ASEAN vows to tackle illegal online gambling with China’s support

Ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have committed to strengthening their collective fight against illegal online gambling and cybercrime following a high-level conference held on January 19 in Langkawi, Malaysia. The initiative comes amid rising concerns over the proliferation of online gambling operations that exploit regulatory loopholes across the region.

During the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat, officials reaffirmed their dedication to addressing transnational crimes, which include human trafficking, drug smuggling, and cyber fraud.

Malaysia’s Minister of Defence, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who chaired the event, highlighted Beijing’s willingness to support the initiative. He emphasized the need for ASEAN nations to work collaboratively to dismantle illegal gambling networks targeting vulnerable populations, particularly in China, where gambling remains strictly prohibited.

In response to these challenges, ASEAN has established a specialized working group to focus on money laundering issues and a Regional Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) based in Singapore. The CERT will facilitate intelligence sharing across member states to identify and counter emerging threats.

Illegal online gambling operations pose significant economic and social risks across Southeast Asia. A report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) identified fragmented regulatory frameworks and weak national enforcement as primary factors contributing to the sector’s unchecked growth. Case studies from the Philippines, Myanmar, and Cambodia have illustrated how illicit operations have led to human trafficking, financial fraud, and even violent crimes within the region.

The Philippines’ experience with the now-banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) was cited as a cautionary tale. Initially viewed as a lucrative industry, POGOs were eventually found to be hotbeds for criminal activities such as online scams and human exploitation. Reports from former workers revealed harsh working conditions, with many facing coercion and abuse if performance targets were not met.

China has pledged its full cooperation in tackling the region’s illegal online gambling crisis. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed Beijing’s concern over the cross-border nature of these operations, urging swift and decisive action. During discussions with ASEAN representatives, Wang underscored China’s readiness to provide intelligence and technical support to enhance enforcement efforts.

ASEAN member states, which include Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam, recognize the need for a unified approach to cybersecurity. The newly formed ASEAN CERT initiative, backed by a $10 million investment from Singapore over the next decade, aims to enhance cybersecurity readiness through exercises, partnerships, and policy coordination.

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As ASEAN continues its efforts to combat illegal online gambling, ministers emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between security measures and civil liberties. Malaysian officials proposed predictive policing strategies and real-time monitoring to detect suspicious activities without infringing on individual rights.

Looking ahead, ASEAN plans to adopt digital identity verification solutions to curb financial fraud and boost regulatory compliance. However, challenges remain, including slow adoption of security measures by financial institutions and evolving tactics employed by criminal syndicates operating in special economic zones such as the Golden Triangle.

Source:

ASEAN nations pledge joint efforts to fight transnational crime and online scams, agbrief.com, January 20, 2025.