NOVEMBER 2015 ISSUE | 2015年11月发布
VOLUME 2 | 第2期
THIRD PARTY PAYMENTS AND CRYPTOCURRENCIES 第三方支付和比特币
BITCOIN MARKET IN CHINA | 中国将慢慢控制比特币市场 UNIONPAY OVERSEAS WITHDRAWAL LIMITS | 中国对银联海外取款设置限额 BITCOIN IN TAIWAN AFTER PAYPAL’S EXIT | PayPal 退出台湾,比特币将迎来新机
CONTENTS // THIS ISSUE...
ASIA i-GAMING 4 8 12
Thailand and Its Proposal to Set Up an Internet Firewall Similar to China 泰国将效仿中国设立互联网防火墙 About the Live Casino Industry Craze and Its Rise in the Asian Market 真人博彩业的火爆和它在亚洲市场的崛起 Recent Illegal Gambling Crackdowns Across Asia 亚洲地区禁止非法赌博事件
THIRD-PARTY PAYMENTS/ CRYPTOCURRENCY 17 19 22 25
China Sets UnionPay Overseas Cash Withdrawal Limits 中国对银联海外取款设置限额 China Is Dominating the Bitcoin Market, Slowly but Surely 中国将慢慢控制比特币市场 PayPal Exits Taiwan; Gives Bitcoin a Chance to Prosper PayPal 退出台湾,比特币将迎来新机
About The Monthly Bet 关于电子杂志的
About the Topics in this Issue 电子杂志的主题
“Our aim for The Monthly Bet magazine to create an avenue where you, our valued partner, could find more information about the industry as well as in-depth features on different issues and topics that surround our industry. Oriental Game believes that sharing new information and knowledge is integral to the growth of our companies together.
“In this issue of The Monthly Bet, the focus is on the recent developments on third-party payments and cryptocurrencies. Game payment methods are an integral part of online gambling, so we took a closer look at what is happening around Asia and Europe regarding this aspect. Topics include China’s emergence as a Bitcoin powerhouse, Europe’s plan to regulate Bitcoin, China’s setting of overseas withdrawal limits for UnionPay users, and Bitcoin’s chances after Paypal’s exit from Taiwan. Completing this month’s publication are the iGaming news and features from both Asia and Europe.
我们月刊的目标是让我们的客户能更深 一步了解这个行业,拓展这个行业的 视角。 东方游戏相信分享新数据和知 识,将有利于公司的发展。 As we continue to provide more issues in the succeeding months, please continue to support our initiatives and I assure you that you would truly find our magazine a worthwhile read.” 以后我们将继续发布月刊,请继续关 注,支持我们月刊发布,我们的杂志将 值得您宝贵的时间。 -Richard, Marketing -Richard, 市场部
Europe Could Embrace Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency 欧洲将对比特币敞开大门
EUROPE iGAMING 29
In 2019, One in 10 Adults Will Be Gambling Online 2019,十分之一的成年人将在线赌博
31
The Fast Increase in Gambling in the Czech Republic 捷克博彩业的快速发展
34
这一期的月刊,焦点是第三方付款和虚 拟货币的发展。游戏付款方式是在线赌 博的不可或缺的部份,在这个方面,让 我们进一步看看在亚洲和欧洲发生的变 化。主题还包括中国是新兴的比特币市 场,欧洲为管理 Bitcoin 的计划,中 国对海外银联限额的设置,以及台湾的 Paypal 的退出服务。以上是亚洲和欧 洲这期月刊的主要内容。 The thrust of The Monthly Bet is to bring to you relevant content about iGaming, as well as updates within Oriental Game that we’d love to share with you. I personally hope that everything featured in this e-magazine issue will help you gain insights about the ever-growing industry of online gambling. I also hope that you continue patronizing our publication and, of course, Oriental Game.” 月刊将给您带来相关的电子游戏内容, 包括东方游戏的新闻更新。我希望在 这个电子杂志将开阔您的视野,进一 步了解在线赌博行业的发展前景。我 也希望你继继续关注我们的月刊,和 东方游戏。 -Ivan, Writer/Editor -Ivan, 作者
Not Just an Online Payment Processor: Skrill’s Venture in Gambling Affiliate Marketing Skrill 在线付款处理商,进军博彩联盟营销
Writer/Editor 笔者/编辑 // Ivan Competente ijcompetente@neworientalclub88.com
Customer Support 客户支持 support@orientalgame.com
Marketing 市场营销 // Richard Murillo rmurillo@orientalgame.com
Sales 销售 // John Philippe Chua jpchua@orientalgame.com http://www.og6666.com
3 November 2015
Thailand and Its Proposal to Set Up an Internet Firewall Similar to China 泰国将效仿中国设立互联网防火墙 China’s “Great Firewall” is surely complicated given its intricacies, but it is not possible that other countries may replicate it.
4 November 2015
中国的防火墙确实 复杂,其他国家很 难复制
Thailand and Its Proposal to Set Up an Internet Firewall Similar to China | ASIA iGAMING
O
ver the past few years, Thailand has not been timid when it comes to banning websites that they deem problematic. Before 2006, 34,411 websites were blocked by the Royal Thai Police, the Communications Authority of Thailand, and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology or MICT. A large chunk of these sites involved pornography at about 60%, while 11% were threats to national security, including criticisms to the country’s leaders plus the royal family. Only 2% were illegal gambling sites. During this time, Thailand only had a single international Internet gateway. 过去几年,泰国对互联网的管制一直很重视,2006年以 前,泰国皇家警察,通信局和信息通信部 联合隔离了34411个网址,60%的网址涉及淫秽内容,11% 威胁到国家安全,包括对皇室和国家元首的批判,只有 2%的涉及非法赌博,这段时间,泰国只有单一的国际互 联网通道。 By 2006, the country loosened its grip on Internet traffic, which led to over a hundred ISPs that were established there. These Internet service providers are now channeling traffic through ten international gateways. Despite this, the country continued to police Internet content, but not as systematic as that of China.
policies implemented by the CCP, then it is highly likely that that website won’t be seen when searched using Chinese ISPs. Indeed, websites that contain any “harmful information” such as politically and socially-sensitive topics or “harmful activities” such as gambling and promoting sexually suggestive materials, are prohibited. 中国内陆对互联网的监管是世界闻名的,媒体称之为‘ 防火墙’ 中国是世界上对互联网审查最严厉的国家。如 果网址内容危害到国家政府或政策,那么使用中国的网 络服务商将无法搜索到相关结果,这些涉及到危害信息 的网址,如政治,社会敏感话题,赌博,淫秽内容等是 不允许的。 What China does is not just block certain websites individually; they use techniques to scan URLs and web page content to filter keywords that are blacklisted like, say, “Tiananmen” or “democracy.” Generally, it controls the Internet gateways where traffic travels between China and the rest of the Internet using a combination of firewalls and proxy servers stationed at the gateways. It is from these gateways that Internet traffic is analyzed and manipulated.
2006年后,国家放松了互联网管 制,涌现了一百多个互联网服务 提供商,使用了10个国际互联网 通道,不过国家还是重视管理互 联网,虽然管理还没有像中国那 样系统化。
About China’s “Great Firewall” 中国的防火墙 Internet censorship in mainland China is very much well-known throughout the world, so much so that the media dubbed the various legislations and projects that the government initiated as the “Great Firewall of China.” Controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), it is the most advanced and most extensive Internet censorship regime in the world. Basically, if the content of a certain website is critical to the government or go against the Thailand and Its Proposal to Set Up an Internet Firewall Similar to China | ASIA iGAMING
中国不仅仅隔离某个网站,而且 使用科技扫描网址,和过滤关 键词,如天安门,民主等,通 过防火墙和代理服务器站控制 中国和其他互联网的交通,互 联网交通的解析和控制都是通 过这些通道。
Another “Great Firewall”? 将是另外一个防火墙吗 China’s “Great Firewall” is surely complicated given its intricacies, but it is not possible that other countries may replicate it. In fact, Thailand may possibly get in on the act after recent reports revealed that the present military government is laying down the political foundation that would radically restructure its own Internet. In a nutshell, this master plan would allow officials to closely monitor almost all digital traffic going in and out of the country. November 2015
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中国的防火墙确实复杂,其他国家很难复制。最近有些 报道称泰国政府将基本改造国家互联网结构,以便国家 能更好的监管基本上所有的进出信息交流。 The military junta, ever since taking over Thailand in 2014, has since been active in blocking hundreds of sites they consider illegal; even Facebook and Google wer e not spared for a time. Now, high ranking military officials are intent to revert to the single Internet gateway setup that was previously monopolized by the government pre-2006. That would mean that the government will no longer need to request ISPs to block a site or issue court orders. 泰国的军事执政团自2014 年以来,已经积极杜绝上 百个非法网站,facebook 和google 虽然暂时没有被 限,军政高官都想恢复单 互联网通道,就像2006年 以前一样,这就意味着政 府不需要在要求网络服务 商限制网站也不必发布法 庭通告。
Negative reactions 负面影响 Of course, the Thais, which have benefited on the fast Internet speeds and turning the country into a regional IT hub, responded negatively on the military government’s plan. When this news came out, around 72,000 people had signed a Change.org petition calling on the military junta to cancel the proposal. Critics have also said that the proposal may have horrible repercussions. Not only will this further increase censorship, but it may also leave the country’s status as an IT hub vulnerable in case the single gateway fails at some point.
