Oriental Game - The Monthly Bet December 2015 by Oriental Game

DECEMBER 2015 ISSUE | 2015年12月发布

Review of iGaming in 2015 在2015年审查iGaming的中 Gambling in Asia for the Year 2015: A Review 年审查 2015 Gambling Conventions 年审查 Oriental Game in 2015: A Year in Review 年审查

VOLUME 3 | 第3期

CONTENTS

About the Editor

ASIA iGAMING in Asia for the Year 2015: A Review 5 Gambling 2015亚洲博彩行业回顾 8

My Experience at the Macao Gaming Show 2015 2015我的澳门博彩展会之旅

ORIENTAL GAME 10

Oriental Game in 2015: A Year in Review 东方游戏的 2015 回顾

This month's issue of The Monthly Bet is mainly a retrospective on iGaming for the year 2015. As this year is about to draw to a close, we look back at the many developments that occurred in the world of gambling, both in the land-based and online sectors. Aside from these, we also discussed certain newsworthy items that occurred over the past few months. Of course, since this is the Christmas season, we also included a feature about celebrations on the holidays in Southeast and East Asia.

FEATURES of Important Gambling Conventions 13 Highlights That Happened in 2015 2015 年博彩行业的重要会议

SEO and iGaming: What Happened in 2015? SEO 搜索引擎优化和网络博彩：2015 年发生了什么?

EUROPE iGAMING 22 VAT Exemption for Bitcoin: A Significant

Development in Europe for Digital Currencies Bitcoin免除增值税：欧洲电子货币的重要发展

Social Casino Players Prefer Mobile Platform Over Web, Says Report 报告显示，相比网页平台，社交玩家更喜欢通过手机平台赌博

THIRD-PARTY PAYMENTS/ CRYPTOCURRENCIES 26 Alipay Approved for Use in Macau;

这一期的月刊，主要是2015年网络博彩的回顾。随着2015年将近尾声，我们回顾线上线下博彩行业的发展。此外还讨论了过去几个月的博彩相关事件。当然，圣诞季节，我们也讨论了亚洲地区的圣诞风俗。

Casinos “Unlikely” to Offer Online Payment Service 澳门可以是用支付宝；不过赌场不可能提供此在线付款服务

CHRISTMAS 年审查 Look at the Different Christmas Traditions 28 AAcross East, Southeast Asia

-Ivan, Writer/Editor

东亚和东南亚的传统圣诞

Oriental Game in 2015: A Year in Review 东方游戏的 2015 回顾

A Look at the Different Christmas Traditions Across East, Southeast Asia 东亚和东南亚的传统圣诞

Gambling in Asia for the Year 2015: A Review 2015亚洲博彩行业回顾

ast year, a well-known gambling niche website featured its own fearless forecasts for the industry in the year 2015. The predictions covered various sectors of the gambling industry, some hot button issues surrounding key industry players, and potential regional developments. The website made mention of Asia, and here is what it foresaw for the region for the year 2015 in terms of gambling in general: 去年，一个知名的博彩商机网站发布，该网站以其对2015年博彩行业的预测为主要特点。预测涵盖了博彩行业的各个相关领域，一些围绕主要行业玩家、潜在区域发展的热点话题。网站预测提到亚洲，以下是2015 年亚洲博彩行业的主要预测： • Macau will continue to experience problems throughout 2015 as China is largely consistent and determined with their crackdown on gambling. Said problems “will have a spillover effect” on all gaming jurisdictions across Asia that mostly rely on high rollers from the mainland. • 2015由于中国政府持续的反腐运动，澳门将继续面临困境。澳门博彩业的低迷将对亚洲造成连锁反应，因为大部分的大玩家都来自中国内陆。

ASIA iGAMING | Gambling in Asia for the Year 2015: A Review

• The Philippines may be the “home base for Asian-facing online gambling companies,” but the country will be facing numerous challenges. • 菲律宾将可能成为亚洲在线博彩公司的基地，但是国家将面临很大的考验 • There is still potential for mobile wagering in the Asian market in 2015. • 2015年亚洲移动端在线博彩市场很有很大潜力. The year 2015 is nearing its end and we are about to welcome 2016 with open arms. A lot of things have happened in Asian gambling, both in the land-based and the iGaming sectors. What has happened over the last 11 months? Did the predictions mentioned above turned out to be true? What other important gambling developments and trends have happened over the course of this year? More importantly, what may possibly happen next year based on what happened this year? 2015 年正在接近尾声，我们将热烈地迎接 2016的到来。亚洲博彩行业发生了许多事情，不管是现实赌场还是在线博彩。过去 11 个月都发生什么事情呢？什么的预测变成真的吗？今年博彩行业还发生了其他相关事情吗？更重要的是，今年发生了什么事会对明年有什么影响？

The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

Asian gambling in 2015 2015年的亚洲博彩行业 Let’s start with Macau. True enough, China’s special administrative region really did continue to experience problems throughout 2015. It can be remembered that it was July last year when the gross gaming revenue (GGR) of Asia’s top gambling jurisdiction began its decline. Since then, Macau went on a losing streak in the said department; the year-on-year declines are now on its 17th consecutive month (October 2015). 的确，作为中国的特别行政区-澳门在2015年继续经历了低迷. 从 7月开始，澳门作为亚洲博彩中心，博彩收入（GGR）收入开始下滑。此后，营业收入继续下滑，到2015-10，澳门博彩营业收入已经连续17个月出现下滑。 A number of factors contributing to this monthly decrease in GGR in Macau is the almost stagnant growth of the Chinese economy, which was highlighted by the devaluation of the yuan, and the mainland government’s continuous crackdown on corruption. The latter is a notable factor, as it forced high rollers from China to maintain a low profile off Beijing’s radar. 澳门博彩营业收入的下滑，有很多因素造成的，最主要的是中国经济不景气、从而造成人民币贬值，另外是中国政府的反腐运动，这是个显著的原因，很多内地的大玩家害怕引起北京的注意。 As this is happening, gambling business have been looking elsewhere to set up shop. In fact, many of them have established their businesses in countries like South Korea (Bloomberry Resorts’ Jeju Sun Hotel and Casino), Russia (Tigre dela Cristal at Russia’s Primorye special gambling region), and in one particular region: Southeast Asia. There has been high interest in that part of Asia mainly because it is a rising economy, giving them opportunities to generate income. Knowing that countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar are known to be tourism hotspots, there is growing

interest to do just that, also because they are aware of the prevailing regulations in these areas. 为此，赌博生意尝试在其他地方发展。事实上，许多博彩运营商在韩国（Bloomberry 渡假胜地 Jeju 太阳酒店和赌场）俄罗斯（ Primorye的特别赌博区域 Tigre dela Cristal）经营博彩生意, 特别在东南亚，因为博彩行业的发展给经济带来了收入。所以主要地已经有对亚洲的那一个地区的高度兴趣，给他们机会产生收入。像菲律宾、越南、柬埔寨，缅甸等都是以旅游观光而知名，博彩经营者有兴趣在这些国家开展生意，因为他们知道这些国家对博彩的管制。 In the Philippines, for example, both land-based and online gambling are regulated. This is why 2015 saw the opening of the City of Dreams Manila in Entertainment City and the impending completion of the Manila Bay Resorts, which has made headlines because of its delays. Elsewhere in SE Asia, countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar have started welcoming these businesses. In these jurisdictions, land-based casinos are allowed; the catch is that these establishments can only allow foreigners to play, not the locals. With Macau’s GGR not expecting to at least have a jolt of increase until the end of this year as many analysts say, more and more Chinese high-rollers may likely look elsewhere to go and gamble. 比如在菲律宾，在线博彩和真实赌都受到监管。2015马尼拉梦之城的开业和即将开业的马尼拉湾度假村，都备受关注。东南亚的其他地方，如越南、柬埔寨、泰国和缅甸都已经开始接受博彩行业。在这些国家，真实赌场是被允许的；不过只能让外国人赌博，本地人是不被允许的。分析师认为由于澳门博彩营业收入的下滑，越来越多中国大玩家都寻找到其他地方赌博。

年审查

Aside from land-based casinos, the aspect of iGaming has also seen considerable growth this year, especially in jurisdictions not named Macau. In the Philippines again, for example, the existence of First Cagayan as the premier online gambling regulator in the country has made it possible for Asian-facing online gambling companies to establish their operations there. iGaming facilities, most especially live dealer casinos, has been growing in numbers in Makati City, as well as proxy (or telephone) betting within land-based casinos in Manila. 除了真实赌场之外，除了澳门意外，其他地区的在线博彩今年也获得重大发展。在菲律宾，first

The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

ASIA iGAMING | Gambling in Asia for the Year 2015: A Review

Cagayan是管理在线博彩公司的监管机构，受益于它的监管，许多亚洲市场的在线博彩公司可以在这里经营。在线博彩设备，尤其是真人博彩，在马尼拉 Makati 市获得重大发展，另外代理博彩，也获得了重大发展。 Indeed, it can be said that Macau’s decline helped fuel the unrelenting rise of iGaming in Asia. As already mentioned, businesses are looking elsewhere to set up shop, and high rollers are going outside of Macau just to gamble. But then, high rollers are not just attracted to the recent developments in land-based casinos outside of Macau. The advent of new technologies that are available today sparked fascination amongst them, which made them realize that they don’t have to go to Macau or anywhere else within Asia where casinos are sprawling. Now, many of them are getting the thrill of using their mobile phones, tablets, or laptops just to gamble, thanks to Asian-facing online casinos. 不过，澳门博彩业的下滑激发了亚洲其他地区的在线博彩行业。如上所说，其他地方正在稳步发展，大玩家都在寻找澳门以外的其他地方赌博。但是，不是只有真实赌场才能吸引大玩家。随着技术的发展，他们知道，不需要亲自去澳门或者亚洲其他地方的赌场。现在，在线博彩的盛行，很多大玩家都通过移动电话、平板电脑或笔记本电脑就完成赌博。 Moreover, 2015 saw continuous activity in terms of mobile gaming growth in other parts of Asia. Even though online gambling is illegal in most jurisdictions around Asia, the opportunity to promote mobile gambling is there due to people becoming increasingly enamored with the use of mobile phones, things that they can’t live without. This spurred social gambling makers to tap into the Asian market, and it is even more evident this year. Aside from social gambling, 2015 saw the continuous growth of sports betting in Asia. Aside from horse racing, football, basketball and other sports we know of, bettors have been exposed or introduced to newer innovations in this sector of online gaming. In fact, this year saw the growing interest in betting on e-sports or professional gaming. Many e-sports participants who join tournaments such as League of Legends, Defense of the Ancients (DotA), and other related online games come from the Asian region like Korea and Japan. Thus, putting wagers on these events has gained headway, gaining inspiration from Europe which spearheaded this new form of iGaming in 2014. 另外，2015年亚洲其他区域，博彩在移动端迅猛发展。虽然在亚洲大部分国家，博彩是违法的，移动端的博彩发展潜力很大，因为人们离不开手机。今年很显然，大批的社交博彩商涌入亚洲。除了社交博彩外，2015 体育赌博在亚洲也越来越盛行。除了我们熟悉的赛马、足球，篮球之外，随着技术的革新，更多的在线博彩游戏被熟知。事实上，今年越来越多的专业游戏和电子体育得到发展。许多韩国和日本的电子体育参与者，参加传奇联盟，古代的防御者, 和其他的在线游戏。这些游戏得到发展，促进了欧洲对博彩的开发灵感，这些电子游戏2014年启蒙于欧洲。 ASIA iGAMING | Gambling in Asia for the Year 2015: A Review

