Asia
Online Casino Players Today: SOFTSWISS Spotlight
Asia takes the lead in high-stakes bets, while Europe leads with female players – insights from SOFTSWISS, a leading global iGaming technology provider, backed by its Casino Platform data analysis.
SOFTSWISS experts scrutinised the data from the Casino Platform’s client projects, spanning September 2022 to August 2023, to create profiles of contemporary players across three regions: Europe, Latin America, and Asia.
EUROPE
The European iGaming market consistently ranks top in terms of revenue generation and financial performance. According to the SOFTSWISS Casino Platform data, Europe boasts eight times the number of active players compared to LatAm and a staggering 18-fold increase compared to Asia. Furthermore, 68.3% of European players favour mobile devices for placing their bets, with the average bet size nearly doubling that of Latin America but still behind the Asian figure.
Gender disclosure is not mandatory during the registration process in certain online casinos, but even with the available data, some intriguing patterns emerge. According to the SOFTSWISS research, nearly half of European online casino players are male, accounting for 47% of the total player base. At the same time, Europe is the leader in the number of female players (18.11%), closely followed by LatAm, while Asia lags significantly behind. SOFTSWISS experts contend that this can be attributed to a heightened level of female engagement in the European economy, which is closely correlated with higher educational attainment and, consequently, improved access to personal income sources.
When considering the age range of contemporary online players from Europe, the majority falls within the 31–40 age group. This demographic tends to gravitate toward slot games as their preferred gaming option, with card games and roulette holding the second and third positions.
Darya Avtukhovich, Head of SOFTSWISS Casino Platform, comments: “One of the important aspects for the European market is payment systems. Due to diverse player locations, operators need multiple payment options, which becomes even more complex in regulated markets. SOFTSWISS is actively addressing this by obtaining licences and certifications. We also integrate payment systems into the Casino Platform, ensuring flexibility for operators entering specific markets.”
LATIN AMERICA
LatAm emerges as a promising hub for the iGaming industry. Markets that have already embraced online casino and bookmaker regulation are witnessing steady growth, while countries that are on the verge of implementing these regulations anticipate remarkable growth in the near future.
According to the SOFTSWISS Casino Platform data, in LatAm, 69.2% of active players use mobile devices to place bets in online casinos, slightly exceeding the equivalent figure in Europe. Male players constitute the majority, while females comprise 17.4% of the user base. The largest player demographics fall within the age group of 31–40 years, representing 20.8% of the total, while those aged 18–24 and 25–30 each account for 18.8%. The variations in distribution between these age groups in LatAm are the smallest among the analysed regions.
Highlighting the key features of the local iGaming culture, Carla Dualib, Regional Business Development Manager in LatAm, says: “Local online casino players tend to place small but regular bets. This sets them apart from European players, who, in turn, opt for less frequent but larger wagers when betting online.”
The data collected by the Casino Platform support this expert opinion: players from Latin America place the lowest bets compared to other analysed regions.
“Another key difference between LatAm players and players in other regions is their unwavering love for sports betting, especially football. However, when it comes to classic online casino games, local players are active in slots and roulette games. The latter is gaining momentum – according to the Game Aggregator statistics, roulette games make up 21.8% of all types of games preferred by Latin American players, which is 2–4 times more than in Asia and Europe,” noted Darya Avtukhovich, Head of SOFTSWISS Casino Platform.
ASIA
This region is characterised by technological advancement and progressiveness, with certain countries leading the global economy and boasting a high GDP per capita. This progressive nature is evident in the average bet size, which, according to the Casino Platform data, outstrips European averages by 2.5 times and leaves the average bet size of LatAm players trailing behind by more than fourfold.
In Asia, the prevalence of players who prefer mobile betting exceeds that of the other regions, with 71.6% favouring this method. Also, the percentage of female players in Asia is significantly lower, comprising just 6.2%. Within the Asian player demographic, those aged 31 to 40 are the most commonly found group placing bets in the projects powered by the SOFTSWISS Casino Platform.
Slot games dominate the market, accounting for over 80% of all games. Speaking about the entertainment theme, Darya Avtukhovich notes: “Operators catering to the Asian audience should include traditional regional games in their portfolio. This involves not only stylising content using well-known Asian symbols, such as dragons, but also bringing familiar table games for local players online, such as Mahjong and others. Similarly, in sports betting, offering bets on traditional sports like Muay Thai and Kabaddi alongside popular international sports will significantly enhance the online casino’s offerings.”
Summing up the research, it is evident that common trends exist among players in different regions. However, it is essential to consider local peculiarities to shape an effective strategy. Darya Avtukhovich emphasises the importance of attracting local experts who understand the audience’s cultural nuances, traditions, and values. SOFTSWISS implements this approach by leveraging the extensive experience and expertise of its regional managers in LatAm and Asia to effectively develop clients’ businesses in new markets.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international iGaming company supplying ISO 27001-certified software solutions for managing gambling operations. The expert team, which counts 1,400 employees, is based in Malta, Poland, Georgia, and Belarus. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides one-stop-shop iGaming software solutions. The company has a vast product portfolio, including the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with thousands of casino games, the Affilka affiliate platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS was the first in the world to introduce a Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution.