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to just one “will be a tool to control inappropriate websites and the inbound of information and news from overseas to Thailand.” This is obviously echoing China’s thrust in Internet censorship. 为了减缓舆论压力,泰国信息通信部部长Uttama Savanayana, 宣称,议案议案不是为了监管互联网交 流,而是为了满足经济发展需求,跟之前说的减少到单 一互联网通道只是控制方法的网站以防止不良信息流入 泰国,很显然,是响应中国互联网管制。
What this means for online gambling in Thailand 对泰国在线博彩的影 响 Thailand’s plan would mean that among other things, online gambling may be immensely affected. It is worth noting, however, that even though Thailand prohibits any form of gambling (except the national lottery and horserace betting), it is still a big business there. In fact, three-fifths of Thais engage in poker, sports betting, or some form of gambling. 这将意味着,在线博彩将受到重大影响,然而,虽然泰 国禁止任何形式的赌博(除了国家彩票和赛马) 这个博彩行业还是具有发展前景。3/5的泰国人从事扑 克,体彩,还有其他形式的赌博。
Pushing through with the plan would mean Thailand is really serious in crippling gambling that they consider illegal. Then again, there is no guarantee that any gambling activities will be fully eradicated, let alone 泰国民众对政府的计划表示反对,消息一出,大约72000 the government discourage people from gambling 民众联名请愿要求军政集团放弃这个计划。评论家也宣 online or otherwise. Indeed, building a firewall like that of China involves a lot of technical know-how. Sure, 称这个计划将造成重大的负面反响。因为不仅加强监 管,如果在单一互联网通道遇到问题时候,国家的信息 Thailand, being one of Southeast Asia’s prominent IT hub, can pull it off, but even if the single gateway is 安全将受到严重威胁。 already established, it will still have kinks that need to In an attempt to allay the public’s growing concern over be ironed out. this possibility, the head of Thailand’s MICT, Uttama 尽管泰国政府大力禁止方法赌博,但是并不能根除博彩 Savanayana, said that the proposal is not designed 行业。建立像中国一样的防火墙需要技术,泰国,作为 to spy on Internet traffic flow, but to “serve basic economic needs.” This is in stark contrast to the recent 一个重要的东南亚的信息中心,即时建立了单一互联网 通道,还是有许多后续事情需要处理。 cabinet statement saying that narrowing the gateway November 2015
Thailand and Its Proposal to Set Up an Internet Firewall Similar to China | ASIA iGAMING
China’s own firewall may be intimidating, but for all we know, it may not be that perfect as the thought of blocking or censoring just about everything is, to say the least, challenging. There has been success in bypassing the firewall with all the VPNs, and it is no surprise that Thailand’s own version of it can be bypassed, too, thus the possibility of creating even more opportunities for individuals to collect wagers online from interested bettors. 中国的防火墙具有威慑力,但是 也不是完美的,已经有相关的vpn 成功通过防火墙,所以通过泰国 防火墙也是不奇怪的,所以还是 有很多机会可以从事网络博彩。
About 37 percent of Thais are Internet users. With the plan to restrict the country’s Internet traffic through a single gateway now in the open, most of the netizens fear that the military government will easily control what they see and what they cannot see.
“It is worth noting, however, that even though Thailand prohibits any form of gambling (except the national lottery and horserace betting), it is still a big business there.”
大约37%的泰国人是网民。随着计划来限制该国 的互联网流量通过单个网关最后透露,大部分的 网友担心军事政府将轻松地控制他们所看到的和 他们看不见。
这将意味着,在线博彩将受到重大 影响,然而,虽然泰国禁止任何形 式的赌博(除了国家彩票和赛马)
Thailand and Its Proposal to Set Up an Internet Firewall Similar to China | ASIA iGAMING
7 November 2015
City of Macau: the focal point of Asia’s multi-billion dollar gambling industry 澳门市: 它是亚洲赌博业的焦点,赌博金额达到数十亿美金
Makati City, Philippines: one of the top live casino hotbeds in Asia 马卡蒂市菲律宾: 亚洲顶级在线直播赌场温床之一
A typical live casino studio | 一个典型的真人娱乐工作室
About the Live Casino Industry Craze and Its Rise in the Asian Market 真人博彩业的火爆和它在亚洲市场的崛起 In a typical live casino setting, whether it is in a real casino or in a studio, a dealer manning, for example, a baccarat table, is facing a static camera, which records the action in real time. The live footage is then fed to the servers and then streamed over the Internet going to the players’ desktops or mobile phones. The cards being dealt are also fed to the servers after being read by a visual recognition device.
8 November 2015
真人博彩,无论是否它在一个真实的赌场或者在一间工 作室,由荷官操作。例如,百家乐,正对着静态的照相 机,照相机将实时摄像,并把摄像视频发送到服务器, 再由服务器传递到玩家电脑或者移动设备上。被处理的 卡片在被一个视觉的承认装置读之后也被喂到伺候器所 有纸牌也通过视频识别装置后也将发送到服务器。
About the Live Casino Industry Craze and Its Rise in the Asian Market | ASIA iGAMING
In the perspective of the players, they are able to place their bets with the aid of the interface found on their desktop or mobile phone screens. The interfaces also allow them to read the instructions on how to play the casino games, as well as check their respective account balance and view their betting history of the games they previously played. The software being used basically controls the whole game, as it calculates the resulting payouts and promptly updates the information found on the players’ screen interface.
But why is it a phenomenon in the first place? It is worth mentioning first the no.1 gambling market in Asia: China. With the exception of Macau and the state-run lotteries, the mainland strictly prohibits any form of gambling. The Chinese, given their willingness to gamble, began looking elsewhere. Before, they had no other choice but to visit Macau, as well as other countries in the world where brick-and-mortar gambling is welcomed, even it would mean wasting money just for travel alone.
从玩家的角度看,他们能够通过移动设备的界面下赌 注。界面也可以看到相关的游戏规则和操作,同时可以 查询各自账户的余额,查看他们的历史记录。软件控制 整个游戏,自动结算派彩,并会即时更新界面信息。
但是首先,为什么是一种现象呢?值得提到的第一个是 中国是亚洲第一赌博市场。除了澳门和国营的彩票,大 陆禁止任何形式的博彩。大陆严格地禁止任何形式的赌 博。中国人喜欢赌博,以前他们只能到澳门和其他允许 赌博的国家,即使需要花费很多旅游的钱。
This is what basically happens in a live casino. First developed in Europe, it is one of the fastest-growing aspects of online gambling. So popular is this industry that it made waves in the Asian continent not long after. 真人博彩,最早源于欧洲是在线博彩中发展最快的。这 个行业如此流行,不久后便在亚洲大陆盛行。
Live casino industry in Asia: a phenomenon 亚洲真人博彩---一种现象 Whenever we think of gambling in Asia, we think first of Macau, a former Portuguese colony and China’s special administrative region. It is deemed the focal point of Asia’s multi-billion dollar gambling industry; so big that it overtook Las Vegas, Nevada in the United States in terms of gross gaming revenue. Sure, the grandiose brick-and-mortar casinos in Macau, as well as the vast gaming floors and numerous attractions there is what makes the Asian gambling a revenuegenerating industry. But the Asian gambling industry is not only restricted to these establishments; even the phenomenon of live casinos and its accompanying technology is a big reason for its growth.