What may happen in 2016? 2016年将会发生什么事 Based on the Asian gambling highlights mentioned above, it is definitely worth speculating what may happen come next year. In Macau, analysts have commented that the decline in GGR will continue towards the end of the 2015. With the New Year fast approaching, there is still a dark cloud of uncertainty hovering over the gambling hub. Whether this losing streak will continue or not, it won’t hamper the growth of the many sectors of gambling in the Asian market. For one, there is the prospect of Southeast Asia’s positive economic trends, which is good news for gambling businesses and other sectors of the industry. As they establish footing in the region, it is possible that come 2016, there will be an increased competition among businesses, especially in the realm of iGaming. Certain iGaming companies next year are likely to continue coming up with innovations in their products or services as a way of differentiating themselves from one another. 基于以上亚洲博彩市场的亮点，我们值得预测明年将会发生什么事情。分析师预测澳门博彩行业的营业额将继续下滑。随着新年的即将来临，这个博彩中心上方还是笼罩着不确定。是否会继续下滑，但是并不阻碍亚洲其他市场的发展。一方面，东南亚的经济发展趋势值得期待，这将有助于博彩和其他相关行业的发展。在这个区域已经建立了基础，可能在2016商业竞争更加激烈，尤其是在线博彩。因此，明年的在线博彩公司将很可能发布新的产品和服务以增加竞争力。

The mobile sector, meanwhile, may grow even further, largely thanks to the potential technological advances that would be ushered in come next year, which would then help spark a fresher approach in the ongoing and exponential growth of Asia iGaming. As more and more people are going mobile, it may not be surprising that bettors bring their luck in front of their desktops and laptops less and play online casino games more using their phones. With technology analysts saying that in less than two years a person’s mobile phone will serve as his or her computer, the prospect of boosting mobile gambling in 2016 wouldn’t be that farfetched. Also, with wearable technology as a new vertical in the gambling industry becoming a topic within European gambling jurisdictions, it won’t be surprising to think that this will be a discussion next year in some Asian iGaming convention. 同时，在移动端，将可能更进一步发展，主要由于明年科技的进步和运用，这将会帮助亚洲在线游戏的继续发展。由于做越来越多人使用移动端，他们将减少使用台式电脑或者笔记本电脑赌博，而是更多的使用手机赌博。技术分析师指出未来两年内，手机将取代笔记本，2016年移动端的博彩发展前景将不是牵强的。同时，以可穿戴技术在欧洲的发展，也将是亚洲在线博彩会议讨论的话题。 The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

My Experience at the Macao Gaming Show 2015 2015我的澳门博彩展会之旅 In the recently concluded Macao Gaming Show held in The Venetian Macau, many industry players and experts used this opportunity to showcase their new products and features, get to know potential partners and customers, and know the trends and insights for the gaming industry moving forward. 近期在澳门威尼斯举行的博彩展会，吸引了很多玩家，许多博彩公司通过这次机会展示了他们的新产品和新功能，认识潜在的合作伙伴和客户，了解赌博行业发展的趋势和前景。

Interest moving into the emerging markets 新兴市场的新潜力 As an observer, you can see that there is a significant interest in the Asian market. Western people and companies are really aggressively getting into the Asian market. Before, the focus was only in Macau, but because of easing restrictions in gambling in other emerging markets in Asia along with the rise of income in these regions, investment and interests are still high. You can see that the companies are really pushing their products and services. They are not just there to sell their products but they have already put the Asian gamblers’ interest in the products they have been releasing which is a good sign. Innovations in the iGaming sector and in the mass-gaming sector were shown during the show which has some potential to become a big thing for Asian players.

The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

身为一位观察者，你能感受到行业对亚洲市场的浓厚兴趣。西方人和公司正在积极进入亚洲市场。以前，焦点只有在澳门，但是因为新兴亚洲市场对博彩行业的开放，和亚洲国家收入的提升，投资意愿依然很高。你能看到很多公司正在真的推广他们的产品和服务。他们不仅仅是在卖他们的产品，他们把玩家的兴趣展现在产品里。展会展现了网络游戏和博彩行业的创新，创新会给亚洲玩家带来重大体验。

New products, innovations seen during MGS 澳门博彩展会的新产品和新创新 Most companies use the MGS or any gaming exhibition to showcase their current products and launch new products and services that they want to offer in the market. Honestly, I did not see a lot of new innovations but there were quite a few that piqued my interest and would love to share here. As I said earlier, with the commitment of these companies catering to the Asian gamblers’ interest and mindset, you see products and services that are uniquely Asian. 大多数公司通过 MGS 或者其他博彩展览亮相他们现有的产品，发布新产品和服务。真诚地讲，我没有见到许多新的创新，但是我想在这里分享让我感兴趣的产品和创新。如我之前说的，这些公司的承诺满足亚洲玩家的兴趣和心态，你将见亚洲独特的产品和服务。 An online gaming provider provided a new version of a traditional Chinese game

ASIA iGAMING | My Experience at the Macao Gaming Show 2015

played in a Western type of gambling game which is really interesting. Because apart from catering to the Asian taste, they also offer a completely new way of playing these two traditional casino games that are quite popular throughout the world. I’m still not sure on how this would be really successful as Asian gamblers really love baccarat (innovations from this game would create a bigger impact). Still, the game could gain traction as being new and more of an alternative game for players to enjoy if they get a little bored in playing baccarat. 一个在线赌博提供商提供了一个新版本的传统中国游戏在西方玩这种新式游戏很好玩。因为除了满足亚洲口味，他们也提供了在世界各处赌场流行的两种传统游戏的新玩法。我仍然不确定这种新玩法将会很成功，因为亚洲玩家很喜欢百家乐. （这个游戏的改革将会产生较大的影响），另外，如果玩家玩腻了百家乐，可能会对这个新游戏尝试。 Progressive Slot games are gaining popularity among players and operators alike which can be found both online and in land-based casinos. Typically, these progressive jackpots and prizes are usually found in slot games. In MGS, I saw a company provide these options to live table games which has a really high potential and could be a good following for casino players in land-based casinos. It gives a new side bet feature for players to enjoy. Progressive jackpots usually attract players to bet because of the high payout but of course, we know that the odds to win these games are extremely difficult.

Nevertheless, I am quite sure a lot of people would enjoy this concept and it will give more life to land-based casino patrons. 然而，我完全确信许多人会享受这一新创新，而且它将会给现实赌场顾客带来新活力。

Overall look for MGS 澳门博彩展会的整体概况 The Macao Gaming Show 2015 successfully gave visitors a good understanding of the new products and services that are being showcased to the rest of the industry enthusiasts and players, as well as the current issues and updates that are happening in the gaming industry. As the interest in the Asian market is growing, so is the innovation and creativity of the companies, which will be on full display in the upcoming year—something that I really look forward to. 2015 澳门博彩展会和最新博彩行业的进展成功地给访客，玩家展现了新产品的和服务。使他们更好的了解公司产品和服务。理解和被亮相到工业热心家的其它部分和运动员的服务、连同现在的议题和正在赌博业中发生的更新。由于博彩公司对亚洲市场的兴趣增加，创新和创造能力也将在来年得到体现，，让我们拭目以待。

渐进式老虎机游戏在现实赌场还是网络博彩都受到玩家和博彩公司的重视。典型地，在老虎机游戏中通常可以发现奖品和奖金。在澳门此次展会中，我看见一家公司提供这些在线游戏，而且很可能将会在现实赌场中运用。玩家可以享受新的附加玩法。这种累积奖金游戏通常吸引很多玩家，因为奖金高，当然，赢的机会比较小。

ASIA iGAMING | My Experience at the Macao Gaming Show 2015

The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

LAUNCH OF ORIENTAL GAME, MS. ORIENTAL 2015 东方游戏2015公司女郎 The highlight of the evening was, of course, the modelling competition dubbed “Ms. Oriental 2015.” Twenty-one (21) of the most stunning and most gorgeous online casino dealers of Oriental Game graced the stage in their flamboyant outfits and swimwear, much to the delight of the guests who were at the event. Of the twenty-one who participated in the event, twelve (12) were chosen by the guests via electronic voting. Simply tagged “The Top 12,” these pretty ladies came out on stage on their black dealer uniforms. These ladies will be featured in Oriental Game’s 2016 Calendar. 节目的高潮是模特大赛，21名最专业，美丽的荷官着泳装另舞台生辉。嘉宾将从21 位选手中选出12名，作为公司2016年的日历封面 The event was capped off with the coronation of Ms. Oriental 2015. Through another round of electronic voting by those in attendance, the 12 calendar girls dwindled down to the Top 3, one of which was crowned Oriental Game 2015. The remaining two each received first-place and second-place finishes, respectively. 节目以2015东方游戏加冕结束，通过电子投票从12名封面模特中选出前3名，其中一名加冕2015 Oriental 公司模特，另外2 名分别是亚军，季军。

he year 2015 was a very eventful one for Oriental Game (OG). Many things occurred over the course of the year for the top live dealer solutions provider for the Asian market. All of these helped contribute in raising awareness about the company as a key player in the online gambling industry. More importantly, these developments were indicative of OG being a company that does not stop short when it comes to innovations, being incessantly committed to becoming better in providing the best live casino products and management solutions for clients.

