hotels, restaurants and premium experiences provide further diversification.
These offerings increase visitor dwell time while widening revenue streams.
Leisure Tourism
The concept of leisure tourism captures that transformation.
Integrated resorts increasingly position themselves as complete destinations rather than simply casinos with hotels attached.
Differentiating Resort Products
As competition intensifies, resorts need stronger points of distinction.
Gaming alone may not provide sufficient differentiation.
Non-gaming attractions are becoming strategically important.
Andrew W Scott on the Industry’s Direction
Andrew W Scott said the Summit aims each year to reflect where the industry is heading rather than merely where it has been.
The 2026 programme has been built around questions shaping the sector today.
Four Major Themes
The programme can broadly be grouped around four trends:
- Emerging markets.
- Technology and AI.
- Regional competitive change.
- Evolution of the integrated resort model.
These themes appear throughout the two-day agenda.
Manila as a Strategic Host City
Manila is itself undergoing substantial gaming transformation.
That makes the city an appropriate setting for discussions about regulation, competition and resort development.
Part of IAG EXPO 2026
The Academy Summit forms part of IAG EXPO 2026, running from 14 to 17 September.
The wider programme contains several specialist events.
CiG iDEA Summit
The week begins on 14 September with the CiG iDEA Summit.
That event will focus specifically on the fast-changing Asia-Pacific iGaming sector.
Manila After Dark
The official networking event Manila After Dark will also take place on 14 September.
It will serve as the welcome event ahead of the two-day Academy Summit.
IAG Academy IR Awards
The IAG Academy IR Awards will be held on 15 September.
The black-tie event will recognise achievements across the integrated resort industry.
The Regulators Forum
The Regulators Forum will take place on 17 September.
The invitation-only gathering will bring together regulatory representatives.
Broader Event Structure
Together, the different events are designed to cover education, networking, recognition and regulation.
IAG EXPO therefore operates as a multi-format industry week.
Complimentary Summit Access in 2026
Approved trade visitors and Summit delegates will receive complimentary access to all three Summit days in 2026.
This includes:
- CiG iDEA Summit on 14 September.
- IAG Academy Summit Day One.
- IAG Academy Summit Day Two.
Special Arrangement for 2026
The complimentary programme reflects a special configuration for this year’s IAG EXPO.
Organisers have expanded access to educational content.
Exhibition Paused for One Year
The traditional exhibition element of IAG EXPO has been paused for 2026.
The decision relates to Newport World Resorts’ commitments connected with the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship and adjustments to the regional events calendar.
Exhibition to Return in 2027
The exhibition component is expected to return in 2027.
Summits, awards and regulatory events remain central to the 2026 programme.
Newport World Resorts as Host
Newport World Resorts again serves as the main event venue.
Its mix of hotels, entertainment, dining and events facilities closely reflects the integrated resort model being discussed throughout the Summit.
Hilton Ballroom
The IAG Academy Summit will be staged in the Hilton Ballroom.
The venue previously hosted the Summit in earlier editions.
Industry Context
Asian gaming is moving through an unusually dynamic period.
Japan is developing its first integrated resort, the Philippines continues reshaping regulation, Vietnam is attracting new interest, South Korea faces growing competitive pressure and technology is transforming casino operations.
Artificial intelligence, player data and facial recognition are simultaneously changing the way operators and suppliers understand their customers and manage their businesses.
Next Steps and Impact
The IAG Academy Summit 2026 opens on 15 September at Newport World Resorts with Alejandro H. Tengco’s keynote and continues through 16 September with a broad range of senior industry speakers.
Discussions will move from Philippine regulatory reform and emerging markets to AI, player data, facial recognition and the future of leisure tourism.
The Summit therefore provides a platform for examining how regulation, technology, regional competition and non-gaming diversification are collectively redefining Asia’s integrated resort industry.
With Manila as the host city and a full week of activity around IAG EXPO 2026, the programme is designed to provide a strategic view of where one of the world’s fastest-evolving gaming regions is heading next.
Editó: @fonta