But as technological advancements, particularly Internet connectivity and computing, became necessities in this fast-paced world, the combination of gambling and these innovations became inevitable. What branched out from the whole scope of Asian gambling is an all-new facet; an alternative where players can bet at the comfort of their own homes without ever going to Macau or any casino establishment there or outside the mainland. Later on, smartphones became the “thing,” which made it possible for these online players to gamble at any time and any place. Thus, the live casino industry was born. 但随着科技的进步,特别是互联网和计算机,以满足快 节奏的需要,博彩和相关创新都是不可避免的。从整个 亚洲博彩市场分支出来的将是全新的方面;玩家将可以 不用去澳门或者其他赌场,在家就可以赌博。以后智能 手机将让玩家随时随都能赌博,而真人博彩业才刚刚诞 生。
想到亚洲的博彩行业,我们首先想到澳门,前葡萄牙殖 民地,现在是中国的特别行政区。它是亚洲赌博业的焦 点,赌博金额达到数十亿美金;毛收入超过了美国拉斯 维加斯。当然,澳门宏伟的实体赌场,和巨大的赌厅和 其他吸引让澳门博彩行业创造巨大的财富。但是亚洲博 彩行业的发展不仅仅是真实赌场,真人博彩和相关技术 的应用也将大大促进该行业的发展。
About the Live Casino Industry Craze and Its Rise in the Asian Market | ASIA iGAMING
“As technological advancements, particularly Internet connectivity and computing, became necessities in this fast-paced world, the combination of gambling and these innovations became inevitable.” “但随着科技的进步,特别是互联网 和计算机,以满足快节奏的需要,博 彩和相关创新都是不可避免的。”
9 November 2015
A brief history of online gambling, live dealer casinos in both Europe and Asia 在线博彩的简要历史,亚洲和欧洲的真人博 彩业 To better understand live casinos and online gambling as a whole, it worth noting the place where it all started—Europe. In 1996, the Isle of Man-based software development company Microgaming launched its first online casino. Since then, Microgaming, along with other similar companies like Playtech and Evolution Gaming, began to shape the live casino industry to what it is today, through innovations that go with the advances in technology particularly in Internet speeds. Eventually, in 2003, Playtech rolled out its first live dealer solution, which is then distributed to their suppliers (that is, online casino websites). It was the first time that online gamblers don’t just play with desktops in-front of them. They are playing in-front of their desktops but with live dealers in action, all in real time. 为了更好理解在线博彩和真人博彩,我们可以从发源 地-欧洲开始了解。在 1996 年, 男人為主的软件发 展公司 Microgaming第一次发布了在线博彩。此后, Microgaming,连同其他类似的公司像 Playtech 和 Evolution Gaming,开始改变了在线博彩行业,并发 展到今天。随着互联网速度与技术的进步,2003 年, Playtech 开发了真人博彩方案,并发布给了它的供应商 (即在线赌场网站)。这是第一次在玩家在线体验真人 博彩。
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当欧洲的真人博彩在演变,亚洲的在线博彩市场正开始 繁荣。事实上,亚洲的科技进步至少比欧洲延迟3年。 在 1998 年, Betworks成为第一个亚洲在线赌场,直 到 2004 年,EntwineTech才开始涉足真人在线博彩。此 后,其他类似的公司,像是 SunCity 、Asia Gaming和 HoGaming ,开始逐渐进入该行业。就像欧洲,他们能够 不断的创新以吸引中国人为主的博彩市场。这些公司不 仅沿用了欧洲市场的发展脚步,也考虑到用户体验,这 对发展在线博彩,特别是亚洲真人博彩的发展有着重要 作用。举例来说,咪牌功能,和同机器人发牌,是亚洲 市场的其中两个高端特色,而欧洲市场没有这些。
Growth to other parts of Asia 亚洲其他地区的博彩发展
To cater to the Chinese and the Asian market as a whole, companies providing live dealer solutions have taken their operations to regions where gambling is legalized. The Philippines, for one, is one of the most liberal gambling laws in the world and is considered one As the European live casino market began its evolution, of the hotbeds for live casinos. Online gambling is fully legal in the Philippines, with the First Cagayan Leisure the Asian market for live casinos began to flourish. and Resorts Corporation (FCLRC) the chief regulator of In fact, it followed behind Europe by almost three live casinos targeting foreign punters across Asia. The years for technological advances. In 1998, Betworks established itself as the first Asian online casino, but it country is home to numerous casino studio locations wasn’t until 2004 when EntwineTech (a.k.a. EA) blazed that are mostly situated in one of Manila’s suburbs: Makati City. Among these companies are Playtech, the trail in the live dealer casino market. Since then, other similar companies such as SunCity, Asia Gaming, which has an Asian studio apart from the European and HoGaming began to enter the industry. Just like in studio, and the Philippine-based EA or EntwineTech, Opus Gaming, and Asia Gaming, among others. Europe, they were able to come up with innovations that appealed to the gambling market which is mainly 为了满足满足亚洲和中国市场,这些公司向赌博合法 composed of the Chinese. The companies may have copied improvements from the European market, but 化的国家提供在线真人博彩方案。菲律宾是其中一个世 界上博彩法律最自由的国家,被视为其中一个真人博彩 they were able to take into account user experience, 的温床。在线赌博在菲律宾完全合法。First Cagayan a big key in expanding online gambling, especially Leisure and Resorts Corporation (FCLRC)是监管 live casinos, in Asia. For instance, the squeeze card 真人博彩的主要机构。菲律宾马尼拉郊区的makati是 function, as well as robotic dealers, are just two of 许多博彩公司的所在地,Playtech 不仅在欧洲有工作 the many advances that the Asian market pioneered, 室,在makati 也有。另外如EA (EntwineTech), Opus which the European market did not have. Gaming, and Asia Gaming等都集中于此。 November 2015
About the Live Casino Industry Craze and Its Rise in the Asian Market | ASIA iGAMING
Live casino game displays are a common sight inside the studio. 游戏显示器活赌场演播室里的是常见的景象。
What’s next for the live dealer casino industry in Asia? 亚洲真人博彩行业将会怎样? Things are definitely looking up for this growing facet of online gambling in Asia. Nowadays, thirdparty payment processors, which continue to attract gamblers who want to move their bets via electronic means in the safest and most secure manner, is growing at a fast rate; a testament to the rise of live dealer casinos and online gambling as a whole. 其他相关行业也随着亚洲博彩市场发展而寻求发展。现 在,第三方收汇款平台,不断吸引了想要以安全、可靠 电讯方式转款的玩家,并迅速发展,这是真人博彩和在 线博彩崛起的证明。 What will also bring about the constant rise in live dealer casinos within Asia is the commercialization of mobile technology. Now, people are connected to the Internet not just through desktops, but also through mobile phones. Incorporating this and the industry would surely boost in revenue. Online gamblers are able to do place their bets anytime and everywhere, as long as they have stable Internet connection. 移动技术商业化是 亚洲真人博彩持 续发展的以重要原 因。现在,人们可 以不仅仅通过电脑 连接网络,可以通 过手机连接。综合 这些因素,在线博 彩将不断发展。 在线玩家可以随时 随地下赌注, 只 要能够连接网络。
Also, because of the stiff competition within the industry, companies that provide live dealer solutions come up with ways to bring in more online gamblers. Indeed, they employ different methods in their marketing efforts, such as bringing in female nondealers to provide entertainment for the players (they were trained to deal!) and bonuses, promotions, and the like. Above all, the key for the industry to remain a phenomenon in the Asian market is for it to keep up with Europe in terms of technology and combine the needs to the market in order to create a truly unique product offering. 同时, ,因为这个行业激烈的竞争,这些公司将提供其 他的服务以便吸引更多客服。他们在开发市场上做了很 多努力,例如为玩家提供娱乐活动,津贴,促销 等。首 要的是,亚洲在线博彩行业将跟上欧洲博彩行业的科技 技术,联合客户的需求,将提供特色的在线博彩。 Surely, the Asian live casino industry will continue to prosper. It may face challenges along the way, but with more gamblers across the continent taking part in this, the industry has never been as robust and more popular as it was when it first came to be. 当然,亚洲的真人博彩行业将会继续兴旺。发展之路可 能会面临挑战,由 于亚洲更多的玩家 加入博彩行业,这 个行业将遇到前所 未有的发展机遇。
About the Live Casino Industry Craze and Its Rise in the Asian Market | ASIA iGAMING
11 November 2015
Recent Illegal Gambling Crackdowns Across Asia 亚洲地区禁止非法赌博事件 The year 2015 saw local Asian news outlets reporting about illegal gambling crackdowns that have resulted in the arrest and prosecution of thousands, if not hundreds, of individuals. The following is a timeline of events involving local authorities from across Asia successfully carrying out operations to curb illegal online gambling starting earlier this year. 年亚洲地区有很多禁止非法赌博事件事件,抓了上 千人,并对他们提出了控诉,以下是亚洲地区禁赌 的时间时间表
January 2015 2015年1月 A call center in Makati City in the Philippines was raided by the operatives of the Bureau of Immigration (BI). The crackdown resulted in the arrest of 73 foreigners from over eight countries, all of whom were taken to custody for lack of valid work visas. The call center in question was being operated by Super 7 Ventures, a company which, according to an anonymous tipster, was accused of operating a realmoney online gambling site cloaked as a call center on behalf of a “syndicate.” 菲律宾移民局突查了 Makati 的呼叫中心,抓捕了73名 外国人,这些人由于没有工作签证被全部扣押,涉事的 呼叫中心是 Super 7 ,据匿名举报,该呼叫中心实际从 事真钱的网络赌博。
12 November 2015
Recent Illegal Gambling Crackdowns Across Asia | ASIA iGAMING
February-August 2015 2015-2到8月 How can we not include Bo Wang on this timeline? He was accused of heading a PHP91 billion crime syndicate in the mainland via the Manila-based Skybet network gambling company. This all started when the same BI in the Philippines arrested him at the main airport in Manila February 5 after flying in the country from Malaysia. He was found to possess a cancelled passport and his name was on the blacklist of the bureau. A month later, while Wang was in detention in the country, the Chinese consulate informed the BI that he is wanted for heading an “illegal online gambling operation.” It was later revealed by the Chinese embassy that he was fugitive wanted by the Interpol and the government of China for illegal gambling and money laundering. By August, the Secretary of Justice ordered Bo Wang’s deportation to his home country. 事件表上少不了王博,他在马尼拉的公司Skybet涉嫌910 亿菲律宾比索非法博彩。2月5号移民局在机场抓获了从 马来西亚飞回菲律宾的王博,他被发现使用了一本已经 注销的护照,他的名字在移民局黑名单上,他被扣押在 菲律宾,一个月后,中国领事馆通知移民局他是中国正 在通缉的非法在线赌博犯,随后中国使馆也揭示了他由 于从事非法赌博和洗钱被是国际刑警和中 国政府通缉到 8月份,司法部下令将其驱逐出境。
June 2015 2015年6月 Six South Koreans were arrested in a raid on illegal online gambling operations in Thailand. The police arrested the men while allegedly receiving bets on overseas football matches. Seized inside the apartment where they were caught red-handed were mobile phones, computers, bank books, and other electronic devices. Actually, this was just one of the many crackdowns that the Thai authorities carried out against expatriate South Koreans living in the country.
