Asian Markets Where Sports Betting Is Legal
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Looking to bet on sports in Asia? Here’s a look at some of the markets where sports betting is legal and regulated.
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The Philippines
The Philippines is one of the few Asian markets where sports betting is legal. There are many reasons for this, but the main one is that the Philippines has a large and growing economy. The Philippines is also a popular tourist destination, so there are many people from all over the world who come to the Philippines to gamble.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is a state-owned and controlled corporation that acts as the regulator of all forms of gaming in the Philippines. PAGCOR was created through Presidential Decree 1067-A issued on September 1, 1977. Originally known as the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, the agency was created to generate revenues for the government by sanctioning and regulating games of chance such as horse racing and jai alai.
In December 2000, with the enactment of Republic Act 8369 or the “Charter of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation”, PAGCOR’s function was expanded to cover all games of chance including casino gaming.
Today, PAGCOR operates 32 casinos nationwide: 12 in Metro Manila, 4 in Clark Freeport Zone, 3 in Cebu, 2 in Bohol, 2 in Puerto Princesa and 1 each in Bacolod, Albay, Davao City, Ilocos Norte and Tagaytay.
Offshore gaming operators
The Philippines has become a prime destination for offshore gaming operators. The country offers a variety of benefits for these operators, including a large pool of English-speaking workers, low costs, and a favorable legal environment.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is the government-owned and -controlled corporation that regulates the gambling industry in the Philippines. PAGCOR issues licenses to both land-based and online gaming operators.
In 2016, PAGCOR issued 55 licenses to land-based casinos and 20 licenses to online gaming operators. As of March 2017, there were 58 licensed land-based casinos and 23 licensed online gaming operators in the Philippines.
According to PAGCOR data, gross gaming revenue from Philippine casinos totaled PHP 153.2 billion (US$3.1 billion) in 2016, up from PHP148.6 billion in 2015. Of this total, PHP 103.4 billion came from mass market table games,PHP 36.7 billion came from VIP table games, and PHP 13 billion came from slot machines.
Land-based casino gambling is taxed at 30%, while online gaming is taxed at 20%. PAGCOR also imposes a 5% duty on all gross gaming revenue from VIP tables
Singapore
The Singapore Turf Club
The Singapore Turf Club is the only authorised operator of horse racing and betting in Singapore. It offers betting on both local and overseas horse races, and its products include fixed-odds betting and tote betting. The Club also offers a variety of promotions and bonuses to encourage customers to bet with them.
The Singapore Pools
The Singapore Pools is the only legal provider of sports betting in Singapore. It is a government-sanctioned lottery and sports betting operator, and it has been in operation since 1968. The company offers a wide variety of lottery games, as well as sports betting on football (soccer), motor racing, and other sports.
Japan
Sports betting in Japan is legal and regulated by the government. The Japanese sports betting market is estimated to be worth $15 billion. There are many different types of bets that can be placed on sports in Japan.
The Japan Racing Association
The Japan Racing Association (JRA) is the only organisation authorised to offer horse racing betting in Japan. There are 26 JRA-regulated racetracks across the country, and betting is also available at some off-track locations. JRA races are broadcast on TV Tokyo and other channels, and can be streamed live online.
There are a few different types of bets that can be placed on JRA races:
– Win: You bet on a single horse to come first in the race.
– Place: You bet on a single horse to come either first or second in the race.
– Show: You bet on a single horse to come either first, second or third in the race.
– Quinella: You bet on two horses to come first and second place in any order.
– Exacta: You bet on two horses to come first and second place in the exact order you choose.
– Trifecta: You bet on three horses to come first, second and third place in the exact order you choose.
The Japan Sports Agency
The Japan Sports Agency is an administrative body that was set up under the Cabinet Office in 2001. It is responsible for the development of sport and the promotion of physical education in Japan. The agency is also tasked with supporting Japanese athletes and teams as they compete in international events such as the Olympics and Paralympics.
The Japan Sports Agency is overseen by a nine-member board, which includes the minister of state for education, culture, sports, science and technology (MEXT), the chairman of the Japan Olympic Committee, and representatives from each of the country’s 47 prefectures. The current chairman of the board is Masato Matsuura, who was appointed to the position in June 2018.
The agency’s budget for fiscal year 2019 is ¥93.4 billion (US$850 million), which includes ¥38.7 billion for sporting events, ¥20.6 billion for grassroots sports initiatives, ¥15.5 billion for elite athlete support, and ¥8.6 billion for sports facilities construction and maintenance.
