Growth Projections and Emerging Markets in Asian iGaming
The industry of iGaming, which encompasses all forms of internet gambling and betting, such as online casinos and sportsbooks, is quickly shaping up to be one of the most popular online modes of adult entertainment. Despite being in its younger stages, with the very first online gambling license having been issued only in 1994, the industry is quickly evolving and expanding.
Online gambling did not enjoy much success in its earlier years, with most customers still preferring traditional retail casinos and betting shops. But as the digital era swept across all sectors and brought a new era of growth, it became an increasingly preferred choice. Smartphones, the internet, relaxing laws, digital payment- all these factors landed iGaming right into customers’ hands.
In 2020, while the outside world stood still due to the COVID-19 pandemic, online games rose to a new height of success and have been growing faster since. Investors also view great potential in the market, as iGaming is predicted to cross a value of $100 billion by the end of 2025.
As the iGaming industry grows larger by the year, the Asian market is also gaining traction and showing substantial growth. This whitepaper aims to analyze the changes, trends and predictions in the Asian gambling market in 2025.
Asian iGaming Outlook 2025
The Rising Popularity of iGaming in Asia1.1 Changing Attitude
1.1 Changing Attitude Asia, a continent that houses more than half the world’s population, is quickly becoming one of the biggest markets in iGaming and displays potential for investors. There are several reasons for this.
One of the biggest hindrances to the growth of this industry has been cultural resistance. Several countries still harbor prejudices against the act of gambling and have attempted to curb it despite having an underground market regardless of legal restrictions. Moreover, some countries have outlawed any forms of gambling due to traditional and/or religious beliefs.
But this stance is slowly taking a turn with the emergence of technology and the rising popularity of all forms of mobile gaming. The newer generation, free of the prejudice of its elders, is embracing the culture of online gambling and betting. These platforms are now geared towards accessibility and engagement with user-friendly interfaces and graphics, streamlined payment processes, and overall security.
Some countries are realizing that gambling is here to stay –regardless of whether or not it is forbidden– and have decided to legalize and regulate it to prevent cyber fraud and ensure the safety of their citizens. Some have also begun to profit from the industry through taxation laws and licensing fees.
Along with the slow destigmatization of online gambling, other contributing factors are the exponential growth of the middle class worldwide and the localization of platforms that have begun to account for regional differences.
1.2 iGaming Events
The emergence of online gambling in Asia has also been helped by iGaming events. These events take the form of summits, expos and conferences and greatly help those in the industry exchange knowledge and create important networks.
Summits are opportunities for top-level authorities to gather and discuss their plans for the industry: how to deal with common issues, shape its future, what topics or innovations to focus on, and industry alliances. The SiGMA Asia Summit, a highly anticipated event, took place at Manila, Philippines from 1st–4th June, 2025. Each year, SiGMA invites industry leaders and influencers to shed light on and explain the latest iGaming trends.
The Asian iGaming events have come up as the finest opportunities for Asian as well as global iGaming entities to showcase innovative products and address prospective clients and investors. These focus more on the commercial aspects of the industry. The Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia is going to take place from 6th to 9th October 2025 in Las Vegas, calling for opportunistic technological advancements in the iGaming business.
The iGaming events in Asia are becoming a great way to inspire change in the industry as well as spark discussions about its growth and opportunities, drawing interest from current and potential investors and significantly increasing user engagement through meaningful conversations.
The Changing Regulatory Landscape
Different countries across Asia have had distinct -often extreme- reactions to iGaming. Online gambling in South Korea and Mainland China has been completely banned, with strict action taken against black market platforms. In Central Asia, some countries such as Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are allowing online gambling but with strict regulations, centralization and designated zones. Some countries have taken no measures at all, resulting in vast underground markets and a confusing legal grey area. Some countries, however, are showing great potential as online gambling markets. By taking measures like easing bans on online betting and regulating the market, they are attracting investors and are expected to rapidly develop in the coming years.
2.1 Thailand
Thailand is changing its stance toward online gambling. In an effort to curb the rampant black market betting activities, make taxation profits and increase tourism, Thailand is considering a law that will legalize casinos and online gambling.
The draft of the ‘Entertainment Complex Bill’ was approved on 13th January this year. Most of its contents pertain to integrated complexes that include venues, and its section on online gambling states that online betting is only allowed on the premises of these complexes; license holders may not make it accessible elsewhere. Although this does not directly open the market for foreign digital platforms, many operators hope that this steady acceptance will one day also permit offshore platforms to enter Thailand.
2.2 India
Having the second-largest population in the world, India is quickly shaping up to be a market with much potential. The government is now taking measures to regulate an industry that was once a grey area, which allows iGaming to cement its status in the country.