Recent Illegal Gambling Crackdowns Across Asia | ASIA iGAMING
泰国6名韩国人非法在线赌博被抓,当时警察抓捕了正 在接收海外足彩的押注,在寓所内还发现了手机, 笔记本电脑,存折,和其他的电讯工具,事实 上,这只是泰国当局抓捕住在泰国的外国人 非法赌博的一个案例
July 2015 2015-7月 Another online gaming call center raid occurred around this time in, again, the Philippines. The number of people arrested that time, however, was staggering: more than 200 foreign nationals. Like what happened in Makati City months prior, the bust, which involved the authorities rounding up the units at the Newport City complex in Pasay City, found that the nationals were found to have no proper documents and the required work permits to perform work in the Philippines. 像前几个月在Makati被抓的事件一样,另外一个呼叫 中心在菲律宾被捣毁,超过200位外国人,在Pasay 新 港口城市大厦被捕,他们没有合法的工作许可。
August 18, 2015 2015-8-18 The “clean the Internet” initiative that the Chinese government announced a month prior was again a success after the Chinese police announced the detentions of over 15,000 individuals. The detentions were the result of crimes that puts into jeopardy Internet security. Indeed, the police investigated 66,000 websites, exposing 7,400 cases of “cybercrime” where the sites promoted “illegal and harmful information” such as pornography, gambling, firearms, and explosives. This is, of course, the “Great Firewall” of China doing work.
13 November 2015
月前中国政府宣布了‘互联网清理‘ 活动,中国警察抓 August 23, 2015 捕了超过15000名个人,他们涉嫌危害网络安全。警察调 2015-8-23 查了66000个网站,发现7400起网络犯罪,这些网站推广 非法和有害信息,如色情,赌博,武器,爆炸等,这些 South Korean authorities have broken up an Internet 当然都是中国的防火墙发现的。 gambling operation hiding under the guise of an online shopping network, the Korea Times reported. At least August 20, 2015 four individuals were arrested in the bust. The illegal gambling ring involved 30 different sites taking bets 2015-8-20 from Korean customers, all of which operated from Forty-eight foreigners suspected of operating an illegal within China to avoid detection by the authorities. Meanwhile, in Chiang Mai in Thailand, a group of online gambling den were detained after Indonesian South Korean expatriates running an illegal gambling authorities raided a tourist resort in the island of Bali. Thirty-five men and 13 women from China and Taiwan operation were arrested by immigration authorities. The leader of the group said that they chose to operate were rounded up, some even trying to escape the police. This is expected for a country—with 90% of the in Thailand mainly because of the lax prosecutions populations practicing Islam—that strictly prohibits any against online gambling, as compared to his home country. form of gambling. 48名外国人在印尼巴厘岛从事非法赌博被抓捕,其中35 名男性和13名女性,他们来自中国大陆和台湾,被包围 后视图逃跑,印尼是个90%人口是穆斯林的 国家,禁止任何形式的赌博。
14 November 2015
Recent Illegal Gambling Crackdowns Across Asia | ASIA iGAMING
韩国当局成功破获了一个网上赌博,他们以购物网站为 What can be seen in this timeline 幌子。据韩国时报报道,至少4人被抓获,这个博彩机构 of events? 从30个不同网站获取押注,这些网站有来自中国的。同 时在泰国清迈,一些韩国人从事赌博被移民局抓获,据 从这些事件时间表可以看出什么 为首的嫌犯介绍,他们在泰国经营是因为泰国相对他们 Based on the events that happened over the past few 国家对赌博管理的比较松 months, one can notice that there common themes occurring across the continent. Groups of individuals September 1, 2015 are actually moving to another country with lenient 2015-9-1 online gambling-related laws and regulations, and then they will set up their operations there with the hopes Fifty-six people in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam of targeting bettors back home. Sometimes, they were sentenced by the People’s Court in Ho Chi Minh risk themselves of getting caught, especially if they City to prison time ranging from nine months to eight possess tourist visas instead of working visas. Another years for their alleged involvement in illegal online theme found in this timeline is the fact that there are gambling. Eight others were also tasked to pay a fine still citizens that continuously illegally operate websites between VND 30 and 50 million. The gambling ring despite the fact that their respective countries have operated five years ago through 188Bet, wherein the strict regulations against any form of gambling, not members disguised themselves as telecom equipment to mention harsh penalties. Not to be forgotten, company employees. however, is the effort of the authorities to carry out the operations and successful detain the individuals 胡志明法院宣判了56个非法从事赌博的罪犯,他们有着 involved. Apart from the local police doing the busts 9个月到8年不等的从事在线赌博经历,另外8人被处以 against their fellow citizens, there is also cooperation 3000-5000万越南盾不等的罚款。赌博中心是5年前通过 between countries where foreigners charged with 188bet网站经营的,他们都伪装成通信设备公司员工 illegal gambling are deported as evidenced by the Bo Wang situation mentioned above.
September 8, 2015 2015-9-8
Days after the abovementioned, Vietnamese authorities were once again successful in entrapping individuals involved in illegal gambling. Twenty-eight people were charged for engaging in an online gambling ring that collected over VND 301 billion ($13 million) in bet money. The alleged leader of the group Pham Huy Toan reportedly possessed almost 60 bank accounts that he used to obtain said amount of money from local players, including doctors, students, and even government officials.
就几个月前发生的这些事情,他们 有个共同点,就是 从事非法在线赌博,他们远到其他对赌博比较松的国家 经营博彩。他们有些只有旅游签证,冒着被抓的风险。 另外就是有些国家明确禁止赌博,不顾法律制裁,还是 有些人从事冒险从事在线博彩。别忘了,除了当地警察 外,国家间也会合作对非法赌博进行抓捕,就像王博一 样的案件。
2015-9-8号以后,越南当局再次包围了一些从事非法赌 博的人员,28个组成的从事在线赌博的机构被抓获,涉 案金额达到3010亿越南盾,折约1300万美金,这些人以 Pham Huy Toan 为首,有超过60个银行账户用于收款, 玩家包括医生,学生,政府人员。
Recent Illegal Gambling Crackdowns Across Asia | ASIA iGAMING
15 November 2015
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China Sets UnionPay Overseas Cash Withdrawal Limits 中国对银联海外取款设置限额 Deterring money laundering and decreasing capital outflow are just some of the reasons why China’s State Administration for Foreign Exchange or SAFE decided to tighten management of cross-border cash withdrawals. Just before September ended, the Chinese foreign exchange regulator announced new annual limits on automated teller machine (ATM) cash withdrawals outside of the country using the UnionPay electronic transfer system. 为了反洗钱和减少资本 外流,国家外汇管理局 (SAFE)决定加强跨境取 款管理,9月末,外汇管 理局发布了新的针对银联 ATM 境外取款限额。 The limits, which UnionPay said aimed at “further enhancing the work on anti-money laundering and the prevention of financial risks,” will take effect January 1, 2016, wherein the bank’s card holders will now be only be allowed to withdraw up to RMB100,000 in overseas cash annually. The SAFE, however, did not wait for 2016; from October 1 until the end of the year, each card may be used to withdraw no more than RMB50,000. The limits are on top of the existing policy which sets daily withdrawal limits at RMB10,000 per ATM card, or equivalent amount in foreign currency.
