Asia
Overview of Online Casino Industry in Asian Markets in 2022
The Asian gambling market has accelerated since Covid 19 first opened residents’ eyes to online gambling. However, two years later, Asians are still limited in their online gambling pursuit for fun and profit due to the government’s heavy sanctions on online gambling.
Many offshore online casinos have noticed this untapped opportunity and are flocking in to fill the void. We have curated a list of offshore casinos for Singaporeans on our Online CasinoHEX Singapore website to help players make the right choice.
In this post, we want to discuss the current state of the Asian gambling market, emphasizing the online casinos in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan and Thailand. We hope it brings players and operators up to speed with the current gambling laws in those less talked about Asian regions. Let’s dive in.
1. Singapore
Singapore is among the top gambling spots in the Asian continent. The Singapore government has long opened two physical betting shops where residents can engage in horse betting, sports betting and lottery.
In 2005, the Singaporean government also introduced Integrated Resort (IR), where residents and foreigners can play different casino games.
According to the bill, only two IR casinos are permitted to open, and the slots have since been taken by the Marina Bay Sands and Resort World Sentosa. The authorization of legal casino spots proved to be a good experiment as the two resorts single-handedly increased the state budget by 14.5% in their first year of operation.
Despite the success of land-based casinos, the federal government is yet to legalize any online casino in Singapore. However, residents flock to various offshore online casinos in Singapore to gamble and have fun. Singaporean casino sites host various i-games. However, most Singaporeans tend to be drawn toward card games such as Baccarat and online slots.
The government does not currently discuss online casino legalization. Still, as a country that is always open to innovation, the authorization of online casinos in Singapore might be on the horizon.
2. Malaysia
The Malaysian population are predominantly Muslim, and sharia laws are well recognized in the country. According to sharia law, all forms of gambling (land-based and online) are prohibited.
However, the Betting Acts permits non-Muslims, foreigners and tourists to engage in lottery betting, horse racing and casino games in landed properties without sanction. The betting act also prohibits every form of online gambling in the country, with strict punishment for defaulters.
Despite the law, Malaysians still gamble online, with football and badminton forming a big part of Malaysian betting options.
3. Philippines
Philippine gambling laws are flexible and friendly. The state has at least four gambling resorts in Manila and permits online sports bettings, horse racing and lottery.
The country’s licensing and gambling activities are regulated by the duo of PAGCOR (Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation) and CEZA (Cagayan Economic Zone). PAGCOR is responsible for regulating local betting and bingo shops, while CEZA grants gambling licenses to offshore casinos in other regions.
As a testament to the flexibility of Philippines gambling laws, the Philippine government has opened its doors to regulated offshore casinos and even permits Filipinos to gamble online. All of these combined makes it surprising that the government does not legalize online casinos.
Even without online casinos, the Philippine casino industry has grown from strength to strength. According to Inside Asian gambling (iAG), 557m was generated by licensed casinos in the Philippines in Q1 of 2022, and the industry doesn’t look like it will slow down.
The success of offshore casinos in the Philippines is an indication that the government may revisit the legalization of online casinos soon
4. Thailand
Thailand has everything it takes to be a major powerhouse in the Asian online casino and gambling market. Still, political and cultural beliefs have long stalled the growth of the country’s gambling sector.
Currently, Thailand has no legal casinos, and online casinos are illegal. But that has not stopped the residents from engaging in active casino gambling online and offline. A survey by the centre of gambling studies shows that nearly half of the Thais population gamble and that $5 billion was spent on sports betting alone in 2019.
Where there are no legal casinos, the black market and underground gambling always flourish, and Thailand’s 200 illegal betting shops are no different. The number of offshore casinos for Thais has also continued to increase.
As the government awakens to this reality, it has begun to take gradual steps to legalize casino gambling in the region, starting with establishing 2 to 3 Integrated Resorts. When casino resorts are commissioned, the government believes they will boost the state’s tourist revenue, which has dwindled since the Covid 19 lockdown. Similarly, landed casino resorts will create a regulated and safe gambling environment for Thai residents. Legalizing online casinos in Thailand is not on the horizon right now.
