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Sri Lanka has moved swiftly to tighten its regulatory and fiscal approach to casino gaming, introducing higher costs for both players and operators effective from the start of 2026. From January 1, the government doubled the entry fee for Sri Lankan citizens at casinos from US$50 to US$100. In addition, the betting and gaming gross collection levy was raised from 15% to 18%, according to a notice issued by the Inland Revenue Department. These changes apply to all licensed bet

Japan’s governing coalition has once again confirmed its intention to exempt overseas casino patrons from paying taxes on gambling winnings, reinforcing a long-standing policy designed to boost inbound tourism and attract international investment.   The commitment was reiterated in December during fiscal policy discussions between the Liberal Democratic Party and the Innovation Party, reviving measures that were first put forward several years ago.   The exemption for non-res

Hong Kong’s Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, together with the Securities and Futures Commission, have concluded consultations on the introduction of new licensing regimes for virtual asset dealers and custodians, confirming that operating such businesses without a licence will constitute a criminal offence. Under the proposed framework, unlicensed activity will be punishable by a fine of HK$5 million and up to seven years’ imprisonment, marking a major expansion o

Vietnamese authorities have stepped up supervision of the country’s financial system after suspicious transaction reports filed with the State Bank of Vietnam recorded a sharp year-on-year increase of around 30 per cent. The tougher approach includes the enforcement of Decree No. 329/2025/ND-CP, which is designed to closely monitor capital movements within the newly created international financial centre and curb illicit financial activity. Particular attention is being paid

South Korea has established a high-level task force aimed at overhauling the nation’s financial transaction regulations and reinforcing the domestic framework against illicit capital flows. Authorities confirmed that entities failing to comply with reporting obligations under current legal statutes may face administrative fines of up to 100 million won for non-compliance. Officials stated that the initiative directly responds to the growing complexity of transborder financial

Police in eastern China’s Zhejiang province have taken Yu Faxiang, the chairman of Hong Kong-listed Haichang Ocean Park, into custody as authorities investigate alleged mismanagement following defaults on multibillion-yuan wealth management products issued by a firm under his control. The move represents the latest crackdown on mainland China’s shadow banking sector, continuing years of government efforts to regulate and clean up the industry. Haichang, mainland China’s large

India’s online gaming industry remains mired in legal limbo after the Supreme Court deferred hearing challenges to the country’s sweeping real-money gaming (RMG) ban until January 2026, prolonging a crisis that has already brought much of the sector to a halt. Gaming companies had pressed the judiciary for urgent relief against legislation that has effectively frozen their operations nationwide. However, their petitions will not be taken up in the near term. On December 11, a

Malaysia has significantly strengthened its anti-money laundering framework, particularly in its legal structures and supervisory mechanisms, marking a crucial development since the country’s 2015 mutual evaluation. Assessments by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) noted that while Malaysia has the capacity to manage complex, high-profile cases, persistent challenges remain in successfully prosecuting money laundering c

Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has issued an impact assessment for a draft decree intended to replace Decree 03/2017 on casino operations, a move that local outlet VietnamNet reports is aimed at clearing long-standing regulatory hurdles and bringing the legal framework into alignment with current national laws. The release comes shortly after two landmark decisions: the government’s approval of permanent locals gaming at Phu Quoc’s Corona Resort & Casino and the authorisation

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has successfully completed a public Hong Kong dollar-denominated bond issuance, raising...

Hong Kong stocks climbed on Monday, positioning the Hang Seng Index for a winning month, as investors responded positively to China's...

China is set to introduce a new wave of reforms to further open its markets, with Hong Kong playing a pivotal role in bridging...

Italian luxury brand Bulgari, part of the LVMH group, is gearing up to expand its store network across mainland China, banking on strong...

Hong Kong stocks continued their upward trajectory for the third consecutive day, hitting a fresh four-month high, driven by ongoing...

Hong Kong stocks rebounded on Thursday, snapping a two-day losing streak, with Xiaomi and AIA driving gains on the back of strong...

Didi Global, the Chinese ride-hailing giant, announced on Wednesday that it achieved record highs in both order volume and transaction...

Hong Kong stocks advanced on Monday, driven by a robust rally in technology shares, building on the biggest gain in two weeks recorded...

Chinese companies are racing to expand globally amid a competitive domestic market and slower consumption at home. Despite cultural...

Foxconn, the Taipei-based supplier for Apple, plans to invest approximately $551 million in two new ventures in Vietnam’s northern...

Hong Kong's largest note-issuing bank, HSBC, and DBS Hong Kong have opted to keep their key lending and deposit rates unchanged. This...