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UNODC: Casinos and Cryptocurrency Fueling Underground Banking and Crime in Asia
A new report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has found that casinos, junkets and cryptocurrency have emerged as a critical piece of the underground banking and money laundering infrastructure in East and Southeast Asia, fuelling transnational organised crime in the region.
Titled “Casinos, Money Laundering, Underground Banking, and Transnational Organized Crime in East and Southeast Asia: A Hidden, Accelerating Threat”, the study highlights the nexus between illegal online casinos, e-junkets and cryptocurrency exchanges that have proliferated in recent years alongside surging cross-border criminality throughout the region.
“Casinos and related high-cash-volume businesses have been vehicles for underground banking and money laundering for years, but the explosion of underregulated online gambling platforms and crypto exchanges has changed the game. Expansion of the illicit economy has required a technology-driven revolution in underground banking to allow for faster anonymized transactions, commingling of funds, and new business opportunities for organized crime. The development of scalable, digitized casino- and crypto-based solutions has supercharged the criminal business environment across Southeast Asia, and particularly in the Mekong,” said Jeremy Douglas, UNODC Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
As outlined in the report, countless recent cases demonstrate that online casinos and related businesses have been used by major organised crime groups to move and launder massive volumes of state-backed fiat as well as cryptocurrencies, effectively creating channels for integrating billions in criminal proceeds into the financial system. At the same time, the creation and success of these underground banking mechanisms has helped expand the region’s broader illicit economy, in turn attracting new networks, innovators and service providers to the criminal ecosystem.
Cases examined also highlight how illegal online casino operators have diversified business lines to include cyberfraud and cryptocurrency laundering, with extensive evidence of organised crime influence within casino compounds, special economic zones and border areas, including those controlled by armed groups in Myanmar to conceal illicit activities.
“Organized crime groups have converged where they see vulnerabilities, and casinos and crypto have proven the point of least resistance. That said, operations against syndicates in countries including Cambodia and the Philippines have caused a partial displacement, and we have seen criminals moving infrastructure into other places where they see opportunity — basically where they expect they will be able to take advantage and not be held to account, to remote and border areas of the Mekong, and recently elsewhere,” Douglas added.
UNODC analysis estimates there were more than 340 licensed and unlicensed land-based casinos operating in Southeast Asia as of early 2022, with most having shifted online to offer live-dealer streaming and various proxy betting services. According to latest available industry data, the formal online gambling market is projected to grow to more than US $205 billion by 2030, with the Asia Pacific region representing the largest share of market growth between 2022 to 2026 at a projected 37%. The study describes several policy developments and enforcement measures implemented by governments in the region to address illegal casino-based capital outflows, corruption, and money laundering that have in part driven these trends.
The technical policy brief describes the mechanics, intricacies and drivers of underground banking in the region, and has been developed through extensive examination and analysis of criminal indictments, case records, court filings, related public disclosure and other data collected in consultation with authorities and partners over more than a year. Its development has included an extensive mapping and analysis of thousands of so-called “grey and black business” online groups, including clear web and dark web forums and marketplaces, used for illicit activities. The study also provides a list of recommendations geared towards strengthening knowledge and awareness, legislation and policy, and enforcement and regulatory responses in the region, intended to assist governments to address the situation.
“It’s clear that the gap between organized crime and enforcement authorities is widening quickly. If the region fails to address this criminal landscape the consequences will be seen in Southeast Asia and beyond as criminals look to reinvest profits and innovate operations. We trust the report will prove as a useful reference for deeper engagement between countries in Southeast Asia, UNODC, and international partners. At this point, we are just scratching the surface,” said Benedikt Hofmann, UNODC Deputy Regional Representative.
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RocketWisdom: 100 Real Player Insights in One Book
RocketWisdom is one of RocketPlay’s most personal projects to date — an authentic digital book featuring over 100 real stories, rituals, and gaming habits shared by RocketPlay players. It began as a small internal effort to explore the fun side of play — how people enjoy their gaming moments and what small traditions make the experience special. It has since grown into a full eBook, now available for download.
What is RocketWisdom?
RocketWisdom is a compact, living digital book featuring 100+ stories, rituals, and personal gaming habits submitted by verified RocketPlay users. These aren’t polished guides — they’re human: lucky charms, timing bets, favourite slots, pre-spin habits, and little moments that make play unique.
RocketWisdom is more than a campaign — it’s a celebration of players’ creativity, shared fun, and community spirit.
Originally, players would periodically share their favourite gaming stories and rituals with the RocketPlay support team and on social media channels. The casino team got curious: what makes each player’s gaming moment their own? Are there funny traditions, habits, or superstitions behind the spins?
So they asked the community directly — and the response was overwhelming. More than 500 submissions arrived: many deeply personal, some playful, others describing family traditions or lucky moments. What started as a simple idea soon grew into a collection worth preserving, so RocketPlay gathered it into a book — first intended for an internal circle, but as more players asked to see it, RocketPlay decided to make RocketWisdom publicly available.
