Online Gaming in Asia

Online gaming is legal in several countries in Asia and the Middle East. Some countries, such as Japan, allow online gambling on a limited scale; only sports betting, race wagering and lottery games are available online with casino-style games remaining largely prohibited domestically. In contrast, the Philippines has a well-developed online gaming market.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) both operates its own casinos and regulates licensed online operators, though policy has recently tightened with a phase-out of offshore “POGO” operations and adjustments to iGaming tax and fee rates. In 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed PAGCOR to wind down all Philippine offshore gaming operators, commonly known as POGOs or internet gaming licensees. Executive Order No. 74 formalized the ban in November 2024, and the Anti-POGO Act of 2025 later made it law. PAGCOR continues to regulate domestic online gaming through its Electronic Gaming Licensing Department, covering eCasino games, online poker, sports betting, specialty games and numeric games. It has also tightened player-verification and responsible-gaming requirements.

In the Gulf, the UAE has established a federal commercial-gaming framework under the GCGRA. The authority licenses lottery, internet gaming, sports wagering and land-based gaming facilities, while unlicensed commercial gaming remains illegal.

Show Complete Asia Online Gaming Overview

Asia iGaming Subjurisdictions
Armenia	Indonesia	Nepal	Tajikistan
Azerbaijan	Israel	Philippines	Timor-Leste
Cambodia	Japan	Singapore	Turkey
China	Kazakhstan	South Korea	United Arab Emirates
Hong Kong	Lebanon	Taiwan	Vietnam
India	Macau