Given that more than 60% of the world’s population is Asian, it is not surprise that Asia currently boasts the largest gambling market.
The Asian market is also heavily influenced by some trends in the global online gambling industry, such as online evolution and the rising popularity of mobile devices like phones and tablets. To meet the growing demand, all of these changes imply and necessitate technology solutions.
The primary changes in the gambling industry, however, are also visible in the regulatory spheres, where each state is required to keep up with an existing phenomenon and develop rules and regulations appropriately.
It’s time to take a deeper look at Asia, the region in which the online gaming market is growing the fastest, as a result of the fusion of new technology and enhanced Internet connectivity.
An Overview of Asian Online Gambling
Numerous slot machines, lotteries, and sports betting are all common forms of gambling in China. Some of them, like mahjong, poker, casino games, and sports betting with authorized sites, are forbidden, and all sports betting in mainland China is under the authority of the Chinese Sports Lottery.
Instead of going after players, the authorities instead target operators, promoters, agents, and junkets. Despite its popularity in China, online gambling is largely outlawed, and those who do gamble choose for internationally regulated websites for their extensive selection of sports games, live casino games, and in-play betting opportunities.
The majority of major Chinese gamblers prefer to travel for one or two days to Macau, where the majority of land-based and internet gambling is legal.
Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, lottery games, football games, and horse races are all legal as long as they’re run by the government-sponsored Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKKC).
Mahjong is another form of gambling that is permitted in Hong Kong, but poker appears to be unlawfully operated although being in a murky region. Any other type of gambling is prohibited and is subject to harsh penalties. As a result, the majority of Hong Kong gamblers favor frequent trips to Macau.
The only legal way to wager on sports in Taiwan is through the Taiwan Sports Lottery, which is subject to stringent regulations.
Online bookmakers with Mahjong, Baccarat, Slots, Chinese Chess, Sports, Casino, and In-Play Games are popular with bettors since they typically provide much better odds.
Like their neighbors, Taiwanese people favor regional and international websites that offer local language support. It can be challenging to deposit money online, but you can find a method that works for EntroPay or Skrill deposits on gambling websites.
By placing a wager with Taiwan Sports Lottery, you can be safe. The two gaming websites that were previously mentioned, however, provide better odds and a wider selection. Websites outside of Taiwan’s legal jurisdiction are not forbidden by the government, while being against the law there.
Macau
A Special Administrative Region, Macau has a separate executive branch and judicial system. Although it has its own capitalist economy and political system, it is nominally a part of China. Poker, sports betting, and land-based casinos are all legal in Macau. Online gaming is not mentioned, authorized, or even acknowledged. Online casino companies cannot obtain internet gaming licenses from Macau.
It’s important to realize that while online gambling is illegal in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, which are the main sources of visitors to Macau, online gambling is not only not illegal but also not restricted because it is not regulated.
After surpassing Las Vegas in gaming revenue, Macau continues to be the world’s richest casino destination and the core of the gambling business. All gambling-related activities in Macau are controlled by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), which is in charge of the whole gambling sector.
An intriguing aspect of Macau’s gambling revenue is that two-thirds of it is produced by junket companies that bring in VIP customers, primarily from China. In addition to offering concierge services and VIP treatment, they perform a crucial role.
Money is hard for businesspeople and wealthy people to get out of China. since of this, junkets are important in this situation since they provide the gambler money and then help them get it back home. Prior to Macau’s handover to China, this was illegal, but after 2002, a set of regulations were put in place that controlled it.
Philippines
The gaming industry in the Philippines is quite well-established and offers a variety of gambling choices. This nation approaches online gaming in a distinctive way.
There are two distinct areas in the Philippines for gambling: the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport, which is the only area outside of PAGCOR’s monopoly, and the state-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), which runs all offline and online casinos, bingo halls, sportsbooks, and betting establishments.
Gamblers in the Philippines are believed to be able to feel comfortable playing at online casinos thanks in part to PAGCOR’s ownership and regulation of certain of them. Due to their validation and compliance with the law, all Philippine casinos that hold a PAGCOR or Cagayan license are secure to use.
For businesses looking to launch a gambling operation in Asia, the Philippines is a particularly desirable gaming license to hold. The tax structure is advantageous to foreign enterprises even if it is more expensive than other permits.
A new $40,000 application cost and an additional $48,000 per year for sports book operations are needed for a comprehensive license, which includes both online casinos and sportsbooks. These fees must be paid when the license is issued. The annual renewal fee is $40,000.
In the upcoming years, it is expected that the iGaming industry in the Philippines will grow dramatically and make a sizable profit. The Philippines is anticipated to be Asia’s gaming jurisdiction with the greatest rate of growth, with a total market size of $2.7 billion in 2015, up from $2.05 billion in 2014.
In order to meet the growing demands of Asia’s online gaming communities, EveryMatrix recently established an Asian headquarters in Manila. It also has many Asian operators.
Singapore
Singapore forbids gambling in general. It is now illegal to place an online wager on an unauthorized site after Singapore has blacklisted hundreds of offshore gaming websites.
The new Remote Gambling Act, which took effect in October, restricts internet gaming services to local non-profit organizations and outlaws gambling services, remote gambling service advertisements, and remote gambling marketing.
Numerous online gambling firms have left the Singapore market as a result of the expanding popularity of online gaming in the nation.
Japan
In addition to being strictly supervised and regulated, gambling is not allowed online in Japan. The only legal forms of gambling include lotteries, scratch cards, pari-mutuel bets on horse races, bicycle and motorcycle races, powerboat races, and soccer toto wagers.
On the other hand, the authorities cannot prevent people from accessing foreign gambling DPRTOTO websites. Sports betting and gambling are very well-liked despite strict laws. For lottery, football, and other public sports, online betting is allowed in Japan, but only when done so legally.
For more complicated betting options, such as betting on fixed odds, live sports, casino, poker, and other games, international gambling sites are preferred.
Vietnam
All kinds of gambling, with the exception of the national lottery, are prohibited in Vietnam, including online gambling. Bettors and those who engage in other forms of online gambling are subject to harsh penalties and fines.
However, given that Vietnamese people are enthusiastic gamblers, many illegal gambling activities, including as casino games, lotteries, online poker, and sports betting, flourish in Vietnam as a result of these excessively strict laws.
As they exist in neighboring nations, local authorities make no effort to block access to local or international betting websites.
Indonesia
Because of the strict Islamic law that governs the nation, where more than 90% of the population is Muslim, the majority of gambling activities are categorically prohibited. The only legal gambling option is the free licensed lottery.
Sports betting and table games continue to be hugely popular in Indonesia despite the government’s efforts to outlaw online gambling, and little is being done to stop Indonesians from accessing local or foreign gambling websites.
Southern Korea
In South Korea, gambling is not permitted. Furthermore, placing bets outside of Korea is prohibited for Koreans. However, some state-regulated gambling ventures are allowed, including as lotteries, sports betting, and horse racing.
In order to boost tourism, South Korea maintains 16 casinos that are only accessible to visitors. The sole casino that accepts South Korean bets is Kangwon Land Resort & Casino, which is situated in the north of the nation.
Online gambling is prohibited from a technological aspect. However, Koreans can make bets on local gambling websites that accept simple payment methods and have a welcoming Korean language interface (like many other Asian countries where gambling is prohibited).
These websites allow Koreans to wager on sporting events, casino games, poker, baccarat, roulette, blackjack, and mahjong.
International betting sites are more challenging to use because it is more challenging to deposit money, but there are more options for sports betting.
