Welcome to the Asia Poker Round-Up — your weekly snapshot of major tournaments, breakout players, featured poker rooms, and the latest industry news across the region.
Tournament recaps
Red Dragon Poker Tour (May 1 to 10)
The 2025 Red Dragon Poker Tour (RDPT) Jeju concluded its ten-day series at Landing Casino, Jeju, South Korea, from May 1 to 10. The festival attracted 3,281 entries and awarded nearly KR₩5.57 billion (~US$3.99 million) in prize money.
The centerpiece, the Red Dragon Championship, featured a KR₩2.5 million (~US$1,725) buy-in and drew 997 entries, generating a prize pool of KR₩2.18 billion (~US$1.58 million). China’s Shengfa Huang secured his first live tournament victory, earning KR₩360 million (~US$250,615) and the coveted Red Dragon champion’s jacket.
Chinese players demonstrated dominance throughout the series, claiming 32 of the 39 trophies awarded.
The 2025 RDPT Jeju showcased the tour’s growing prominence in the Asian poker scene, offering a diverse range of events catering to various player preferences.
APT Taipei (April 25 to May 4)
The 2025 Asian Poker Tour (APT) Taipei, held from April 25 to May 4 at the new Red Space venue in Taipei, set new records for the tour and Taiwan’s poker scene. The festival featured 118 trophy events and six satellites, drawing 22,909 entries and awarding over NT$612 million (~US$20 million) in prize money.
The Main Event attracted 2,547 entries, creating a prize pool of NT$121 million (~US$3.7 million), the largest in APT history. Japan’s Akira Takasugi won the event, earning NT$19 million (~US$584,000).
The festival also included a record-setting APT National Cup with 2,161 entries and a prize pool of NT$21.2 million (~US$656,000), won by Taiwan’s Shi Rong Wang.
This landmark event sets the stage for the upcoming APT Championship in November, featuring a NT$165 million (~US$5 million) guaranteed Main Event.
APPT Cambodia (May 8 to 13)
The 2025 Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) Cambodia Main Event was held from May 8 to 13 at NagaWorld Integrated Resort in Phnom Penh. With a $1,750 buy-in, the event featured a record-breaking $1,000,000 guarantee—doubling the previous year’s prize pool.
The tournament attracted a strong international field, including regional champions and traveling pros, culminating in an exciting final day of action.
Filipino player Christopher Mateo emerged victorious, defeating South Korea’s Donghyup Kim heads-up to claim the coveted PokerStars shard trophy and a top prize of $169,000.
The 2025 APPT Cambodia Main Event reaffirmed Phnom Penh’s growing importance on the Asian poker map and highlighted the continued success of major tours in Southeast Asia.
Japan Open Poker Tour (April 26 to May 5)
The 2025 Japan Open Poker Tour (JOPT) Grand Final, held from April 26 to May 5 at Belle Salle Takadanobaba in Tokyo, featured 170 tournaments, including the inaugural Colossus by Mission RunGood. This event marked the first collaboration between JOPT and the US-based RunGood Poker Series (RGPS), offering a RunGood ring outside the United States.
The Colossus event, with a JP¥25,000 (~US$175) buy-in, attracted 1,585 entries and had a fixed prize pool of US$165,394.37. Japanese player Jun Obara, known as “misawa,” emerged victorious, securing a prize of approximately US$26,053 in JOPT player contracts. Obara’s win adds to his impressive poker resume, which includes over US$2 million in live tournament earnings.
Ongoing/Upcoming events in May/June
- May 13-22: The Lord Poker Tour, Korea
- May 14-20: APC, Taiwan
- May 14-21: Won Poker Cup III, Cambodia
- May 21-26: AJPC Samurai Circuit, Taiwan
- May 23-June 2: Danang Poker Tour 2, Vietnam
Asia Player Spotlight
In this section, we use the poker results database The Hendon Mob, to highlight big recent wins by Asian players. We use the registered nationality on the website.
Chun Kit Kwan (Hong Kong)
Chun Kit Kwan had a great series at the APT in Taiwan with a total of six cashes worth a total of US$287,551. This includes his biggest ever live score of US$256,729 for taking down the NT$80,000 (US$2,644) Zodiac Classic.
Trung Quan Nguyen (Vietnam)
Trung Quan Nguyen also crushed at the APT in Taiwan with four cashes worth a total of US$267,792, including his biggest ever cash of US$245,331 for winning the NT$110,000 (US$3,643) APT High Roller. These recent results put him now on Rank 10 in the Vietnam All-Time Money List.
Masashi Oya (Japan)
Meanwhile, the leading Japanese player Masashi Oya was getting busy at the EPT in Monte Carlo with two cashes in two High Roller Events, totalling US$238.771. He cemented his Top position on the Japanese All-Time Money list with US$9,452,952 in cashes even further.
Poker Room Spotlight – NagaWorld Poker Room, Cambodia
NagaWorld, located in Phnom Penh, is Cambodia’s premier poker destination and the only licensed casino within a 200 km radius of the capital. The poker room, situated on Level 1 of NagaWorld1 within The Arena sports bar, operates 24/7 and offers a variety of games including No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, and Short Deck.
Games & Stakes:
- Daily cash games run with stakes from $1/$3 to $2/$5.
- Higher-stakes action ($5/$10 and $10/$25) available several times per week.
- Private games can be arranged.
- Player comps range from $1 to $2.50 per hour depending on stakes.
- Special hotel rates are available for players logging a minimum number of hours.
Tournament Action:
NagaWorld offers weekly small stakes tournaments around $50 and the venue is also home to major international poker series such as: WPT Cambodia and APPT Cambodia.
Legal Note:
Poker in Cambodia is regulated and legal for foreign nationals in licensed casinos. Cambodian citizens are not allowed to gamble. Oversight is provided by the Commercial Gambling Management Commission of Cambodia (CGMC), introduced under the 2020 legislation to professionalize the sector.
NagaWorld continues to be a central hub for poker in Southeast Asia, attracting a mix of international pros, regional grinders, and curious tourists alike.
Asia Legislation & Industry
Thailand’s Senate Intensifies Scrutiny of Casino Legalization Bill
Thailand’s Senate has initiated a comprehensive 180-day review of the proposed Entertainment Complex Bill, which aims to legalize integrated resorts with casino components. The Senate committee has established two subcommittees: one to assess potential social impacts, including legal, environmental, and constitutional concerns, and another to evaluate economic implications, such as the effects of legalizing casinos and possibly online gambling.
The bill, approved by the Cabinet in January 2025, proposes the development of entertainment complexes featuring hotels, arenas, and casinos, with casino areas limited to 10% of the total space. Entry restrictions for Thai citizens include a 5,000 baht fee and proof of substantial financial assets.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is expected to address the Senate committee to explain the government’s rationale behind the bill. The legislation has faced delays due to public opposition and concerns over potential social issues, with the next parliamentary session scheduled to begin on July 2, 2025.
Japan Reopens Casino Resort Bidding with Eyes on 2027 Launch
Japan is set to restart its integrated resort (IR) licensing process, aiming to approve up to two new casino projects by the end of 2027. This follows the MGM Osaka IR, Japan’s first, currently under construction and expected to open in 2030. The new bidding round will begin in 2026, with public consultation from August to December 2025. Regions like Hokkaido and Tokyo are among the potential candidates, and global operators such as Wynn Resorts are monitoring closely.
Unlike Thailand, where legalization is still in early debate stages, Japan is pushing forward with concrete timelines and regulatory frameworks, positioning itself as a more immediate contender in Asia’s casino market.