The pageantry of the event was what made this event a colossal success. It surely was a defining moment for Oriental Game, as the grand launch catapulted the company to the ever-competitive iGaming industry, particularly in the live casino sector.

2015 对于东方游戏而言是丰富多彩的。作为亚洲市场顶级的在线博彩提供商，2015发生了很多事情。这些事件都有助于增加公司在在线博彩行业的的知名度。更重要的是，这些进展说明 OG 在创新方面的不断进取，以及为客户提供更好游戏产品和管理方案。

选美比赛为盛会的成功增添了色彩。这是东方游戏的纪念性时刻，标志着公司正式进入竞争激烈的博彩行业。

As such, let us take a look back at some of the important highlights that happened throughout 2015 for Oriental Game:

One of the most important highlights in Oriental Game’s young history was its grand launch. It was a significant event that signaled the arrival of a key industry player in the Asian iGaming market. The rave-themed event, which happened last July 27, 2015, took place in one of Metro Manila’s top clubbing spots, The Palace Pool Club located in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City.

那么，让我们回顾下2015东方游戏发生的重大事件：

ORIENTAL GAME ADDING NEW FUNCTIONS TO ITS GAMES 东方游戏加入新的游戏功能 Oriental Game started off by introducing new functions as a way of adding to our customers’ gaming experience. One of those that were rolled out this year is the squeeze function. Here, players can opt to play baccarat and have the chance to “squeeze” the cards, simulating the drama and tension that are commonly felt inside a land-based casino. Another one is the Super Six function, wherein players can opt to play on a baccarat table under Super Six rules just by pressing the button on the game’s interface. Another is the “road indicator” function; here, the game will indicate which table(s) have good roads while playing the games, with players having the option to go to the table(s) immediately.

东方游戏的一重要盛典是东方游戏的隆重开业。它标志着公司正式进入亚洲博彩市场。开业典礼于2015-7-27号在马尼拉， taguig市，palace pool 俱乐部隆重举行。

东方游戏为游戏加入了新的功能，给玩家带来新的体验。其中一个功能就是咪牌功能，玩家可以感受在真实赌场一样，提供咪牌功能，可以体验真实赌场的刺激。另外，就是免佣功能，玩家只要按下游戏界面的免佣功能就可以玩免佣百家乐。另外的功能是 “道路指示 " 系统会向您提示哪张桌子是通路，玩家可以马上切换到指定的桌台。

OG looks forward to 2016, one can expect “ As that forging partnerships with numerous key iGaming industry entities will be a priority. This is for us to spread awareness of OG as an iGaming company throughout Asia.

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The addition of these functions is a major feat for Oriental Game as it intends to give players a complete gaming experience. Also, these features have never been so timely, as they were rolled out months before the company introduced itself to the world of iGaming, as the next highlight below shows.

The grand launch was truly a resounding success. Notable iGaming industry personalities coming from various Asian countries attended the event, all of which were treated to a scintillating dance performance by award-winning hip-hop dance group The Philippine All-Stars at the start of the show. The showcasing of OG’s 1-minute corporate video that visually and creatively captured the company’s platform of exciting casino games marked not just the start of the event, but also the entry of the OG into the iGaming industry in Asia. 开幕以菲律宾全明星 hip-hop舞蹈团的表演开始，随后展示了公司视频，一分钟的视频展示了平台的各式各样的游戏，本次开业典礼标志着公司正式进入亚洲博彩市场。

“OG 期待 2016 ，期待能与行业知名的公司展开业务合作。增加公司在亚洲的知名度。＂

这些功能是东方游戏的主要成就，这些功能能给玩家带来更好的游戏体验。这些功能的及时上线，有助于公司在博彩行业的发展。

The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

ORIENTAL GAME | Oriental Game in 2015: A Year in Review

The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

CHRISTMAS-THEMED GAME LOBBY 圣诞节为主题的游戏大厅 The OG game lobby hasn’t changed that much over the course of the year in terms of its look and feel. But then, the company decided to give the whole interface a major facelift just in time for the Christmas season. If you regularly frequent the game lobby, you can easily notice right now the red motif all over, which is a surefire mark of OG celebrating the holidays. Apart from the images of our stunning online casino dealers in their sexy Christmas-themed outfits, players can also be able to listen to popular Christmas songs when they toggle the background music option. Oriental Game, as one with the players in spreading joy this season of giving, also made an effort to supply messages

In line with the Christmas season, Asian live dealer solutions provider Oriental Game (OG) recently rolled out its themed offering for its players.

Highlights of Important Gambling Conventions That Happened in 2015 2015 年博彩行业的重要会议

正值圣诞之际，亚洲知名真人服务商-----东方游戏给客户圣诞的体验

for them through artistic and creative loading page banners in every loading page. OG 游戏大厅在一年之中没有太多的改变。不过，公司决定在圣诞季节给公司游戏界面一个全新的改变。如果你有注意到游戏大厅，你注意到游戏大厅充满红色主题，OG对圣诞季节的庆祝。除了荷官穿着性感的红色圣诞装之外，玩家可以欣赏到背景圣诞赞歌。东方游戏，在这个赋予的季节，在游戏的每个页面都传递着创意和艺术的横幅。

OG ALREADY LOOKING FORWARD TO 2016 OG 期待 2016 The year 2015 truly was an eventful year for Oriental Game, but we as a company will not settle on what we already have today. Of course, as a company, we embrace progress, and as we move along in the industry of iGaming, we will continue to reinvent ourselves through our new ideas and concepts.

In any certain industry, conventions or conferences are very important events. These occasions, which either occur over a span of three days or a week, are usually filled with industry personalities delivering keynote speeches, as well as companies exhibiting their respective brands to attendees and event organizers. Generally, these gatherings are often held with the aim of generating interest, wherein people share new ideas and insights about their specific industry, see something new and remarkable, and engage in fruitful dialogue regarding advancements that can transform the industry in one way or another. 对于每个行业而言，会议都是很重要的。这些会议，通常持续3-7 天，反应了行业特点，传达重要的信息，另外通过会议，公司向参会者和会议主办方展现他们的品牌。通常，这些会议的目的在于产生利益，或者分享不同的行业观点和视野，通过重要对话，共同促进行业的发展。

2015 年是东方游戏多成果的一年，但是我们不会只满足于现有的成就。我们将不断进步，随着行业一起发展，将创造属于我们特有的创新和概念。 As the New Year draws near, we can confidently say that we are still committed to making ourselves better as we hold on to our primary goal to become the best live dealer solutions provider in the Asian market. As OG looks forward to 2016, one can expect that forging partnerships with numerous key iGaming industry entities will be a priority. This is for us to spread awareness of OG as an iGaming company throughout Asia. Also, OG is expected to roll out new and exciting features that will give players a better gaming experience. 新的一年正在接近，我们很自信地说我们还在为我们的目标积极进取，让自己变得更好，让自己成为亚洲顶级的在线博彩服务商。OG 期待 2016 ，期待能与行业知名的公司展开业务合作。增加公司在亚洲的知名度。 OG将会给合作伙伴提供更多功能，给玩家更好的游戏体验。 Indeed, the year 2016 is the year that Oriental Game will reach greater heights as we continue to compete in the industry. 毋庸置疑， 2016年OG 将会达到新的高度。

The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

ORIENTAL GAME | Oriental Game in 2015: A Year in Review

博彩行业，是一个特别的行业，完成清楚该如何开展大会。纵然该行业是个不断发展和改变的，让玩家，包括权贵和企业家参加该行业会议是十分重要的。不管是为了曝光率还是产品展示新产品，重要的是他们能了解到最新行业发展和趋势. Every year, numerous conventions are held across the globe, most notably in markets where the gambling industry has greatly flourished—Asia and Europe. Most of these meet-ups are graced by key industry players from both the land-based and iGaming (online) gambling sectors, including operators, suppliers and third-party payment processors. As such, here is a retrospective view of gambling conventions that occurred over the course of 2015, selecting only the most easily recognized and most popular ones and highlighting remarkable takeaways from these occasions. 每年，很多的重大会议在全球举行，主要是集中在博彩业最发达的地方－亚洲和欧洲。这些会议通常会吸引来行业的重要玩家，包括实地赌场和网络博彩，如博彩经营商，供应商，第三方付款平台等。让我们会议下2015年发生的重大博彩会议，这些都是最受瞩目，认可的会议。

ICE Totally Gaming 博彩峰会

The gambling industry, for one, is a particular sector that definitely knows how to do conventions. Given that the industry’s landscape is a constantly growing and changing one, it is important for its players, which include influential magnates and budding entrepreneurs, to attend these events. It does not matter if they are there just for exposure or there just to showcase their new line of products; what is important is that they are there to keep themselves updated with the latest industry developments and trends.

ICE Totally Gaming is a very important business-to-business (B2B) exhibit in the world of gambling because it serves as a platform for the key industry players to showcase themselves to potential investors and decision-makers. A three-day event held in February of every year, it is considered the biggest industry event in the world as it “brings together the online and offline gaming sectors,” including betting, bingo, casino, lottery, mobile, online, social, and street gaming. ICE totally gaming 是博彩业重要的B2B会议，它是行业主要玩家向潜在投资商，决策者展示自己的平台。每年2月份举行为期3 天的会议，这是行业最隆重的会议，因为它把线上博彩和线下博彩行业联合在一起"，包括博彩、宾果游戏、赌场、彩票，移动游戏，在线游戏、社交游戏，和街道游戏。

FEATURE | Highlights of Important Gambling Conventions That Happened in 2015

The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

The latest ICE exhibit happened on February 3 to 5 of this year and it was held at the ExCeL conference center in London, England. Of those who took part in the exhibit, 46 percent of them were game operators, while 25 percent of were suppliers of gaming software and machines. Others who attended were regulators, affiliates, and financial institutions, particularly third-party payment processors. In all, 25,386 attendees participated in the exhibit, an 8 percent increase from the previous year. For the first time, the figure broke the 25,000 mark and was the sixth consecutive year of growth in terms of attendance. 最新ICE峰会在今年二月 3-5号在伦敦EXCEL会议中心举行。参会人员中，46% 的是游戏运营商，25%是软件，设备供应商。还有行业监管者、附属机构和金融机构，特别是第三方付款机构。这次会议，吸引了25386名参会人员，比去年增加了8%。第一次，这个数字超过25000, 这个数字连续6年增加。

Overall, ICE 2015 helped further link the aspects of land-based and online sectors of gambling. The event itself served as a perfect venue to analyze how some of the games within land-based gambling can be a source of inspiration for those within the realm of iGaming, and vice versa. With 2016 just around the corner, the next ICE Totally Gaming event would surely be as fruitful and successful as this year.

