Gambling News Across Asia
News on laws, licenses, venues, lotteries, racing and enforcement in 12 countries, with every story citing its sources.
Police visit National Convention Center over APT event
Police visited Hanoi's National Convention Center looking for the owners of the APT's local partner after a citizen's complaint, and the Asian Poker Tour canceled the last two days of its Vietnam series.
China cracks down on regional online scamming centers
China has moved to crack down on online scamming centers in Southeast Asia, driven partly by concern over the number of Chinese trafficking victims lured into these operations.
Chongqing launches rural gambling enforcement under "Clear Wind 2024"
Chongqing authorities have investigated 62 criminal cases of rural gambling since December 2023 under the national "Clear Wind 2024" campaign, dismantling 26 gangs and resolving 174 public security cases.
HKJC racing quota system takes effect
Hong Kong's racing quota system, capping the Hong Kong Jockey Club at 88 local race days, 25 simulcast races and 37 simulcast days per season, took effect in December 2023.
Hong Kong law amended to allow up to 12 broadcast races a day
A Hong Kong racing column states the law has been changed to allow up to 12 races to be broadcast in a single day, subject to a time limit of about five and a half hours.
Kokang underground online casino operation shut down
A USDT-based underground online casino in Kokang, Shan State, Myanmar, was shut down in December 2023 after armed conflict intensified in the area, according to a UNODC report.
Latest amendment to the model rules takes effect
The latest amendment to Japan's model rules for small motorcycle racing, adopted by the racing operations council on 30 November 2023, took effect on 1 December 2023.
Pachinko halls fell to 6,839 as of December 2023
Japan had 6,839 pachinko halls operating as of December 2023, down 526 halls or 7.1 percent from a year earlier, according to a survey by Yano Research Institute.
PCSO boosts Super Lotto 6/49 prize fund
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office said it increased the Super Lotto 6/49 prize fund in December 2023, a detail raised at a Senate hearing into unusual repeat lottery wins.
PCSO introduces E-Lotto test-run as online betting platform for Lotto games
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office introduced an E-Lotto test run at the end of 2023, an online platform for its Lotto games, after a year in which gaming revenue reached Php 61.4 billion.
Guangzhou golf club ordered to cease operations as lease not renewed
Guangzhou Qishiergan Golf Club says it has been told its lease at the Guangzhou racecourse site will not be renewed and it must stop operating on New Year's Day.
MIAA serves vacate notice on Philippine Village Hotel
Manila airport authorities entered the long-abandoned Philippine Village Hotel on November 21 under a Pasay court order and served occupants a notice to vacate the property.
Prosecutors order detention-first policy for juvenile gambling site operators
South Korea's Supreme Prosecutors' Office told frontline prosecutors to detain as a rule anyone running gambling sites aimed at juveniles, add tax evasion and organized crime charges, and seek the maximum sentence.
SECC orders crackdown on PK777 online casino
Cambodia's commercial gambling regulator declared the PK777 online casino illegal on November 13, 2023 and urged authorities to crack down on the site and its operators.
Madras High Court upholds Tamil Nadu online gambling Act but excludes games of skill
The Madras High Court has upheld Tamil Nadu's online gambling law but ruled it cannot apply to games of skill such as poker and rummy, partly allowing the gaming companies' challenge.
APECO suspends visa issuances
APECO says its new management suspended visa issuances on November 3, 2023 to review all previously issued visas and work permits, and later moved to cancel Resident Visas.
ED seizes over Rs 5 crore in cash in Mahadev app case
India's Enforcement Directorate seized more than Rs 5 crore in cash it says was sent by promoters of the Mahadev betting app, as it investigates alleged bribes to Chhattisgarh's chief minister.
Interagency task force on juvenile online gambling launches
South Korea's Supreme Prosecutors' Office told frontline prosecutors to arrest and detain, as a rule, operators of illegal online gambling sites aimed at juveniles, under a new interagency task force.
Pan-government response team launches against online illegal gambling
South Korea launched a pan-government response team on November 3 to fight online illegal gambling and protect teenagers, with police special enforcement running until March 31 next year.
Police announce special crackdown on youth-targeting gambling sites until March 31, 2024
South Korea's government launched a cross-ministry response team on November 3, 2023, and police will run a special crackdown until March 31, 2024 on online gambling sites and ads that lure young people.
MGA lists sbobet.com and w88-related domains as unauthorized
The Malta Gaming Authority has declared sbobet.com, fun-88.in, w88kub.com and related domains to have no connection with the regulator, saying any license claims on them are false.
Fourth Comprehensive Plan sets 0.43% revenue cap and 100-venue cap, excludes foreigner-only casinos
South Korea's National Gambling Control Commission set a 0.43% of GDP revenue cap and a 100-venue limit under its Fourth Comprehensive Plan, excluding foreigner-only casinos from the cap.
Torture den found in raid on illegal POGO hubs in Pasay City
Philippine authorities raided two illegal POGO hubs in Pasay City in November 2023, rescued 731 suspected human trafficking victims and found a hidden torture den inside one of the sites.
Weight system changed to grade-based handicap
The Keihan Hai, a Grade 3 sprint at Kyoto Racecourse run by the JRA, moved to grade-based weight conditions from 2023, setting 56kg for three-year-olds and 57kg for older horses, with mares 2kg less.
PCSO sets minimum jackpot prizes to P89 million for all jackpot-bearing games
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office raised the minimum jackpot for all its jackpot-bearing lotto games to P89 million on October 30, 2023, marking its 89th founding anniversary.
Iacat raids Pasay Pogo hub, rescues 731 trafficking victims
Philippine agents raided a Pasay City Pogo building on Oct. 27, rescuing 731 suspected trafficking victims and later relieving the city police chief and 26 officers over the site.
Assembly audit finds illegal sports toto site blocking rate fell sharply
A South Korean assembly audit heard that the share of illegal sports toto sites successfully blocked fell from 67.6 percent in 2018 to 28.3 percent by September 2023, even as registrations hit a five year high.
Executive Council approved increase in HKJC annual simulcast races cap from 10 to 25 from 2023
Hong Kong's Executive Council directed that the Jockey Club's annual cap on simulcast races rise by 15, from 10 to 25, and that overseas races per simulcast day rise from 9 to 12.
ED provisionally attaches ₹41 crore in Mahadev betting app case
India's Enforcement Directorate has filed its first chargesheet in the Mahadev online betting app case, naming 14 accused and reporting provisional attachment of ₹41 crore in proceeds of crime.
ED files first chargesheet against 14 accused in Mahadev betting app case
India's Enforcement Directorate filed its first chargesheet in the Mahadev online betting app case, naming 14 accused including founders Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, and reporting ₹41 crore attached.