Gambling News Across Asia
News on laws, licenses, venues, lotteries, racing and enforcement in 12 countries, with every story citing its sources.
Cambodia forms national-level commission on combating online scams
Cambodia says it raised its anti-online-scam command structure to a national-level commission under Prime Minister Hun Manet in February 2025, a step he described at a Phnom Penh conference in September 2026.
Government announces plan to explore regulating basketball betting
Hong Kong's Financial Secretary announced in the 2025-26 Budget that the Government will explore regulating basketball betting and has invited the Jockey Club to submit a proposal, with a consultation paper published in April 2025.
Lim Kok Thay steps down as Genting CEO
Lim Kok Thay stepped down as chief executive of Genting in February 2025 after almost two decades in the role, and remains executive chairman of the casino and resorts group.
PCSO raises lotto ticket price and minimum jackpots
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office raised the price of a lotto ticket from PHP 20 to PHP 25 and lifted minimum jackpots across all five major lotto games, effective February 2025.
Police dismantle six major illegal gambling syndicates
Hong Kong Police dismantled six major local gambling syndicates between 2024 and February 2025, arresting 107 people and seizing about HKD 2 billion in betting records tied to illegal sports and online casino betting.
Public hearings on Thailand's draft casino law scheduled
Thailand's Office of the Council of State has issued a draft casino law requiring Thai nationals to hold 50 million baht in fixed deposits, with public hearings set for February 15 to March 1.
Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority notifies Real Money Games Regulations, 2025
Tamil Nadu's online gaming authority has notified real money gaming regulations imposing age limits, Aadhaar-based KYC, spending caps and a nightly login ban from midnight to 5am.
Government gives Council of State 50 days to review entertainment complex bill
Thailand's cabinet has given the Council of State 50 days to review the entertainment complex bill, and the deputy prime minister says the draft law needs no referendum.
MCMC requested takedown of over 18,000 law-violating content items since 1 January
Malaysia's communications regulator asked social media platforms to remove 18,785 pieces of unlawful content in the first three weeks of 2025, with 84 percent of it tied to online gambling and scams.
Betting and Lotteries Commission opens public consultation on simulcast proposal
Hong Kong's Betting and Lotteries Commission has opened a public consultation on a Hong Kong Jockey Club proposal to raise the caps on simulcast overseas races and simulcast days from the 2025/26 season.
Thailand's Entertainment Complex Bill approved in principle
Thailand's cabinet approved the Entertainment Complex Bill in principle on 13 January 2025, a draft law that would allow up to five casino resorts inside large entertainment complexes.
Supreme Court stays ₹1.12 lakh crore GST notices to online gaming firms
India's Supreme Court has stayed ₹1.12 lakh crore in GST showcause notices against 49 online gaming companies, listing the case for March 18, 2025.
Minister reports over 3,800 illegal gambling sites blocked
Singapore's home affairs minister told parliament that authorities had blocked more than 3,800 illegal gambling websites and over 145,000 illegal gambling transactions worth about $37 million as at Dec 31, 2024.
2025 horse racing implementation plan takes effect
The Korea Racing Authority's 2025 racing implementation plan took effect on 1 January, adding new two-year-old and self-start incentives and setting a 1,044-race season.
ASP(C) licensing requirement takes effect for internet messaging and social media providers
Malaysia's communications regulator required internet messaging and social media providers meeting its licensing threshold to apply for and obtain the ASP(C) class license under Act 588 from 1 January 2025.
Field size expanded to 18 horses
The American Jockey Club Cup, a Grade 2 race at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan, expanded its maximum field size to 18 runners in 2025, the first increase since 2015.
HKJC proposes increasing simulcast caps from 2025/26 season
The Hong Kong Jockey Club has proposed raising the season caps on simulcast races from 25 to 40 and then 55, and on simulcast days from 37 to 53 and then 70, over two seasons.
PAGCOR cuts eCasino Games fee rates from 35% to 30%
PAGCOR cut its fee rate on Electronic Casino Games from 35% to 30% on January 1, 2025, with a lower 22% rate for eCasino Games run by integrated resorts.
PAOCC to continue POGO raids in January
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission says it will keep raiding Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators in January, targeting operations hidden in resorts and areas flagged by local officials.
Penang Turf Club ceases operations
The Malayan Racing Association says the Penang Turf Club ceased operations in 2025, leaving Malaysian horse racing with two associated clubs, Perak and Selangor.
Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Jeju Ocean Front closes for refurbishment
The Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Jeju Ocean Front, the hotel housing the foreigner-only Jeju WanLi Casino, closed for refurbishment in early 2025 and is set to reopen as a Sheraton-branded property.
Remaining Pogo operators deemed illegal
From Jan. 1, 2025, any Philippine offshore gaming operator still running is deemed illegal, after the regulator said all remaining Pogo licenses would be canceled by the end of December.
Singapore Police Force takes over blocking of unlawful remote gambling sites, ads and payments
Singapore's police force took over from the gambling regulator on 1 January 2025 the job of blocking unlawful remote gambling services, their advertising and their payment transactions.
Thai cabinet approves draft casino law
Thailand's cabinet approved a draft law in January 2025 to legalize casinos inside entertainment complexes, a plan that later stalled in parliament and drew majority public opposition in polls.
Third tranche commences 1 January 2025
Singapore brought new SIM card misuse offenses into force on 1 January 2025, the third tranche of the Law Enforcement and Other Matters Act 2024, with fines up to $20,000 and jail terms up to five years.
The Warren Club discontinues hard copy statements of account
The Warren Club will stop sending hard copy statements of account from 1 January 2025, moving members to online e-statements and charging a fee for paper statements by mail.
Act 31 of 2023 amendment to permanent resident definition takes effect
Singapore's Casino Control Act now reflects an amended definition of permanent resident under Act 31 of 2023, effective 31 December 2024, in the consolidated version of the law.
All Pagcor POGO licenses deemed canceled by December 31 under Marcos ban
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said all POGO licenses issued by Pagcor are deemed canceled by December 31, while internet gaming licenses from freeports and ecozones remain a gray area.
All Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations banned
The Philippines has ended all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations as of December 31, 2024, with regulator PAGCOR warning that former licensees and service providers still operating are illegal.
Decree No. 145/2024/NĐ-CP sets pilot end dates for Vietnamese citizens entering casinos
Vietnam's government issued Decree No. 145/2024/NĐ-CP, ending the pilot that let Vietnamese citizens enter the first casino on December 31, 2024 and setting a three-year pilot for other casino enterprises.