Gambling News Across Asia
News on laws, licenses, venues, lotteries, racing and enforcement in 12 countries, with every story citing its sources.
Darling bathhouse reported closed
The Darling bathhouse in Macau has closed, with a report attributing the shutdown to the sharp fall in tourists during the pandemic that has also hit the wider sauna trade.
Penang Turf Club revises entrance ticket prices
The Penang Turf Club has revised its racecourse entrance ticket prices, effective 21 May 2022, setting admission at RM 9, RM 20 and RM 26 depending on the area.
Group of Ministers recommends raising GST on online gaming to 28 percent
A group of Indian ministers has unanimously recommended raising the goods and services tax on online gaming, casinos and race courses from 18 percent to 28 percent.
Japan Casino Regulatory Commission opens public comment on draft casino license screening criteria
Japan's Casino Regulatory Commission opened a 30-day public comment period from 19 May to 17 June 2022 on draft screening criteria for casino business licenses under the IR Act.
Macao seeks new future as China cracks down on gambling
Macao is being forced to rebrand its identity as the world's casino hub as Beijing pressure and pandemic travel rules keep visitors away, Nikkei Asia reported on May 11, 2022.
Nustar Resort and Casino opens in Cebu City
Nustar Resort and Casino, the first premier 5-star integrated resort in Cebu, began operations in Cebu City on May 8, 2022, according to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.
Digital lottery agent applications open 3-10 May 2022
Thailand's Government Lottery Office opened applications from 3 to 10 May 2022 for agents to sell digital lottery tickets, with the first sales period set for 16 June 2022.
E-Sabong outlawed by Office of the President memorandum
A Philippine Office of the President memorandum dated May 3, 2022 ordered all licensed E-Sabong operators to shut their gaming websites and stop operations, including betting stations.
Hapi Jockey Club breaks ground for fourth race track in Batangas
Hapi Jockey Club Inc. broke ground on a 50-hectare thoroughbred racing complex in Padre Garcia, Batangas, on May 3, 2022, under a 25-year franchise to operate racetracks in three provinces.
President directs nationwide suspension of e-sabong
President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a nationwide halt to e-sabong on May 3, 2022, after a DILG survey found most respondents wanted online cockfight betting stopped.
Ministry of Finance submits amended Decree 06 to the Government
Vietnam's Ministry of Finance has amended Decree 06 on betting on horse racing, dog racing and international football to resolve a conflict with the Law on Bidding, and submitted the revised decree to the Government in May 2022.
Penalty for unreasonable flyings changed
From 1 May 2022, Japanese boat racing changed the penalty for an "unreasonable flying" start from same-day return home to five extra days of suspension added to the standard period.
Spectators welcomed back to live horse racing
Singapore Turf Club welcomed spectators back to live horse racing after almost two years of racing behind closed doors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lottery Commission decides to push Lottery Act amendment banning commercial use of draw numbers
South Korea's Lottery Commission will extend the Powerball draw number publication cycle from 5 minutes to 6 hours from July 1 and pursue a Lottery Act amendment penalizing commercial use of draw numbers.
PAGCOR updates e-sabong licensee register
PAGCOR's register of licensed e-sabong operators, updated April 28, 2022, lists nine companies allowed to operate and marks five of them as suspended licensees.
E-Sabong Regulatory Framework and OCBS framework updated
PAGCOR published updated regulatory frameworks for electronic sabong and off-cockpit betting stations on 27 April 2022, setting licensing, capital and player protection rules for online cockfight betting in the Philippines.
Meghalaya plans casinos and online gambling for tourists only
Meghalaya has drawn up plans to license casinos and online gaming for tourists only, with officials saying the Gaming Rules 2021 will let operators offer games of skill and chance.
WINS Kawasaki renamed J-PLACE Kawasaki
The JRA off-course betting shop at Kawasaki Racecourse was renamed J-PLACE Kawasaki on April 23, 2022, with a change to where winning tickets can be cashed.
Presidential Decree No. 111 promulgates the Futures and Derivatives Law
China's president promulgated the Futures and Derivatives Law on 20 April 2022, after the NPC Standing Committee passed it the same day, with the law taking effect on 1 August 2022.
Wakayama Prefectural Assembly rejects IR development plan bill
Wakayama Prefectural Assembly voted 18 to 22 against the bill needed to apply its integrated resort plan to the national government, ending the prefecture's casino bid before the April 28 deadline.
Wakayama assembly special committee rejects IR plan bill
Wakayama's prefectural assembly voted down the bill needed to apply for an integrated resort, ending the prefecture's casino bid before the national application deadline.
Gambling Control Act 2022 published in Government Gazette
Singapore published the Gambling Control Act 2022 in the Government Gazette on 4 April 2022, consolidating the regulation of authorized gambling outside casinos and repealing four older gambling statutes.
ED attaches assets worth Rs 409.92 crore
India's Enforcement Directorate attached movable assets worth Rs 409.92 crore belonging to lottery operator Future Gaming and Hotel Services on April 2, 2022, in a money laundering case tied to unsold Sikkim lottery tickets.
Internet-only Quick One lottery launched
Japan's internet-only national lottery Quick One went on sale on April 1, 2022, with five draws released at the same time and first prizes ranging from 10 million yen down to 50,000 yen.
Keno removed from roster of official PCSO games
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office removed Keno from its roster of official games starting April 2022, a discontinuation confirmed in the agency's 2023 year-end report.
Minimum betting age set at 20 after civil code change
Japan amended its Horse Racing Act so that from April 1, 2022, anyone under 20 is barred from buying betting tickets, after the civil code lowered the age of majority to 18.
Nagasaki assembly approves IR plan, Wakayama rejects
In April 2022 the Nagasaki Prefectural Assembly approved its integrated resort plan while the Wakayama Prefectural Assembly rejected its own, splitting the two candidate sites.
Odds Park changes service content for Hokkaido and Nankai horse racing tickets
Odds Park, the Japanese public racing betting service run by SoftBank group company SB Players, changed what its direct members can buy from April 2022, cutting Hokkaido and Nankai horse racing tickets.
Osaka IR plan judged certifiable with 657.9 points; Nagasaki review continued
Japan's national review committee scored Osaka's integrated resort plan at 657.9 points, above the 600-point pass mark, while Nagasaki's application remains under review.
RWS announces SGD400 million upgrade starting 2Q22
Genting Singapore will spend SGD400 million upgrading Resorts World Sentosa, with construction starting in the second quarter of 2022 and hotel renovations running through 2023.