According to SAFE, violators will be added to a watch list and will be subsequently be prevented from making additional cash withdrawals outside China. Apart from Chinese UnionPay card holders, the annual limits will also affect those with Visa and MasterCards that were issued in the mainland. 根据国家外汇管理局(SAFE)的规定,违者将被列为 观察名单,随后在海外将不能在继续取款,除了中 国银联,大陆签发的Visa ,MasterCard 信用卡也将执 行同样的年度限额。 SAFE has implemented policies to urge consumers to use UnionPay cards and other bank cards for crossborder transactions since 2008. But a spokesman from the said government agency said that recent monitoring results show that UnionPay cardholders overseas have withdrawn strangely large amounts of cash with high frequency, something that authorities have warned against. 国家外汇管理局SAFE 从2008年开始鼓励消费者使用银联 跨境交易。然而当局发言人指出,一些银联使用者在海 外频繁地进行异常的大数额取现,而这时当局所警告过 的。
限额的目的是进一步加强反洗钱和减少金融危机,将从 2016-1-1起开始实行,银联持有者海外每年的限额将只 有10万人民币,然而没有等到明年,外管局从今年10-1 日起,每张卡取现将不能超过5万人民币,这个规定凌驾 于现有的每张卡每天不能超过1万人民币或者等额外币的 规定。
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China Sets UnionPay Overseas Cash Withdrawal Limits | THIRD-PARTY PAYMENTS/CRYPTOCURRENCY
November 2015
Implications in the gambling arena 博彩业的控诉 Of course, the regulatory changes in the use of UnionPay ATM cards have repercussions in the gambling market, regardless if it is land-based or online. Indeed, many Chinese punters use their UnionPay cards (or Chinese-issued Visas or MasterCards) to access their cash for play not just in Macau casinos, but also in other places around Asia where gambling is fully regulated.
On the other hand, brokerage firm Bernstein Research indicated that the new regulations will cause “incremental headwind” to Macau’s gross gaming revenue (GGR), especially the “premium mass” gambling market. This refers to the group of players who are considered highly valuable among casino operators and are oftentimes able to place cash bets greater than those who bet in small amounts or the “grind mass” players.
另一方面,经纪公司Bernstein Research 指出新的规定 将对澳门博彩业造成营业收入下滑,特别是高级的博彩 市场,高级博彩市场是赌场经营者更加看中的,相比小 当然外管局对银联ATM的规定对博彩行业造成反响,不管 玩家,他们的赌博金额更大。 是在线还是真实赌场。 的确,有很多赌博者使用银联或 者中国签发的信用卡,在澳门赌博,不过亚洲其他区域 According to the brokerage firm, the premium mass 博彩行业也都收到管制。 market are those who utilize, among others, UnionPay Financial analysts have varying opinions with regards the move. On one hand, UBS Securities Asia Ltd said that there will be “no material direct impact” on the Macau gambling market, because using the ATMs for cash withdrawals is just one of the sources of cash for most gamblers. But then, it cautioned that the measures are likely to cause “sentiment overhang” among mainland consumers using the card.
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cards to withdraw cash for play in Macau casinos. Although many of them have multiple cards under their names, these gamblers may find their access to cash more limited once the limits are implemented next year. 根据经纪公司,在澳门,主要的玩家都是使用银联取 款,他们有不同的银联卡,如果限额明年开始执行,这 些玩家只能通过更多渠道取更多的现金。
关于这项举措,金融分析师们也有不同的观点,一方 面,UBS 亚洲证券公司宣称,对澳门博彩业,没有直接 实质性的影响,因为通过ATM取现只是其中的一种方式, 不过对中国内陆的消费者而言,他们也将收到相关影 响,也会造成心理上的波动。
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November 2015
China Sets UnionPay Overseas Cash Withdrawal Limits | THIRD-PARTY PAYMENTS/CRYPTOCURRENCY
China Is Dominating the Bitcoin Market, Slowly but Surely 中国将慢慢控制比特币市场
China as we know it is no longer the so-called sleeping dragon; right now, it has surpassed the United States as the largest economy in the world. That distinction won’t be possible without the country’s bountiful resources, a vast workforce, and technological advances. It is not anymore surprising that China is competing with the rest of the world. In fact, over the recent years, China has significantly influenced world market trends, with impact affecting over a plethora of industries, including the market involving Bitcoin. 中国不再是沉睡的巨龙,已经超过美国成为最大的贸易 大国,这离不开中国的地大物博,丰富劳动力,发达技 术,中国足以与世界其他任何国家竞争。实际上,中国 影响世界市场,影响各个行业,包括比特币。
Currently, a substantial share of transactions involving cryptocurrencies comes from China. Reports even suggest that the whole Bitcoin market in the country is made up of about 80 percent of Bitcoin and other Bitcoin alternative (altcoin) transactions. Indeed, any changes happening within the Chinese market can have repercussions on a global scale; the same can be said when it comes to cryptocurrencies. 目前,大量的虚拟货币交易在中国发生,中国占据了80% 的比特币市场和其他虚拟货币市场,中国的任何改变将 在世界范围造成反响,包括比特币市场。
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China Is Dominating the Bitcoin Market, Slowly but Surely | THIRD-PARTY PAYMENTS/CRYPTOCURRENCY
November 2015
It can be remembered that last August, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) devalued the yuan by 1.9 percent in an effort to make its exchange rate more market-oriented. This led to investors exchanging their yuan (formally, the renminbi or RMB) to Bitcoin as a way of rescuing the equivalent value of the amount. This reaction is what led to the shift in the Bitcoin’s price, not to mention a major movement in the graph involving the fiat and the digital currencies. Apart from this, analysts saw that these investors are exchanging their cash into Bitcoin, and then exchange whatever Bitcoin they have back to RMB or USD later, depending on how the digital currency performs in the market. Any uptick will make the investors convert their Bitcoin to RMB, whereas any decrease in the price gives them the option to convert the same to the USD instead. 去年8月,中国人民银行让人民币贬值1.9% 以调节外汇 市场。这样有很多人为了保值将人民币兑换成比特币。 这样促进了比特币升值。这不仅仅是法定和虚拟货币的 运动,分析师指出很多将现金转成比特币在换成人民币 或者美金,这取决于数字货币在市场的表现力。如果人 民币升值,投资者就会换成人民币或者美元。 There is no doubt that the yuan devaluation sent ripples throughout the entire global market, but it just proved China just how strong it is. This was apparent in the effects felt throughout the entire Bitcoin market wherein Chinese citizens who use Bitcoin are greatly liable for advancing the digital currency into reaching its objectives.
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毋庸置疑,人民币贬值将影响国际市场,这反应了中国 在国际的地位,这也影响了比特币市场,中国公民将人 民币换成了虚拟货币。 We surely get the fact that China is instrumental in raising the bar on the utilization of the Bitcoin and in the aspect of digital currency as a whole. This puts into light, therefore, the question of whether to regulate cryptocurrencies in the country or not. Leon Li, the CEO of Huobi, one of China’s top Bitcoin exchanges, argued that regulating the Bitcoin “should be encouraged and supported strongly,” as the Chinese Bitcoin market is the largest in the world in terms of Bitcoin trading and mining, something that can display great potential. 我们已经知道中国对比特币和其他虚拟货币的影响,因 此,是否要监管虚拟货币市场显得格外重要,中国知名 的比特币兑换结构CEO Leon Li 宣称应该大力鼓励,支 持使用比特币,因为中国是世界上最大的比特币交易和 挖矿市场,发展潜力巨大。 Even though the Bitcoin is restricted in the mainland (thanks to the PBOC), Huobi and all the other Bitcoin exchanges such as OKcoin and BtcChina continue to perform trade transactions. While the Bitcoin market in China remains strong, the question of whether or not Bitcoin gambling will prosper still needs to be answered.
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China Is Dominating the Bitcoin Market, Slowly but Surely | THIRD-PARTY PAYMENTS/CRYPTOCURRENCY November 2015
虽然比特币市场在中国由于中国人民银行受 到限制,huobi 和其他的比特币交换结构如 okcoin,btcchina 继续进行交易,比特币在中国市场研 究强势,不过比特币赌博能否繁荣还有待进一步观察。
China’s status as a world economic superpower can be attributed to a lot of things, including the growth of the Bitcoin industry. The controversies surrounding Bitcoin might still be lingering, but the opportunities for using this digital currency is already apparent, especially that online gambling using Bitcoin is possible. Definitely, there is a future for the Bitcoin gambling market in China, given the technology available for it to happen without crossing the line of being illegal. Yet only time will tell for this really happen.
