Casinos and games of chance in Asia: no glamour, rather pragmatic implicitness

When it comes to gambling there is no other country in the world where gambling is part of the daily routine as it is in Asia. Many Asian countries have a gambling culture which people from Central Europe can hardly grasp. The measures are probably gigantic. Fun, relaxation, or glamour have – at least for the natives – nothing to do with the respective gambling activities.

In Asia people like to gamble and they do it often: this is already an understatement if we take the way several reports depict the Asians and their urge to play. In many Asian regions – especially in the countries in East Asia – moderate gambling is a socially acceptable leisure activity. Thus, gambling does not have a negative connotation in the Chinese culture.

However, in most countries gambling is not legal. The high addiction potential of the gambling culture is a thorn in the side for the government. At the same time, they want to have large gambling metropoles. There always seems to be a way.

Gambling during family celebrations and funerals

In Germany and in nearly all other central European countries, gambling is associated with vice, greed, sin, and other negative qualities. In China or Singapore gambling is just part of the daily routine. In Germany as things stand, gambling activities are also being normalised.

As an example, in Singapore when one meets friends or during family celebrations or funerals one plays cards or Mah-Jongg (a board game consisting of several gaming pieces, and it follows rules which are similar to the European Rommé). However, it can hardly be played without real money.

During the game and when trying to win, each person works alone. If there is the opportunity even the closest friends and the other loving relatives will be milked for money. This is not in any way odd for any of those involved. When it comes to the game and playing, there are no inhibitions at all.

Pathological playing is a dangerous dependence

Pathological gambling is seen as a dangerous dependence in Asia. Gambling problems are seen as being even worse than drug abuse. The TV stations broadcast (some of them drastic) warning clips which should depict the dangers in different and subtle psychological ways so that they are embedded in the player’s minds: in the past for example they had streamed game chips in a trembling hand, which later crumbled to dust. All this was supported by the words “possession”, “family“ and “spiritual health”.

According to the government’s statement nearly one in every two citizens in Singapore participates in some form of games of chance. This estimate is from some time ago. It could be that with the constant and strong increase in the online market these numbers have even worsened rather than decreased. 1.4 per cent are estimated to be problem players. In Hongkong the number of players with pathological tendencies is even estimated to be of 5.4 per cent. When considering that there are 7.4 million inhabitants, this means that there are nearly 400,000 persons who are affected!

Gambling experts confirm a clear connection between the social acceptance of games of chance and the considerable number of problems. Many Asians exceed the limit and are problematic players since they are “all always” gambling. The joy in playing is even seen as enlivening the spirits. When a player gambles away a large part of his monthly wages, it is just that way. Of course, then, money is borrowed and he continues gambling till there is a new settlement and a win (hopefully) makes up for it all. As the locals report, “everyone” does that.

However, the government takes only limited drastic measures. Gambling metropoles are accepted, i.e., encouraged in special areas and the relevant taxes are gladly collected.

There is often a strict gambling ban – but not in particular special areas, where gambling counts!

Games of chance are generally forbidden in China or Singapore. According to the official government statement, the possible social collapse of the players is worrying. However particular areas, in which relevant activities are permitted are often swamped with huge new casinos, online casinos and similar services.

In fact Las Vegas is not the gambling capital of the world anymore. The Chinese city of Macau has in the past years generated a turnover which outshines that of the US American desert city. According to different reports Las Vegas is catching up after the Corona restrictions and several sports events are being organised in the city.

Overcrowded games of chance steamboats in Asian waters

Clever players in China know how to indulge in their passion without any legal concerns. Thus, casino ships are cruising through the Asian waters and as soon as they reach the international waters, they provide various gambling possibilities round the clock. One does not expect to find luxury and ambience here since all this is mainly just about gambling. Gamblers of all sexes in informal clothing and from nearly all social classes gather around the tables or the slot machines of the steamships.

No glamour in Macau’s large casinos

Gambling and the casinos are rarely glamorous in Asia. Elegant clothes, jewellery, expensive watches, excessive celebrations with champagne and relaxed chit chat are only found in a few locations. For example, the casinos in Macau are very down to earth. Daily clothing, drinks from paper cups and gambling marathons for umpteen hours are the order of the day.

Macau as an inspiration for other Asian states

Other Asian cities and countries were mostly inspired by the success of the Casino-Hochburg Macau. They are legalising gambling services and investing billions to achieve similar income from taxes. In the case of the Cambodian city Sihanoukville, which wanted to become a second Las Vegas this experiment went completely wrong. However, there are several success stories – for example in South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan or in the Philippines.

Philippines is attracting online betting providers

Thus, the islands in the Philippines slackened their rules and besides casinos they are also offering all kinds of online games of chance. In the latter case they offered the large providers favourable conditions and thus some of the leading digital betting offices from China have based themselves there. Some of these pages are even internationally successful – among others there is SBOBET.

Burmese small city made 4 billion turnover

In the Burmese city of Mong La, which is situated in the middle of the jungle, an extremely profitable gambling city has emerged. Around 4 billion Euro was generated here within a few years: not bad for a place which does not even have 50,000 inhabitants. This huge success is attributed to its proximity to the Chinese border. On average there were around 1600 gamblers from China daily in the city. However, a relative of a Chinese civil servant is said to have lost around 80,000 Euro in one night there. Afterwards he pulled some strings and the cross-border traffic was limited so that Mong La become once again a small city with hardly any importance.

Conclusion

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