会议的亮点是移动端博彩和亚洲赌场日，专题是平板电脑游戏的发展问题，随着社交博彩的繁荣发展，和其他相关主题。另外的亮点是印度网络博彩的未来和商机，包括国内和国外的。

总体而言，2015ICE 会议进一步链接了真实赌场和线上博彩的联系。通过会议，网络博彩和现实赌场将可以通过他们的游戏互相分析彼此的市场。2016 就要到来，下一届的IEC会议将和今年的一样成功，一样硕果累累。

iGaming Asia Conference 亚洲博彩峰会

Next year’s iGA will happen at the same venue from March 21 to 23, 2016. 明年的iGA会议将会在2016年3月21-23日，相同地点举行。

This year’s installment occurred on March 17 to 19 at the Grand Hyatt Macau. It was attended by 336 iGaming professionals and over 100 operators, making this year’s iGA the most attended; a 25 percent growth from the previous year. 今年会议在澳门的Grand Hyatt举行，从3月17-19 号，为期3天。会议吸引了336名网络游戏专业人士，还有100多名运营商，参展人员比去年增加了25%。 An important highlight of the iGA was the debut of the Mobile Gaming and Social Casino Asia Day, which featured topics for discussion such as the gaming development for tablet gamers, taking advantage of the exponential boom of social gambling, and other related subjects. Another highlight was the talk of India’s future in iGaming and the opportunities abound for the said market, both local and foreign. 会议的亮点是移动端博彩和亚洲赌场日，专题是平板电脑游戏的发展问题，随着社交博彩的繁荣发展，和其他相关主题。另外的亮点是印度网络博彩的未来和商机，包括国内和国外的。

亚洲峰会（iGA）是亚洲地区体育赌博和互动游戏的博彩会议，为期3天。会议重心集中在网络游戏，通过会议，网络博彩行业的专业人士一起探讨亚洲区域的新发展和趋势，以及新的网络商机。

One important takeaway from ICE 2015 was the obvious dominance of the iGaming sector of the gambling industry. Everything in the exhibit involved digital gaming, with game developers aggressively pushing to go mobile. Another takeaway from this year’s ICE was that the trend of digital convergence is finally coming into fruition. This refers to the shared customer experience across land-based, digital, and mobile gaming.

2015年IEC会议的一个重要要点是博彩行业中网络游戏的优势。展会中包括数字游戏，游戏开发商往移动商发展。另外一个要点是数字融合趋势取得的成果，主要指真实赌场，数字和移动端客户体验的共享。 True enough, there were certain companies at ICE 2015 that were able to showcase numerous product verticals that call for shared customer experiences. A perfect example of this is Microgaming showcasing how wearables—those that are equipped with virtual reality technology—can help make digital convergence a reality within the gaming space. Technology for this may be in its early stages, but wearables may surely become a great part of iGaming and gambling in general. 事实是，很多公司通过此次会议展现了许多附属产品，呼吁客户服务共享。例如微型游戏，装备了虚拟现实科技技术，使得游戏实现数字融合。不过现有科技还是在处于早期阶段，但是可穿戴设备将成为网络游戏的重要部分。

The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

iGaming Asia Conference 亚洲博彩峰会

An important highlight of the iGA was the debut of the Mobile Gaming and Social Casino Asia Day, which featured topics for discussion such as the gaming development for tablet gamers, taking advantage of the exponential boom of social gambling, and other related subjects. Another highlight was the talk of India’s future in iGaming and the opportunities abound for the said market, both local and foreign.

FEATURE | Highlights of Important Gambling Conventions That Happened in 2015

The iGaming Asia Conference (iGA) is a three-day conference and expo for interactive gaming and sports betting in the Asian region. Focusing on one gambling sector which is iGaming, it is an event where professionals from various subsectors of iGaming meet to discuss new trends and developments within the Asian region. It also serves as a venue for networking and establishing new business opportunities. 亚洲峰会（iGA）是亚洲地区体育赌博和互动游戏的博彩会议，为期3天。会议重心集中在网络游戏，通过会议，网络博彩行业的专业人士一起探讨亚洲区域的新发展和趋势，以及新的网络商机。

This year’s iGA was a rousing success; most of the attendees were either service providers or gaming operators. About seven percent were gaming affiliates, while five percent were game developers. Most of them were CEOs, presidents, founders, managing directors, and sales, marketing, and operations managers. In terms of region, most of the attendees were from the Asian region, with those from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa coming in second. Next year’s iGA will happen at the same venue from March 21 to 23, 2016. 今年的会议取得圆满成功；大部份的出席者是博彩服务商和游戏运营商。大约7% 是博彩分公司，而5 % 是游戏开发商。他们大部份是CEO、主席、创办人、总经理，销售经理，市场经理，运营经理。就区域而言，大部份的出席者来自于亚洲区域，还有来自欧洲、中东和非洲。明年的iGA会议将会在2016年3月21-23日，相同地点举行。

FEATURE | Highlights of Important Gambling Conventions That Happened in 2015

The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

G2E Asia 亚洲国际博彩博览会; The Global Gaming Expo Asia (G2E) is the major trade event for the global gaming and entertainment industry, specifically catering the Asian market. Organized by the American Gaming Association (AGA) and Reed Exhibitions, it is considered the largest in the region which occurs annually in the month of May at Macau, the heart of gambling in Asia. This three-day event is where suppliers are able to exhibit their new products, meet qualified buyers and establish new contacts. 亚洲国际博彩展览会（G2E）是国际博彩和娱乐业久负盛名的盛会，专注于亚洲市场。由美国赌博协会组织，举办地点在澳门，亚洲博彩业的核心。展会为期3天，为供应商展现新产品，寻找新客户，建立新联系提供了宝贵的机会。

整体而言，展会获得圆满成功，展会激起了大家对真实赌场，网络博彩等的展望。第一天的要点包括：1 讨论通过旅游业吸引中国大众赌博的前景 2 讨论菲律宾成为完美博彩胜地的因素。第二天的焦点集中在： 1 亚洲市场博彩行业经济的影响 2 社交游戏的规划。最后一天的讨论围绕移动领域给网络博彩带来的冲击。 Next year’s G2E Asia event will happen on May 17 to 19 at the same venue. 明年的G2E 亚洲博彩展会，将在5月17-19日相同地点举行。

THE GAMBLING INDUSTRY, FOR ONE, IS A PARTICULAR SECTOR THAT DEFINITELY KNOWS HOW TO DO CONVENTIONS. GIVEN THAT THE INDUSTRY’S LANDSCAPE IS A CONSTANTLY GROWING AND CHANGING ONE, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ITS PLAYERS, WHICH INCLUDE INFLUENTIAL MAGNATES AND BUDDING ENTREPRENEURS, TO ATTEND THESE EVENTS.

What Happened in 2015? 2015 年发生了什么?

“博彩行业，是一个特别的行业，完成清楚该如何开展大会。纵然该行业是个不断发展和改变的，让玩家，包括权贵和企业家参加该行业会议是十分重要的。” This year’s G2E Asia was the ninth edition and it happened on May 19 to 21 at the Venetian Macau. It was a record-setting event, with a total attendance of 9,867 visitors from 79 counties and regions, along with 161 exhibiting companies. Of the said figure, 69 percent of them came from outside of Macau, a 20 percent increase from the previous year. It was considered the largest G2E Asia event to date, with key industry players not just limited within Asia, but from other parts of the world. 今年是第九届 G2E 亚洲国际博彩展会，于今年5月19-21日，在澳门威尼斯人会展中心举行。参会人员达到创纪录的9867 人，来自 79个国家和地区，吸引了161家公司参加展会。其中69%的参展人员来自澳门以外的区域，比去年增长了20% 。此届展会是有史以来规模最大的一次，吸引了来自五湖四海的行业精英。 Overall, the event was complete with seminars and conferences that helped generate insights and spark interests about certain outlooks within the land-based and iGaming sectors of the industry. Takeaways on the first day of the event include discussions regarding the prospect of gambling being able to attract the masses from China through tourism and the factors that make the Philippines a perfect place to build integrated resorts (IRs). Then, on the second day of G2E Asia, the focus was still on talks about certain trends within the gambling industry, including the effect of industry economics in the Asian markets and the projections in the realm of social gaming. Wrapping up the last day of the event was the discussion about mobile as one sector that will surely make some loud noise within iGaming and in gambling in general.

The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

SEO and iGaming: SEO 搜索引擎优化和网络博彩:

What to expect next year 来年的展望 Looking forward to the New Year means looking forward to new learnings and discoveries. This is true in the world of gambling and its sectors, especially given the trajectory that the industry is going. If this year’s conventions and exhibitions are an indication of the exponential growth of land-based gaming, sports betting, iGaming, and other industry sectors, it is expected that next year’s editions will be even more fruitful and more insightful. Indeed, new ideas and insights will flow freely, from potential changes in gambling regulations to innovations on all sectors. These are definitely things that operators, regulators, service providers, and other industry players will surely welcome and discuss amongst each other. Also, next year’s conventions will give rise to opportunities for industry startups to expand their networks and learn tips from the best at what they do. Truly, the industry of gambling is not going to stop short of bringing in something hip and interesting any time soon, especially this coming 2016.

