Tokyo has stepped up its efforts to stamp out illegal online gambling in the past few months, with a crackdown on celebrities and sports stars who use foreign gambling apps.

Lawmakers have also voted in favor of a private member’s bill that seeks to increase the punishments available to courts prosecuting people accused of operating or using overseas casino sites.

Japanese Casino Crackdown

The National Diet wants to criminalize the promotion of such sites. It aims to grant law enforcement agencies the authority to initiate criminal proceedings against social media influencers who promote online casinos on their platforms.

Lawmakers submitted their bill to Yoshitaka Ito, the Minister of State for Special Missions in the Cabinet Office, for final approval on June 18, the Constitutional Party of Japan reported.

However, the National Police Agency is currently powerless to stop online casinos operating in overseas jurisdictions.

Instead, the newspaper Yomiuri explained, the agency has turned to the central government to ask seven of its counterparts to act.

The agency is particularly keen for the government of the Dutch Caribbean territory of Curaçao to cooperate.

It believes that some 70% of the illegal online casino sites that actively target Japanese gamblers are based in Curaçao.

Close Sites or Force Them to Block Japanese Traffic, Police Urge

The agency, via the ministry, also asked authorities in Costa Rica, Canada, Malta, Georgia, Gibraltar, and the UK’s Isle of Man for their cooperation in May this year, the outlet explained.

Tokyo has also asked the authorities in Anjouan, an autonomous part of the Comoro Islands, for their cooperation in the matter.

A ministry spokesperson said police hope the nations’ governments will either force the sites to close or impose geo-blocking orders.

These orders could force online casino providers to block Japanese IP addresses from accessing their sites. The ministry has also asked the governments in question to force online gambling services to remove Japanese-language services and content.

The ministry also wants such sites to clearly indicate, in Japanese, that gambling is a criminal act in Japan.

The agency said it would cooperate with the aforementioned governments to “encourage” casino operators to halt services for Japanese users.

Police Have 40 Sites in Crosshairs

In the past, the Financial Services Agency (FSA), the nation’s top financial regulator, has sent “cease and desist” requests directly to overseas-based crypto exchange operators who court Japanese customers.

Japanese law dictates that only FSA permit-holding platforms can provide crypto exchange services to Japanese customers.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ expert panel suggested that Tokyo create a blacklist of online casinos with Japanese language services.

The ministry could then seek to force Japanese IP providers to block their customers from accessing these sites.

The police believe that the majority of Japanese gambling-related traffic is concentrated on just 40 overseas sites.

Officers think some 3.37 million Japanese residents have gambled on online casino platforms.

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The NRAS declared that it needed to outline more precise boundaries of the acceptable risk levels in response to the financial crime threats that eGaming poses, particularly those originating from East and Southeast Asia.

The directive, which was published last week, marks a critical step in the island’s ongoing Financial Crime Strategy 2024–2026. 

The purpose is to enable authorities to strengthen their legal powers in high-exposure sectors, such as eGaming, while still balancing the island’s need for economic competitiveness.

Isle of Man Exercises Regional Caution to a Raised Global Risk Level

“The purpose of this Statement is to give clarity on the national risk appetite within the eGaming sector as well as any other business sectors that may have activity linked to eGaming,” the document states.

Given that the eGaming industry contributes approximately 16% of the island’s GDP and employs over 1,000 people, the sector is vital to the self-governing territory. However, it is not immune to international criminal exploitation.

In particular, the Isle of Man authorities have expressed concerns about foreign organized crime units, often linked to online gambling operations originating in East and Southeast Asia, but have also seen a strategic opportunity with the regulatory shifts in the region. 

Concern was recently reinforced by recent reports issued by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which showed the evolving threat has already been identified in several other jurisdictions worldwide.

“In respect of existing business, this Statement is considered to be a trigger event,” the document warns, insisting local firms reassess customer risk and take mitigating action if necessary. 

In addition to this, regarding new applications, the regulators also expressed an “extremely limited appetite” for issuing new licenses if multiple high-risk factors are present.

A New Degree of Scrutiny Among Asian Connections

In the regulator’s document release, it stated that a major red flag would be businesses owned or under the control of those rooted in East or Southeast Asia. 

This is primarily due to it increasingly becoming a region linked to scam centers, unlawful banking practices, and the continued infiltration of criminal elements within their legitimate financial systems.

As a result, the Isle of Man now requires more advanced due diligence to be done, particularly for software suppliers and other business-to-business (B2B) relationships.

The island’s Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC), which oversees the awarding of eGaming licenses, has announced that it has enhanced its internal criteria by collaborating with intelligence agencies, which in turn monitor and update its risk criteria. 

