Operators of land-based casinos have recently turned to the Asian market with positive results. Macau has become the Far East Las Vegas, and with the opening of two mega-casinos in Singapore, we can expect similar success for the micro Asian state.

Macau passed Las Vegas in revenues a few years ago and Asia is now forecasts show Asia will surpass the US in market size very soon. Over the past 12 months, the Asian gambling market has grown by 92%.

During the latest edition of the Global Gaming Expo Asia in Macao, another new trend in Asian market stood out: large growth in the number of online gamblers from Asia. The country that has shown the greatest growth is Japan, which will become the second largest Asian market. Japan is a high-tech country which is extremely developed. This contributes to the popularity of gambling at online casinos.

Sheldon Adelson, CEO of the Las Vegas Sands which is one of the largest casino operators in Macao and now in Singapore, argues that the growth of online gambling in Japan is due to a cultural factor. The Japanese consider gambling a pastime and a way to have fun while in the western world people prefer to go to dinner or out with friends.

Japan has still not regulated online gambling, and most likely will find a need to do so soon.