The sector of online gambling, especially iGaming, is increasing exponentially in popularity nowadays. This rings true not just in Europe, but also in Asia. Seizing these markets is definitely a challenge not just for existing companies, but also for startups wanting to take the plunge in this growing industry sector. Of course, just like in any other industry, iGaming companies are driving themselves to be better in terms of marketing themselves online. As competition in this area is getting stiffer, these entities are constantly looking for ways to attract online users, utilizing numerous strategies to stand above all the others. 在线赌博行业，特别是网路游戏，越来越受到欢迎。不仅仅在欧洲，在亚洲也是一样。不仅仅对现有的公司而言占有市场是很大的挑战，想在这个行业发展的新兴公司也是面临挑战。当然，和其他行业一样，在线游戏公司在开拓市场上都尽量做到更好。由于竞争变得更加激烈，为了获取更多在线用户，每个公司使用各种营销策略。

网络游戏市场营销，众所周知的策略是搜寻引擎最佳化，简称 SEO。只简单说，它是影响搜寻引擎的 " 有机的 " 或 " 天然的 " 结果的过程，一个网站如果在搜索引擎如Google 中有更高排名，就会吸引更多访客，更多访客就会有更多的机会。 Some say that SEO in today’s time doesn’t matter anymore for any business vertical, including online gambling. But then, this statement has proven to be false; SEO is, more than ever, an important and effective online marketing tool. Companies and brands within the iGaming sectors, in fact, have made the conscious effort to employ many SEO methods to help them attain not just better search engine rankings, but also authority and online reputation, which is likewise important for any iGaming brand. This, of course, was very evident in 2015. 有人说现在的SEO对不管任何形式的生意不再有很大关系，包括在线博彩行业。但是，这种说法已经证明是错误；SEO ，比以前更加重要，它是有效的在线营销工具。在线游戏行业的公司和品牌，事实上，尽力使用更多 SEO 方法，帮助他们改善搜寻引擎排名，另外，2015年，在线名誉也对树立品牌有着重要关系，

展望新的一年，就是展望新事物和新发现。博彩业将继续向前发展是一定的。如果今年展览会是现场赌场，体育赌彩，网络博彩重大发展的指标，那么来年的展会将会取得更重大的结果。新的想法和视野将得到自由发挥，包括博彩监管和创新层面上的。这些将是博彩运营商，监管机构，服务商，玩家们乐意看到和交谈的。同时，明年的展会将给行业新公司提供机会，发展业务结构，学习新的技能。2016年的博彩行业将持续带来新鲜事物，

FEATURE | Highlights of Important Gambling Conventions That Happened in 2015

One well-known strategy in online marketing that many digital marketers employ in the iGaming sector is search engine optimization, also known as SEO. Simply put, it is the process of affecting a website or a web page’s visibility in a search engine’s “organic” or “natural” results. Generally, if a website successfully ranks high or frequently appears on the results page in a search engine like Google, for example, there is a bigger chance that it will attract more visitors whenever they key in a search query. More visitors to the website would mean any business has a better chance of achieving high conversion.

FEATURE | SEO and iGaming: What Happened in 2015

The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

More emphasis on link building, social media 链接和社交媒体的重要性 In 2015, digital marketing professionals working within the iGaming sector implemented important SEO measures in helping their brands rank in Google and in the other search engines. One of the many methods that they utilized was link building. It simply refers to the process of getting external pages to link to a certain page within a website. It is a tactic that can help increase the number of high-quality links directed to that website, which can then increase its likelihood of ranking highly in the search engines. In turn, doing this helps drive targeted traffic to that website. 2015 年，网络游戏通过专业的数码营销，使用搜索引擎优化在 google 和其他搜索引擎里优化了排名。其中一种常用的方法是建立链接，就是在一个网站里植入外部链接，通过植入高质量的外部链接的策略，可以提高在搜索引擎的排名，这样能给我们网站带来流量。

如今有些营销者运用｀白帽seo＇技术链接建设，提供增值服务，严格遵守搜索引擎的原则，还有一些营销者运用相反的方式｀黑帽seo＇技术建立链接。网络游戏，在线博彩的网站，在很大程度上，都是运用这一主动性的方式增加排名。2015年，用的比较多的方式是，通过故意操纵搜索引擎垃圾技术，获取排名。 Despite this, the year 2015 saw iGaming companies continuously taking advantage of social media. Aside from being able to share important and relevant content about the industry and the iGaming sector to their followers, these entities use social media to establish ties with others whom they consider as competition. With the age of social media already in full swing, it is not surprising that this trend will continue coming in to next year as companies embrace something new in the world of iGaming. 此外， 2015年网络游戏公司还使用社会媒体。社交媒体不仅可以发布相关重要的行业内容，还可以与竞争对手建立联系。随着社交媒体的不断发展，未来的网络游戏行业也将进一步运用这一工具。

Outlook of SEO and online gambling for 2016 2016 SEO和在线博彩的前景

Going mobile 可移动端的运用

While there have been online marketers that employ “white hat” link building, or those strategies that add value to end users and strictly follow the guidelines of search engines like Google, there are still many marketers in 2015 who continue to employ the opposite—“black hat” link building. iGaming, for the most part, is still plagued with online gambling-related websites that utilize aggressive tactics as a way of getting to where they want in the search engine results. Spamming, a technique that deliberately manipulates the search engines, is one type of black hat link building that is common in 2015.

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Dec 2015

While many iGaming-related websites religiously follow search engine guidelines in bettering their chances of getting high rankings, black hat SEO is still a thing in most of 2015 unfortunately. There are many online casino websites choosing to see results in their website rankings right away, sacrificing not just their profitability in the long term, but also their reputations. Black hat SEO strategies are manipulative in nature and usually disregard the human audience. From flooding the search engines with ads, ranking through hidden links, to stuffing keywords, webmasters of some online casinos skirt through the rules set forth by the search engines in an attempt to see results right away. Yet as the algorithms of Google as well as of the other search engines continue to become as sophisticated as ever, iGaming-related sites that do spamming techniques get penalized and/or banned. 许多网络游戏公司网站遵守搜索引擎的排名规则，以便获得更好排名。不过2015年黑帽 SEO仍然是运用不充分。很多在线博彩公司急于看到网站的排名，牺牲长远的利益和公司名誉。黑帽 SEO 策略是运用操纵手法而忽视人文因素。有些博彩公司通过搜寻引擎广告泛滥，隐藏链接，关键词，来获取即时排名效果。随着google运算法则的完善，通过垃圾技术获取排名的在线博彩网站受到搜索引擎的惩罚或禁用。

For any iGaming brand, taking advantage of this strategy enables them not just to achieve the abovementioned, but also helps them create awareness among their intended audience. In 2015, many iGaming companies continued implementing known link building strategies such as creating fresh, relevant content in their own blog sites, posting press releases about their new products or services, and updating their website’s design structure and on-page content.

对于任何网络游戏品牌，利用这一策略不仅可以促使他们提高排名，还可以引起访客的注意。许多公司运用这样的策略，例如，建立相关内容的博客，发布相关产品，服务的新闻，更新网站的内容。

Black hat SEO still a thing 黑帽 SEO

The year 2016 will definitely be a year of significant changes in terms of how business perform well online through their SEO efforts. The iGaming vertical, specifically, may most likely follow the trends that have been already introduced this 2015. The Google update that focuses on the mobile-friendliness of a website alone is already shaping the future of SEO. In the upcoming year, iGaming-related business that do online marketing would greatly be impacted once they consider their intended or targeted audience in their search results,

who are now relying on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets to do search queries. What may never go away, still, is the existence of black hat SEO practices among many online gambling websites. Though that is the case in 2016, search engines like Google won’t stop going after those that create spam and basically disregard SEO guidelines. 2016 年通过SEO开展营销，扩展经济的改变将是重大的。博彩行业将继续承接2015年的发展趋势。google对网站移动端的更新将改变未来的SEO。来年，想通过搜索引擎排名获取更多访客的博彩公司将有很大影响。他们信赖移动装置搜索结果。虽然像google等搜索引擎会加强排名规则的实行，黑帽SEO技术也将还是会受到广泛运用。

Speaking of something new, the world of SEO was shaken up with a significant development this year, when Google rolled out its algorithm update that takes into account the mobile-friendliness of websites. Known as “Mobilegeddon,” the accessibility and the user-friendliness of websites when browsed in mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets have become an important factor in ranking websites. Because of this important Google update, many iGaming companies have made sure that their websites’ user interface fits mobile devices. Since online gambling is currently shifting towards a more mobile-centric approach, companies saw that making their websites mobile- or tablet-friendly is the way to go. 说到新事物， SEO今年发展迅速， Google更新了运算法则，以便给用户提供更好的网站。这样通过移动手机和平板电脑端就可以浏览游戏网站。因为google的这一重要更新，许多网络游戏公司确保他们的网站接口更适合移动装置的访问。由于在线博彩的重心向移动装置移转，博彩公司让他们的网站更方便移动装，平板电脑的访问。

FEATURE | SEO and iGaming: What Happened in 2015

The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

VAT Exemption for Bitcoin: A Significant Development in Europe for Digital Currencies Bitcoin免除增值税：欧洲电子货币的重要发展 In the previous issue of this e-magazine, we made mention of a significant progress in terms of Bitcoin in the European continent. Specifically, the European Banking Federation or EBF provided recommendations for policymakers—that is, governments and businesses across the region—to work together in coming up with definitive frameworks for Bitcoin regulation. From further research into Bitcoin technology to continuous evaluations in rulemaking, the European trade group representing 32 national banking associations and more than 4,500 banks focused on its proposal to policymakers to base the regulatory framework on anti-money laundering laws that are already in place in European nations.

there is potential for players to purchase the digital currency even more knowing that it is tax-free and that they can use them as betting funds. 无疑地， ECJ 选择后者－将会进一步促进比特币在欧洲的盛行，而且是虚拟货币重大变革的先驱。欧洲大陆的在线博彩运营商知道这一判罚结果后，都为这一重大突破拍手叫好。已经把 Bitcoin 整合到他们的现有付款月台的区域有许多在线赌场有很多在线的博彩公司已经将比特币整合到支付平台，随着ECJ的决定，玩家可以购买数字货币，还可以免税使用他们，当做赌注筹码。

两个月前发布的重要监管，欧洲的法院（ECJ）申明的： Bitcoin 和其他加密货币不依照增值税而且应该享受其他货币一样的待遇。高等法院宣布加密货币的交易，就是Bitcoin的买卖，跟其他法定货币相似、如钞票，硬币等。”在现有的欧盟法律之下，在 28个成员国家内免除增值税。

上一起的电子月刊中，我们提及欧洲大陆在 Bitcoin 方面的重大发展。特别是，欧洲联邦银行 EBF 向政策决策者了提出了建议 ---就是政府和商务团体一同协作，在欧洲地区建立对比特币的监管构架。从对比特币技术的进一步研究，到对规则制定的持续的评估，欧洲由32个国家银行机构和4500个银行就监管机构和反洗钱法律向政策制定者提出建议。

The decision by the EU court was an effort to prevent certain hitches that come with identifying the taxable amount and the amount of VAT deductible during monetary transactions. It also noted that not exempting Bitcoin from VAT “would deprive it of part of its effects.” According to Reuters, the top court’s decision was in response to a dispute between a Swedish Bitcoin web forum moderator named David Hedvqist and the Swedish tax authorities. Initially, he wanted to start a Bitcoin exchange service catering to the citizens of his home country, but he and the authorities disagreed on whether the exchange service can be VAT-exempted. This led to the Swedish government officials to elicit help from EU’s top court.