However, while the NRAS indicated high-risk applications will still be accepted, eGaming firms must now prove they have the mitigation systems in place or risk being rejected.

The first NRAS of its kind is part of a broader commitment by the Isle of Man to comply with global anti-money laundering (AML) standards. As outlined in its Financial Crime Strategy, regulators intend to create a “hostile environment to criminals,” which will be followed by a wider-ranging National Risk Appetite Statement later this year.

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The decision, when originally announced at his State of the Union address in July, was met with a rousing reception from those in attendance. 

This latest chapter in Philippines regulation marks the next step in a ‘critical period’ for one of Asia’s most significant gambling ecosystems, as efforts to eradicate offshore betting locations are set to intensify. 

Announced in the Official Gazette, it’s a move that also sees efforts elevated to ensure that affected Filipino workers aren’t displaced as a result of the ban, with the government singling specialist agencies to ensure that there is still a role for workers in the country. 

In a recent interview with CasinoBeats, Keith McDonnell, Director at the KMI Group, revealed that action was already underway in the build-up to the formalisation of this bill. 

He stated: “A phased approach is ongoing, with current POGO licence holders asked to report frequently on what they’re doing to make sure they are closed down by December. Meanwhile, some operators have already split their teams up and are locating specific functions elsewhere to mitigate against business risk.

“Others hope that they can retain a lot of their highly educated and experienced workforce in the Philippines by getting special class BPO accreditation or partnering with an outsourcing business that has it.”

He did predict that there is a future for igaming operators to have some sort of footprint in the Phillippines, as the heritage and knowledge the country has built up is not easily replaced. 

“The Philippines has been an outstanding location for many businesses in our industry for decades”, he stated. 

“In introducing new measures to address the illicit activities of some Internet Gaming License holders, it has hoped opportunities will remain for resectable businesses to continue and thrive whilst employing thousands of locally knowledgeable and experienced Filipinos.” 

Furthermore, it was recently revealed that the Isle of Man has set aside a budget to explore the potential of embracing the displaced operators as a result of the POGO ban in the Philippines, but a meticulous and careful approach will be taken. 

According to the Isle of Man Today, a spokesperson for Digital IoM stated: “Following conversations with businesses operating within the island’s digital sector, it was recognised that recent regulatory changes in the Philippines affecting Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators could present a strategic opportunity for the Isle of Man.

“The blanket ban imposed by the Philippine regulator creates a significant displacement of the sector, meaning legitimate and high-performing businesses operating there are required to seek alternative regulatory markets. Consequently, the Isle of Man, known for its robust regulatory standards in this space, could provide this alternative for those businesses which would meet these high standards.”

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The crown dependency is set to take a meticulous and careful approach to embracing new operators from the market, as it seeks ‘credible operators’. 

As reported by the Isle of Man Today, a spokesperson for Digital IoM stated: “Following conversations with businesses operating within the island’s digital sector, it was recognised that recent regulatory changes in the Philippines affecting Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators could present a strategic opportunity for the Isle of Man.

“The blanket ban imposed by the Philippine regulator creates a significant displacement of the sector, meaning legitimate and high-performing businesses operating there are required to seek alternative regulatory markets. Consequently, the Isle of Man, known for its robust regulatory standards in this space, could provide this alternative for those businesses which would meet these high standards.”

It was also reported that the Isle of Man issued a staunch defence to UN claims criticism as it outlined it takes a ‘zero-tolerance approach’ to financial crime. 

Mark Rutherford, acting chief officer of the Gambling Supervision Commission sought to make it clear that ‘the GSC conducts its regulation in line with international standards’.

He added: “The GSC’s mutual evaluation by Moneyval in 2016 gave the GSC a very high technical mark for its AML CFT framework and we do not agree with the UNODC report’s conclusion that we have inadequate controls.

“The GSC has entry controls in place for businesses seeking licences and an ongoing supervision regime.

“Further, since 2016 the GSC has continued to strengthen its supervisory reach and last year created a new, dedicated division to carry out AML CFT inspections and enforcement, a division that is fully resourced with skilled and experienced staff.

“The GSC has also demonstrated it will take steps under its regulatory remit where it discovers non-compliance as can be seen with recent, publicised enforcement cases.”

In the Philippines, President BongBong Marcos has taken decisive action to clampdown on the presence of POGOs in the country, implementing a full ban on the operators. 

Speaking at his state of the nation address, Marcos said: “Disguising as legitimate entities, their operations have ventured into elicit areas beyond gaming, such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture – even murder.

“The grave abuse and disrespect to our system of laws must stop. It is necessary to stop this disturbance in our society, and the desecration of our country.”

