Gambling News Across Asia
News on laws, licenses, venues, lotteries, racing and enforcement in 12 countries, with every story citing its sources.
Tamil Nadu prosecutor reports 47 online gaming suicide deaths to Madras High Court
Tamil Nadu's Additional Public Prosecutor told the Madras High Court in June 2025 that 47 deaths by suicide linked to online game addiction occurred in the state between 2019 and 2024.
Penang Turf Club expected to stage final race meeting
Malaysia's oldest horse racing club, the Penang Turf Club, is expected to stage its final race meeting on May 31, 2025, after members voted to close it and dissolve the 161-year-old institution.
Law banning online casino advertising passed and promulgated
Japan has enacted and promulgated a law banning the presentation of illegal online gambling sites and apps to unspecified persons in the country, with the ban taking effect on September 25, 2025.
Supplementary indictment proposes prosecuting 141 defendants in gambling case in Hanoi and provinces
Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security has proposed prosecuting 141 defendants for organizing gambling and gambling in a case spanning Hanoi and several provinces, and is seeking four fugitives.
Vietnamese and Lao police dismantle transnational gambling ring
Vietnam's Criminal Police Department says it arrested Mai Anh Viet and 30 others over a cross-border gambling operation run from Vientiane, Laos, with nearly 50 million USD in transactions.
Pampanga court issues arrest warrants vs Cassie Ong, Harry Roque and others
A Pampanga court has issued arrest warrants for Cassandra Ong, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and more than 30 co-accused over human trafficking linked to the Lucky South 99 Pogo.
Final hearing on online gaming GST review scheduled
India's Supreme Court is set to hold a final hearing on 5 May in a consolidated review of the legal and tax status of online gaming, including a challenge to the 28 percent GST on total entry amounts.
Thai police bust lower Northeast online gambling network, seize B50m in assets
Thai police arrested 13 people and seized about 50 million baht in assets from an online gambling network operating in the lower Northeast, with raids across five provinces.
Arrest warrants issued against Cassandra Ong for qualified human trafficking
A Pampanga court issued arrest warrants in May 2025 against Cassandra Ong and others for qualified human trafficking tied to the alleged Lucky South 99 scam hub.
Inspire Entertainment Resort put up for sale
Bain Capital has put Inspire Entertainment Resort, South Korea's largest foreigner-only casino resort, up for sale through an open market bidding process after taking management control of its holding company in February.
Police raid arrests 8 and seizes equipment and cash
Police in Vietnam's Ha Tinh province arrested eight people in early May over an alleged cross-border money laundering, gambling and fraud network that handled more than VND 2,200 billion.
Public consultation shows majority support for regulating basketball betting
Hong Kong's government says a public consultation held in April and May 2025 found most respondents backed regulating basketball betting, as a bill to license and tax it goes through Legco.
CF Grand Imperial Opol ceases operations
CF Grand Imperial Opol, a Casino Filipino site under CF Grand Regal in Davao, ceased operations on April 30, 2025, the second CF Grand Regal venue to close this year.
Survey finds casinos seen as integral to Thailand's Entertainment Complex Bill
A Nida Poll of 1,310 people found 46% believed Thailand's Entertainment Complex Bill would be rejected if the casino component was dropped, while 33% thought it would still pass.
Construction begins on Japan's first integrated resort in Yumeshima
Construction has begun on Japan's first integrated resort on Yumeshima, an artificial island in Osaka Bay, next to the site of the ongoing Expo 2025 Osaka.
MGM Osaka main construction works begin
Construction of the main MGM Osaka integrated resort facility began on 24 April 2025 on the artificial island of Yumeshima, with the casino resort targeting an opening in autumn 2030.
Thanh Hoa police announce dismantling of transnational cockfighting gambling ring
Thanh Hoa police said they dismantled a transnational cockfighting gambling operation in Laos run by a Vietnamese couple, with betting transactions estimated at over VND 1,200 billion.
Dissenting opinion filed in G.R. No. 207118 on Bingo sa Barangay jurisdiction
Supreme Court Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier filed a dissenting opinion on April 22, 2025, arguing that bingo falls under PAGCOR's jurisdiction and that Presidential Decree No. 1869 prevails over the Local Government Code.
Kanazawa Guild reopened as SPARKL
The Kanazawa Guild amusement casino in Ishikawa, operated by the group behind Tokyo's Akiba Guild, reopened on 12 April 2025 under the new name SPARKL.
The Laurus resort announced for Q3 2025 opening at RWS
Resorts World Sentosa will open The Laurus, Singapore's first The Luxury Collection-branded resort, in the third quarter of 2025 with 183 suites from $1,200 a night.
Hong Kong launches consultation on regulating basketball betting
Hong Kong opened a public consultation on April 2, 2025 on a framework to license basketball betting through the Jockey Club, citing illegal betting turnover of HKD 70 billion to 90 billion in 2024.
Around 1,200 protesters rally against casino bill outside parliament
About 1,200 demonstrators from student and anti-casino groups rallied outside Thailand's parliament in early April 2025 against a draft bill to legalize casinos inside entertainment complexes.
DOJ files qualified human trafficking case vs Roque and co-accused
The Philippine Department of Justice filed a qualified human trafficking case in April 2025 against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and more than 30 co-accused over the operations of the Lucky South 99 scam hub in Porac, Pampanga.
Main construction of Osaka IR begins
Main construction on the Osaka integrated resort began in April 2025, with a 27-storey building holding two hotels, a casino and a theater at its core.
Nghe An police dismantle online gambling and money laundering ring
Police in Vietnam's Nghe An province broke up an online gambling and money laundering ring worth thousands of billions of dong a month and detained its alleged leader, Dau Trong Giap.
Betting and Lotteries Commission recommends approval of simulcast increases
Hong Kong's Betting and Lotteries Commission has recommended approval of the Jockey Club's plan to raise the maximum number of simulcast races and simulcast days over the next two racing seasons.
MGA lists god55 domain network as unauthorized
The Malta Gaming Authority has added a network of god55 domains aimed at Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia to its list of unauthorized URLs, saying it has no connection to them.
Cabinet endorses casino draft bill with limits for Thai gamblers
Thailand's cabinet approved a draft law for casinos inside entertainment complexes on March 27, 2025, keeping an entry fee and a 50 million baht deposit rule for Thai nationals.
Online gaming companies argue Tamil Nadu night ban is prohibition in disguise
Online gaming companies told the Madras High Court that Tamil Nadu's five-hour night ban on real money games is partial prohibition and that the State cannot require Aadhaar verification.
Protesters gather at Government House against casino bill
Thailand's cabinet approved a draft law for casinos and entertainment complexes on Thursday as about 80 protesters gathered at Government House against the bill.