The Asia Poker News Round-up (May 20, 2025)

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

Long Poker Tour (May 9 to 15, 2025)

The inaugural Long Poker Tour (LPT) concluded successfully at the Lotte Hotel Jeju in South Korea, running from May 9 to 15, 2025. The series featured 15 events with a total guarantee of ₩1 billion (~US$715,000), headlined by a ₩700 million (~US$500,000) Main Event.

The Main Event attracted 485 entries, culminating in a final table dominated by Chinese players, with Japan’s Hiroshi Miyoshi as the sole non-Chinese contender. In the final hand, Zhang Chunhao secured victory over Miyoshi with a turned flush, earning the championship trophy and a top prize of ₩130 million (~US$93,000). This marked Zhang’s second major title, following his 2023 CPG Jinan Main Event win.

With a total of 1,028 entries across all events and positive feedback from participants, the organizers have announced plans for future LPT events, with details to be revealed soon.

Current/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
• 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 that are playing under non-Asian flags:

Stephen Song (USA/South Korea)

Stephen Song is a US-American/South Korean poker pro who was born in New York. His lifetime earnings on HendonMob display $9,199,957 at the time of writing, though his latest win has not been registered yet. Yesterday, he took down the Lord Poker Tour Super High Roller for $750,000. This keeps him still under $10 million in live poker earnings, but it’s just a matter of time until he breaks this boundary.

​​Xuan Liu (Canada/China)

Xuan Liu plays under the Canadian flag, but she was born in China. Xuan broke a record last week by being the first female to win a Triton Poker title. She topped the field in the $26,500 NLHE WPT Global Slam at Triton Poker Super High Roller Montenegro for $860,000, her biggest cash as of yet. This places her now on rank 15 in the Women’s All-time Money List with a total of $3,289,814 in life earnings.

Poker Room Spotlight – Pro Poker Club HCMC, Vietnam

The Pro Poker Club in Ho Chi Minh City stands out as one of Vietnam’s premier poker venues, offering a professional setup with 16 gaming tables. It is renowned for hosting major international tournaments like the APT, APL or even the WPT in 2019, attracting players from around the world. 

While the club does not offer cash games, it regularly holds Sit & Gos and Heads-up tournaments, making it a hotspot for poker players seeking competitive action in Vietnam.

Vietnam’s Poker Legislation

Poker in Vietnam operates under a unique legal framework. While tournaments are permitted and regulated by the Bridge and Poker Vietnam Association, cash games remain illegal. This legal distinction has led to a vibrant tournament scene, with clubs like Pro Poker Club focusing exclusively on tournament play to comply with regulations.

Tournament Offerings at Pro Poker Club

The club hosts a variety of tournaments catering to different player preferences:

• High Roller: VND10 million buy-in, held every Sunday at 12 PM
• Daily DeepStack Turbo: VND1.2 million buy-in

These tournaments are well-structured and attract a mix of local and international players, contributing to the club’s reputation as a competitive and professional poker venue.

Facilities and Player Experience

Pro Poker Club offers a modern and comfortable environment for players. The spacious poker room is complemented by amenities such as a bar area and lounge, providing a relaxed atmosphere between games. The club’s staff, including an experienced all-female dealer crew, ensures that tournaments run smoothly and professionally, enhancing the overall player experience.

Pro Poker Club HCMC exemplifies the growth of poker in Vietnam within the confines of the country’s legal framework. By focusing on tournament play and providing top-notch facilities, the club has become a central hub for poker enthusiasts in the region. Its commitment to professionalism and adherence to regulations make it a standout venue in Vietnam’s burgeoning poker scene.

Asia Legislation & Industry

Nepal Tightens Casino Regulations: Foreign Ownership Capped at 49%

Nepal is implementing significant reforms in its casino industry through the proposed Integrated Tourism Bill, aiming to enhance regulatory oversight and promote domestic involvement.

Key Changes:

• Foreign Investment Cap: The bill reduces the allowable foreign ownership in casino ventures from 90% to 49%, ensuring that domestic partners hold the majority stake.
• Location Restrictions: Casinos must now be situated at least five kilometers away from international borders, reversing a 2019 amendment that had reduced this distance to three kilometers. Existing casinos within the three-kilometer range are exempted.
• Licensing and Compliance: All casinos are required to operate as separate legal entities in partnership with hotels or resorts. These entities must obtain licenses from the Department of Tourism, with hotels mandated to hold at least a 10% stake in the casino operations.
• Operational Standards: The legislation introduces stricter compliance measures, including detailed record-keeping of player activities and financial transactions. Licenses are subject to annual renewal, contingent upon adherence to regulatory standards.

These reforms are designed to foster greater accountability and ensure that the economic benefits of the casino industry are more equitably distributed within Nepal.

Macau’s Fiscal Health Faces Challenges Amid Stagnant Gaming Tax Revenue

According to World Casino News, Macau’s public revenue declined by 4.95% year-on-year in the first four months of 2025, totaling MOP34 billion (~US$4.25 billion). This downturn is primarily attributed to a significant drop in financial income, which plummeted from MOP1 billion (~US$125 million) in early 2024 to just MOP6,000 (~US$750) this year.

Despite a slight 0.8% increase in gross gaming revenue (GGR) to MOP76.51 billion (~US$9.54 billion), gaming tax revenue remained nearly unchanged at MOP29.8 billion (~US$3.7 billion), accounting for 87.7% of the total revenue. This stagnation is partly due to reporting lags, as gaming taxes collected in a given month typically reflect the previous month’s GGR.

With only 32% of the projected MOP93.12 billion (~US$11.6 billion) in gaming tax revenue collected by April, Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai has expressed concerns over potential budgetary shortfalls and emphasized the need for fiscal reassessment.

While the government maintains a fiscal surplus of MOP10.3 billion (~US$1.29 billion) as of April, this figure represents an 18.5% decrease compared to the same period last year. As Macau continues to rely heavily on its gaming industry, which contributes approximately 80% of government tax revenues, diversifying income sources remains a pressing concern for policymakers.

Japan Targets Illegal Online Gambling with New Legislative Measures

Japan is intensifying its efforts to combat illegal online gambling, responding to a surge in unregulated betting activities. A recent survey by the National Police Agency revealed that approximately 3.37 million residents have engaged with online gambling platforms, with nearly half unaware of its illegality. The proliferation of Japanese-language gambling sites and targeted social media advertisements has contributed to this trend, making enforcement challenging.

In response, lawmakers from multiple political parties have agreed to introduce legislation that explicitly bans the operation and promotion of online casinos within Japan. The proposed bill also mandates public awareness campaigns to inform citizens about the legal risks associated with online gambling. Additionally, authorities are considering measures such as blocking access to illegal gambling websites. While the bill does not introduce new penalties, it underscores the government’s commitment to curbing illegal online gambling activities.

Philippines Probes Casino Junkets in ₱200M Kidnapping Ransom Laundering Case

The Philippines’ Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) is intensifying investigations into two casino junket operators suspected of laundering a ₱200 million ransom paid during the March 2025 kidnapping of Chinese businessman Anson Que and his driver. Despite the ransom payment, both victims were tragically found deceased in April.

The AMLC is scrutinizing the financial transactions of the junket operators, focusing on the potential use of casino-linked e-wallets and cryptocurrency platforms to obscure the ransom’s money trail. This case underscores growing concerns about the role of casino junkets in facilitating illicit financial activities in the Philippines.

As the investigation unfolds, authorities are also examining the broader implications for the country’s gaming industry and its regulatory frameworks.