Gambling News Across Asia
News on laws, licenses, venues, lotteries, racing and enforcement in 12 countries, with every story citing its sources.
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.
Agency publishes response on web coin conversion for medal games
Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency published a Gray Zone Elimination System response on June 13, 2024, covering a service that converts paid web coins into coins used at physical medal game venues.
Gambling Regulatory Authority blocks over 3,400 illegal gambling websites
Singapore's Gambling Regulatory Authority, with two ministries, said it blocked more than 3,400 illegal gambling websites, over 260 bank accounts and more than $36 million in linked payments.
MHA and MSF announce clampdown on illegal and problem gambling during Euro 2024
Singapore's Home Affairs and Social and Family Development ministries announced a joint clampdown on illegal and problem gambling for Euro 2024, citing past raids, arrests and website blocks.
Raid on Lucky South 99 POGO compound nets 158 arrests
The Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission is investigating a possible internal leak after a raid on the Lucky South 99 POGO compound in Porac, Pampanga, arrested 158 foreign nationals instead of the expected 1,000.
Makabayan bloc files bill to ban and criminalize POGOs
Makabayan bloc lawmakers filed House Bill 10525 on June 11, 2024, seeking to revoke all POGO licenses, criminalize offshore gaming and stop work permits for POGO workers.
Senate bill filed to repeal POGO taxability under RA 11590
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian filed Senate Bill 2689 on June 11, 2024, seeking to repeal the taxability of offshore gaming under Republic Act 11590, as House lawmakers filed a parallel ban.
Second raid on Lucky South 99 compound
Philippine authorities carried out a second raid on the Lucky South 99 offshore gaming compound in Porac, Pampanga, on June 5, 2024, a day after the first operation at the site.
Joint law enforcement operation at Lucky South 99 POGO compound in Porac
A Philippine court granted a search warrant on June 4, 2024 for the Lucky South 99 POGO compound in Porac, Pampanga, where workers were suspected of being trafficked.
PAOCC raids Lucky South 99 Pogo hub in Porac
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission raided the Lucky South 99 Pogo compound in Porac, Pampanga on June 4, 2024, rescuing 194 Filipino and foreign workers.
PAOCC team arrives at Lucky South 99 POGO compound
The Philippine Anti-Organized Crime Commission is investigating an internal leak after its June 4 raid on the Lucky South 99 POGO compound in Porac, Pampanga found the complex empty and produced far fewer arrests than expected.
Search and rescue operations begin at Lucky South 99
Philippine authorities rescued 187 people from the Lucky South 99 compound in Porac, Pampanga, and later found suspected Chinese military uniforms during search operations at the site.
China calls on the Philippines to end offshore gambling
China called offshore gambling a social ill tied to kidnapping, human trafficking and murder, and urged the Philippines to end it, as Philippine figures pressed to cancel POGO licenses for the Chinese market.
Chinese embassy in Manila appeals for POGO ban
The Chinese embassy in Manila said it had helped shut five offshore gambling centers and repatriated nearly 1,000 Chinese citizens, and appealed to the Philippines to ban POGOs.
Guangdong and Macao police dismantle underground banks and money exchange syndicates
Police in Guangdong and Macao dismantled three remittance fraud syndicates and six underground banking dens by the end of June 2024, arresting 101 suspects in cases involving about RMB 1.47 billion.
Lucky South 99 raided twice in early June
Lucky South 99, a Philippine offshore gaming operator, was raided twice by authorities in early June for human trafficking, torture, prostitution and scams, according to a Philstar.com report.
Online horse race betting becomes official in South Korea
South Korea moved online horse race betting from a pilot to full operation in June 2024, with the Korea Racing Authority selling electronic tickets to players aged 21 and over.
PAOCC says Bamban and Porac are the biggest POGO hubs it dismantled
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission says the Bamban and Porac POGO hubs were the biggest it has dismantled, and that its members have received death threats.
Philippine authorities announce crackdown on illegal POGOs
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. banned all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators in his State of the Nation address, giving the gaming agency until the end of the year to wind down operations.
Philippines remains on FATF gray list
The Philippines remained on the Financial Action Task Force gray list in June 2024, missing its own target of exiting by that year, with casino junket monitoring named as a gap.