It’s marked a significant change for the country’s gambling sector – as it looks to transition off the FATF AML grey list. 

The evolution of the Philippines market was a prevalent topic at the SBC Summit in Lisbon. Rory Anderson of 12Bet detailed his belief that there are major lessons that can be learnt from the nation.  

One of which is that the industry will be judged by its worst actors, it only takes a few apples to tarnish the reputation of the bunch. 

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The operator has underlined that it will ensure ‘responsible gambling practices and continuity’ by offering players greater flexibility alongside enhanced services under the framework of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (PAGCOR).

The online sportsbook and live casino platform offered the following statement to its customers: “188BET is currently operated by Cube Limited and licensed by the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (IoMGSC). 

“Effective from 00:00:00 hrs (GMT -4) on 19 March 2024 Cube Limited will surrender its IoMGSC licence and the business of 188BET will be operated by a new Philippines-based company, BestCommerce Corporation, which is licensed and regulated by PAGCOR.”

The minimum age for betting under PAGCOR regulations is 21. Therefore players who are not 21 years of age, or who do not wish to play under the new licence, can choose to have their accounts closed and any funds returned, the operator assured.

188BET was one of the first Asian bookmakers to set up its corporate headquarter on the island, a crown dependency of the UK.

Meanwhile, the Philippines has recently announced that it is targeting 2024 as a deadline to become delisted from the ‘grey list’ of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

All remaining shortcomings are to be addressed by the relevant government agencies in the country, as well as the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) of the Philippines, by order of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

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GiG’s latest B2B partnership comes as Mooir begins its operations on the island, following the clearance of an Isle of Man operator licence. Mooir will leverage GiG’s ‘powerful’ PAM platform to kick off its operations and ‘deliver an unparalleled localised user experience’. 

“Enabling our customers to deliver new localised experiences is a core strength of our B2B offering,” said Marcel Elfersy, CCO of GiG. 

“We’re looking forward to this new relationship with the team at Mooir, as we know we can drive growth via the continued improvement and iteration of our technology and on the strength of the partnerships we build.”

Currently live with over 60 brands globally, GiG provides platform and sportsbook solutions that ‘help cater for the tailored needs of brands with global aspirations’, offering operators like Mooir the ‘ability to personalise the user experience’. 

Stephen Trimble, CEO of Mooir eGaming, added: “After a careful selection process we are delighted to have chosen GiG as the core PAM solution to power our new casino brand. 

“GiG’s pedigree in regulated markets, flexibility of software and innovative features align closely with our values and aspirations. All of the team at Mooir are excited for what this partnership will bring.”

The provider recently witnessed a change of leadership within its Platform & Sportsbook division, as Richard Carter was named as its CEO earlier this month.  

This news was closely followed by the group’s financial results for Q2 2023, which revealed an ‘all time high’ for revenue amidst a strategic review of the company announced earlier in the year.

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The igaming content distributor’s new office is said to “accelerate” 3 Oaks’ plans to expand its operations and to “penetrate” regulated markets across the globe. 

“To match our ambitious growth strategy, it is imperative that we have a workspace that increases our potential output and attracts the right talent to help the company grow,” noted Sebastian Damian, Managing Director of 3 Oaks Gaming.

“The Isle of Man is a thriving hub for the industry, and we are proud to anchor our operations there and call the island home. This new office space marks the beginning of what will be a prosperous journey for us and one for which we have laid down the foundations for success.”

Furthermore, the company emphasised that the opening of its new office space demonstrates its “commitment to the territory”, after recently being granted a supplier licence by the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission. 

Chris Reilly, Strategic Partnership Manager at Digital Isle of Man, added: “It is a great show of faith when companies set down roots on the Isle and we’re very pleased to welcome 3 Oaks’ commitment to the Isle of Man through the opening of its new office.

“We pride ourselves on being one of the pre-eminent locations for leading igaming businesses and look forward to working with 3 Oaks to ensure they can maximise their potential on the island.”

Only last month, 3 Oaks secured further European expansion after partnering with Avento to offer its suite of igaming products across the operator group’s five online casino brands. 

The deal saw the igaming distributor increase its presence across the vertical across the operator’s brands, which incorporates Slot V, Frank Casino, Mr Bit, Aplay Casino and Drift Casino.

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Signalling its strategic ambitions, aiming to become a “leading content distributor” within the regulated online casino sector, the igaming company has been set up to distribute new and existing casino content and marketing tools from established studios. 

“This is a proud moment for 3 Oaks and signals our intent to bring quality and responsible casino games to players in regulated markets across the globe,” commented Sebastian Damian, 3 Oaks’ managing director. 

