The Hong Kong-based media outlet RTHK quoted the lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen as stating that green-lighting legal betting would not “replace illegal gambling.”

Tik claimed that the move would “only serve to expand the gambling market,” and runs counter to the stated Hong Kong policy stance of “not encouraging gambling.”

The lawmaker voiced his opposition to the Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2025, which proposes making the Hong Kong Jockey Club the nation’s sole licensed basketball betting operator.

The bill would grant regulators the power to issue licenses. It also proposes rolling out tax rates at 50% of net stake receipts.Furthermore, the government says the new bill will expand the role of Hong Kong’s Betting and Lotteries Commission.

Hong Kong Basketball Betting Bill Won’t Stop Illegal Platforms

Tik, however, pointed to the case of soccer (football) betting, which was legalized in mid-2003. At the time, Hong Kong politicians claimed that this move would help cut out illegal sports betting.

However, the reverse appears to be the case. Hong Kong police report a significant increase in illegal betting ahead of major soccer tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup in 2022 and Euro 2024.

Tik stated that since soccer betting was legalized in 2003, the amount of bets placed in Hong Kong has “soared” from around HK$16 billion ($2 billion) to approximately HK$160.3 billion ($20.55 billion) in 2024.

He said that legalization would lead more people to take up gambling. The lawmaker argued that since the legalization of football betting, illegal gambling has remained “rampant” in Hong Kong.

Legalization cannot oust illegal gambling, Tik argued. Instead, he said, it would only serve to “expand the size of the overall gambling market.”

Crackdowns, Not Legalization, Will Halt Illegal Gambling

Tik suggested that the government instead look to strengthen its anti-gambling crackdowns and law enforcement operations.

He said Hong Kong should cooperate more closely with international law enforcement agencies to combat cross-border illegal gambling activities.

Tik also urged the government to provide more education-related resources and launch more comprehensive anti-gambling education in schools and local communities.

In early June, the South China Morning Post quoted Hong Kong’s Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen as stating that the Jockey Club would be obliged to finance projects that tackle gambling-related problems if the bill is adopted.

The state currently funds four counseling centers for people with gambling addictions. Mak said: “We are planning to set up a new center specifically for young people. We plan to offer them education and counseling services, in addition to the current centers.”

In May, the government concluded a one-month public consultation on its proposal. Earlier this year, Hong Kong renewed the Jockey Club’s license for soccer betting for a further five years.

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The city government announced Wednesday that it is launching a one-month consultation. The consultation invites members of the public to express their views on expanding the legal sports betting options beyond football and horse racing. They have until May 2 to reply with feedback.

Hong Kong Bids to Reduce Illegal Gambling

Based on a proposal from the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the city’s lone legal betting operator, the consultation is part of more extensive efforts to crack down on illegal gambling practices. The HKJC recently estimated that illegal betting volume reached between HK$70 billion ($9.3 billion) and HK$90 billion ($11.6 billion) on basketball alone in 2024. Government officials say that the rise of digital payments and cryptocurrency makes it increasingly difficult to track unregulated betting platforms.

A Hong Kong Home and Youth Affairs Bureau spokesperson emphasized that while the government does not encourage gambling, it recognizes “an actual and persistent demand” for it.

“As such,” the spokesperson added, “the Government adopts a pragmatic approach by allowing only a limited number of authorized gambling outlets, which includes authorizing the HKJC to conduct horse race betting, Mark Six Lottery, and football betting in accordance with the Betting Duty Ordinance (Cap. 108).”

Under the proposed changes, the HYAB could issue the HKJC a license for organized basketball betting. The license would be attached with a few conditions, including a ban on bets involving Hong Kong teams and/or games played locally. There would also be age restrictions, and credit betting would be prohibited.  

Should the plans move forward, the HKJC would also be required to adhere to strict responsible gambling practices throughout the city and provide information on services available for individuals who may be suffering from gambling-related harms. 