5. Japan
Online casinos are prohibited in Japan. Therefore, Japanese gamblers can choose among Pachinko, horse betting, motorcycle racing, and online lottery.
However, the Japanese government has since reconsidered its position on casino gambling. In 2018, following in the footsteps of Singapore, the Japanese government authorized the commissioning of Integrated Resort which will allow tourists to play casinos and sports betting in regulated spots.
The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed the progress of the landed casinos; however, the government has resumed the acceptance of proposals from interested organizations. While establishments of landed casinos don’t suggest the legalization of online casino gambling, it may be another win for the Asian gambling industry, seeing that Japan is a major trendsetter on the Asian continent.
Even though landed and online casinos are not allowed in Japan yet, the country’s betting market is estimated to reach $9b in 2022.
As you would expect, many offshore casinos where residents gamble online and play their choicest games, including slots. In place of Baccarat, the Japanese have Dragon Tiger, which enables players to wager on whether the Dragon or Tiger hand would win.
As a technology-savvy nation, it is also no surprise that the players are inclined towards live dealer games and titles enriched with crisp graphics.
Conclusion
Pending the time the Asian gambling market becomes stable and regulated, operators preparing to enter the market must know that there will be periods of low revenues just as much as high turnover. However, they should find consolation in that Asia is poised to be the next frontier of online gambling when the government relaxes its laws.
So far, many Asian countries are decriminalizing casino gaming, a green light for online casinos and sports betting legalization. Current trends suggest that online slots, card games, table games and live dealers will likely dominate the Asian gambling scene. Until then, residents have to make do with betting on landed casinos, travelling to countries that permit online gambling or playing online casino games on offshore casinos.
Asia
MelBet Appoints Bollywood Actress Sherlyn Chopra as its New Brand Ambassador
International iGaming company MelBet has appointed Sherlyn Chopra, one of India’s famous and glamorous actresses, as its new brand ambassador.
As a brand ambassador, Sherlyn would be involved in creating exclusive content and promoting MelBet in international markets.
Sherlyn Chopra is known for her significant success in the film and television industry. Her work, including her role in the psychological thriller, Red Swastik, made her popular in India. Sherlyn is actively involved in showbiz and continues to expand her horizons by doing popular web-series, music albums, short films, launching glamour and style apps and other creative projects.
“I am incredibly excited to become a part of the MelBet family. Sports are more than just games or competitions as they unequivocally bring people together. I am proud to contribute to its popularisation with such a reliable partner. MelBet is not just about gaming, casinos, or sports. It is about team spirit towards involvement in the games, followed by highs and lows which are inevitable in the pursuit of success and victory. MelBet is an experience that brings us closer as a community and in setting our goals and achieving them. I am looking forward to starting our collaborative journey and the opportunities that we can create and explore for our growing game lovers,” Sherlyn Chopra said.
With this appointment, Sheryln joins other leading names, who represent MelBet in India and globally. MelBet believes that with her fearless approach to pushing boundaries, she embodies the innovative spirit that MelBet values – which led to her appointment. This partnership is expected to strengthen MelBet’s connection with sports enthusiasts, gamers and those passionate about the game, opening up new opportunities for clients and helping to further expand the brand’s reach across South Asia.
Asia
Savvy Games Delegation Joins More Than 30,000 Fans for Tencent and Hero Esports’ Honor of Kings Grand Finals in Beijing
The inaugural King Pro League Grand Finals 2024, the biggest esports event in China, drew more than 30,000 fans to a sold-out Beijing Workers’ Stadium on Nov 16. A delegation from Savvy Games and the Esports World Cup Foundation also joined the iconic event hosted by Chinese tech giant Tencent and the largest esports company in Asia, Hero Esports (formerly known as VSPO).
HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, Vice Chairman of Savvy Games Group (Savvy); Brian Ward, CEO of Savvy; and Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, attended the tournament where two top Chinese esports teams competed for the inaugural Holy Dragon Cup and a record prize pool.
A total of 70 million rmb ($9.8 million) was awarded to the top 12 teams who advanced through the rounds of the six-week-long tournament. The final showdown was between Chengdu All Gamers and Chongqing Wolves, where Chengdu All Gamers emerged victorious in a best-of-seven series and took home 22 million rmb ($3.1 million) in prize money.
