Impact of force majeure in football betting

Brokerage firm CLSA anticipates a 6 percent month-on-month increase in Macau's gross gaming revenue (GGR) for May, reaching MOP19.7 billion (€2.27 billion). While slightly below market consensus, CLSA's projection aligns with Morgan Stanley's forecast and indicates continued recovery in the region's gaming sector. 

Analysts Jeffrey Kiang and Leo Pan highlighted the robust foot traffic observed during the Labour Day holiday, citing positive trends in average daily visitation and hotel bookings. 

Throughout the holiday period, key establishments such as Grand Lisboa Palace, MGM Cotai, The Londoner, and others experienced significant foot traffic, including busy gaming floors. Minimum bets on baccarat tables ranged from MOP1,000 to MOP1,500, with higher stakes in high-roller rooms ranging from MOP3,000 to MOP10,000. 

Despite during the Labour Day break, Macau remains optimistic about its tourism prospects. The city welcomed a total of 604,395 tourists over the five-day holiday, averaging 120,000 visitors per day, falling short of authorities' projections. 

The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) attributed the lower arrivals to adverse weather conditions, dampening travel enthusiasm. However, the agency assured that the government is gearing up for the upcoming summer holidays to boost tourism. 

To stimulate tourism, Macau launched the for Chinese nationals on tour groups on Monday. The initiative aims to facilitate integrated development between Macau and Hengqin, offering tourists more choices and enhancing the region's attractiveness. 

The new visa allows tour group visitors to stay at budget hotels in Hengqin and visit Macau during the day. As Macau continues to navigate recovery post-pandemic, initiatives like the multi-entry visa signal proactive measures to revitalize the tourism sector and promote integrated development with neighbouring regions. With gaming revenue forecasts showing promising signs, stakeholders remain hopeful for sustained growth in Macau's economic recovery. 

Upcoming SiGMA event: SiGMA Asia 2024, 2 – 5 June. Find all the details .

Senator Win Gatchalian has called for an inquiry into the increasing presence of foreign nationals, potentially associated with Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), within exclusive gated communities. In a press statement, Gatchalian the necessity of scrutinizing gatherings of foreign nationals to safeguard against rising criminality. 

Highlighting ongoing apprehensions voiced by residents of Multinational Village in Paranaque City, underscored the urgency of investigating the surge in foreign residents within the subdivision. Reports indicate the emergence of enclaves catering exclusively to these foreign nationals, raising alarms about potential clandestine activities and the need for heightened vigilance. 

"This is something worthy of attention. We need to ensure that any significant gathering of foreign nationals is not for the purpose of engaging in illegal activities given the trend of rising criminality attributed to these individuals involved in the industry," Gatchalian said. 

Gatchalian voiced apprehension over the possibility of fugitives from abroad finding refuge within these gated communities, capitalizing on their knowledge of local dynamics and connections to evade scrutiny. Emphasizing the audacity of these individuals, Gatchalian underscores the need for robust investigations and measures to counteract potential criminal syndicates exploiting loopholes and securing protection from influential figures. 

Referencing the November 2023 raid in Ayala Alabang Village, where 11 Chinese nationals were apprehended for illegal online gambling, Gatchalian underscored the gravity of the situation. The seizure of firearms and gambling paraphernalia during the raid underscores the potential threats posed by such clandestine operations, further underscoring the imperative of proactive measures to curb illicit activities. 

The senator also reiterated his stance on the termination of POGO operations in the Philippines, citing the disproportionate social costs vis-à-vis economic gains. Emphasizing the detrimental impact on societal well-being, Gatchalian underscored the imperative of prioritizing measures to safeguard national security and integrity over short-term economic benefits. 

POGOs are online gambling firms based in the Philippines that primarily serve customers located outside of the country. In essence, they operate in the international market. To ensure legal compliance, POGOs are to obtain licence from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the regulatory body overseeing gambling activities in the Philippines. This licensing process is essential for POGOs to conduct their operations within the bounds of the law and maintain the integrity of the industry.  

Upcoming SiGMA event: SiGMA Asia 2024, 2 – 5 June. Find all the details .

In South Korea a stern battle is being waged against the rising tide of gambling. The country’s strict regulations cast a wide net, capturing all forms of gambling activities within their grasp.

Imagine a lone casino, Kangwon Land Casino, nestled on the outskirts of Seoul. This is the only place where South Koreans can legally gamble, a privilege protected under the Special Act on the Assistance to Development of Abandoned Mines.

Yet, the allure of online gambling beckons, with overseas sportsbooks offering a forbidden fruit. But the authorities are vigilant, their watchful eyes ever on the lookout for violations. Recent cases involving online sports gambling rings have led to arrests, a stark reminder of the consequences.

