GameOn - Go-Intel Report Asia-Pacific Frontier
New Zealanders gamble
lagio). Bookmaker outlets take horse racing and sports bets. Online gambling is not explicitly regu- lated but is generally treated as illegal. Periodic proposals for integrated resorts face moral op- position. Taxes include a 15 per cent gaming levy and a 10 per cent tourism levy.
Market conditions: Sri Lanka has around 33 million mobile connections and 11 million internet users (2024). Mobile money is growing via eZ Cash. Betting interest centres on cricket, horse racing, and local sports. Te 2022– 2023 economic crisis depressed disposable incomes, but a tourism rebound could benefit casinos. Pros- pects for legal online gambling remain uncertain.
Oceania
AUSTRALIA Regulation: Australia’s gambling industry is mature and tightly regulated. Te Interactive Gambling Act 2001 re- stricts online casino games but permits licensed sports betting and lotteries. States and territories regulate land-based casinos, pokies, and wagering. Major operators include Tabcorp, Sportsbet (Flutter), PointsBet, and Crown Resorts. Foreign online casino operators are prohibited, though Australians often use offshore sites.
Market size: Per-capita gambling expenditure is among the highest globally. Total gambling turnover (including lotteries and sports betting) exceeded AU$225bn in 2023 (government data). Online sports betting accounts for more than 50 per cent of wagering turnover, driven by mobile. Te casino sector gen- erated approximately AU$6bn in revenue in 2024 (estimate). 5G coverage and smartphone penetration are near-universal. E-wallet adoption is lower than in Southeast Asia; cards and bank transfers dominate. Responsible gambling frameworks are robust, including mandatory pre-commitment in
about NZ$2.5bn annually, with online gambling an increasing share. Mobile penetration is high;
payments such as POLi and instant bank transfer are
common. Te government is consulting on regulating online gambling.
Victoria and national self-exclusion registers.
Outlook: Online sports betting growth will continue but faces potential tightening on advertising and in- ducements. AML scrutiny has intensified after investigations into Crown and Star Entertainment. Micro-betting and esports wagering provide new revenue avenues, and longer-term reforms could open the door to legal online casino games.
NEW ZEALAND Regulation: Te Gambling Act 2003 permits land-based casinos, sports betting, and lotteries. Te New Zealand Racing Board (TAB) operates sports and racing betting; SkyCity operates casinos in Auckland, Hamilton, Queenstown, and Christchurch. Domestic online casino provision is illegal, but offshore op- erators can serve New Zealanders. iGaming bills have been proposed but not enacted.
Market indicators: New Zealanders gamble about NZ$2.5bn annually, with online gambling an increasing share. Mobile penetration is high; payments such as POLi and instant bank transfer are common. Te government is consulting on regulating online gambling to re- capture offshore leakage and improve consumer protection.
FORWARD OUTLOOK (2025–2027) Te Asia-Pacific iGaming frontier is complex, dy- namic, and full of promise. Over the past decade, the region has leapfrogged traditional infrastructure to embrace mobile-first gambling, e-wallet pay- ments, and innovative game formats. Regulatory liberalisation is gradual but advancing: the Phil- ippines is expanding domestic online licences, Tailand is poised to legalise casinos, Vietnam is reviewing its locals’ entry pilot, and Japan is building its first IR. Meanwhile, established hubs, Macau, Singapore, and Australia, continue to deliver strong returns under tighter oversight.
Looking ahead, we foresee continued double- digit growth across APAC online gambling. Based on current trajectories, total iGaming GGR could exceed USD 50 billion by 2027, with mobile betting and esports leading expansion. Regulatory frame- works will keep evolving to balance fiscal gains with social responsibility. Countries that implement transparent licensing, reasonable taxation, and effective enforcement will attract investment and shrink the illegal market.
For operators, success will hinge on localisation,
robust compliance, and payments innovation. Strategic partnerships and M&A will reshape com- petition as global brands vie for access to APAC’s vast, mobile-first audiences. In short, APAC remains the industry’s most compelling frontier—rewarding those who pair prudent governance with long- term, market-by-market commitment.
This extract from GameOn’s intelligence and insight arm, GO Intel, provides a detailed,
evidence-based assessment of APAC’s iGaming landscape in 2025, examining market size,
growth drivers, consumer behaviour, regulatory trends, and strategic opportunities. To read the
complete report, visit
gameon.im/go-intel and subscribe for updates.
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