Gambling News Across Asia
News on laws, licenses, venues, lotteries, racing and enforcement in 12 countries, with every story citing its sources.
First Haronz Iwamizawa facility closes
Betting and payout operations at the original Haronz Iwamizawa off-course betting facility in Hokkaido were suspended on September 16, 2024, with a replacement site due to open on October 4.
Senate commits to fast-track POGO ban bill
Philippine senators agreed on September 12, 2024 to fast-track a consolidated bill backing President Marcos's total ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, with an executive order expected within two weeks.
61 football personnel disciplined over match-fixing and betting scandal
China's football association banned 43 people from the sport for life and 17 for five years after a police investigation into match-fixing and betting that produced 128 arrests.
Casino Control (Amendment) Bill passed
Singapore's Parliament passed the Casino Control (Amendment) Bill on Sept 10, 2024, criminalizing the withdrawal of bets after results are known, the recording of non-card games and breaches of family visit limits.
Parliament passes Casino Control (Amendment) Bill
Singapore's Parliament passed the Casino Control (Amendment) Act 2024 on 10 September 2024, raising casino entry levies and expanding the National Council on Problem Gambling's powers.
Qualified human trafficking charges filed against Cassandra Ong and 51 others
Philippine authorities filed qualified human trafficking charges against Cassandra Li Ong and 51 others over the Lucky South 99 scam farm in Porac, Pampanga, the second such case tied to raided gaming operations.
Regulators hold joint press conference on football "假赌黑" crackdown
China's sports ministry and police announced a joint crackdown on match-fixing and betting fraud in professional football, with 43 people banned for life and 128 suspects arrested.
Thai authorities move to close over 4,000 Line accounts tied to gambling sites
Thailand's Ministry of Digital Economy and Society has asked Line Thailand to close more than 4,000 official accounts linked to illegal online gambling sites, with users facing criminal punishment.
Waiver announced and confirmation document signed
Osaka IR waived its right to exit the project without penalty and signed a confirmation document with Osaka Prefecture and City, clearing the way for Japan's first casino resort.
J-PLACE Oi expands JRA betting to all races
J-PLACE Oi, the JRA betting counter at Tokyo's Oi Racecourse, began selling tickets for every JRA race from September 8, 2024, widening an arrangement that began in 2013.
Japan's first casino resort likely to open in late 2030
Osaka IR KK will start preparatory work at the end of September for Japan's first casino resort, which local media report is likely to open in Osaka in late 2030.
SAFRA gambling venue approvals suspended for one week
Singapore's Gambling Regulatory Authority suspended the gambling venue approval for gaming machine rooms at six SAFRA locations for one week in September 2024 over missed social safeguard checks.
Mid-draw digital lottery orders open on Pao Tang and sell out in 22 seconds
Thailand's Government Lottery Office opened its first mid-draw digital ticket ordering round on 6 September 2024 and the 2 million ticket allocation was fully reserved in 22 seconds.
Thai government announces plan to open legal casinos
Thailand's government said on September 5, 2024 it would proceed with a plan to legalize casinos inside large entertainment complexes, after an online public hearing found 80% support.
CIDG raids POGO hub in Subic, Zambales
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group operatives raided a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators hub in Subic, Zambales on September 4, 2024, as the Senate moved to fast-track a bill backing the President's POGO ban.
Foreigners arrested at Lapu-Lapu POGO hub to undergo inquest
Foreigners arrested at a Lapu-Lapu City POGO hub will face criminal and immigration inquest proceedings, with the count rising to 169 as authorities prepare to move them to Manila.
Deadline for foreign POGO workers to leave the Philippines
Foreign workers at Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators were told to leave the Philippines by September 2024, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s July 2023 ban on the industry.
GST evasion detections double to almost ₹2.02 lakh crore in 2023-24, with online gaming the top evading sector
India's GST intelligence agency detected almost ₹2.02 lakh crore of indirect tax evasion in 2023-24, double the prior year, with online gaming the largest evading sector at almost ₹82,000 crore.
Philippine president announces shutdown of all POGOs
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has announced the shutdown of all Philippine Offshore Gambling Operators, the offshore casinos that cater mostly to the Chinese market.
Suishin Kiko completes first round of on-site inspections of all pachinko parlors
Japan's third-party pachinko inspection body finished on-site checks at every parlor in the country by the end of September 2024, with a second round of inspections under way from October.
VVIP club opens at Paradise Casino Walkerhill
Paradise Casino Walkerhill in Seoul opened a VVIP Membership Club for top-tier customers in September 2024, adding seven private rooms inside the foreigner-only casino.
Wan Chai Spring Garden Lane off-course betting branch opens
The Hong Kong Jockey Club opened a new experience-style off-course betting branch on Spring Garden Street in Wan Chai on September 1, 2024, part of its push to convert selected betting shops into sport, dining and entertainment venues.
Raid on Tourist Garden Hotel rescues 169 foreign nationals
Philippine authorities rescued 169 foreign nationals from a suspected POGO hub at the Tourist Garden Hotel in Lapu-Lapu City on August 31, confiscating computers and phones and later filing trafficking complaints.
Money laundering complaint filed against 34 people including Alice Guo and Cassandra Ong
Three Philippine agencies filed a 105-page money laundering complaint against 34 people, including dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo and Cassandra Ong, over raided offshore gaming operations.
Ho Chi Minh City Police collect documents on labubu lottery for possible violations
Ho Chi Minh City police said on 29 August 2024 they have identified how labubu lotteries operate on social media and are gathering documents to handle any violations under Vietnamese law.
Singapore Pools issues Version 2.0 of General Terms and Conditions of Sale
Singapore Pools issued Version 2.0 of its General Terms and Conditions of Sale on 27 August 2024, setting payment, prize collection and liability rules for bets placed online, by app and at branches.
Royal Turf Club unveils Royal Siam Haven entertainment complex project
Thailand's Royal Turf Club launched the Royal Siam Haven entertainment complex project at its annual meeting, with investment of more than THB 200,000 million and a casino planned as one component.
New technical specification interpretation standards take effect for gaming machines in Japan
Japan's National Police Agency put amended Technical Specification Interpretation Standards for gaming machines into force on 23 August 2024, replacing the earlier standards and setting out how machine rules are read.
Cambodia bans new gambling licenses
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet said on August 15 that the Royal Government will issue no new gambling licenses, after halting new grants and revoking about a thousand existing ones.
Thai court dismisses Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin
Thailand's prime minister Srettha Thavisin, the main proponent of the country's casino legislation, was dismissed by a court on 14 August 2024, putting the bill's passage in doubt.