What’s inside
- 100+ real stories and rituals from players — from lucky charms to favourite slot routines
- Exclusive bonus code embedded in the book for instant testing
From 4.11, RocketWisdom can be downloaded directly from the RocketPlay website in two convenient formats — PDF and EPUB — making it easy for players to explore the collection from any device.
Why it matters
Today’s players expect more than chance — they want shared experience, creativity, and fun. RocketWisdom delivers inspiration, smiles, and connection for both seasoned spinners and newcomers.
For streamers and content creators, it offers authentic and entertaining material ideal for livestreams, reviews, and community challenges.
For operators and affiliates, player-driven storytelling helps build engagement and a more connected community.
Beyond being a book, RocketWisdom became a heartfelt celebration of creativity and playfulness shared by the RocketPlay community. Inside the book, readers will find promo codes that invite them to try selected games — closing the loop between inspiration, curiosity, and play.
RocketPlay is a trusted online casino with over 9,000 slots from top providers. Highly rated on CasinoGuru (9.8/10), AskGamblers (9.06/10), and Trustpilot (4.4/5), it’s recognized for its quality, fairness, and reliability. The platform holds trust certificates from Chipy.com, CasinoGuru, and AskGamblers, and offers regular bonuses, tournaments, and strong Responsible Gaming features.
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Orange Gaming B.V. obtains license to offer online casino games in the Netherlands
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Orange Gaming B.V. has been granted a license by the Netherlands Gambling Authority to offer online casino games against the license holder in the Dutch market. With this milestone, Orange Gaming sets a clear course: safe, fair, and transparent online entertainment for Dutch players.
Petrit Dibrani, Director of Orange Gaming B.V., comments:
“We are a Dutch team with short communication lines and a down-to-earth mindset. My background in compliance forms the foundation of our decisions. We aim to go live soon, but we do so carefully and fully in line with all regulations. The Dutch market is demanding, with high taxes and strict limits, yet it also holds significant potential. That’s exactly why we focus on innovation, efficiency, and genuine attention to the player.”
Orange Gaming positions itself as an agile challenger among larger operators. Safer-play-by-design is embedded in all processes and communication. Limits, tools, and game rules are clearly explained, helping players stay in control and make conscious choices. The platform also includes several unique features that will be unveiled upon the website launch.
The post Orange Gaming B.V. obtains license to offer online casino games in the Netherlands appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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PropellerAds launches localized platform in China
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PropellerAds, one of the world’s leading advertising platforms, is proud to announce the official launch of the Chinese-language version of propellerads.com with native support team, marking a major step in its strategic expansion across East Asia. The announcement comes in response to growing regional demand for industry-leading advertising platforms specializing in high growth sectors, including gaming and e-commerce.
To mark the launch, a Chinese version of the PropellerAds website is now live, complete with full translation and a dedicated team of native-speaking experts to support Chinese-speaking clients. This has been complemented by an official WeChat channel where updates, insights, and company news updates will be shared directly with its Chinese-speaking audiences.
As a global market leader in digital advertising with 15 daily billion ad impressions across over 195 GEOs, PropellerAds brings over a decade of proven success to the Chinese market. Its deep expertise in performance-driven formats like Popunder, Push Notifications, and Telegram Mini Apps, has helped thousands of advertisers scale their campaigns worldwide. Now, Chinese-speaking clients can benefit directly from this global experience, expert support, and strategic tools tailored to their needs, empowering them to reach international audiences with precision and confidence.
“We’re excited to deepen our relationships in the Chinese market,” said Matvey Shmidt, Sales Director at PropellerAds.
“Our goal is to empower advertisers and partners in China with the tools, support, and insights they need to succeed globally. For the first time, Chinese clients can benefit from our global expertise while accessing a multisource advertising platform designed to local demands and needs.”
In addition to its established ad formats, PropellerAds continues to innovate with new channels such as Telegram Mini Apps, Survey Exit, and In-Page Push, providing advertisers with access to audiences and engagement opportunities. These formats expand the platform’s capabilities beyond traditional web placements, with brands reaching high-intent users across multiple ecosystems with precision targeting and performance-driven optimization.
PropellerAds recently made a successful appearance at China Joy, one of Asia’s largest digital entertainment expos, where the team connected with hundreds of partners and advertisers, and Global Traffic Conference in Shenzen. Looking ahead, PropellerAds will be attending GTC in Shanghai this November, continuing its mission to foster meaningful partnerships and drive innovation in the region.
Shmidt continued: “This launch reaffirms PropellerAds as a global leader in digital advertising, offering scalable solutions and localized support to help businesses grow across borders, with this being the first in a series of new launches we will be announcing in the region soon. We look forward to meeting our clients and speaking with interested clients at GTC in Shanghai.”
You can visit PropellerAds at stand B69, at GTC in Shanghai, on 5th and 6th of November.
The post PropellerAds launches localized platform in China appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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