Asia Gaming Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 83 Week of 21 September 2026
(1) Singapore tightens casino rules: post-result bet withdrawal and unauthorised filming can be criminal offences
Singapore has amended its Casino Control Act to criminalise withdrawing or altering bets after game results are known, as well as unauthorised filming of certain non-card gaming activities, closing gaps in regulation of electronic and non-traditional casino games.
(2) DigiPlus margins under pressure as higher promotion costs offset tax relief
S&P Global Ratings expects DigiPlus Interactive Corp.’s EBITDA margin to fall to about 14.5–16% over the next two years, lower than the roughly 18% average seen in 2024–25, as rising customer-acquisition and retention costs offset the benefit of lower gaming taxes.
(3) South Korea expanded tourism-fund loans to cover casino construction projects
South Korea has broadened the Tourism Promotion and Development Fund loan scheme to allow licensed casino operators to finance new construction, expansion and renovation works, treating casino-related infrastructure as eligible tourism facilities.
(4) Japanese online card-draw platform Clove under scrutiny over alleged quasi-gambling “Oripa” model
Japanese law firm Hibiki has filed a petition with the Consumer Affairs Agency seeking investigation of major online “Oripa” platforms, including Clove, after receiving complaints involving roughly ¥3.1 billion; the practice of converting prizes back into points for further draws is under regulatory spotlight.
(1) Singapore tightens casino rules: post-result bet withdrawal and unauthorised filming can be criminal offences
(Photo Credit: Exmoo)
The revisions aim to address the growing use of electronic terminals, roulette, sic bo, electronic table games and machine games. Traditional card-game rules already prohibited covert filming of cards, collusion and post-close bet changes; the new provisions explicitly extend similar criminal liability to electronic and other non-card formats.
One key change makes it an offence for participants deliberately to withdraw, reduce or alter a bet after the result has been generated or announced. This covers attempts to reclaim chips during dealer or equipment delays, as well as the use of timing gaps on electronic terminals to cancel wagers. Assisting, conspiring or using devices to interfere with the normal betting process is also covered.
A second focus is unauthorised photography or recording of designated gaming equipment, screens or operational processes that could be used to analyse outcomes, capture player data or facilitate cheating. Casinos may post notices at entrances, tables and electronic gaming areas. Ordinary souvenir photos in non-gaming zones are not automatically criminalised, but players must still follow on-site rules.
Operators’ responsibilities have also been strengthened, including record-keeping, timely reporting of suspicious activity, and clear display of game rules and closing times. The two integrated resorts, Marina Bay Sands (濱海灣金沙) and Resorts World Sentosa (聖淘沙名勝世界), remain under the Gambling Regulatory Authority for licensing and social safeguards, with police handling suspected criminal cheating.
News Source: https://www.exmoo.com/article/266055.html
(2) DigiPlus margins under pressure as higher promotion costs offset tax relief
(Photo Credit: Exmoo)
The rating agency attributes the margin pressure mainly to the severance of direct e-wallet links to online gaming platforms and tighter advertising restrictions introduced from August 2025. These measures have forced operators to rely more on promotions, partner channels and other marketing methods to reach and keep players, raising the cost of acquiring each new customer.
S&P assigns DigiPlus a long-term issuer credit rating of B+ with a stable outlook. It expects revenue and EBITDA to resume growth over the next 12 months, supported by the company’s scale, brand strength and large user base in the Philippine online gaming market.
While the lower gaming-tax rate provides some cost relief, S&P notes that the savings may not fully translate into higher margins. Profitability will continue to depend on the regulatory environment, player activity levels, and DigiPlus’s ability to control promotional and retention spending.
The company is still adapting to the new operating landscape. Its market position remains an advantage, but the structural rise in customer-acquisition costs is expected to keep margins below previous levels in the near term.
News Source: https://www.exmoo.com/article/265921.html
(3) South Korea expanded tourism-fund loans to cover casino construction projects
(Photo Credit: Exmoo)
Previously the fund mainly supported hotels, resorts, travel agencies and other tourism services. Under the expanded rules, qualifying casino operators may apply for loans covering building works, equipment upgrades and related amenities, subject to standard checks on purpose, amount, tenure and repayment capacity.
The policy is intended to help operators modernise integrated-resort facilities, add hotel rooms and non-gaming attractions, and attract more overseas visitors. It does not alter existing licensing or entry rules, nor does it provide direct subsidies for gaming operations. Projects must still demonstrate tourism benefits and obtain any necessary land, environmental or gaming-related approvals.
Major operators such as Paradise, Grand Korea Leisure and Kangwon Land (江原樂園) are already investing in casino-floor renovations, extra hotel capacity and entertainment offerings. The new financing channel offers an alternative to bank lending for capital-intensive projects with long construction periods.
Approval is not automatic. The fund allocates loans according to annual budgets, policy priorities and project quality. Operators remain exposed to cost overruns, weaker-than-expected visitor numbers and interest-rate changes. Actual benefits will depend on successful applications, loan sizes and individual construction timelines.
News Source: https://www.exmoo.com/article/266107.html
(4) Japanese online card-draw platform Clove under scrutiny over alleged quasi-gambling “Oripa” model
(Photo Credit: eDigest)
Oripa (original packs) are retailer-assembled card packs containing a mix of high-value prizes and low-value cards sold in large numbers of draws. Online versions allow players to convert unwanted cards into platform points and immediately use those points for further draws, creating a continuous cycle that critics say resembles gambling rather than simple merchandise sales.
The law firm submitted a petition under the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions, citing about 460 complainants and a total sum of approximately ¥3.1 billion. Several large platforms, including Clove, were named. As of mid-September, the Consumer Affairs Agency had not announced any finding of illegality or issued a business-suspension order, and no criminal arrests related to gambling or fraud had been publicly confirmed.
Physical Oripa is more readily treated as card sales, whereas the online “instant convert-to-points” feature is the main point of legal contention. Many Japanese card shops rely on Oripa to clear high-value or slow-moving inventory; tighter restrictions could disrupt cash flow for retailers that depend on the model.
The case remains at the regulatory-inquiry stage rather than criminal prosecution. Market observers are watching whether authorities will tighten rules on point-conversion mechanics, with potential knock-on effects for both online platforms and the wider trading-card retail sector in Japan.