The reach of Korean law is extensive, covering all forms of gambling by South Koreans, both domestically and overseas. However, there’s a twist. Tourists and expats can legally gamble at all casinos in the country, and Korean Law does not apply to non-Koreans while they are abroad, except in the most exceptional of crimes.

The definition of “gambling” might seem elusive, but the Korean Supreme Court has provided clarity. or loss through the wager of property on a game or activity based on chance.

At the helm of this regulatory landscape is the National Gambling Control Commission (NGCC), the watchdog that oversees the gambling industry in South Korea.

Despite these stringent measures aimed at controlling the prevalence of gambling and mitigating its potential negative impacts such as addiction and associated crimes, a concern lingers. Illegal gambling activities, particularly among the youth, persist, casting a shadow over these efforts.

As reported by South Korea is witnessing a concerning pattern as the age of underage gamblers is decreasing, while their numbers are on the rise. The South Korea National Police Agency (KNPA) has recently reported a significant increase in the number of Korean juveniles involved in illicit gambling activities. This alarming trend has prompted law enforcement to devise comprehensive preventive measures.

In the past five years, the average age of teenagers caught gambling has consistently decreased, reaching a low of 16.1 years old in 2023. In the same year, a total of 171 teenagers, aged between 14 and 19, were apprehended under suspicion of participating in illegal gambling. This marked a 2.3-fold increase from the previous year’s figure of 74. Boys constituted a staggering 92.4 percent of these individuals.

The KNPA also revealed that a significant 84.8 percent of the suspects were engaged in online gambling activities, such as baccarat and sports betting. Each game typically lasted only about 10 seconds. Furthermore, 56.7 percent of these individuals accessed gambling platforms at internet cafes, predominantly utilizing computers and smartphones.

Law enforcement authorities anticipate a continued rise in juvenile gambling through smartphones, owing to their easy accessibility and the perception among youth that mobile gambling is merely a casual pastime. However, the police have cautioned that underage participation in illegal gambling could lead to various associated crimes, including instances of school violence and fraudulent activities aimed at securing funds for gambling purposes.

National Police Agency Commissioner Yoon Hee-keun has emphasized the serious threat posed by illegal smartphone gambling to the youth. He pledged to combat youth gambling addiction through intensified guidance and efforts to prevent relapses.

In response to this trend, law enforcement agencies plan to launch awareness programs targeting middle and high school students and their parents. These programs aim to educate them about the hazards of gambling. Additionally, collaborative rehabilitation programs with local counselling centres for teenagers will be established. These programs will provide counselling, medical assistance, and legal support to offenders, offering a holistic approach to tackling this growing issue.

Having legalised online gambling in 2021, overseen by Lotería de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires (LOTBA), Buenos Aires authorities are now gearing up to implement stricter compliance measures for gambling operators, both offline and online, within the city.

The Buenos Aires legislature has announced amendments to the 'Codigo Contravencional,' expanding penalties for gambling violations. Municipal deputies Paola Michielotto and Sergio Siciliano are leading efforts to reinforce , emphasising the importance of promoting and restricting gambling to individuals above 18 years old, whether online or in licensed establishments.

Worries about excessive exposure to gambling advertisements by minors have prompted the proposed changes particularly due to their prevalence on digital platforms and during popular events including football matches. The aim is to mitigate the adverse effects of under-age gambling, which extend beyond financial implications, impacting societal issues and mental health.

Strict measures outlined in the proposed include fines for businesses found allowing individuals under 18 to gamble. All establishments in Buenos Aires must adhere to regulations preventing minors from participating in gambling activities. Payment service providers (PSPs) will be mandated to verify adult authorisation for payments made within Buenos Aires, with penalties for non-compliance. Banks and financial institutions will also be prohibited from facilitating fund transfers from under-age accounts to gambling platforms. Additionally, new advertising guidelines mandate warnings about gambling risks and age restrictions on all promotions in the city.

The gambling and lottery industry is facing severe challenges in Argentina, mainly due to high inflation rates, (211.4 percent annual inflation in 2023, the highest in 32 years). Consequently, the Buenos Aires Chamber of Official Lottery Agents (CAOLAB), last February, urged immediate policy changes to mitigate the impact of high inflation rates.  CAOLAB emphasized the need for competitiveness without state subsidies. One of their proposals is the introduction of in-person sports betting and video lottery terminals to counter revenue losses, which is a move witnessed in Brazil last month when AMZ Loterias do Brasil launched the firstin the country.