This is truly a step in the right direction for Bitcoin, even though the EBF was quick to note that its future is unclear “given that it was built as an experiment” and that the trade group has not issued any stance on it. Fortunately enough, a significant development for the digital currency in the region occurred not long after the EBF released its recommendations.

欧盟法院的决定避免避免了货币交易的应缴增值税确定和增值税扣除的繁琐。如果比特币不免除增值税将剥削它的作用。”依照路透社，高等法院决定是对瑞典比特币网站论坛监管者David Hedvqist和瑞典税务局争论的回应。最初，他想要开始比特币交换服务平台来满足市民需要，但是他和税务局在交换服务是否可以免除增值税存在争议。这导致了瑞典的政府向欧盟高等法院提出帮忙。

这是 Bitcoin 向前发展的又一步，虽然EBF 很快意识到前景还是不确定的" 还只是实验阶段" 而且贸易机构也没有表明任何立场。幸运的是，在 EBF 发表建议之后，在欧洲区域对电子货币有利的重要发展就发生了。

Hedvqist, upon learning of the ruling, called it a “sensible” one, expressing delight not just for his Bitcoin exchange service, but also for Bitcoin businesses all over Europe as well. More importantly, a prominent tax lawyer remarked that the decision will have greatly impact both customers and businesses that use Bitcoin as digital currency.

In the crucial ruling declared two months ago, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) stated that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are not subject to value-added tax (VAT) and that they should be given the same treatment as the Euro and other currencies. The top court declared that cryptocurrency transactions, i.e. buying and selling Bitcoin, are similar to those of other “currency, bank notes, and coins used as legal tender.” Under the existing European Union laws, fiat money transactions across 28 member nations are exempted from VAT.

The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

Before the decision on the ruling was made, the attorney pointed out two possibilities. On one hand, excluding Bitcoin from the VAT exemption would mean customers will face additional charges for the purchase of the digital currency. Acquiring Bitcoin would become more expensive and customers will be left with no choice but to look for other alternatives outside the region where no VAT for it applies. On the other hand, imposing a VAT exemption for Bitcoin would mean the top court recognizes it as a “pure payment method,” which would then create a more positive, more engaging view on the digital currency in the regional market. 判决结果出来前，律师指出两种可能结果。一方面， Bitcoin 不免增值税意味着客户将会为数字货币购买发额外费用。增加比特币的持有成本，客户只能寻找其他不需要增值税的货币。另一方面，比特币的免增值税将意味着最高法院认同比特币是存粹的货币支付手段，将意味着在区域内多了一种虚拟货币的使用。 Certainly, the ECJ chose the latter point—a decision that would help further boost Europe’s chances to not just embrace Bitcoin, but also be at the forefront of revolutionizing digital payments and innovating cryptocurrencies. Online gambling operations in the continent, for one, are all smiles upon learning this significant development. There are many online casinos in the region that have integrated Bitcoin into their existing payment platforms, and with ECJ’s decision,

A Bitcoin casino operator catering to the European market believes that the top court’s decision to exempt Bitcoin from VAT validates the digital currency as a legitimate means of payment in the region. The operator also went on to say, in a bold manner, that Bitcoin will be an essential part of the European financial system within 10 years. For this to happen, existing markets must be strengthened, as well as have Bitcoin be exposed further in other jurisdictions. For the casino operator, the need to educate and inform its players on how to fully take advantage of Bitcoin and about cryptocurrencies in general is important; that way, Bitcoin can be recognized and achieve mainstream success. 欧洲一比特币博彩运营商坚信，高等法院决定，比特币交易免增值税，将使虚拟货币成为一种合法的支付手段。该博彩商还大胆预测，未来10年，比特币将是欧洲金融系统的重要组成部分。为了实现这个结果，已有市场一定要拓展，并且扩大比特币的使用区域。对于博彩商而言，教玩家如何充分利用比特币很重要；那样的话，比特币才能被广泛认可，成为主流。 An all-encompassing regulatory framework is all what it takes to take Bitcoin to the next level. While Europe is yet to tackle into that, the ECJ’s decision is one huge step to finally maximizing the potential of digital currencies within online gambling and within other businesses. Truly, Europe is gaining steam in this regard as it tries to elevate the Bitcoin to be on par with the Euro and the other fiat currencies as a “pure payment method.” 监管框架将促进比特币的进一步发展。欧洲仍然在处理中， ECJ 的决定是虚拟货币在欧洲博彩和其他行业的重大进步。事实上，欧洲正努力把比特币变成法定货币一样，成为存粹的支付手段。

Hedvqist 在知道判罚后果后，非常兴奋，这将有利他个人比特币交换服务，也为有利于整个欧洲比特币交易而高兴。更重要的是，一位知名税务师评到此项决定将会对消费者和商家使用比特币和其他虚拟货币产生重大影响。

EUROPE iGAMING | Vat Exemption for Bitcoin: A Significant Development in Europe for Digital Currencies

The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

Social Casino Players Prefer Mobile Platform Over Web, Says Report 报告显示，相比网页平台，社交玩家更喜欢通过手机平台赌博 W

e are all well-aware that mobile gaming, particularly mobile social gaming, is increasing in popularity nowadays. This is due to the aggressive uptick in people using smartphones and related devices, as well as their growing penchant to engage in playing such games, regardless if they involve real money or not. For the past five years, this has been the case, from the emergence of mobile casinos to the various mobile social gaming titles found in Facebook and other social media websites. Indeed, it has been estimated that by 2017, the market for mobile social gaming will become worth more than $40 billion. 众所周知，手机游戏，特别是手机社交游戏越来越流行。这是因为更多的人使用智能手机或者相关设备，并且越来越多的人使用游戏，不管游戏有没有涉及金钱。过去五年来，从手机博彩到社交网站如facebook等的社交游戏。据估计，到2017年，移动社交博彩市场将达到四百亿美元。

由于网络游戏和手机游戏的乐观前景，以色列公司保持自动化平台Optimove执行了一项研究，研究玩家对社交游戏的偏爱。十二种社交游戏一年的数据显示了一下的有趣的结果。 Optimove’s study found that 96 percent of players prefer to play social casino games on a single platform--either through the Web or through their mobile devices, while

The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

•就玩游戏的频率而言，移动设备玩家在游戏上面发的时间是网页游戏玩家的1.6 倍，在每一个游戏日，移动设备游戏者发的时间是网页游戏者的 1.4 倍。. The study showed just how the large majority of the single-platform players preferred mobile. But what about the multi-platformers, or those who play social casino games on both the Web and the mobile? It turns out that the measly 4 percent are better than single-platformers. For example, multi-platform players turn into paying customers with a conversion rate of almost four times as much as single-platform players, and that they are 20 percent more likely to pay the second time. Even their average payment is 10 percent higher than single-platform players. the remaining percentage play on both the Web and on mobile devices, as well as on other platforms. Of the 96 percent, more than half of them prefer to play social casino games on mobile than on the Web—65 percent against 35 percent.

研究表明大多数单平台玩家偏爱移动设备玩社交游戏。但是多游戏平台玩家怎么样呢，他们通过移动设备和网页玩社交游戏？举例来说，多平台玩家变成付费客户的转化率是单一平台玩家的4 倍，而且他们第二次付款的可能性会高出20%。甚至，他们的平均付款比单一平台玩家高10%.

While this study showed that most social casino gamers stick to mobile, it is also important to magnify those who play on multiple game platforms. They don’t just play on any platform that is available in front of them, but they make time to play whenever they can. Indeed, Optimove remarked that iGaming companies that focus on single-platform gamers should also consider targeting gamers who play on multiple platforms through incentives or marketing campaigns. 这项研究表明大多数社交游戏玩家坚持移动设备，不过多游戏平台的玩家也很重要。他们不仅仅在他们有时间时玩，还会抽出时间玩。的确， Optimove 强调把重心集中在单一平台玩家的网络游戏公司，应该同时注重多平台玩家的开发。

“OF THE 96 PERCENT, MORE THAN HALF OF THEM PREFER TO PLAY SOCIAL CASINO GAMES ON MOBILE THAN ON THE WEB—65 PERCENT AGAINST 35 PERCENT.” “超过一半的玩家喜欢用移动装置玩社交游戏，他们的百分比分别是65%和35%。”

Optimove 的研究发现 96% 的玩家喜欢在一个平台上玩社交博彩游戏－－不管是通过网页版还是移动装置版，其中，超过一半的玩家喜欢用移动装置玩社交游戏，他们的百分比分别是65%和35%。 Apart from the information above, Optimove also found that mobile social casino players become paying customers and continue being so on an early and frequent basis. Also, they play games every so often. To better understand this, here are the other metrics used in the research study: 除了以上数据以外， Optimove 也发现移动社交玩家是付费顾客。同时，他们更经常玩游戏。便于理解，以下是研究报告的其他指标。

Because of the positive outlook on this aspect of mobile gaming and the iGaming industry, Israel-based retention automation platform Optimov e conducted a study that would determine the players’ preference when they play social casino games. Data from a dozen social casino games over a 12-month period were collected and analyzed as part of the company’s research, and they showed interesting results.

• In terms of frequency of play, mobile gamers play 1.6 times more “gameplay days” than their Web counterparts, who have 6.7 “gameplay days.” When it comes to game sessions, mobile gamers play 1.4 times in every playing day than Web gamers.