King Pro League, the premier esports league for Tencent’s hit game Honor of Kings, is the biggest esports league in Asia. Honor of Kings is the world’s most popular mobile game with more than 100 million daily players. Hero Esports has been the organizer of KPL tournaments since the league was first launched in 2016.
This year marks the inaugural KPL Grand Finals, which replaces the Honor of Kings International Championship for Chinese Honor of Kings competitors and features the top teams from across China, one of the biggest esports markets in the world with the most players. Events were held at arenas in Chengdu, Hangzhou and Changsha, with the Grand Finals event being held in Beijing.
The popularity of esports is growing rapidly around the world, encouraged by government support in a number of countries and new products and technology. According to a Frost & Sullivan Report, the market size of the esports gaming industry has experienced a significant increase at a CAGR of 15.2% from US$29.8 billion in 2017 to US$52.6 billion in 2021, and is expected to increase further at a CAGR of 12.1% from US$57.9 billion in 2022 to US$102.4 billion in 2027.
The report also shows that the number of gamers globally has experienced a significant increase at a CAGR of 7.1% from 2.3 billion in 2017 to 3.1 billion in 2021, and is expected to further increase at a CAGR of 5.5% from 3.3 billion in 2022 to 4.3 billion in 2027.
Danny Tang, CEO and Co-Founder of Hero Esports, commented: “Hero Esports is proud to have been a part of the first King Pro League Grand Finals, which is an example of the high calibre esports tournaments that fans and players everywhere deserve. The strong enthusiasm we’ve seen for this event in its first year is a testament to the significant growth of interest in this sport and the support of our high-profile sponsors. The atmosphere in the arena was electric and we congratulate the Chengdu All Gamers in winning the inaugural Holy Dragon Cup.”
Hero Esports, formerly known as VSPO, is a leading player in the global esports industry, collaborating with major game developers and global brands and organizing tournaments for players and fans across the world. It is the biggest esports tournament operator in Asia, having hosted 86 tournaments in the region in 2023, of which 62 were in China, compared with a total of 77 tournaments in 2020, of which three were overseas. The company recently announced the Esports Asian Champions League (ACL), Asia’s new premier international esports tournament featuring multiple titles.
Sponsors of the King Pro League Grand Finals 2024 include Meituan, Snapdragon and SAIC Volkswagen and iQOO.
Asia
Natural8 India gives poker enthusiasts across the country a chance to become Asian Poker Tour (APT) champions from the comfort of their homes!
Ever dreamt of testing your skills at poker competitively, against some of the best poker players in Asia? If you have, then let it be a dream no more! Natural8 India is giving poker players across the country, both amateur and professional, a chance to win up to 20 Asian Poker Tour (APT) trophies with the biggest-ever online APT series with millions in prize pools: the APT Online 2024!
Having kicked off on November 10, the APT Online 2024 offers players a chance to win up to 20 APT trophies, including three exclusive and bespoke APT Online Lion Trophies, and millions in prize pools across the Main Event, High Roller, and Super High Roller tables. Natural8 India will also automatically enter all players participating in any APT Trophy events into the Lucky Draw Flipout at no extra charge, giving five top players a chance to win the APT Main Event Live Packages.
Speaking about the event, Kunal Patni, Executive Director and Country Head, Natural8 India, said, “The APT Online 2024 is an unparalleled opportunity for poker enthusiasts in India to experience the thrill of competitive poker on a grand stage. We are thrilled to bring this prestigious series to players across the country, giving them the chance to not only test their skills against the best and compete for APT trophies and massive prize pools. Our goal is to make top-tier poker accessible to everyone, and we hope to inspire a new wave of talent to rise through India’s growing poker community. We are excited with the response so far and are looking forward to even more players, whether seasoned pros or just starting on their poker journeys, to participate in the exciting, thrilling experience that the APT Online 2024 is shaping up to be!”
With all this available with buy-ins as low as INR 1,100 and from the comfort of your home, what are you waiting for? Visit Natural8 India today and sign up for the table right here, and get a chance to compete against other poker enthusiasts and earn glory by becoming an APT Trophy winner!
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