“There are multiple studios in our industry that produce exciting and innovative content, but have yet to be given an opportunity to operate within regulated markets. 3 Oaks has been founded to provide a platform for these types of games to reach players in regulated jurisdictions.

“We’re excited to begin our journey, and with several licence applications close to being finalised, we’re very much looking forward to building our international footprint over the coming months.”

Located within the Isle of Man, the company stated the region was selected due to its Gambling Supervision Commission and its licensing process, stating it as a “perfect foundation to engineer its expansion into regulated markets”.

Moreover, 3 Oaks revealed that it is in the final stages of securing licences to operate within numerous igaming jurisdictions, such as Malta, Bulgaria, Italy, Romania, Sweden and Colombia. 

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As a result of the audit, and subsequent strengthening its regulated market footprint, the live casino software provider is set to go live with its first Isle of Man-based operator, Ableton Prestige Global.

GLI, which provides suppliers, operators, and regulators with testing and auditing services to meet or exceed regulatory standards with high confidence, audited Vivo Gaming’s studios across LatAm (Colombia), Europe (Bulgaria) and Asia (Cambodia).

“We are delighted to have successfully completed the audit process of three of our studios with flying colours,” stated Nadine Thys, head of account management at Vivo Gaming.

“This allows us to open the first regulated live casino offering on the Isle of Man, which is a huge milestone for us as a company and will take us to the next level as we rapidly grow our regulated footprint. 

“The Isle of Man is booming as a jurisdiction and I know our thrilling package of globally facing content will strike a chord with all our new customers.”  

GLI’s successful completion of the audit will enable the supplier to partner with a growing list of Isle of Man licensees.

James Illingworth, vice president of EMEA sales at GLI, said: “GLI recognizes this marks an exciting time for Vivo Gaming and their live dealer enterprises. We enjoyed working with Vivo Gaming’s team who were found to be helpful and professional throughout the rigorous audit processes. 

“We hope this will be the first step to further growth for both Vivo Gaming and the jurisdiction of the Isle of Man, and that GLI will have the opportunity to further support both.” 

In total, the provider currently has more than 60 live dealer tables in operation across three continents supporting 150 customers, streaming 24/7 in Asian, LatAm and European styles. It offers baccarat, blackjack, roulette, poker and Dragon Tiger, among others, which are available in more than 27 languages and 178 currencies, including multiple cryptocurrencies.

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Through securing the approval, the blockchain casino technology provider stresses that it forms a key aspect of its ongoing growth aspirations, as well as wider business strategy focusing on regulated gambling in the blockchain space.

Stefan Kovach, CCO at FunFair Technologies, said of the licence approval: “We’re incredibly proud and excited to have been approved for a license from a tier one gaming jurisdiction.

“Not only does this legitimise FunFair’s blockchain gaming ecosystem, but it also keeps us right there as a leader at the forefront of regulated, decentralised technology and token-based gambling”

Securing the supplier licence is to enable the firm to operate within the framework of a tier one gaming jurisdiction, ensuring full compliance with its regulations and further safeguarding FunFair-powered casino customers and end users.

Furthermore, it also places the company in front of the Isle of Man’s licensees, enabling it to drive home the benefits of blockchain and the FunFair platform to igaming companies through their white-label and operator licensed offering.

As part of the licensure process, FunFair has also established FunFair Holdings (IOM) Ltd, which is based in the Isle of Man and is to work closely with regulatory bodies and other licensed organisations based out of the island.

Lyle Wraxall, CEO of Digital Isle of Man, explained: “Digital Isle of Man is delighted to welcome FunFair to the Isle of Man as the first operator to obtain a token-based software supplier licence in our jurisdiction. 

“The agency is continually working to develop the Island’s digital sectors, and what makes this license so exciting for us is that it links two of our key sectors; egaming and blockchain. 

“As an addition to our cluster of digital stakeholders, FunFair will offer opportunity for existing Isle of Man operators to take on new products as a result of the license.”

Both Kovach and Wraxall are to participate in next week’s CasinoBeats Summit, as part of a panel titled ‘Does Blockchain have a future in online casino?’ which takes place on Wednesday 18 September at 14:10 – 14:50.

The event is to welcome up to 1,000 delegates to West London on 17-20 September, offering visitors four conference tracks and unrivalled networking opportunities with as many as 200 operators present, along with regulators, leading suppliers, payment companies and marketers.

The CasinoBeats Summit takes place at Olympia London on September 17-20, alongside Betting on Sports – learn more and buy tickets for the CasinoBeats Summit here.

To find out more about sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities at the Summit, please contact sales@sbcgaming.com.

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