• Mobile players become paying customers almost twice as fast as those playing on the Web, with an average time of 30 days. Web players, on average, become paying customers after 52 days. Also, mobile players pay the second time around on an average of 18 days, against 27 days for Web players. When it comes to payment frequency, mobile gamers make deposits every 10 days as opposed to 14 days for Web gamers. •在平均30天里，移动设备玩家成为付费顾客比网页玩家的快。网页玩家在 52 天之后成为付费客户。另外,移动设备玩家在平均18天内完成第二次支付，而网页玩家是27 天内完成二次支付。就付款频率而言，移动设备玩家每10 天存款，而网页游戏玩家是14 天。

EUROPE iGAMING | Social Casino Player Prefer Mobile Platform Over Web, Says Report

The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

Alipay Approved for Use in Macau; Casinos “Unlikely” to Offer Online Payment Service 澳门可以是用支付宝；不过赌场不可能提供此在线付款服务 Founded in 2004, Alipay, an affiliate of Alibaba Group, is considered the largest third-party online payment solution in the world today, having more than 550 million users and is in-charge of over eight-and-a-half million online transactions every day reaching above CNY 2 billion (Chinese yuan). This highly-popular online payment service is only known to cater to those in the mainland. But a recent development last month saw the online payment service make its way to one of China’s special administrative regions. 支付宝，成立于2004 ，隶属 Alibaba旗下，是当今最大的第三方在线支付平台。用户超过5.5亿，每天的在线交易量超过850万笔，交易额达到20亿人民币。此前支付宝的在线业务在中国内陆。但是现在支付宝正把在线业务扩展到中国的其中一个特别行政区，澳门。 In late November, the Monetary Authority of Macau confirmed that Alipay is now allowed to operate in the city after the company collaborated with a locally authorized institution. According to the Monetary Authority, the cooperation between the two institutions “has been duly approved… and does not violate any regulations in Macau. Upon launch of such services, it is legal for residents or institutions in Macau to use Alipay accounts for payments.” Right now, at least 107 stores in the city are offering the third-payment service, with more than 51

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Dec 2015

Another thing that Mr. Govertsen mentioned about the emergence of Alipay in Macau is the fact that using this as an online payment service could pose “positive longer-term implications for the city’s gaming industry.” Specifically, he speculated that the mass gambling market can use it as a substitute to UnionPay when obtaining cash. Govertsen 先生还提及，长远而言，澳门支付宝的使用，将有利于博彩行业的发展。＂特别是，支付宝可以作为银联的代替，用于收集资金。

local brands using the provider’s QR code payment service. 十一月下旬，澳门金管局申明，通过和当地金融机构合作，支付宝可以在澳门开展业务。据金管局消息，两个机构的合作被正式批准通过，此次合作没有违反澳门的任何法规。合作服务发布后，澳门的居民或者组织可以使用支付宝账户付款。＂目前，在澳门至少有107个商店提供第三方付款服务，有超过51个当地品牌使用二维码付款。 Union Gaming Securities Asia Ltd. analyst Grant Govertsen believes that the merchants that have the online payment service are mainly “restaurants and cafes; although Macau’s largest department store and some electronics retailers are also on board.” He noted that pawnshops have yet to offer Alipay, adding that the online payment service may explore the possibility later on “if any further UnionPay restrictions are put into place.”

It can be remembered that the previous issue of this e-magazine showed an article about China’s announcement to limit yearly overseas cash withdrawals for the UnionPay service. Between the period of October and the last day of December, the total limit was set to CNY 50,000, and come January 1, 2016 onwards, the limit will be CNY 100,000. But for comparison’s sake, Alipay’s transaction limits for the one-touch “Alipay Express” method is only limited to CNY 5,000 per transaction, with a monthly cumulative total of CNY 50,000. Indeed, the online payment service is presently being used as an online or small retail purchasing tool. 记得之前的期刊，有提及中国限制银联的海外取款。从10月到12 月的最后一天，总的限额是5万人民币，2016年1月1日起，限制额度将是10万人民币。不过为了方便比较，支付宝的每天的限额是 5000人民币，月额度5万。的确，目前的在线付款服务主要是在线购物和零售时的付款。 While Union Gaming surmised that Alipay in Macau could have long-term implications in the gaming industry, it said that it is highly unlikely for casino operators to accept the online payment service. Mr.Govertsen said that it is not

expecting them “to offer Alipay Wallet in-person payments on casino floors given how contentious that would be—not to mention potential legal ramifications.” Despite that, he added that Alipay will be added as a payment option for non-gaming facilities inside integrated casinos, from hotel rooms, entertainment venues, restaurants, and the like. 联合游戏猜测，澳门支付宝的使用将对游戏行业有长远影响，不过让博彩运营商接受这一在线付款服务是不大可能的。Govertsen 先生说到不要指望博彩运营商在赌场提供支付宝钱包服务，因为这样做将有很大争议，更不用说合法性问题。不过，他还指出，支付宝将会被用于非游戏行业的付款方式，如酒店，娱乐场所，餐馆等。

亚洲联合游戏公司分析家grant Govertsen 相信使用在线支付的商人主要是＂餐馆和咖啡店；虽然澳门最大的百货公司和一些电子零售商也会使用在线支付。他还指出典当行还没有提供支付宝服务；不过如果银联的使用会被进一步限制，那么在线支付有可能会被使用。

THIRD-PARTY PAYMENTS/CRYPTOCURRENCIES | Alipay Approved for Use in Macau; Casinos “Unlikely” to Offer Online Payment Service

The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

FEATURE 圣诞特辑 A Look at the Different Christmas Traditions Across East, Southeast Asia 东亚和东南亚的传统圣诞 This particular issue of The Monthly Bet won’t be complete without a feature that talks about Christmas season. Here is an interesting article that focuses mainly on the Christmas celebrations around Asia, specifically in the East and Southeast regions of the continent. 圣诞季节来临，如果没有圣诞特辑，月刊将不是很完美，为此我们准备了圣诞特辑，介绍东亚、东南亚地区的圣诞庆祝。 For the most part, the celebration of Christmas in the East and Southeast Asian regions is mainly secular. Many of the countries in these regions, though non-Christian, are able to celebrate Christmas, so much so that some of them consider it as a public holiday. Meanwhile, Christian Asian countries like the Philippines, as well as a small percentage of Christians living in mostly non-Christian nations, celebrate Christmas with fervent religiosity wherein they attend church services. Truly, Christmas in this side of the continent has two different viewpoints; one hinging on the customary and the religious, and the other tied to being materialistic. 大体上，在东亚、东南亚区域的圣诞节庆祝是传统习俗。这些区域的很多国家，虽然是非基督徒，也庆祝圣诞节，很多人把圣诞节当成传统的公众假日。同时，亚洲国家像菲律宾，主要以基督教为主，还有其他非基督教国家也有部分的基督徒，通过参加教会活动庆祝圣诞。事实上，东亚和东南亚对圣诞有两种观点，一种是传统宗教层面的，另外一种是物质层面上的。 Here’s a look at the different Christmas traditions across the East and Southeast Asian regions: 东亚和东南亚地区的传统圣诞：

East Asia 东亚 China 中国 The mainland does not consider December 25 as a holiday; however, it is otherwise a public holiday in both Hong Kong and Macau mainly because these two special administrative regions are former colonies of Western powers known for their relatively small Christian cultural heritage. 在中国大陆，12-25号圣诞节不是传统假日；然而，香港和澳门这两个特别行政区被西方国家统治过，圣诞节作为文化遗产，在香港和澳门遗留下来，是公众节日。

Japan 日本 With the exception of Christians who account for two percent of the whole population, the Japanese don’t celebrate Christmas in a religious sense. It may not be a national holiday, but commercialism and Western influence allowed the Japanese to celebrate the holidays by giving gifts and exchanging cards, with the aim of spreading love and happiness. Christmas lights illuminate streets, while Christmas trees are on fully display inside homes and malls.

A measly one percent of Chinese who consider themselves Christians privately observe Christmas religiously. Other citizens, who don’t consider themselves as Christians, take part in the festivities that closely resembles the holidays. Influenced by the West, the non-Christian citizens send cards to each other, exchange gifts, and hang stockings. Elements of Christmas, from installing bright dancing lights, erecting Christmas trees, to displaying figures of Santa Claus and white snowmen, are so much widespread inside urban centers like malls and retail markets. 大约1%的中国人私底下是圣诞徒，他们遵守圣诞习俗。其他公民，虽然不是基督徒，也参加这个节日。受西方影响，非基督教徒也互相赠送卡片彼此，交换礼物，悬挂长筒袜。不过在中心城市，如商场，市场也充满圣诞元素，通常装饰着彩灯，圣诞树，圣诞老人和白色雪人。 A growing tradition during Christmas Eve is giving apples wrapped in colored paper. This is so because the Mandarin word for “apple” and Christmas Eve (“quiet or silent night”) are apparently the same. Also, the Chinese have their own version of Santa Claus, called the “Old Christmas Man.” He is depicted differently there; if in the West, he has his elves, in China, he has his “sisters” who are young women dressed as elves. 圣诞夜前夕的平安夜很多人送苹果，因为中文的苹果预示着平安，就与平安夜联系在一起。另外, 中国的圣诞老人有自己的特点，在西方，圣诞老人有小精灵，在中国，圣诞老人有着装像小精灵的妹妹。

在日本有20%的人口是基督徒，日本人也没有传统性的庆祝圣诞节。它不是法定假日，但是商业化和西方的影响，使日本人在圣诞节也互赠礼物，交换卡片，表达幸福和爱意。街上挂满了闪闪彩灯，商场和家里也都装饰着圣诞树。 The Japanese Christmas Eve is more like Valentine’s Day. A romantic day for couples, it is a time where they spend time together and swap gifts. Around Christmas time, parties are held, with children taking part in games and other fun activities. They also partake in eating Christmas cakes; sponge cakes topped with whipped cream and strawberries and decorated with trees, flowers, and Santa Claus figures. They also have their own version of Santa Claus, called the Hoteiosho the gift bringer. Their New Year’s celebration, which is called “o shogatsu,” is similar to Christmas in the West. Happening from December 31 to January 4, it is a very busy time—families get together, eat special meals, pray, and send greeting cards. 在日本，圣诞前夜更像情人节。是个浪漫的日子，情侣们互赠礼物，一起庆祝。在圣诞节期间，举行圣诞派对，孩子们也参加游戏和其他节目。他们还分享圣诞节蛋糕，海绵糕，海绵糕包裹着奶油和草莓，做成树、花和圣诞老人等形状。他们也有自己的圣诞方式，叫Hoteiosho，代表送礼的人 " 与西方相似。从十二月 31 日到一月 4 日非常忙碌，家家户户聚在一起，吃饭，祈祷，送贺卡。

The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

Christmas | A Look at the Different Christmas Traditions Across East, Southeast Asia

The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

South Korea 韩国

Southeast Asia 东南亚

Indonesia 印度尼西亚

Christians in South Korea make up 25 to 30 percent of the total population, which makes Christmas a celebrated religious holiday. It is even considered a public holiday, which means that some citizens can have a day off from work or school. Christians, as well as non-Christians, flock churches there on December 25.

