Gambling News Across Asia
News on laws, licenses, venues, lotteries, racing and enforcement in 12 countries, with every story citing its sources.
Closure of Singapore racing decided
Singapore's government decided in June 2023 that racing in the city would cease, with the sport scheduled to end in October 2024 after 144 years.
Korea Racing Authority Act amended to allow online ticket sales
A June amendment to South Korea's Korea Racing Authority Act has cleared the way for online sales of horse race tickets, with the operator preparing a pilot before the end of 2023.
Liaoning police launch "平安护航" special operation
Liaoning's Public Security Department began a special operation on 1 June 2023 to crack down on cross-border gambling, and by December reported 2,899 criminal cases and 5,568 suspects.
Police conducted over 300 raids and arrested over 450 persons for illegal gambling in 2023
Singapore police ran more than 300 raids against illegal gambling in 2023 and arrested more than 450 people, authorities said while announcing tougher enforcement for Euro 2024.
Second reading of Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2023 moved in Legislative Council
Hong Kong's Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury moved the second reading of a bill imposing an extra football betting duty of HKD 2.4 billion a year for five years.
Genting HongKong to exit Newport World Resorts stake
Alliance Global Group's subsidiary signed a share purchase agreement to buy Genting HongKong's 40 percent stake in Travellers International Hotel Group, owner of Newport World Resorts in Pasay City.
Senators accuse PAGCOR of corruption over POGO trafficking lapses
Philippine senators accused the gaming regulator PAGCOR of corruption and failure to detect more than 1,000 trafficking victims at a POGO hub, and both called for all offshore gaming to be shut down.
MoMo warns e-wallets exploited for transaction ID gambling
Vietnam's MoMo said on May 29 that e-wallets and payment gateways are being used to run even-odd and over-under betting on transfer transaction IDs, and that it has changed its own systems in response.
Seoul Administrative Court rules overseas gambling site winnings are taxable income
South Korea's Seoul Administrative Court ruled that winnings from overseas gambling sites are taxable income, rejecting a player's claim that losing more than he won meant no tax was owed.
Vietnam issues Directive 16/CT-TTg on combating gambling crimes
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang signed Directive 16/CT-TTg on 27 May 2023, ordering a nationwide crackdown on gambling and the organized crime behind it, with new duties for police, telecoms, banks and the finance ministry.
Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2023 to be gazetted
Hong Kong will gazette the Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2023 on 25 May 2023, imposing an extra HK$2.4 billion a year in football betting duty on the operator for five years.
The Londoner Macao to hold grand celebration after two-year upgrade
Sands China held a grand celebration on May 25, 2023, to mark the completed renovation of The Londoner Macao, a two-year project costing nearly US$2 billion, with David Beckham attending.
Gambling Control Act Order 2023 takes effect
Singapore's Gambling Control Act Order 2023, a payment blocking order issued to financial institutions under the Gambling Control Act 2022, took effect on 22 May 2023 after being dated 16 May 2023.
Karnataka High Court quashes GST intimation notice of Rs 21,000 crore against Gameskraft
The Karnataka High Court has quashed a GST intimation notice demanding about Rs 21,000 crore from Gameskraft, ruling that online rummy and similar games on its platforms are games of skill and not taxable as betting or gambling.
HKJC announces record prize money for 2023/2024 season
The Hong Kong Jockey Club said total prize money and rewards for the 2023/2024 season will rise to as much as HKD 1.73 billion, a record, with the four Longines Hong Kong International Races worth HKD 118 million.
Raid rescues 1,090 at Pampanga POGO hub
A May 4 police raid on a POGO hub in Clark Sun Valley, Pampanga rescued 1,090 people who had been trafficked and forced to work in online scams.
Macau amends National Security Law with expanded coverage and stricter penalties
Macau's Legislative Assembly unanimously approved amendments to the territory's National Security Law in May 2023, expanding the definitions of secession and sedition and making the law extraterritorial.
PAOCC raids Sun Valley POGO hub
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission raided the Sun Valley POGO hub in May 2023, and a year later the computers seized there had still not been examined, according to the agency's spokesperson.
POGOs Colorful and Leap Group raided at Sun Valley Hub in Clark
Philippine authorities raided the POGO firms Colorful and Leap Group Company at Sun Valley Hub in Clark in May 2023, an operation later cited by Pampanga officials backing Marcos' 2024 POGO ban.
Supreme Court concurrence finds PAGCOR committed no grave abuse in issuing POGO rules
The Philippine Supreme Court upheld PAGCOR's rules for offshore gaming operators on April 25, 2023, with Justice Leonen concurring that the regulator committed no grave abuse of discretion but voting to dismiss the petitions outright.
Supreme Court denies petition challenging POGO rules
The Philippine Supreme Court denied consolidated petitions seeking to declare the rules and regulations for Philippine offshore gaming operators unconstitutional, in a ruling promulgated on April 25, 2023.
Supreme Court dismisses consolidated POGO petitions
The Philippine Supreme Court dismissed three consolidated petitions challenging the rules governing offshore gaming operations and denied a request to halt their enforcement.
Supreme Court promulgated consolidated Decision on RR-POGO constitutionality
The Philippine Supreme Court dismissed consolidated petitions challenging the constitutionality of the rules governing offshore gaming operations, ruling the petitioners failed to justify direct resort to the Court.
PAGCOR issues amended Regulatory Framework for Gaming System Service Providers of Electronic Games, Electronic Bingo and Sports Betting
PAGCOR issued an amended accreditation framework for electronic games, electronic bingo and sports betting service providers on 19 April 2023, setting capital, fee, bond and gaming site requirements.
Japan certifies Osaka Yumeshima IR District Development Plan
Japan's land ministry certified the Osaka Yumeshima integrated resort plan on 14 April 2023, the country's first such approval, with conditions attached and a Nagasaki bid still under review.
Osaka Yumeshima IR area development plan certified
Japan's tourism agency published the certification of the Osaka Yumeshima integrated resort area development plan on April 14, 2023, the first such approval under the country's casino law.
Tamil Nadu Governor grants assent to online gambling ban
Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi granted assent on April 10, 2023 to a re-adopted bill banning online gambling in the state, with the law published in the government gazette the same day.
I&B Ministry issues fresh advisory against betting and gambling advertisements
India's Information and Broadcasting Ministry issued a fresh advisory warning newspapers, television channels and online publishers against carrying advertisements for betting and gambling platforms, alongside new IT Rules covering real money games.
IT Rules 2021 amended to cover online gaming platforms
India amended its IT intermediary rules in April 2023 to cover online gaming platforms, requiring money game intermediaries to register with self-regulatory bodies that verify whether a game is permissible.
Studio City Phase 2 Indoor Water Park to open
Melco Resorts opened the Studio City Phase 2 indoor water park in Macau on April 6, 2023, the first stage of a US$1.2 billion expansion that also includes two hotel towers and a new gaming floor.