Football Betting License Extended

In an unrelated move, the government renewed its licensing for football betting for five years. Starting July 18, the conditions will remain largely the same, including a restriction on bets from matches involving Hong Kong teams and/or locally occurring matches. 

The post Hong Kong Launches Public Consultation on Legalizing Basketball Betting appeared first on CasinoBeats.

According to a report by government officials, the operation took place across a plethora of major casino locations in Macau. 

Police also revealed that the ongoing European football Championships in Germany was a key focus for the syndicate as it offered higher odds for the tournament than legitimate bookmakers.. 

Furthermore, the operation has been in place since 2016, as law officials remained poised until the most effective moment to ensure they could counter and arrest those responsible for the illegal syndicate.

There was also an illegal gaming and casino operation pursued by the group, which operated in Macau and was taken down by law officials amidst the investigation.

It was also detailed that there was cross-border collaboration as a result of the illegal operation, with a customs official being one of the suspects arrested. 

The investigation and arrests come following stark warnings from the Chinese government over the usage of overseas betting operations and casinos. 

As well as this, China and South Korea recently intensified their connection in the battle against cross-border gambling. 

It was reported by the Chinese media platform, People’s Daily, that law officials from both nations met to discuss the next steps in enhancing the way law is upheld in the region and ensuring that collaboration continues in the battle against illicit gambling. 

At the heart of the challenge will be the innovation in methods for detecting and combating cross border gambling between the two east Asian countries. 

It builds on continued efforts from China to halt cross border gambling – having previously elevated its approach in the Philippines and Sri Lanka to bolster security efforts. 

Published on WeChat, China’s Philippines embassy emphasised that gambling by Chinese citizens in casinos overseas is still considered illegal. 

Key to the statement from the Chinese government is that it is unable to ensure consumer protections are implemented if citizens are gambling at overseas casinos, even if they are completely legal premises in their respective jurisdiction.

The post Arrests made after widespread illegal gambling investigation in Macau  appeared first on CasinoBeats.

As company construction continues in the autonomous region, driven by non-gaming entities that were praised as “the future of Macau” by Galaxy earlier in the year, Chair Lui Che Woo hailed a recent development as potentially bringing a further uplift.

“We are pleased to see Macau and Hong Kong governments are jointly working to provide easier accessibility between Hong Kong International Airport and Macau,” he said. 

“Starting from August 30, 2023, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge operated a through-bus service to and from the Hong Kong International Airport restricted area. 

“We believe that this will help the Macau government’s initiative of increasing the number of foreign visitors.”

This confidence follows a third quarter update that saw revenue reach HK9.65bn (£1.01bn), which is up 374 per cent year-on-year and 11 per cent quarter-on-quarter from HK2bn (£209.73m) and HK8.66bn (£908.1m), respectively.

Delving into this figure a little closer, gaming occupied HK$7.41bn (2022: HK$821m) with non-gaming comprising HK$1.52bn (2021: HK$438m).

On a property-by-property basis, Galaxy Macau took the lion’s share of revenue with HK$7.62bn (2022: HK$1bn), with StarWorld Macau coming in at HK$1.22bn (2022: HK$158m). Broadway Macau closed at HK$24m (£2.51m), up 140 per cent YoY and up four per cent YoY.

Group-wide adjusted EBITDA closed the July to September time frame at HK$2.76bn (£289.42m), which represents increases of 576 per cent YoY from HK$ a loss of HK$581m (£60.9m) and a rise of 12 per cent QoQ from HK$2.47bn (£259m).

“From the business revenue perspective, we are very pleased to see a continuing ongoing recovery in both visitor arrivals and associated gaming revenue,” the GeG CEO noted. 

“For Q3 2023, GEG’s mass gaming revenue was approximately 102 per cent  when compared to 2019 levels, Galaxy Macau performed even better at 121 per cent  of 2019 levels, whilst StarWorld Macau continues to grow and was approximately 71 per cent  of 2019 levels.” 