The decision to legalize and regulate betting is in the hands of the respective states. Some states, such as Goa and Sikkim, allow regulated and licensed online casinos. Nagaland and West Bengal have kept the rules of the Public Gambling Act, 1867 and allow games of skill- with proper licensing. In February 2025, the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority introduced Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (Real Money Games) Regulations, 2025, which takes steps to protect players from financial risk and addiction.
2.3 Philippines
Contrary to most Asian countries, the Philippines is a highly developed iGaming market. With the help of PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation), a government owned regulation and licensing agency, several platforms have been able to enter the market. The government has also greatly profited from the industry through taxation, which in turn has pushed it to encourage the growth of online gambling. Additionally, English is widely spoken in the Philippines, which removes linguistic barriers and makes localization easier.
Overall, Asia shows great capacity for further growth and investment, especially countries seeking to change/create new regulations for and legalize online gambling.
How Asia is Developing its Payment Processes
Asia also presents a great challenge in terms of localization. It is a vast market where every region has its own currency, language, game preferences and payment methods, making it difficult for providers to keep up with the diversity of these regions. Despite the massive region-wide differences in preferred payment methods, the internet era has ensured one commonality: digital payments. Asian countries are making a sharp shift toward alternative online transaction methods, which makes it difficult for operators to keep up with all the varied and changing payment methods but pays off by providing an additional touch of localization.
3.1 Credit and Debit Cards
Among these, credit and debit cards may be the most common option across the entire continent. Several Asian countries use cards from providers like VISA and Mastercard and even cash-based economies like Japan are slowly but surely switching to payment cards.
Payment cards are a tried and tested method that has endured for years and undergone great developments in streamlining and security. It is a safe bet for those who are not comfortable with switching to newer methods, and therefore a must-have for every operator.
3.2 UPI
India is experiencing a surge in UPI (Unified Payments Interface) usage due to its user-friendly interface and accessibility through mobile phones. This payment method is becoming popular in online gambling for its speed and convenience as well as having no additional charges for everyday bank-to-bank transactions. UPI is also bridging the gap between the urban and the rural in India, which helps operators tap into a new audience that previously would not have had access to digital betting platforms.
3.3 BNPL
An alternative payment method known as BNPL (Buy Now Pay Later) is becoming prominent in Southeast Asian countries. BNPL allows players to make purchases and pay for them in installments, which makes it flexible and budget-friendly. It also ensures minimal interest rates/ upfront costs.
The use of BNPL is rapidly growing in the Philippines which, by the end of 2024, ranked second in Southeast Asian countries for highest BNPL penetration rate. Companies like BillEase and UnaCash and UnaCash expect the usage of this method among the total population to increase by 28.39% by the end of 2025.
3.4 A2A
Account-to-account (A2A) is a payment method that allows its users to directly make transactions between two bank accounts, without the use of intermediaries like payment processors or credit card networks. This method is fast, convenient and reduces extra costs on transactions. A2A is also highly secure and regulation-compliant, which provides users the benefit of financial safety.
A2A is gaining momentum in countries like Thailand; according to Payments and Commerce Market Intelligence (PCMI), as of 2024, A2A is the most popular e-commerce payment method, accounting for 44% of all transactions. PromptPay is now one of the most commonly used services in the country.
3.5 Digital Wallets
Much like credit/debit cards, digital wallets are also a transaction option commonly seen in many Asian countries. Digital/e-wallets support multiple platforms and allow customers to store payment information for various transaction methods. Certain digital wallets do not require a linked bank account. This method also allows users to make quick and secure payments and check their usage history, all with little to no additional cost. Some internationally accepted digital wallet platforms are PayPal, Skrill and Neteller.
3.6 Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency is rising to new heights of fame in Asia. According to a recent study by Foresight Ventures and Primitive, Asia accounts for 60% of the world’s crypto population. Even in the iGaming market, crypto and blockchain technology are increasingly being integrated into several online gambling platforms. The use of cryptocurrency enables fast and secure transactions that can be verified by users while also ensuring their privacy. It is also more accessible and favored among younger players. Some major cryptocurrencies are Bitcoin and Ethereum.
All the payment methods mentioned in this section are predicted to grow substantially in the coming years. Their inclusion in iGaming platforms will help operators looking to tap into the Asian market tailor their content according to region.
How KodeDice Can Help
KodeDice is an online casino and sportsbook development and solutions company that helps its clients achieve success by creating platforms that not only meet but surpass industry standards, while also making sure they are tailored to the visions of our clients. We offer an extensive range of managed services including CRM, CMS and API integrations, aggregators and PAM interface. We make efforts to keep all our softwares and solutions up to date on regulations as well as ensure strong security and risk management.
We also offer a versatile casino/sportsbook payment system that supports all kinds of payment methods, such as credit and debit cards, bank transfers, digital wallets and cryptocurrencies along with multi-layer security and respective fraud prevention protocols.
For more information about launching or expanding iGaming business in the Asian market, contact us.