Gambling News Across Asia
News on laws, licenses, venues, lotteries, racing and enforcement in 12 countries, with every story citing its sources.
Sands China announces payment cooperation with Kakao Pay and Macau Pass
Sands China has partnered with South Korea's Kakao Pay and Macao's Macau Pass to let Korean visitors make cross-border mobile payments at its Macao integrated resorts.
Minister approves implementation agreement for Osaka Yumeshima IR plan
Japan's transport minister approved the implementation agreement for the Osaka Yumeshima integrated resort plan on September 22, 2023, clearing the way for the prefecture and its private partner to sign the pact.
MGM says hotels and casinos operating normally again
MGM Resorts said its hotels and casinos were operating normally again on September 20, about 10 days after a cybersecurity issue shut down systems, with possible intermittent problems remaining.
Senate committee files report recommending permanent Pogo ban
A Philippine Senate committee has recommended permanently banning Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, filing a report signed by ten senators that also urges the executive branch to stop Pogo operations.
ED freezes Rs 417 crore in Mahadev app case
India's Enforcement Directorate froze or seized Rs 417 crore and searched premises in Kolkata, Bhopal and Mumbai over the Mahadev betting app money laundering case.
Indian tax authorities issue notices to Dream11 over GST shortfall
Indian tax authorities told Dream11 on September 12 to explain a goods and services tax shortfall of 12.1 billion rupees across two financial years, and the fantasy sports operator has challenged the demands in the Mumbai High Court.
PAGCOR warns against fake online gaming sites using its logo
PAGCOR warned on September 12, 2023 that websites are using its logo without permission to look like licensed offshore gaming operators, and said it has shut down most of them.
Enforcement Directorate files money-laundering prosecution complaint against Future Gaming and 15 other firms
India's Enforcement Directorate filed a money-laundering prosecution complaint in Kolkata against lottery operator Future Gaming and 15 affiliated companies over alleged cheating of state lottery governments.
W Macau opens at Studio City on the Cotai Strip
W Macau, a 557-room hotel designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, opened on 8 September 2023 inside the Studio City integrated resort on Macau's Cotai Strip and is taking bookings.
India notifies GST rules for casinos and online games
India's Finance Ministry has notified rules imposing a 28% Goods and Services Tax on the face value of bets in online games and casinos, with the government hoping to start the levy on October 1.
Osaka IR opening pushed back about one year to around autumn 2030
Osaka prefecture and city have pushed the opening of the city's casino-containing integrated resort back about a year, from late 2029 to around autumn 2030, and raised the initial investment to about 1.27 trillion yen.
DGGI issues GST notices worth Rs 55,000 crore to gaming companies
India's GST intelligence unit issued Rs 55,000 crore in tax notices to Dream11, Games 24x7 and Head Digital Works, and Dream11's auditor has flagged doubt over the company's ability to continue as a going concern.
Dream11 files lawsuit in Mumbai High Court challenging tax demands
Dream11 has filed a lawsuit in the High Court in Mumbai challenging Indian tax demands of about $150 million for 2017-2019, arguing its platform is a game of skill.
GST Council 50th meeting decides on 28% tax on full face value of online gaming bets
India's GST Council set a 28% tax on the full face value of online gaming bets, ending the lower rate for skill games and prompting Dream11 to challenge tax demands in court.
GST show cause notices issued to Dream11 and Delta Corp
India's Finance Ministry notified October 1 as the start date for 28% GST on the full face value of online gaming, casino and horse racing bets, as Dream11 and Delta Corp received show cause notices.
MGM Osaka signs agreement for Osaka integrated resort development
MGM Osaka signed an agreement with Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City in September 2023 to implement its government-certified Area Development Plan for an integrated resort in Osaka, Japan.
National Police Agency launches six-month crackdown on online gambling targeting adolescents
South Korea's National Police Agency says 2,925 people were caught in a six-month online gambling crackdown, with teenagers making up 35.4 percent of offenders and police planning to resume the operation in May.
Osaka IR initial investment raised to about JPY 1.27 trillion with additional investment from MGM and Orix
Osaka's planned casino resort will open around autumn 2030 instead of 2029, with initial investment rising to about JPY 1.27 trillion after MGM and Orix each added about JPY 95 billion.
Parliament passes amendments to Central GST and Integrated GST laws
India's Parliament passed amendments to the Central GST and Integrated GST laws to tax online gaming, casinos and horse racing at 28% on the full value of bets, with the Finance Ministry later setting October 1 as the start date.
Senate committee files report recommending immediate expulsion of POGOs
A Philippine Senate committee filed Committee Report No. 136 in September 2023 recommending the immediate expulsion of Philippine offshore gaming operators, signed by Gatchalian and nine other senators.
Pacific Online Systems Corp. signs deal for E-Lotto one-year test run
Pacific Online Systems Corp. signed a deal on August 30, 2023 to act as exclusive agent for the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office's one-year E-Lotto online betting test run.
Supreme Court directs Andhra Pradesh HC to reconsider online rummy issues afresh
India's Supreme Court has told the Andhra Pradesh High Court to reconsider whether online rummy is a game of skill or chance, setting aside its earlier findings and pointing to new federal IT rules.
Ministry of Finance issues Document 9111/BTC-TCNH on internet lottery ticket sales
Vietnam's Finance Ministry told distributors that buying lottery tickets on someone's behalf through apps and websites is not legal, and Vietlott warned customers to use only its official channels.
Ministry of Finance requests stronger inspections of foreigner-only casinos
Vietnam's Ministry of Finance has asked the Ministry of Public Security and 17 provinces and cities to carry out more unannounced inspections of casinos and prize-bearing electronic games reserved for foreign players.
Supreme People's Court publishes research report on cross-border gambling governance
China's Supreme People's Court published a research report on cross-border gambling governance, reporting a large rise in such cases since 2021 and flagging unclear sentencing standards.
Raffles at Galaxy Macau to begin trial operations
Raffles at Galaxy Macau, a 450-suite hotel on the east side of the Galaxy Macau resort, began trial operations on 16 August 2023 ahead of a grand opening later in the year.
Islandwide anti-money laundering raid in Singapore
Singapore police arrested 10 foreign nationals on Aug 15, 2023 in an islandwide anti-money laundering operation involving more than 400 officers, with about $1 billion in assets seized or frozen.
GST Council approves taxing online gaming, casinos and horse racing at 28%
India's GST Council has confirmed a 28% tax on the full face value of bets placed on online gaming, casinos and horse racing, with implementation targeted for October 1.
PAGCOR presents new offshore gaming regulatory framework at Senate hearing
PAGCOR told a Philippine Senate committee that offshore gaming licensees and service providers are on probationary status and must re-apply by September 17, 2023 under a framework in effect since July.
ED arrests four in Mahadev betting app money laundering case
India's Enforcement Directorate arrested four people in August 2023 in its money laundering investigation into the Mahadev online betting app, a case that has also drawn in summoned Bollywood figures.