Adding: “Our balance sheet continued to be solid with total cash and liquid investments of $24.8bn and net cash of $23.3bon. 

“Our solid balance sheet and cash flow from operations allows us to return capital to shareholders through dividends, fund our development pipeline and pursue our international expansion ambitions. 

“On October 27, 2023, we paid a special dividend of $0.20 per share. These dividends demonstrate our continued confidence in the longer-term outlook of Macau and for the company.”

The post Galaxy Entertainment benefits from uplift in Macau visitation through Q3 appeared first on CasinoBeats.

1

Major League Soccer has released details of its first official sports betting partnership, as MGM Resorts International deepens its footprint amongst US sports leagues, following previously announced link-ups alongside the NBA and MLB.

Lauded as a historic multi-year strategic partnership, MGM Resorts is to become the league’s first official gaming partner, with the Roar Digital joint venture, undertaken alongside GVC Holdings, named exclusive official sports betting partner of the MLS.

Under the terms of the agreement, MGM and Roar are to gain access to enhanced MLS data for fans and sports betting customers, television-visible signage for all 100+ nationally broadcast games, unique MLS-themed promotions and sweepstakes utilising MLS prizing, match footage and photography and MLS talent, alongside a host of mutually beneficial hospitality and event opportunities.

€46.6m

Publishing its results for 2018, Zeal Network reported an 85 per cent leap in earnings (adjusted EBIT) to €46.6m, as the company moves closer towards the completion of its acquisition of Lotto24.

Billings and revenue grew for the third consecutive year, rising six per cent to €296.3m, while revenue increased 15 per cent to €154.8m. Total operating performance was €159.7m, an increase of 13 per cent year-on-year.

Zeal also acquired a record number of new customers for the group and its partners, while significantly reducing acquisition costs. The 614,000 new registered customers is a 49 per cent year-on-year rise, while the cost per lead in the lottery betting business fell by 42 per cent in 2018.

55

Hong Kong headquartered New Silkroad Culturaltainment has won approval to develop a new South Korean casino, reports GGRAsia.

Set to be constructed on the island province on Jeju, whose governor gave the green-light, it allows New Silkroad subsidiary Macrolink Glorious Hill formal permission to pursue construction of the casino resort project.

Two years ago the company unveiled that it had taken control of Macrolink Glorious Hill, and stressed plans to invest money with a view to developing a resort complex at the site, which would include a large-scale casino.

Stressing last year that its stake amounted to 55 per cent of the Glorious Hill project, the company said it contained plans that would contain five-star hotels, shops, homes, an entertainment complex, healthcare facilities, a theme park and a golf course.

Furthermore, New Silkroad told the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Friday that the Glorious Hill development promised to bring in “sustainable” revenue.

2

Eldorado Resorts and Caesars Entertainment are embroiled in discussions which could see a merger of the two organisations come to fruition, report various media outlets.

Reuters stresses that individuals close to the deal state that the exploration of a merger was at the early stages during the past weekend, with Caesars said to be providing certain aspects of confidential information, with Eldorado carrying out due diligence on the potential combination of the two companies.

Reno, Nevada, headquartered Eldorado are not yet thought to have submitted a binding offer for Caesars, with there also said to be no sign that such a bid is forthcoming, or that a deal is close to being successfully negotiated, both in the short and long term.

Emerging from bankruptcy two years ago, Caesars, whose portfolio encompasses the Harrah’s and Horseshoe brand, boasts 53 properties across 14 states and five countries outside of the US, with Eldorado owning and operating 26 establishments across 12 American jurisdictions.

It is hoped that should a merger of Caesars and Eldorado proceed, it would create a more formidable competitor to larger casino industry players, such as Wynn Resorts, Las Vegas Sands and MGM Resorts.

The post Major League Soccer, Jeju and Caesars Entertainment: The week in numbers appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The Hong Kong headquartered firm has announced a two year title sponsorship of the Galaxy Entertainment EuroJapan Cup, lauded as an annual showcase that will feature “the very best European soccer teams playing against J-League opposition”.

