Licensing

The casino industry in India remains tightly regulated, with licensing authority largely delegated to individual states. This has resulted in a selective yet profitable gaming ecosystem concentrated in regions such as Goa and Sikkim. Licensing frameworks in these jurisdictions are designed to ensure high compliance standards, substantial capital investment, and controlled expansion. While the sector contributes meaningfully to tourism and government revenues, it also faces structural challenges including regulatory fragmentation and ethical concerns.

The casino licensing process in the United Kingdom has emerged as a benchmark for regulatory excellence, combining stringent compliance standards with economic pragmatism. Designed to protect consumers while fostering a competitive market, the system mandates thorough due diligence, financial transparency, and ongoing operational accountability. As digital gambling expands and international operators seek entry, the licensing framework faces mounting complexity.

Bally’s Corporation has launched a short-term casino operation at the former Tropicana site in Las Vegas, fulfilling Nevada’s regulatory requirement to maintain active gaming licenses. The temporary setup, housed in a construction trailer on Ocean Drive near Tropicana Avenue, offers 16 slot machines and operates during daytime hours only. This limited activation is purely regulatory, ensuring Bally’s retains its non-restricted gaming license amid ongoing redevelopment. The Tropicana resort, closed in April 2024 and demolished in October 2024, remains under reconstruction.

Vietnam is moving decisively to formalize its rapidly expanding cryptocurrency market, with leading financial institutions and corporations competing to launch the country’s first licensed digital asset exchanges. The government is preparing a pilot program aimed at regulating trading activity and reducing reliance on offshore platforms, which currently dominate local participation. 

Switzerland has taken another step in the evolution of its tightly controlled online gambling sector by awarding a tenth digital casino licence to Casino Locarno. The approval, issued by the Eidgenössische Spielbankenkommission, authorizes the launch of the operator’s online platform, CasiNeo.ch. Operating under the stringent provisions of the Federal Gambling Act, the Swiss market continues to expand cautiously, permitting only established land-based casinos to enter the online space.

The port city of Tomakomai in Hokkaido is taking renewed steps toward developing an integrated resort (IR) featuring a casino, positioning itself ahead of Japan’s second national application round for such projects. The local government has initiated a process to appoint an advisor for the “Hokkaido Tomakomai International Resort Concept,” allocating up to Rs 41.6 crore for consultancy and research. The advisor will assess global IR trends, estimate investment potential, and evaluate economic benefits for the region.