As we all know, China is strict when it comes to gambling, with the exception, of course, of state-run lotteries and the regulated gambling happening in the special administrative region of Macau. But given the latter’s gross gaming revenue being generated from both land-based and online gambling, there is definitely an opportunity for Bitcoin gambling, especially in a 中国这样的经济大国会对许多领域做出贡献,包括比特 Bitcoin market hub as big as China. 币行业,比特币的争议可能还是继续存在,但是虚拟货 币的机会也是很明显的,特别是在线博彩行业的应用, 众所周知,中国对博彩很严厉,除了国营的彩票和澳门 比特币在中国博彩市场将会进一步发展,科技能不能越 特别行政区,赌场和在线博彩为澳门带来了巨大收入, 过比特币博彩‘合法化’只能留给时间见证。 因此像中国这样巨大的比特币市场,比特币博彩也将具 有很大机会。 While the Bitcoin gambling industry is far from getting developed into its initial stages, one can just imagine how the whole sector will flourish if the government decides to fully regulate it, let alone other cryptocurrencies. Though restricted, gambling with the use of Bitcoin can provide the best solution that will benefit not just the players, but also the operators. For one thing, players with Bitcoins to use can anonymously place their bets online. Plus, transactions are hassle-free and easy. And, with the numerous technologies available, buying cryptocurrency (or Bitcoin for that matter) and then exchanging them for RMB, USD, or any other fiat currency can be done. Truly, Bitcoin will drastically change the gambling market, making it an industry that is even more transparent, profitable, and convenient for players. 虽然比特币博彩还是初始阶段,我们可以想象,如果政 府加强管理,这个行业将会怎么样繁荣发展。尽管虚拟 货币收到限制,比特币在博彩行业的应用将会使玩家 和赌场经营者大大受益。一方面,玩家可以匿名在线下 赌注,交易很容易进行,随着科技的发展,购买虚拟货 币,然后转换成人民币,美元,或者其他法定货币,比 特币将重大改变博彩市场,将使这个行业变得更透明, 更容易。
“While the Bitcoin market in China remains strong, the question of whether or not Bitcoin gambling will prosper still needs to be answered.” 比特币在中国市场研究强 势,不过比特币赌博能否繁 荣还有待进一步观察。
China Is Dominating the Bitcoin Market, Slowly but Surely | THIRD-PARTY PAYMENTS/CRYPTOCURRENCY
21 November 2015
PayPal Exits Taiwan; Gives Bitcoin a Chance to Prosper PayPal 退出台湾,比特币将迎来新机 Ever since it broke away from its parent company eBay, PayPal, one of the world’s top online payment services, has been announcing several changes that can be described as “questionable.” Among these changes targeted customers from Taiwan, in which the company announced earlier last month that they will cease supporting domestic transactions there. PayPal 是国际上最知名的在线支付平台,自从母公司 eBay分离以后,已经做出了不小改变,上个月PayPal又 做出了重大举动,他们将退出台湾的服务。 The following is the company’s notice informing Taiwanese users of the change: 以下是公司发布的通知:
Please note that you will still be able to receive payments from international sales and trading, as well as make payments for purchases of goods or services from overseas merchants. 不过您还是可以用于收取国际贸易的收付款。 We sincerely apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause. We will continue to enhance our platform and improve our services to serve your needs.” 为此造成的不便,我们衷心的表示歉意。我们将继 续加强平台以便为您提供更好的服务。”
“Dear customers, “尊敬的用户, We’ll be streamlining our services in Taiwan, and our system will be enhanced to ensure that domestic commercial payments will not be processed, in compliance with local laws and regulations. 我们将合理化台湾的服务,根据当地的法律法规, 我们将加强系统,并停止本地的商业支付。 These changes will take effect from September 21, 2015, and you will not be able to use your PayPal account registered in Taiwan to send payments to, or receive payments from, other PayPal accounts registered in Taiwan. 本次调整将从2015-9-21号开始执行,台湾地区注册 的PayPal账户将不能收取,支付其他台湾地区注册的 账户。
22 November 2015
PayPal Exits Taiwan; Gives Bitcoin a Chance to Prosper | THIRD-PARTY PAYMENTS/CRYPTOCURRENCY
The phrase “in compliance with local laws and regulations” is not unexpected, considering the fact that there have been changes in Taiwan in terms of its laws and regulations regarding online payments. Case in point: last year, Taiwan presented an e-payment draft law that would help facilitate virtual payments across the country. The catch, however, is that the new regulation did not include financial products purchase. It was apparent that the law does not permit thirdparty payment deposit accounts for buying financial management items. 由于台湾当局对在线支付的法律法规做了改动,所以遵 守新的规定也是不可避免的,去年,台湾当局发布了电 子支付的草案以便利虚拟支付。然而,新的规定没有包 括金融产品的采购,很明显,法律不允许第三方支付账 户购买金融产品。
Thus the announcement from PayPal. Any Taiwanese with a registered PayPal account are now unable to perform domestic transactions with other PayPal account users there. Overseas transactions remain open, though. 通知发布后,虽然在台湾还是可以用PayPal进行国际贸 易的收付款,不过本地对本地的收付款将不能用PayPal 账户。 Now that PayPal is out of Taiwan, it left its users and online merchants staring blankly and thinking, “what now?” Those who heavily rely on the online peer-topeer service are obviously left with no other recourse but to search for alternatives. Luckily for them, the virtual currency Bitcoin is one of these options, and it is ready to provide Taiwanese PayPal customers with a possible solution for the payment requirements.
PayPal Exits Taiwan; Gives Bitcoin a Chance to Prosper | THIRD-PARTY PAYMENTS/CRYPTOCURRENCY
23 November 2015
现今PayPal退出台湾的服务,他的用户和商人将要重新 考虑该怎么办,这些严重依赖点对点的在线收付款的个 人,公司将寻找其他支付方式,幸运的是,虚拟货币 比特币也将成为他们选择的对象,因为比特币可以满足 PayPal用户的支付需要。 True enough, the island-country is just one of the few places in the world where virtual currency can be bought over-the-counter. In July, Taiwan startup company Maicoin, a one-stop Bitcoin platform providing trading and payment services, enabled in-store purchases of the virtual currency in over 10,000 convenience stores there. This made Bitcoin even more accessible; aside from over-the-counter purchases, one can also use the in-store payment terminal just by placing an order through the Maicoin mobile app.
PayPal在台湾的退出,将使比特币被进一步认可,知名 度会大大提升,当然这需要感谢Maicoin 等比特币交换 平台。在亚洲的其他区域,虚拟货币将迎来发展,比特 币也是最有潜力成为点对点的支付方式。然而需要说明 的是,对像比特币一样的虚拟货币的监管还没有确立, 很多潜在的用户和投资者格外的小心,这样将影响比特 币或者其他虚拟货币在亚洲市场的普及。 Despite the lack of regulations, the use of Bitcoin may still likely flourish now that PayPal is gone in Taiwan, and one industry that can benefit from this is online gambling. Right now, it is illegal to engage in online gambling in the country, but that has not stop bettors from doing so. For all we know, there may be punters who use PayPal as their third-party payment provider for their gambling funds. Given the situation, Bitcoin is a fitting replacement for the online payments processor, especially since Bitcoin gambling is gaining steam in terms of popularity in Asia.
台湾是为数不多的可以柜台购买虚拟货币的岛屿,7月 份,台湾新成立的公司Maicoin,提供了一站式的比特币 平台,提供贸易和支付服务,超过10000个便利店可以购 尽管缺乏监管,由于PayPal的退出,比特币将可能迎来 买虚拟货币。这样不仅通过柜台还可以通过手机Maicoin 重大发展,在线博彩行业也将从中受益。目前,在台湾 app 进行比特币交易。 在线博彩是非法的,但是还是有许多赌博者参与。众所 周知,有很多使用PayPal作为第三方的支付平台的赌博 PayPal’s Taiwan pullout means that Bitcoin can now 者,这样的话,比特币就将取代PayPal的角色,特别是 grab the opportunity to be recognized and increase its 其知名度在亚洲地区的提升。 popularity in the country, thanks to Maicoin and all the other Bitcoin exchanges available in the country. It is the Bitcoin’s potential to be used as an alternative for peer-to-peer transactions that makes it possible for it and all the other virtual currencies out there to prosper in other parts of Asia. The main caveat in all of this, however, is that regulations for virtual currencies like “The use of Bitcoin may Bitcoin have not yet been fully established, causing soon-to-be users and investors to be extra careful. still likely flourish now that This limits the full potential of adopting Bitcoin, or any PayPal is gone in Taiwan, and virtual currency for that matter, into the Asian market.
one industry that can benefit from this is online gambling.” 由于PayPal的退出,比特币 将可能迎来重大发展,在线 博彩行业也将从中受益。
24 November 2015
PayPal Exits Taiwan; Gives Bitcoin a Chance to Prosper | THIRD-PARTY PAYMENTS/CRYPTOCURRENCY
Europe Could Embrace Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency 欧洲将对比特币敞开大门
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hile still a relative unknown to most people, it is slowly gaining a head of steam in the financial ecosystem. Yet since it was introduced in 2009, the Bitcoin, while it has great potential, is still shrouded with mystery. No wonder it is considered a “crypto” currency, given the fact that it uses cryptography to control its creation and transfer.