Aiming to inspire and entertain a whole new generation of football fans and players across the country, GEG stresses that it is striving to promote sports participation activities throughout Japan, while contributing to local communities by conducting various outreach events, including football clinics led by some of the world’s top stars.

This years encounter in the Galaxy Entertainment EuroJapan Cup is to take place between 2017/18 English Premier League champions Manchester City, who face fierce competition to retain their crown this season from Liverpool, and Yokohama F. Marinos.

Yokohama’s Nissan Stadium is to play host on Saturday 27 July, with 2020’s offering set to move to Osaka.

Ted Chan, chief operating officer of Galaxy Entertainment Japan, said of the event and GEG’s sponsorship: “We are very excited to be bringing the Galaxy Entertainment EuroJapan Cup to Japan for the first time this summer.

“GEG will continue to support a wide variety of sports and cultural events by bringing the world’s best entertainment to Japan, while helping to raise Japan’s profile across the world. 

“We also hope through our sponsorship, to support the development of soccer in Japan, and make a contribution to local communities for many years to come.”

GEG and its partner Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, with whom the company is hoping to enter the pending Japanese integrated resort market, have a long association with sporting events, including the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix and the Macau International Marathon, the Monaco Grand Prix and the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.

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Set to be constructed on the island province on Jeju, whose governor gave the green-light, it allows New Silkroad subsidiary Macrolink Glorious Hill formal permission to pursue construction of the casino resort project.

Two years ago the company unveiled that it had taken control of Macrolink Glorious Hill, and stressed plans to invest money with a view to developing a resort complex at the site, which would include a large-scale casino.

Stressing last year that its stake amounted to 55 per cent of the Glorious Hill project, the company said it contained plans that would contain five-star hotels, shops, homes, an entertainment complex, healthcare facilities, a theme park and a golf course.

Furthermore, New Silkroad told the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Friday that the Glorious Hill development promised to bring in “sustainable” revenue.

The organisation won’t be alone in the project however, after entering into a strategic alliance with Melco International Development in 2017, the company that controls Melco Resorts and Entertainment, which is behind Macau’s City of Dreams complex, the Altira and Studio City casino resorts, as well as the City of Dreams in Manila.

Headed by chairman and chief executive officer Lawrence Ho, the casino development company provides planning, development and implementation advisory services under the terms of the deal, for what it called a “new casino”, as well as the preparation and marketing events for the commercial launch of the property

New Silkroad is no stranger to the island, with the company already running the MegaLuck Casino in the Jeju KAL Hotel, which permits entry to foreigners only.

The company announced last year that its gaming business on Jeju made a gross profit of HKD28.69m (US$3.66m) in the first half of 2018, or 193.7 percent more than a year earlier, and revenue of HKD54.32m, a 57.8 percent increase, due in large part to growth in its VIP segment.

The post Silkroad to build casino on South Korea’s Jeju island appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Coming in conjunction with the one year anniversary of its official casino launch, Silver Heritage’s building and opening of the property marked South Asia’s first integrated resort, located in Bhairahawa, close to the border with India’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh.

Complete with secure access from the premium gaming area of the casino, or via separate private access, Tiger Palace’s new VIP area incorporates 4,500 square feet spread over three VIP rooms and incorporating a range of high limit slots, 11 gaming tables, lobby lounge and private dining area.

Regarding the wider operation of the property, Tiger Palace is spread across 22 acres of land and offering 100 rooms and suites, the Tiger Palace Resort also features 2,500 square meters of live gaming and entertainment venue, featuring 44 gaming tables and more 200 electronic gaming machine.

This new grand opening comes as a welcome boost for Silver Heritage, with the casino owner and operator last week suspending all gaming operations at its Phoenix International Club, Bac Ninh, located in close proximity to the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi.