A predominantly Muslim country, Indonesia has a considerably large Christian population—about 10 percent of the total population. Christmas, which they call “Natal,” is a public holiday for around 16.5 million Christians; about 7 million of which are Roman Catholics. 印度尼西亚是个穆斯林国家，大约 10% 的人口是基督教。圣诞节，他们叫做 " Natal "，对于大约一千六百五十万基督徒而言，圣诞节是个公众的假日；其中的700万是罗马天主教。

在韩国有25-30%的人口是基督教徒，他们当圣诞节是宗教性的假日的。圣诞节甚至被认为是公众的假日，一些市民不用工作，不用上学。在圣诞节这天，基督徒和非基督徒们成群结队的赶往教堂 . Western influence is likewise alive in this part of East Asia, with Christmas lights brightening up South Korean cities and districts and malls filled with attractive decorations. Christmas trees adorn the living rooms of residential areas. What’s unique about Christmas in South Korea is the fact that money, not material objects, is the most common present exchanged with friends and loved ones. Also, the Korean Santa Claus does not wear red suit, but a blue one. He is called Santa Haraboji, or Santa Grandfather.

“MERRY CHRISTMAS IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES” Within areas where the majority are Christians, Christmas is filled with festivities and local foods. Church services occur on the 24th and 25th of December, with people attending Mass creating Nativity scenes and use them as part of the Nativity drama performance. In cities, shopping malls, offices, certain roads, and other commercial areas are decorated with twinkling Christmas lights and beautifully ornamented Christmas trees. Because the Dutch ruled Indonesia over a long period of time, the Christians there call their Santa Claus “Sinterklass,” derived from the Dutch word “Sinterklaas.”

メリークリスマス (Meri Kurisumasu) 즐거운 크리스마스 되세요 (Jeulgaeun krismas doeseyo) SELAMAT NATAL

One of the Asian nations with the largest concentration of Catholics considers Christmas as the biggest and most widely celebrated holidays on the calendar. In fact, the unofficial start of the holidays begins as early as September, earning the Philippines a distinction as having the world’s longest Christmas season. 菲律宾是亚洲以天主教徒为主的国家，然而圣诞节是最盛大隆重的假日假日。事实上，非正式的假日从九月就开始，使菲律宾有着最长的圣诞季节。 Christmas in the Philippines is influenced by the Spanish, the islands’ colonizers for more than 300 years. With religion a big part of the lives of the Filipinos, tradition holds that every December, Catholics are to attend Masses at early dawn for nine consecutive days. From December 16 to 24, they take part on what is called “Misa de Gallo,” or Rooster’s Mass in the traditional Spanish. Also known as “Simbang Gabi” in the Filipino language, it is believed that attending Masses for nine straight days may help grant their requests or wishes. 菲律宾的圣诞节有着西班牙的风味，西班牙对菲律宾有 300多年的殖民统治。宗教是菲律宾人生活中的一部份。天主教徒也连续9 天从大清早就参加宗教诵经。从十二月16-24号，他们参加 Misa de Gallo，是古老的西班牙语，菲律宾当地语叫" Simbang Gabi" ，他们坚信连续九天的祈祷诵经将会给他们带来好运。

西方对韩国也同样有影响，圣诞节期间，在韩国的城市和商场也都装饰满了彩灯。家家户户也都装饰了圣诞树。不过韩国的圣诞十分特别，他们不是赠送礼物贺卡，而是互赠钱。另外, ，韩国的圣诞老人不穿红色套装、而是蓝色。人们叫它 Santa Haraboji 或者 Santa Grandfather.

圣诞快乐 (Sheng Dan Kuai Le)

Philippines 菲律宾

Western influences, such as installing Christmas lights and trees and Santa Claus figures inside residences and commercial establishments, as well as are exchanging cards and singing Christmas carols, are commonplace in the country during the season. One decoration used during this time that is uniquely Filipino is the “parol.” With bamboo strips as the frame and colored Japanese paper covering it, it is a lantern that symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem which guided the Three Wise Men. 收到西方影响，在圣诞季节，人们家里和商场都装饰了彩灯，圣诞树和圣诞老人，人们互赠卡片，唱圣诞颂歌。比较特别的是，菲律宾人用日本彩纸封住竹质的灯笼，它是象征圣诞星，指引着东方三博士。

在多数是基督徒的区域里面，人们用当地食物欢庆圣诞节。教堂庆典在十二月 24 和第25 日间，人们表演当地的戏剧来庆祝。在城市、购物商场，办公室、道路和其他商业的区域都装扮了闪烁的彩灯盒和圣诞树。因为荷兰的长期统治，那里的基督徒称他们的圣诞老人为" Sinterklass" ”Sinterklaas。”是由荷兰语演变而来的

MALIGAYANG PASKO CHUĆ MƯǸG GIAŃG SINH

A growing tradition during Christmas Eve is giving apples Indonesian Christians also partake of both traditional and Christmas treats. Cookies are a popular food in this season of giving, where “nastar” or a type of pineapple tart, “kastengel” or cheese cookies, and “putri salju” or butter cookie covered with sugar and cheese are usually served. 印尼基督徒也过传统的圣诞节。这个季节流行的食物是饼干，有各式各样的饼干，菠萝的，乳酪味的，还有甜味的饼干。

The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

Christmas | A Look at the Different Christmas Traditions Across East, Southeast Asia

The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

Vietnam 越南 Though not a national holiday, Christmas season in Vietnam is increasing in popularity. In fact, Christmas Eve is deemed a more important day than Christmas Day itself. In Ho Chi Minh City, for example, people, especially the young ones, like to go to the city center where a Catholic cathedral is located. The streets get crowded during this time, and within the city, vehicles are not allowed to pass for the whole night. 虽然不是国家法定假日，在越南，圣诞节季节也越来越流行。事实上，在越南，圣诞前夜是比圣诞节更重要的日子。例如在胡志明，人们，特别是年轻的，喜欢去位于市中心的天主大教堂。街上车水马龙，在城市里面，整晚禁止车辆通行。 During Christmas Eve, people go to church in the evening to hear Mass. After which, families gather inside their homes to take part in the midnight feast called the “Noche Buena.” Roasted pig, ham, fruit salad, rice cakes and other sweets, and different drinks are usually found in every Filipino family’s table. 在圣诞夜前夕，人们在晚上去做礼拜。之后，家人聚在一起享受午夜的宴会”Noche Buena。”吃烤猪、火腿、水果沙拉，蛋糕和其他甜点，品尝各式各样的饮料。 The celebration of Christmas in the Philippines doesn’t end there. Filipinos still have the New Year’s Eve, where families gather around the table for the “Media Noche” or midnight meal that symbolizes their hopes for a prosperous New Year. Filipinos greet the New Year with a bang, with firecrackers being lit to produce loud noises in the belief that doing so drives away bad vibes. Other beliefs during the New Year include wearing clothing with circles imprinted on it, as well as displaying circular fruits on the table. Christmas in the Philippines officially ends on January 6, which is the Feast of the Epiphany. 菲律宾的圣诞庆祝不是这样就结束了，菲律宾人仍然享受新年前夕，家庭聚在桌子旁享受‘ Noche" 象征他们对新的一年繁荣的愿望。菲律宾人放鞭炮庆祝新年，他们相信这样做可以驱走坏运。另外，人们穿上印有圆圈的衣服，并在桌子上把水果摆成圆形。在菲律宾圣诞节在一月 6 日才正式结束，就是主显节的宴会。 midnight meal that symbolizes their hopes for a prosperous New Year. Filipinos greet the New Year with a bang, with firecrackers being lit to produce loud noises in the belief that doing so drives away bad vibes. Other beliefs during the New Year include wearing clothing with circles imprinted on it, as well as displaying circular fruits on the table. Christmas in the Philippines officially ends on January 6, which is the Feast of the Epiphany. 菲律宾的圣诞庆祝不是这样就结束了，菲律宾人仍然享受新年前夕，家庭聚在桌子旁享受‘ Noche" 象征他们对新的一年繁荣的愿望。菲律宾人放鞭炮庆祝新年，他们相信这样做可以驱走坏运。另外，人们穿上印有圆圈的衣服，并在桌子上把水果摆成圆形。在菲律宾圣诞节在一月 6 日才正式结束，就是主显节的宴会。

Typically, the Vietnamese take pictures in front of big hotels and departmen¬t stores that are adorned with Christmas decorations. Restaurants are almost always filled with people who want to enjoy the night with a hearty snack. Shops are open for those who want to look around for things to buy. Truly, the Christmas season there has a tremendous commercial appeal. 尤其，越南人喜欢在装满彩灯的大酒店和百货公司前拍照。餐馆里充满享受美食的人们。商店里也充满购物的人。越南的圣诞节季节充满商业味道。 Despite this, Christmas, especially for Vietnamese Catholics, are solemnly observed. Comprising only a small percentage of the country’s population, they attend Midnight Mass services and observe Christmas traditions chiefly influenced by the French. Catholic churches in Vietnam, for one, greet churchgoers with their Nativity scenes. During the season, people like to gift chocolate cakes that shape like a log, called the “buche de Noel.” 此外，越南虽然天主教不多，但是圣诞节对天主教而言很庄重。由于法国的影响，他们叁加午夜的诵经祈祷，庆祝传统的圣诞节。越南的天主教教堂里，人们互相慰问，充满当地色彩。在圣诞季节期间，人们喜欢赠送原木形状的巧克力蛋糕，他们叫做 ”buche de Noel。” Christmas around East and Southeast Asia is truly one of a kind. On one hand, the deep influence of the West paved the way for the holiday season in this side of the world to be commercialized. On the other hand, the solemnity of the observance, which is all about the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, compels people of the Christian faith to spiritually connect and reflect on the event. 在东亚和东南亚的圣诞节是独一无二的。一方面，由于西方的影响，使得圣诞节充满商业色彩。另一方面，庄重的传统，人们庆祝耶稣的诞生，是人们精神的体现。 Traditions surely vary from one nation to another, but a common theme found here is that people in this region, regardless if they are Christian or otherwise, regard the Christmas season as a time to bring joy to others and relish the company of friends and family. 各个国家的传统都各具特色，但是一个共同的主题，这些区域不管是不是基督教，人们都在圣诞季节，为别人带来欢庆，享受家人，朋友的欢乐。

The Monthly Bet

Dec 2015

Christmas | A Look at the Different Christmas Traditions Across East, Southeast Asia