Gambling News Across Asia
News on laws, licenses, venues, lotteries, racing and enforcement in 12 countries, with every story citing its sources.
Supreme People's Court releases six typical cross-border gambling cases
China's Supreme People's Court published six typical cases on cross-border gambling and related crimes, covering group operations, triad-run casinos, streamer recruitment and confiscation of a dead suspect's gains.
Iloilo City Council bans POGO and local gaming agents
Iloilo City's legislature passed a resolution on July 17, 2024 banning Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, now called Internet Gaming Licensees, and their local gaming agents within the city.
Authorities raid alleged private residence of Porac POGO bosses
Philippine police inspected a two-hectare compound in Porac, Pampanga, believed to be owned by the bosses of offshore gaming operator Lucky South 99, days after raiding it.
Bulacan provincial board passes Pogo ban ordinance
The Bulacan provincial board unanimously passed Provincial Ordinance No. 012-2024 on July 4, 2024, banning Philippine offshore gaming operators across the province, which officials call the first province to do so.
Ministry of Finance issues Document 6858/BTC-TCNH on internet ticket purchasing services
Vietnam's Ministry of Finance issued Document 6858/BTC-TCNH on 2 July 2024, targeting bought-on-behalf lottery purchases through intermediaries and internet distribution channels that lack approval, while Vietlott itself continues to sell tickets through its own SMS phone application.
Amended table of casino business types takes effect
South Korea's amended Annex Table 8 of the Enforcement Rule of the Tourism Promotion Act took effect on 1 July 2024, listing permitted casino business types and setting a window for catch all categories.
APECO Board approves cancellation of Resident Visas
APECO says its board approved a July 2024 report directing the cancellation of Resident Visas, part of a review that began with a visa suspension in November 2023.
New casino business types given a fixed operating window
South Korea's tourism ministry has fixed a two-year operating window, from July 1 2024 to June 30 2026, for newly notified casino business types including two categories of electronic table game.
Corona Casino Phu Quoc requires ID verification for Vietnamese customers
Corona Casino Phu Quoc began requiring Vietnamese customers to present identification documents to verify their identity from July 1, 2024, under Vietnam's new Law on Identification.
Department of Finance recommends POGO ban
The Department of Finance formally recommended banning Philippine offshore gaming operators, saying the industry costs the country around P99.52 billion a year more than it brings in.
Economic managers urged Marcos to totally ban POGOs
Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said the Philippines' economic team sent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. a letter urging a total ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators, citing criminal activity around the industry.
Executive Secretary Bersamin meets Chinese ambassador on POGO crackdown
A group led by former senator Leila de Lima and two retired Supreme Court justices urged President Marcos Jr. to cancel licenses held by Philippine offshore gaming operators that target mainland Chinese players.
Five arrested for habitual gambling via payment system for overseas online casinos
Chiba police arrested five suspects for habitual gambling and six bettors for gambling over a payment system that let users reach overseas online casino sites, in cases reported up to July 2024.
Marcos signs anti-financial account scamming act
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the anti-financial account scamming act in July 2024, a law the National Bureau of Investigation has since used to charge foreigners in a Parañaque POGO scam hub.
Philippine president declares total ban on POGOs
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. banned Philippine offshore gaming operators in July 2024, gave them until December 31 to stop, and signed a permanent law outlawing the sector in October 2025.
Philippine regulator announces wind-down of offshore gaming firms by end of 2024
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation said the country would wind down offshore gaming firms by the end of 2024, with foreign workers facing visa cancellations from October.
President Marcos Jr. orders ban on POGOs
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators, and the regulator says the order covers the 43 licensed Internet Gaming Licensees still operating.
Sands China announces Sheraton Grand Macao conversion into Londoner Grand
Sands China will convert the 4,000-room Sheraton Grand Macao in Cotai into the Londoner Grand, cutting rooms to 2,405 but raising suites to 1,500 as the Sheraton brand leaves Macao.
Singapore casinos to face tighter checks on cash deposits above S$4,000
Singapore casinos will soon have to carry out tighter checks on customer cash deposits above S$4,000 under updated counter-terrorism financing measures announced on 1 July 2024.
Singapore publishes updated counter-terrorism financing strategy with lower casino due diligence threshold
Singapore has cut the cash deposit level at which casinos must run due diligence checks to S$4,000, part of an updated national strategy against terrorism financing published on July 1.
South Korea crypto regulatory framework comes into effect
South Korea's cryptocurrency regulatory framework took effect in July 2024, requiring local exchanges to hold at least 80 percent of user coins in cold wallets separate from exchange funds.
Telephone voting reduced to ARS and I-PAT methods; Soku PAT at 9 banks; JRA Direct at 10 card companies
From 1 July 2024 telephone betting on Japanese public racing is handled only through the ARS and I-PAT methods, with Soku PAT available at nine banks and JRA Direct at ten card companies.
One Asia invites bids for PTC assets
One Asia Property Consultants began inviting bids at the end of June for the Penang Turf Club's 203.4 acres of land and seven other plots, with tenders closing on Nov 29, 2024.
Joint Guangdong-Macao-Hong Kong operation "破峰" dismantles cross-border online gambling syndicate
Police in Macao, mainland China and Hong Kong arrested more than 90 people on June 29, 2024 in a synchronized operation against a cross-border online gambling syndicate involving over MOP 1 billion.
Maruhan Matsuhidai reopens as a pachinko and slot specialty store
Maruhan Matsuhidai in Matsudo, Chiba, reopened on 29 June 2024 as a pachinko and slot specialty store, after first opening in August 2005.
Maruhan and Yamatoya Honten Ryokan sign basic agreement on share sale
Yamatoya Honten Ryokan, operator of a historic inn in Matsuyama, agreed on June 28 to sell all its shares to pachinko hall operator Maruhan of Kyoto.
Senate hearing probes ghost owners and deep POGO network
A Philippine Senate hearing on June 26 heard a Concepcion, Tarlac vendor testify that her signature was forged on records naming her an owner of a raided offshore gaming firm.
PNP confirms unreported killings in raided Pogo hubs
The Philippine National Police chief confirmed unreported killings at raided Philippine offshore gaming operator hubs in Central Luzon, saying the deaths were not properly investigated.
Korea Racing Authority launches official online horse racing betting sales
The Korea Racing Authority began official online sales of horse racing betting tickets on June 21, 2024, letting verified Korean adults buy through the Derby On mobile app.
First tranche of Act commences 17 June 2024
Singapore brought the first tranche of its Law Enforcement and Other Matters Act 2024 into force on 17 June 2024, including amendments to the Casino Control Act 2006 and the Gambling Control Act 2022.