The regional gaming operator’s temporary suspension of Phoenix International Club, which was relocated in the second quarter of 2015, closed 1,500 square metres of gaming space, with 12 live tables and 72 electronic table games and slot machines,

In its statement, the company commented: “As set out in the ASX announcement dated 27 February 2019, Silver Heritage requested an immediate trading halt pending an announcement regarding its contract and operations at Phoenix International Club, Bac Ninh in Vietnam.

“The company received notice from the general manager of Phoenix that table games are no longer included in its revised investment certificate, and hence not permitted to be operated on the property, and that the casino will close for an indefinite period. As of 0600 Vietnam Time this morning 1 March 2019 all casino operations on the property have ceased.

“As Phoenix represented approximately 45 per cent of Silver Heritage Group’s unaudited revenue for the year ending 31 December 2018, the board is conducting a review of the legal basis on which the notice was issued, the company’s rights and obligations under the entertainment services agreement between the company and the owner of Phoenix, and the impact of the notice on the company. The company will provide further updates when additional information becomes available.”

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As a result of the new partnership, the independent games studio, which specialises in the development of Asian themed games, has also released the first title called ‘Year of the Dog’.

Harmen Brenninkmeijer, chief executive officer of D-Tech, commented: “We are very excited to sign this deal to build and distribute our games via Leander’s platform.

“We incorporated D-Tech with an objective. To build localised games for Asian players around the world. Our Hong Kong-based team of experienced game designers and artists are creating amazing games, and doing an incredible job for our partners and clients.

“We are thrilled to see Year of the Dog live across Leander’s network, and look forward to releasing many more games in the future.”

D-Tech emphases that it’s “committed to developing games that are custom-built to satisfy the unique demands of Asian players,” with this new deal alongside Leander Games set to see its range of titles be made available to all of the UK Gambling Commission and the Alderney Gaming Control Commission licensed organisations operator partners.

Steven Matsell, CEO of Leander Games, praised D-Tech and the growing trend of such titles worldwide: “Asian-themed games are popular around the globe, and we have seen a particular surge in interest in Europe with dedicated tabs within the casino offering.

“Being based in Asia D-Tech offer a unique, localised feel to their games which players will feel and love. We are excited to be working with the D-Tech team and know their games will be successful.”

This follows a deal penned by Leander Games alongside Stakelogic, who saw its collection of slot games be made available to customers via the LeGa RGS gateway API.

The deal covered Stakelogic titles including Book of Adventure and Classic Joker 5Reels, as well as branded games such as Hardwell.

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The studio partnership initiative is expected to undergo a period of significant growth, as it strives to “become a global content publisher, identifying and partnering with the world’s leading studios to curate, develop and distribute high volume, high-quality games to its customers”.

Amongst the number of YGS-based partnership agreed by the company, four leading independent studios have signed up, including Rabcat, Northern Lights and Fantasma Games joining the recently added Hong Kong-based Avatar UX, that will release its first collaborative title in the coming weeks.

Under the terms of the new agreement each is to work collaboratively to develop and deliver unique content, with Yggdrasil set to be the exclusive distributor, while AvatarUX will gain access to boost, its collection of proprietary in-game promotional tools.

Fredrik Elmqvist, chief executive officer of Yggdrasil, believes the following 12 months are to allow for significant expansion of the YGS Masters division: “We will continue to do what we do best and develop high-quality content, however there is a huge appetite globally for large volumes of curated, localised content.

“As a result, we will substantially increase our output by partnering with more independent studios, creating a collaborative publishing model and curating a much larger, global content roadmap.

“We will not only curate a large quantity of games, but also ensure they are high quality products that can be distributed to any number of local, regulated markets.

“We are leaders in content and gamification and have a credible roadmap that means we have never missed a game release. If we say a game will come out on a certain day, it will come out on that day and our customers value that.

“We will simply be building on that success and increasing our volume of high-quality games, with localised content that operators want, delivering it on time and with market leading gamification tools.”

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