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
Won Poker Cup III (May 14 to 21, 2025)
The Won Poker Cup III, held from May 14 to 21, 2025, at the Won Majestic Hotel & Casino in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, marked the most successful edition of the series to date. The festival featured 22 trophy events, attracting 1,448 entries and awarding over $1.34 million in prize money.
Azerbaijan’s Khayal Abbasov emerged as the standout performer, clinching the Main Event title and its $116,500 top prize—the largest payout of the festival and the biggest live score of his career. He also cashed in two other events, bringing his total series earnings to $125,420.
Other notable performances included Australia’s Armon Van Wijk, who finished as the Main Event runner-up for the second consecutive year, earning $73,800, and Ukraine’s Anzhela Vasylenko, who reached three final tables during the festival.
The event saw strong international participation, with players from Vietnam, the Philippines, Australia, China, and other countries claiming multiple trophies, underscoring the Won Poker Cup’s growing prominence in the Asia-Pacific poker scene.
Current/Upcoming events in June
- June 2-9: Super Cup Busan, South Korea
- June 7-16: Ace Poker League Taipei, Taiwan
- June 13-15: Singapore Poker Championships XVII, Singapore
- June 16-25: AAPT Season I, Laos
- June 17-23: Korea Poker Cup Series 2, South Korea
Asia Player Spotlight
In this section, we use the poker results database The Hendon Mob, to highlight big recent wins by Asian players. This week, we have two players who are playing under non-Asian flags:
Khayal Abbasov (Azerbaijan)
Can you name an Azerbaijan poker player? Now you can! Khayal Abbasov has been showing up since 2023 and is convincing the poker community that he needs to be reckoned with. All his 49 results are from Asia (Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia). His most recent cash was his win of the Won Poker Cup III Main Event for $116,500, bringing his lifetime earnings to $255,216 and so number 11 on the Azerbaijan all-time Money list.
Punnat Punsri (Thailand)
Number 1 on Thailand’s All-time Money List, Punnat Punsri, just showed again what he’s made of by taking down the Triton Montenegro $26,000 PLO Event for $550,000 a few days ago for his fourth ever Triton title. This came after another third-place finish in the Triton’s $31,200 No-Limit Turbo for $272,000. He can now show off $24,509,605 in live earnings across 118 results since 2014. He has $21 million more in the Thailand ranking than the number 2, Kannapong Thanarattrakul. His results also place him at rank 44 in the worldwide all-time money list.
Poker Room Spotlight – Tokyo dePoker, Japan
Located in the bustling district of Shinjuku, Tokyo dePoker stands out as one of the most popular and professionally run poker venues in Japan. Known for its welcoming atmosphere and consistent tournament schedule, the club offers a legal and vibrant poker experience despite Japan’s restrictions on real-money gambling.
Players at Tokyo dePoker compete in Texas Hold’em tournaments where prizes include points, merchandise, and tickets to larger events, rather than cash. The venue regularly hosts signature events like the DePoker Gold and Silver Cups, along with qualifiers for major national series such as the Japan Open Poker Tour (JOPT). Its strong player base and central location make it a must-visit spot for local enthusiasts and international visitors alike.
Poker in Japan: A Rapidly Growing Scene with Legal Limits
While cash games remain illegal in Japan due to strict gambling laws, the country’s poker scene is thriving through non-cash tournaments. Events focus on skill-based competition with non-monetary rewards, and top series like the Japan Open Poker Tour (JOPT) draw thousands of players from across the country.
International collaborations, such as the recent partnership between JOPT and the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS), highlight growing global interest. With venues like Tokyo dePoker leading the way, Japan’s poker scene continues to grow within its legal boundaries, offering unique and engaging experiences for players at all levels.
Asia Legislation & Industry
Macau Holds the Crown: Asia’s Gaming Titan Faces Rising Rivals
Despite mounting competition from emerging gaming markets like Thailand and Japan, Macau continues to dominate Asia’s casino industry. This enduring supremacy is largely attributed to its robust patronage from Southern China, with over 80% of gaming revenue stemming from this region. While new entrants aim to attract the mass and premium mass segments, penetrating the lucrative VIP market remains a formidable challenge.
Macau’s strategic focus on enhancing its integrated resort offerings and embracing smart gaming technologies has fortified its market position. Notably, operators like MGM China have expanded their market share significantly, climbing from 9.8% in 2019 to 15.9% in 2024.
As regional contenders invest heavily in infrastructure and entertainment to lure international visitors, Macau’s deep-rooted expertise and established clientele provide a resilient buffer against the evolving competitive landscape.
Source: WorldCasinoDirectory
Thailand Eyes Casino Future: Entertainment Complex Bill Set for July Debate
Thailand’s parliament is set to deliberate the Entertainment Complex Bill in July 2025, a landmark proposal aiming to legalize integrated casino resorts to boost tourism and attract foreign investment. The bill has garnered significant interest from global operators, including Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts, who have engaged in discussions with Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat about potential investments in Bangkok’s burgeoning market.
The proposed legislation emphasizes strict regulations, such as limiting casino space to 10% of the complex and imposing entry fees and financial requirements for Thai nationals to mitigate gambling addiction risks. While the initiative promises economic benefits, including increased tourism and job creation, it faces scrutiny over potential social impacts.
Source: CasinoWorldDirectory