比特币,2009年问世以来,对大部分人而言,还是陌 生。 虽然还披着神秘的面纱,但是它有着巨大的潜力, 并慢慢在金融体系崭入头角。 比特币是加密货币,因为 它的产生,转让都使用了加密技术。
Europe Could Embrace Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency | THIRD-PARTY PAYMENTS/CRYPTOCURRENCY
25 November 2015
What makes this electronic currency warranted of its “crypto” tag is that (1) no public entity controls it, making it an unregulated virtual currency, (2) it is based on a peer-to-peer network that allows an individual to anonymously hold and transfer, and (3) it depends on a specific exchange rate based on the market conditions and not linked to a traditional (fiat) currency.
Accepting Bitcoin as a valid payment method is still uncertain in the realm of online gambling in Europe, although there have been instances where countries with definite gambling regulations welcomed the idea. For example, online casino Vera&John became the first operator licensed in Malta to accept Bitcoin, only to be discontinued by the country’s gambling regulator.
比特币被贴上秘密货币的标签是由于(1)没有任何的公 共实体能够控制它,是不受监管的虚拟货币 (2)它使用 点对点网络系统,个人可以秘密的持有,转让(3) 它的 汇率是根据市场决定的,不像其他法定货币。
Bitcoin 能否作为欧洲在线博彩行业一个合法的付款 方法还不确定。虽然已经有国家明确表示欢迎。例 如,Vera&John,马耳他有着正规营业执照的博彩公司 是第一个接受比特币的博彩公司,只不过后面被相关监 管者叫停。
With these Bitcoin characteristics come the risks of using it, especially within the scope of online gambling in Europe. For one, those who oppose the use of Bitcoin raise the issue of a likely breach of regulations concerning anti-money laundering. European countries that regulate land-based and online gambling have specific rules for such, wherein a transaction is deemed dubious if it involves withdrawing or depositing money in a gaming account through modes of payment not held in the game account holder’s name. Another issue is that of the traceability of Bitcoin transfers as opposed to the typical transactions using fiat money. With no central authority to monitor Bitcoin’s movement and with no banks, financial institutions, or any regulating entity to manage it would mean a great concern among authorities investigating questionable Bitcoin gambling transactions.
Despite this, there is still a possibility that regulators from both the finance and gambling sectors may consider imposing a framework that will duly regulate Bitcoin, as well as other existing cryptocurrencies, as a way of protecting individuals trading using them and eliminating the risks that limit them to harness their true potential. Fortunately, there is progress. 尽管如此,博彩行业的监管者还是有可能建立相关机构 监管比特币和其他加密货币的使用。为了保护个人使 用比特币等虚拟货币交易的安全,将会限制比特币的潜 力,不过还有发展的空间。
比特币的特性决定了它的使用也将有一定的风险,尤其 是在欧洲的在线赌博行业。一方面,反对使用比特币的 人提出它将打破反洗钱的监管,欧洲国家通过赌博和在 线博彩洗钱有专门的规章制度。 如果没有通过博彩账户 名册上面的账户收付款,都会受到怀疑。另外一个问题 是比特币流通的可追踪性,它不能像法定货币一样可以 追踪。 没有中央权威机构监管比特币的流通,也没有相 关银行,金融机构的实际管理, 意味着比特币博彩将存 在很大争议。
26 November 2015
Europe Could Embrace Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency | THIRD-PARTY PAYMENTS/CRYPTOCURRENCY
In a recent development, the European Banking Federation (EBF), a trade group representing 32 national banking associations and 4,500+ banks throughout the continent, is calling for governments and businesses to work together to come up with a framework for regulating Bitcoin and possibly other cryptocurrencies. The EBF provided recommendations to policymakers, such as further research into the technology surrounding Bitcoin and continuous evaluations of rulemaking. But the most notable of the group’s proposals is the application of an all-encompassing framework for regulating cryptocurrencies based on anti-money laundering laws already in place in certain European countries. 最近,欧洲银行联邦 (EBF), 一个由32个国家银行协 会和 4,500多个在欧洲大陆的银行,呼吁政府和经济团 体协作完成监管框架,用以管理比特币和其他密码货 币。EBF 给决策者提供建议,例如围绕比特币的科技研 究和评估管理。但是最引人注目的是围绕虚拟货币监管 的框架提议, 以配合欧洲各国现有的反洗钱法律。 Also of note in the EBF’s recommendations is the need to conduct public and private assessment of blockchain technologies, recognizing their capability to reduce costs, secure consumer spending and introduce greater liquidity to the market. Though regulating cryptocurrencies to the same level as that of traditional currency transactions is being called upon, the EBF noted that doing so should allow room for innovation. EBF同时建议需要通过对比特币blockchain电子钱包技 术进行公众和私人的评估。确实,使用比特币能减少成 本,保证消费者的消费,增加市场的流动性。虽然呼吁 要像监管传统货币一样监管虚拟货币,EBF知道这么做需 要创新的空间。
Still, the EBF, despite having no strict stance on Bitcoin, said that its future remains unclear, “given that it was built as an experiment.” But one can’t help but think of the simple thought of implementing concrete regulations for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. That, in itself a development that would help further not just the financial sphere in the continent, but also the aspect of online gambling. If there comes a time where a handful of European nations consider incorporating the Bitcoin within their existing gambling regulations, just imagine the limitless potential for both the cryptocurrency and the industry. 虽然对比特币没有严格的立场,EBF宣称比特币的未来还 充满未知。比特币的使用只是一种试验,难免会想到要 进行严格监管。随着比特币在在线博彩行业的发展,在 相关金融领域也将得到发展。想象下如果哪天许多欧洲 国家将已经存在的博彩规范和比特币联合,那比特币等 虚拟货币的潜力将是巨大的。
“The European Banking Federation (EBF), […] is calling for governments and businesses to work together to come up with a framework for regulating Bitcoin and possibly other cryptocurrencies.” “最近,欧洲银行联邦 (EBF) [...] 呼吁政府和经济团体协作 完成监管框架,用以管理比特币 和其他密码货币。”
Europe Could Embrace Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency | THIRD-PARTY PAYMENTS/CRYPTOCURRENCY
27 November 2015
In 2019, One in 10 Adults Will Be Gambling Online 2019,十分之一的成年人将在线赌博
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ccording to the National Center for Responsible Gaming, online gambling is deemed the fastest growing form of gambling in the world. It is easy to say why this is so; advancements in technology, especially with the populace now connected to the Internet almost every day, allow for punters to conveniently place their bets or engage in some form of gambling using either desktops or mobile devices. With Asia and Europe dominating in the said market, there is no wonder that things are looking up for online gambling.
事实上,一项新研究指出未来5年博彩行业将迎来重大发 展,一项针对英国市场的新报告和Juniper Research研 究公司指出到2019年,全世界的1/10成人将从事在线赌 博,其中英国和意大利人将占一半。
So just imagine: a tenth of the world’s population will place a bet through the Internet by that time! Also, half of 10 percent come from two European countries known for having one of the most liberal gambling laws in the world. Quite a bold prediction, but this is still possible considering that there are two things that the research firm believes will play a huge part for the 据博彩国家中心宣称,博彩领域被认为是发展最快的行 said projections. The first is the transition of lottery 业,很容易理解为什么会这样,科技的发展,使用互联 ticket sale from terminals or outlets to mobile devices, 网的认可基数,玩家很方便通过电脑和移动通讯设备下 while the second one is the “increasing liberalization 赌注, 亚洲和欧洲是主要的市场,难怪很多领域都在关 of online markets across Europe and the US, driving usage of casino and sportsbook services.” 注在线博彩。 In fact, a new study suggests that the sector is set to explode over the next five years. A new report from UK-based market analysis and research firm Juniper Research revealed that one in 10 adults all over the world are likely to engage in some form of online gambling by 2019, with half of the adults involved coming from the United Kingdom and Italy.
