Gambling News Across Asia
News on laws, licenses, venues, lotteries, racing and enforcement in 12 countries, with every story citing its sources.
Dynam Mie Shima Minami opened
Dynam opened its Mie Shima Minami pachinko and slot parlor in Shima, Mie Prefecture on February 9, 2024, with 529 machines in total, according to the operator's store page.
Kampong Speu governor orders suspension of new lottery licenses and crackdown on illegal gambling
The governor of Kampong Speu province in Cambodia has ordered town and district governors to stop issuing licenses for new lottery businesses and to suppress all illegal gambling.
Pasig City shuts down all online gambling outlets
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto ordered the shutdown of all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, e-games and e-bingo outlets in the city on February 9, citing social costs over revenue.
Dowinn Heritage junket casino opens in Pasay City
PAGCOR's Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Department trained staff at the new Dowinn Heritage junket casino in Pasay City three days before the venue opened on February 3, 2024.
First foreigners-only casino in 19 years opens in Korea
Mohegan opened a foreigners-only casino at its Inspire Entertainment Resort in Incheon on February 3, the first new license of its kind in South Korea since January 2006.
House committee approves measures seeking to ban Pogos
A Philippine House committee approved a resolution and a bill seeking to ban Philippine offshore gaming operators, as lawmakers cited raids on Pogo hubs in Tarlac and Pampanga as evidence of criminal activity.
Prime Minister orders inspection of gambling businesses with expired licenses
Cambodia's prime minister ordered provincial and capital governors in February 2024 to inspect gambling businesses and lotteries with expired licenses and shut any still trading.
Ministry of Interior convenes working group on gambling law amendment
Cambodia's Ministry of Interior has convened a technical working group to amend the 1996 Law on Suppression of Gambling so that it aligns with the 2020 Law on Commercial Gambling Management.
South Korea grants Inspire a new foreigner-only casino license
South Korea's culture ministry granted Inspire Entertainment Resort a foreigner-only casino license, the first new such permit since 2005 and the first issued under the Free Economic Zone Act.
J-PLACE Nagoya relocated and JRA off-course betting suspended
The Japan Racing Association has moved its J-PLACE Nagoya betting outlet and suspended JRA off-course betting sales there, following the relocation of Nagoya Racecourse from Nagoya to Yatomi.
Government rules out casino use of former racecourse land
Macau's government says the land and facilities of the Taipa racecourse, returned free of charge when the horse racing concession ends, will not be used for casino gambling and no new racing tender will be held there.
Jockey Club granted free use of racecourse for one more year
Macau will let the Jockey Club keep using the racecourse facilities free of charge for one more year after their contract ends, to allow the club to move its horses out.
Macau Jockey Club signs termination agreement with government
The Macau Jockey Club signed termination documents with the government on January 15, 2024, ending its horse racing concession early after accumulated losses of more than 2.5 billion patacas.
Jockey Club granted free use of racecourse for one more year
Macau will let the Jockey Club keep using the racecourse facilities free of charge for one more year, until March 2025, so its 289 horses can be moved out in stages.
Macau horse racing closure announced
Macau will hold its final horse race meeting at Taipa on Saturday after the government ended the Macau Jockey Club concession on April 1, citing losses of over 2.5 billion patacas.
Simulcast quotas increased from January 2024
Hong Kong raised its quarterly simulcast race quota from 10 to 25 and its per-simulcast-day non-local race quota from 9 to 12 from January 2024, after which illegal gambling site traffic fell 12 percent.
South Kanto fully introduces point-based system
South Kanto public racing has replaced program prize money with a point accumulation system for grading horses, fully from 1 January 2024 and for two-year-olds from 1 April 2023.
Supreme Court issued notice to the Centre on E-gaming Federation plea
India's Supreme Court in January 2024 issued notice to the Centre on a plea by the E-gaming Federation challenging the 28% GST levy on online gaming, a dispute that later grew into a stay on ₹1.12 lakh crore in tax notices.
Busan Yeonje off-course betting office closed
South Korea's National Gambling Control Commission lists the Korea Racing Authority's Busan Yeonje off-course betting office as closed on 31 December 2023, cutting one of 25 horse racing betting branches.
Jackpot Lounge ceases operations
Keppel Club in Singapore has closed its Jackpot Lounge from December 31, 2023, citing low visitorship, according to the club's own historical timeline.
Inspire Entertainment Resort temporarily opens on Yeongjongdo
Inspire Entertainment Resort opened temporarily on Yeongjongdo, Incheon after about four years of phase one construction, and South Korea later granted it final approval for a foreigner-only casino.
Entry limits lifted after four years
Tokyo Daishoten race day at Ohi Racecourse on December 29, 2023 ended four years of spectator entry limits, drawing 28,888 people to the Japanese dirt racing season finale.
Liaoning reports 2,899 cross-border gambling criminal cases for 2023
Liaoning provincial police reported 2,899 cross-border gambling criminal cases, 5,568 arrests and more than RMB 300 million in seized or frozen funds for 2023, with case numbers up 231 percent year on year.
Review committee finds Nagasaki IR plan does not meet certification requirements
Japan's IR review committee said on December 22, 2023 that the Kyushu-Nagasaki integrated resort plan should not be certified, citing weak funding certainty and thin evidence on operations and harm prevention.
PCSO announces E-Lotto test run
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office began a one-year test run of E-Lotto on December 15, 2023, letting players bet on lotto games online and receive winnings electronically.
PCSO raises minimum guaranteed jackpots for major lotto games
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office raised the minimum guaranteed jackpot on five major lotto games in December 2023, a move a senator now wants investigated over whether it favors wealthy bettors.
Royal Gazette publishes Emergency Decree Amending Gambling Decree (No. 3) B.E. 2566
Thailand has published an emergency decree amendment that sets nationwide opening hours for legal gambling venues and extends them in some border and tourist areas.
Galaxy Entertainment Group holds opening ceremony for Phase 3
Galaxy Entertainment Group held the opening ceremony for its Phase 3 development on 13 December 2023 at the Galaxy International Convention Centre in Macau, a project focused on non-gaming elements.
Macao Executive Council concludes discussion of draft law combating illegal gambling
Macao's Executive Council has finished discussing a draft law that would amend Law No. 8/96/M to define illegal gaming more clearly, target online gaming crime and raise penalties and fines.
Asian Poker Tour cancels final two days of APT Hanoi Billions
The Asian Poker Tour canceled the final two days of APT Hanoi Billions in Vietnam after police visited the venue, amid allegations the series breached local gambling laws.