Gambling News Across Asia
News on laws, licenses, venues, lotteries, racing and enforcement in 12 countries, with every story citing its sources.
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.
Police freeze nearly RM300 million in assets of illegal online gambling operator
Malaysian police froze more than RM299 million in assets linked to a foreign national suspected of taking RM14.05 billion in commission from illegal online gambling bets.
TRC blocks over 7,000 websites for illegal content
Cambodia's telecommunications regulator says it has blocked 7,323 websites and IP addresses used to promote online gambling, false information and pornographic content, including nearly 2,500 in a single week.
DE closes 4,136 Line Official Accounts linked to online gambling
Thailand's Ministry of Digital Economy and Society shut down 4,136 Line Official Accounts linked to online gambling between February 24 and August 9, 2024, and warned of prison terms.
Lawmaker says new provision will criminalize illegal money exchanges on casino premises
A Macau lawmaker says a new provision in the bill against gambling crimes will criminalize illegal money exchanges on casino premises, as analysts report money changers leaving casinos.
Maruhan Mega City Yachiyo Midorigaoka opened
Maruhan Mega City Yachiyo Midorigaoka, a pachinko and slot parlor in Chiba prefecture, Japan, opened on 7 August 2024 under a new name, having previously traded as Maruhan Yachiyo Midorigaoka.
Bill proposes higher casino entry levies
A Singapore bill introduced in Parliament on 6 August 2024 would raise the daily and annual casino entry levies paid by citizens and permanent residents, and tighten casino money laundering and licensing rules.
Casino Control (Amendment) Bill introduced in Singapore Parliament
Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs introduced the Casino Control (Amendment) Bill in Parliament on 6 August 2024, proposing new casino offenses, higher entry levies in law and validation of $4.4 million in levies collected after a lapse.
Casino Control (Amendment) Bill introduced in Singapore Parliament
Singapore has introduced a bill to fix casino entry levies at S$150 a day and S$3,000 a year for citizens and permanent residents, after an expired order let the rates drop by mistake.
Casino Control (Amendment) Bill published with amendments to exclusion and self-exclusion regime
Singapore published the Casino Control (Amendment) Bill on 6 August 2024, reworking casino exclusion and self-exclusion rules, entry levies, gaming area limits and the National Council on Problem Gambling's role.
New laws proposed to prevent misuse of Singapore casinos for money laundering and terrorism financing
Singapore has proposed an updated casino bill, the first amendment since 2012, that would let the two operators share patrons' information and make Family Visit Limit breaches punishable.
Authorities raid Lapu-Lapu City POGO hub over the weekend
Philippine authorities arrested 163 foreigners and rescued six at a suspected scam compound in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, with the total reaching 169 as of Monday.
New Gaming Credit Law enters into force
Macau's new Gaming Credit Law took effect on 1 August 2024, replacing Law 5/2004 and reserving the granting of casino credit to the territory's six concessionaires alone.
Government raid on Bamban and Porac POGO hubs
A Philippine congressional inquiry has identified Katherine Cassandra Li Ong, 24, as the point person for the raided Lucky South 99 POGO in Porac and the leasing company Whirlwind, after a government raid found evidence of scamming, trafficking and torture.
House forms quad committee to probe POGO links
The Philippine House of Representatives formed a four-committee panel in August 2024 to investigate links between illegal offshore gaming operators, Chinese syndicates, the drug trade and extrajudicial killings.
Police raid cross-border crypto gambling ring
Nghe An police and other local forces raided a cross-border crypto gambling ring in late August, arresting 17 people and seizing five luxury cars.
Public hearing on casino bill completed
Thailand completed a public hearing in August on a bill to legalize casinos inside entertainment complexes, with the government to decide where they are built.
Srettha Thavisin removed from office by court decision
Thailand's new government will proceed with a bill to build a mega entertainment complex housing a casino after a public hearing showed 80% support, weeks after the plan's main backer was removed as prime minister.
Thailand finalizes draft Entertainment Complex Act
Thailand's Finance Ministry has finalized the draft Entertainment Complex Act, a bill that would allow casinos inside entertainment complexes and now goes to a public hearing under Section 77 of the constitution.
Thailand publishes draft casino legalization rules for public feedback
Thailand's Council of State has published draft rules for legal casinos, offering an initial 30-year license, and opened them to public feedback until Aug 18.