Summary
In the last decade, online gambling has steadily grown in Southeast Asia. It is currently worth between USD800 million to 1.2 billion. Some countries, like the Philippines, actively pursued a piece of the lucrative gambling pie, legalising and promoting virtual casino operations known as POGOS. Yet, online gambling has left many punters in debt. It has also been associated with illicit activities like money laundering and human trafficking.
Now, Southeast Asia wants to kick its gambling habit. In July, the Philippines outlawed online gambling operations. In Indonesia, a new task force was set up to shut down gaming websites. Elsewhere, these virtual casinos face similar crackdowns. Is the game up for online gaming operators? Or will they simply move underground?
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