Gambling News Across Asia
News on laws, licenses, venues, lotteries, racing and enforcement in 12 countries, with every story citing its sources.
Booking-purchase rights cut from 5 books to 3 books from the 1 April 2023 draw
Thailand's Government Lottery Office cut the number of lottery books a buyer may purchase or reserve from five to three, effective with the draw of 1 April 2023.
J-PLACE sales expanded to all races
J-PLACE sales of Hokkaido's ban'ei horse racing expanded to every race at every venue from 1 April 2023, widening off-course betting on the sled-racing form.
L Hokuto no Ken released and Smart Pachinko introduced nationwide
Sammy's L Hokuto no Ken pachislot machine appeared in April 2023 and its big hit cemented the popularity of Smart Pachislot, while Smart Pachinko machines were introduced nationwide from the same month.
MeitY notifies gaming-related amendments to IT Act allowing SROs
India's IT ministry notified amendments to the IT Act in April 2023 that let multiple self-regulatory organizations decide whether real-money games could be permitted, a plan later dropped.
Smart Pachinko introduced in Japan
From April 2023 Japanese pachinko halls began installing sealed-ball "smart pachinko" machines, a new generation of machines that arrived as hall closures and bankruptcies accelerated.
Smart Pachinko introduction reduces need for ball counting systems
Smart pachinko machines introduced in Japan from April 2023 seal balls inside the cabinet and record ball data directly on IC cards, removing the need for ball counting systems.
Supreme Court dismisses consolidated petitions challenging PAGCOR's RR-POGO
The Philippine Supreme Court dismissed three consolidated petitions against the rules governing offshore gaming operations, ruling the petitioners went to the wrong court and showed no actual case.
Supreme Court junks petitions to void POGOs
The Philippine Supreme Court dismissed all petitions seeking to void Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators in April 2023, ruling on procedural grounds rather than the constitutionality of offshore gaming.
Andhra Pradesh High Court orders committee on online rummy
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has ordered the state government to set up a committee to examine how online rummy is played and report within four weeks, to decide if it is a game of skill or chance.
Goa CM announces new casino rules in Budget speech
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told the state Assembly that new casino rules, covering offshore operators, will be notified soon under the Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act.
Chinese police handled over 50,000 criminal cases in 2022 prostitution and gambling crackdown
China's Ministry of Public Security said police handled more than 50,000 criminal cases and over 400,000 offenses tied to prostitution and gambling in 2022, targeting online gambling and underground casinos.
Live streaming of all races begins on the internet
Live video streaming of every race began on the internet from the first Nakayama, second Hanshin and second Chukyo meetings, the Japan Racing Association's central racing calendar shows.
Implementing Rules and Guidelines for Online Poker Operators take effect
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation's Implementing Rules and Guidelines for the Licensing of Online Poker Operators and its Platforms took effect on March 23, 2023, setting licensing, platform and tax rules for online poker in the country.
Korea Racing Authority Act amendment passes committee
A National Assembly committee in South Korea has passed an amendment to the Korea Racing Authority Act that would allow online sales of horse race betting tickets.
Lucky South 99 voluntarily cancels Laoag licenses
Lucky South 99, the offshore gaming operator later raided in Porac, Pampanga, voluntarily canceled its two Laoag City licenses on March 22, 2023, according to Rappler.
Pagcor weighs privatization of all 41 casinos it operates
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp is weighing the sale of all 41 casinos it operates to raise about 80 billion pesos for the government and focus on its regulatory role.
Sime course officially opens to members and the public
Keppel Club opened its renovated Sime course on March 18, 2023, becoming Singapore's first club to run a public golf course under a hybrid model for members and public golfers.
Lam Son dog racing track in Vung Tau closes
The Lam Son dog racing track in Vung Tau closed on 10 March 2023 after its license expired, and no betting project in Vietnam has since been licensed to operate.
Joy Horse Hamamatsu ends betting sales
Joy Horse Hamamatsu, an off-track betting facility for local racing in Japan, ended betting sales on March 7, 2023, with payouts available until that date.
Governor returns online gambling Bill to Assembly
Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi returned the state's online gambling prohibition Bill to the Assembly on March 6, 2023, saying it was ultra vires the Constitution and against court judgments.
Iwamizawa off-course betting venue suspension announced
The Hokkaido Thoroughbred Promotion Corporation said the Iwamizawa off-course betting venue will suspend operations on March 30, citing the aging of the facility.
Gatchalian urges Marcos administration to ban POGOs
In March 2023 Senator Sherwin Gatchalian urged the Marcos administration to ban Philippine offshore gaming operators, citing risks to peace and order in his committee chairman's report.
New licensing conditions introduced from 1 March 2023 for Category 3 and 4 licensees
Singapore will bar cash and cash-equivalent prizes and cap prize values below $100 at amusement centers and fun fairs, with the rules written into licenses from 1 March 2023 and enforced from 1 March 2024.
Online horse race betting bill passes the National Assembly
South Korea's National Assembly passed a bill allowing online horse race betting, with a pilot service due to start in December and a likely limit of KRW 50,000 to 100,000 per bet.
Vung Tau greyhound betting operation stops as its project term ends
The licensed greyhound betting operation in Vung Tau has stopped after reaching the end of its project term, leaving Vietnam without an active greyhound betting venue.
Haengbok Lottery consortium dropped as preferred lottery operator and announces lawsuit
South Korea's Haengbok Lottery consortium, dropped as preferred bidder for the 2024 to 2028 lottery contract over false documents, says it will seek a court injunction against the decision.
Thailand allows animal fighting and racing betting venues to reopen
Thailand's Interior Ministry has told provincial governors that betting venues for bullfighting, cockfighting, fish fighting, cow racing and horse racing may reopen with permits after closing at the start of Covid-19.
Hong Kong budget proposes special football betting duty on Jockey Club
Hong Kong's financial secretary proposed a special football betting duty on the Jockey Club of HK$2.4 billion a year for five years, a total of HK$12 billion, from 2023-24.
Subcommittee passes Korea Racing Authority Act amendment allowing online horse race betting
A National Assembly subcommittee in Seoul approved an amendment to the Korea Racing Authority Act on February 22, 2023, permitting online horse race betting and raising the online purchase age to 21.
Temporary exemption order for high-value amusement machines takes effect
Singapore's Gambling Control (High-Value Amusement Machines, Exemption) Order took effect on 6 February 2023, temporarily exempting amusement center and fun fair operators from Section 18(1) of the Gambling Control Act until 29 February 2024.