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Online gambling has become a lucrative industry in Southeast Asia, attracting foreign investors and capital in the region. The industry, which includes live casino games, online gaming machines and sports betting, is driven primarily by overseas Chinese gamblers. By operating in countries with lax gambling laws, they effectively circumvent China’s strict ban on gambling activities.
However, Southeast Asia’s booming online gambling industry has exacted an economic and political toll on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries amid rising criminal activity and illicit financial flows. This can be attributed to the transnational nature of online gambling, lax governance at the national level, and ASEAN’s fragmented regulatory environment. While countries initially viewed the industry as a surefire solution for post-pandemic recovery, the risks of online gambling have emerged, prompting countries such as Indonesia, Singapore, and Laos to introduce legislation in an attempt to crack down on such activities.
In full: https://thediplomat.com/2024/08/cutting-losses-southeast-asias-crackdown-on-online-gambling/
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