Gambling News Across Asia
News on laws, licenses, venues, lotteries, racing and enforcement in 12 countries, with every story citing its sources.
MHA orders MeitY to block 232 China-linked apps including 138 betting apps
India's Ministry of Home Affairs ordered the blocking of 232 China-linked apps, including 138 betting platforms, in a February 5 order to the electronics and IT ministry.
Electronic table games split into dealer-operated and automated categories
South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism split electronic table games into dealer-operated and automated categories, each with 18 business types, under Ordinance No. 502 effective February 2, 2023.
PAOCC raids Hongsheng Gaming Technology in Bamban, Tarlac
Philippine police raided Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc. in Bamban, Tarlac on February 1, 2023, detaining hundreds of workers over an alleged fraudulent cryptocurrency investment operation run under a POGO license.
Weight rule changed to grade-based handicap with uniform 55kg
The Kyoto Himba Stakes, a Grade 3 race for fillies and mares at Kyoto Racecourse, changed its weight basis from prize money to grade for 2023, with all runners carrying a uniform 55kg.
PNP reports fourfold rise in POGO-related crimes at Senate hearing
The Philippine National Police told a Senate hearing that POGO-related crimes rose to 40 in 2022 from nine in 2019, with 316 victims and 892 suspects recorded since 2019.
Executive Council convenor says Jockey Club overreacted to tax proposal
Hong Kong Executive Council convenor Regina Ip said the Jockey Club overreacted to her party's proposal to raise the football betting duty from 50 to 80 percent of revenue.
Jockey Club warns proposed tax raise could destroy its business model
Hong Kong's Jockey Club says a proposed rise in football betting duty from 50 to 80 percent of revenue could push it into an operating deficit and destroy its business model.
New People's Party proposes raising football betting duty from 50 to 80 percent
Hong Kong's New People's Party has proposed raising the football betting duty from 50 to 80 percent of revenue, saying it would add HK$5.9 billion to the city's coffers, while the Jockey Club warns of a deficit.
Liaoning police issue notice cracking down on gambling crimes
Liaoning's public security department has issued Notice No. 7 of 2023, banning all forms of gambling and warning that online operators, agents and facilitators face criminal liability.
Lottery committee approves digital lottery expansion to 50 million tickets by 2025
Thailand's Government Lottery Board approved raising digital lottery tickets sold through the Paotang app to 30 million in 2023, 40 million in 2024 and 50 million in 2025.
Macao lifts COVID-19 entry restrictions for foreign travellers
Macao lifted COVID-19 entry restrictions for foreign travellers effective 8 January 2023, ending a ban that had barred most non-residents from entering the territory since March 2020.
Administrative Regulation No. 54/2022 enters into force
Macau's Administrative Regulation No. 54/2022 took effect on 1 January 2023, setting the rules under which casino concessionaires can be granted reductions or exemptions from their gross gaming revenue contributions.
Cambodia arrests over 3,000 for illegal gambling in 2023
Cambodia's Ministry of Interior reported 1,786 crackdowns on illegal gambling in 2023, with 3,155 people arrested and 165 cases sent to court.
HKJC issues Chapter 4 betting rules for overseas races
The Hong Kong Jockey Club has published Chapter 4 of its betting rules, setting out how bets on overseas races are run, including place payouts and bracket numbers.
Japan greenlights first casino in Osaka
Japan has approved plans for its first casino, an integrated resort in Osaka, a step reported as the country's first green light for casino gambling.
Macau authorities removed COVID-19 related protective measures
Macau's gambling regulator published Wynn Macau's 2024 annual report, which credits the removal of COVID-19 protective measures in January 2023 for a sustained rise in visitor arrivals and higher 2024 business volume.
Macau lifts casino social distancing rules
Venetian Macau, S.A. says all social distancing rules at its properties, including reduced gaming table seats and activated slot machines, were canceled in early January 2023.
MADANI government cuts special draws from 22 to 8 a year
Malaysia's finance ministry said the MADANI government cut special lottery draws from 22 to eight a year from January 2023 and has issued no new gambling licenses since late 2022.
Ministry of Finance and Justice proposed progressive tax on winnings in 2023 draft
Vietnam's finance and justice ministries proposed in a 2023 draft to tax lottery and betting winnings progressively, calling the current flat 10 percent rate too low.
Tax-free threshold for lottery winnings raised to KRW 2,000,000
South Korea's tax-free threshold for lottery winnings rose from KRW 50,000 to KRW 2,000,000 on January 1, 2023, taking Lotto third prize and Pension Lottery third and fourth prize winners out of taxation.
Casino tax moratorium period end date set
Singapore has amended the Casino Control Act so the casino tax moratorium period ends on, and includes, 31 December 2030, under the Gambling Duties Act 2022.
DAZN ends live streaming of Oi races
DAZN ended live streaming of Oi Racecourse races, including graded races, on December 31, 2022, closing one online route for watching Tokyo City Keiba fixtures.
Government temporarily transfers Wynn Macau Casino and Wynn Palace Casino to concessionaire
Wynn Resorts (Macau) S.A. signed a ten-year concession on 16 December 2022 to operate Casino Wynn Macau and Casino Wynn Palace, with the two casinos able to revert to the Macau SAR on 31 December 2022.
Oceanus gaming area to revert to Macau government
SJM Resorts and the owner of Oceanus agreed the casino's gaming area will pass to the Macau government when the gaming concession ends on 31 December 2022.
Death toll from Poipet casino fire rises to 25
A fire at the Grand Diamond City casino and hotel in Poipet, Cambodia, killed at least 25 people and injured more than 60, with the search for victims continuing on Friday.
Search ends at Grand Diamond City fire site with 26 confirmed dead
Cambodian and Thai rescuers ended a 39 hour search at the burned Grand Diamond City casino hotel in Poipet, confirming 26 dead and 57 injured survivors.
Ministry of Public Security publishes 2022 cross-border gambling crackdown results
China's Ministry of Public Security said police handled more than 37,000 cross-border gambling cases in 2022, dismantling thousands of platforms, casinos, payment operations and promotion networks.
Fire breaks out at Grand Diamond City casino and hotel in Poipet, Cambodia
A fire at the Grand Diamond City casino and hotel in Poipet, Cambodia, killed at least 25 people and injured more than 60, with the search for victims continuing into Friday.
Marcos issues Executive Order No. 9 continuing e-sabong suspension
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the continued nationwide suspension of e-sabong operations in the Philippines, covering livestreamed cockfights and all off-cockpit betting.
New round of casino concession contracts takes effect
Macau's new ten-year casino concession contracts took effect on 1 January 2023, after the government reopened the tender in July 2022 and signed the contracts on 16 December 2022.