Philippine Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has proposed Senate Resolution 1193 to investigate the failure of local banks to detect POGO-related suspicious transactions tied to criminal activities, following the case of former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.
Gatchalian, in his resolution, highlighted bank transactions involving Guo’s companies, which amounted to hundreds of millions of pesos and allegedly funded the construction of a POGO hub in Bamban. The amount far exceeded the financial capacity reflected in the companies’ financial statements.
He pointed out a significant increase in cash flows, check disbursements, and transactions involving Guo’s accounts, peaking in 2020—an anomaly given that the COVID-19 pandemic had severely disrupted businesses and economies worldwide.
Gatchalian noted that despite these large transactions, the banking system failed to flag them as suspicious. He raised concerns about the banks’ inability to report such dubious activities, questioning the effectiveness of their internal controls and procedures for identifying and reporting suspicious behaviour.
The senator emphasised that financial institutions are responsible for analysing financial data to detect transactions that may indicate money laundering.
These circumstances, according to Gatchalian, raise doubts about the adequacy of current Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) regulations and guidelines for banks and financial institutions.
Gatchalian also pointed out that the Philippines remains on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list. The country must improve its AML/CTF efforts, including prosecuting money laundering and terrorism financing, addressing beneficial ownership information and strengthening cross-border declaration measures.
While President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has instructed all government agencies to meet the necessary requirements to remove the country from the FATF grey list, Gatchalian stressed that private sector compliance is equally crucial to strengthening the country’s AML/CFT regime. This includes increased adherence to obligations, such as reporting covered and suspicious transactions.
The post Philippine Senator Pushes for Inquiry into Banks’ Role in Pogo Funding appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
An Islamic party said it was prepared to shut down Malaysia’s only casino if it wins control of the state where it is located, as the group looks to build its influence in the Southeast Asian nation.
A senior official from Parti Islam Se-Malaysia said if voters in central Pahang state – home to Genting Bhd.’s casino – wanted gambling to end, they should choose the Islamic party. The party is tapping into concerns by the country’s Muslim majority over gambling, which is forbidden in the Koran.
PAS has been growing its influence since the 2022 elections made it the biggest party in federal parliament. It already controls four of Malaysia’s 13 states and is looking to capture Pahang in the next national election that must be held by early 2028.
“Gambling is harmful, so we have to close it. But it must be in accordance with the laws and constitution,” Andansura Rabu, PAS’ deputy commissioner for Pahang, said at the party’s annual gathering.
The federal government decides on casino and gaming permits in Malaysia and gaming is one of the most regulated sectors in the country.
Genting’s casino contributed as much as US$1.16 billion annually to government coffers before the pandemic, according to a report by UOB Kay Hian, a Singapore-based brokerage. When PAS emerged as the biggest party after the 2022 elections, Genting shares slid but recovered as Anwar formed a unity government made up of liberals, a Chinese-dominant party and regional groups.
Still, the growing influence of the Islamic party in national politics has pushed Anwar to turn more conservative to burnish his credentials with voters. Last year his government cancelled a concert after two members of a British band The 1975 shared a same-sex kiss on stage, and banned Swatch watches that showcase Pride colours.
At the annual gathering held last weekend in Pahang, PAS has ruled out working with Anwar’s coalition and pledged to champion Islamic issues. Banning alcohol and gambling in Malaysia would be key, the party has said.
“Anything that can harm society, we must together support its destruction. This isn’t a matter of religion, it’s a social issue,” Andasura said.
The post Malaysia’s PAS Vows to Shut Genting Casino if Party Wins in Pahang State appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Chinese football authorities have banned 43 individuals for life due to their involvement in gambling and match-fixing scandals. The list includes three former China international footballers and South Korean World Cup player Son Jun-ho.
China’s extensive football corruption crackdown campaign has been ongoing since 2022. The National Sports General Administration and the Ministry of Public Security have led efforts to address issues of match-fixing and gambling in the sport. They have investigated over 120 matches, involving 83 players, referees, coaches and club officials. To date, 44 individuals have been sentenced, with 34 receiving prison terms.
The recent announcement of these lifetime bans came shortly after the national team’s 7-0 loss to Japan.
Son Jun-ho, who played for Shandong Taishan in the Chinese Super League and represented South Korea in the 2022 World Cup, has been accused of participating in match-fixing and accepting bribes. Son returned to South Korea in March 2024 after being detained in China since May 2023. The authorities initially stated that he was held “on suspicion of accepting bribes by non-state employees” but did not provide further details.
Other notable figures banned include Jin Jingdao, a former Shandong Taishan player, and Chinese international players Guo Tianyu and Gu Chao.
The post Chinese Football Bans 43 for Life Over Gambling and Match-Fixing Scandal appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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