INSIGHT ASIA MARKETS
In Turkey, the largest state-sponsored sports betting
market IDDAA is run by Sans Digital, an
affiliate of Demirören Holding, one of Turkey’s largest
companies. Illegal betting is now a crime in Turkey after new regulations were passed by Grand
National Assembly of Turkey in 2020. In 2019 over 17 thousand people, who were found to have made illegal
Viet Nam Could Lead the Way
In Viet Nam we are seeing a hesitant expanse of the industry as lawmakers see the potential of regulation on the back of the growing popularity of football, but progress is limited. In 2017, the government announced that it would allow locals to enter a selected number of casinos paving the way for more investment. Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance is now putting forward an extension of the scheme allowing Vietnamese locals to play at two designated casinos until 2024.
In a similar way sports betting, in theory at least, is being opened up to local players. In June 2018, the government passed Decree 06/2017/ND-CP allowing local players to bet on football matches but only on those leagues and football events that were on a list approved by the sports authority. Tis was limited to bet on overseas tournaments officially sanctioned by FIFA.
Te bill ruled that the expansion of land based sports betting was also limited and just one operator would be granted a licence to operate a single license for five years as part of a pilot program. Foreign investors would be allowed to take part in return for a huge US$43.5 million fee. Te pilot programme has yet to be launched. Meanwhile offshore betting has exploded with illegal football betting estimating to
account for US$10bn in annual turnover in 2021.
In September 2021 the Ministry of Finance announced that was in the process of looking at amending Decree 06/2017, expanding the betting option to 27 leagues and tournaments including Europe’s major leagues, such as the Champions League and Europa League, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup as well as the Copa América - the South American Football Championship. Te Ministry of Finance also made specific proposals regarding the new bidding process to select a new sports betting operator.
Japan Remains Opposed
Reported moves for the liberalisation of the market were quickly dismissed in Japan. Casinos are yet to be built and gambling in general is prohibited and under the Penal Code of Japan.
Te only exceptions are the four public sports – horse racing, bicycle racing, powerboat racing and motorcycle racing - run by local governments or government corporations and the public lottery and the Japanese Football Pools.
According to local press reports Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry had been drawing up plans to allow betting on sports such as football, basketball and baseball. However, the Japanese
government has denied these reports.
Illegal Sports Betting a Growing and Dangerous Business in Turkey
In Turkey, the largest state- sponsored sports betting market IDDAA is run by Sans Digital, an affiliate of Demirören Holding, one of Turkey’s largest companies. Illegal betting is now a crime in Turkey after new regulations were passed by Grand National Assembly of Turkey in 2020. In 2019, over 17,000 people, who were found to have made illegal bets and were fined while the government has blocked access to thousands of offshore betting sites. Despite these efforts illegal sports betting remains a huge headache for law enforcement agencies that fear that illegal sports betting could be being used to launder money and finance terrorism.
According to Europol and Turkey’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) 18 million people in Turkey make illegal bets amounting to over 70bn liras per year. Illegal gambling not only takes the form of betting online abroad but also via thousands of bookmakers in shops and small businesses, such as grocers and shops.
Outlook
While the repeal of PASPA in the US and the continued popularity of football in Asia will change
bets and were fined while the
government has blocked access to thousands of offshore betting
sites. Despite these efforts illegal sports betting remains a huge headache for law enforcement agencies that fear that illegal sports betting could be being used to
launder money and finance terrorism.
perceptions this provides nothing concrete in terms of immediate change. Match manipulation could herald in developments over time but major shifts in government policy look unlikely. While governments cling to their monopoly and try and enforce blanket bans they will continue to lose out on tax revenue while players will inevitably continue to play via illegal street bookmakers or online. Unfortunately, despite the growing appetite for sports betting, Asia will continue to remain off limits.
WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS P31
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