In 2019, One in 10 Adults Will Be Gambling Online | EUROPE iGAMING
29 November 2015
Aside from the abovementioned projections, Juniper Research also took note of the current movements in the realm of gambling within the scope of the United States and Europe. Basically, the firm’s research study revealed that the only US states where gambling is regulated—Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey—saw “a dramatic uplift in revenues over the past 2 years.” Most of the US states still consider gambling illegal, but offshore sites that accept bets in US dollars like TopBet and Bovada continue to bring in much traffic. Thus, the firm believes that in a realistic sense, more states may likely legalize intrastate online gambling with the goal of generating tax revenues.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, the firm, while recognizing the probable harmonization of national gambling policies with the enactment of the latest EU directive on AML (anti-money laundering), cautioned that the ongoing uncertainty with regards to the intricate licensing procedures had resulted in many notable operators exiting European countries. For instance, the first few months of the year saw the exit of Playtech and Mansion from the German market, as well as the exit of William Hill from the Portuguese market due to the new tax increase in sports betting. This, Juniper deems, will result in customers switching from regulated to unregulated casino operators.
此外,Juniper Research 也注意到欧洲和美国对于博擦 采取的相关举措。基本上,研究报告显示美国这些州- 德拉瓦州、内华达州和新泽西州-在过去 2 年内的收 入都大幅提升。”大部份的美国州仍然认为赌博是违法 的,但是离岸的网站像TopBet 和 Bovada 只是接受美元 筹码,都进一步发展。这些公司相信,为了更多财政收 入,各州之间的在线博彩将合法化。
同时,在大西洋的另一边,最近欧盟关于反洗黑钱的指 令和国家博彩政策的双重限制,研究公司警告由于复 杂的许可程序造成许多知名的赌场经营者离开欧洲的 国家。举例来说,几个月前,由于新增体育税收问题, 导致 Playtech and Mansion 退出德国市场,William Hill 退出西班牙市场。Juniper公司认为,玩家将从监 管市场移动非监管市场。
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One in 10 adults all over the world are likely to engage in some form of online gambling by 2019, with half of the adults involved coming from the United Kingdom and Italy. “
全世界的1/10成人将从事在线赌博, 其中英国和意大利人将占一半。
30 November 2015
In 2019, One in 10 Adults Will Be Gambling Online | EUROPE iGAMING
The Fast Increase in Gambling in the Czech Republic 捷克博彩业的快速发展 When it comes to gambling in the European continent, countries such as the Italy, Malta, and the United Kingdom are among those that come into mind given their clear and definitive legislations for it. But then, there are a vast majority of countries in Europe that are not so much like them; these are considered “grey markets.” This means that there are some nations that have either vague legislations for a certain avenue in gambling or none at all. This could also mean blocking one form of gambling but allowing another, or allowing locally licensed operators but not international ones.
The Fast Increase in Gambling in the Czech Republic| EUROPE iGAMING
欧洲大陆的博彩市场,主要集中在这些国家,意大利、 马尔他和英国,这些国家博彩是合法化的。但是有大部 分的国家不是这样的,博彩在大部分欧洲国家还是认为 是”灰色市场。”这意着这些国家博彩的相关法律还是 模糊的,或者是没有的。这意味着他们禁止一种赌博但 是允许的另外形式的赌博,或允许当地博彩公司经营但 是不允许国际的博彩公司。
31 November 2015
One such European grey market is the Czech Republic. One of the most popular gambling destinations in the continent, it is home to over 100 casinos in cities all over the country, most of which are situated in its capital city Prague. Per capita, it has the more landbased gaming establishments than any European country. Also, it is home to countless gaming machines, mostly slots, in almost every establishment.
实际上,在赌博方面,捷克还是一个灰色市场。政府没 有明确管理在线赌博的任何法规,包括执照的签发。事 实上,捷克政府被欧盟法院起诉了-而且败诉-因为政 府对在线赌博的态度不确定。它无法说明在线体彩书籍 被管理,然而在线赌博却没有收到管理。 2012 年,捷 克试图建立在线赌博公司规章制度,由于欧洲各博彩经 营者反对这些条款对博彩经营者太过严厉,一年之后取 消了。而且也违反了欧盟相关的法律指令。
欧洲的这些灰色市场其中一个是捷克。捷克也是欧洲大 陆上赌博最流行的国家之一,100个赌场大大小小的赌场 遍布整个国家,大部分分布在首都布拉格。相对其他欧 洲国家而言,捷克有更多赌场。同时 ,有不计其数的赌 博设备,最多的是老虎机,基本上每座大厦都有。
While legislation is still yet to materialize, online gambling is gradually increasing in popularity, so much so that it resulted in the decline in gaming machines across the country. In 2014, there were only roughly 67,000 of them, a drastic decline from around 102,000 three years prior. Indeed, this yearly development is what made online gambling prevalent in the country.
Legal state of gambling in the Czech Republic 捷克共和国博彩的合法地位 So immensely popular is gambling in the Czech Republic that the industry is worth well over a hundred billion korunas (CZK). In 2014, in fact, the Czechs spent over CZK138 billion on gambling, with an estimated CZK30 billion in earnings. This applies for both online and offline gambling. Yet even if the country’s gambling revenue is up thanks to land-based casinos and slot machines, it is the country’s emergence of online gambling that’s making it happen.
立法仍然还没有实现,不过在线赌博知名度正在逐渐地 提升,如此一来,很多赌博机器数量正在下降。 2014 年,博彩设备的数量从3年前的102000台骤降到67000 台。的确,这几年的发展主要是在线赌博的普遍。 Right now, there are over 150 online casinos operating there, many of which accept the koruna and offer support in Czech. Aside from this, the rise of this gambling aspect is partly due to the marketing efforts of the online operators, albeit it is already simple for gamblers to make deposits and obtain payouts in korunas. Payment options include debit cards, credit
由于博彩在捷克的盛行,这个行业贡献了1000亿以上的 捷克克朗。在 2014 年,捷克在赌博上花费超过 一千三 百八十亿克朗的投资,获得大约 三百亿克朗的回报。包 括线上线下的赌博。虽然主要收入是来自现实赌场和老 虎机,然而越来越盛行的在线赌博也做出了贡献。 The thing is, this gambling facet is what makes the Czech Republic a grey market. The government does not have any clear-cut legislations that would regulate online gambling, including granting licenses to national operators. In fact, the Czech government was taken to an EU court—and lost—just because their stance for online gambling is not certain. It weren’t able to prove why online sportsbooks are regulated while online casinos are not. Back in 2012, the Czech Republic tried to establish regulation for online gambling companies, only to cancel it a year later after European gambling operators disapproved of the framework due to tight restrictions on operators. It was also found to be in violation of the legal directives of the EU.
32 November 2015
The Fast Increase in Gambling in the Czech Republic| EUROPE iGAMING
cards, e-wallets, and other numerous other methods for funding an online gambling account, as well as huge bonuses and promotions, greatly contribute to the increase in the country’s online gambling revenue. As far as gamblers are concerned, the status quo in the country allows for them to engage in offshore gambling.
convenience of gambling online, it is high time for the government to get back to the drawing board, come up with legislations that would benefit both players and gambling operators, and finally grant the latter licenses in the country. That way, the nation can be mentioned in the same breath as Italy, Malta, and the United Kingdom in terms of liberal gambling regulations.
现在,在捷克有超过 150个在线赌场,其中多数接受捷 克克朗并提供支持。除此之外,博彩的流行是在线博彩 经营者的市场开发,albeit可以让玩家简便的通过捷克 克朗付款或取款。付款选择包括借记卡、信用卡、电子 钱包和其他很多方法,另外鼓励措施和大力倡导也促使 国家的博彩收入增加。玩家还可以离岸赌博。
捷克,正不断赢取成为现实赌场庇护所的美誉,也从在 线博彩管制中受益。随着玩家更方便从事在线博彩,政 府是时候重新制定相关法律法规以满足玩家和赌场经营 者的利益。并给赌场经营者颁布执照 时机是回到画板, 提出立法─会利於运动员和赌博操作员,而且最后在国 家允许较后者的执照。那样,捷克就将成为意大利,马 尔他和英国一样自由化赌博。
The challenge 挑战 The Czech Republic, while solidifying their reputation as a sought-after haven for land-based casino gambling, can definitely benefit from regulating online gambling. With Czech gamblers enamored with the
The Fast Increase in Gambling in the Czech Republic| EUROPE iGAMING
33 November 2015
Not Just an Online Payment Processor: Skrill’s Venture in Gambling Affiliate Marketing
Skrill 在线付款处理商,进军博彩联盟营销
There is no doubt that online payment processors are the lifeline of the online gambling industry. Ever since gambling through desktops and mobile devices became the “thing,” these payment solutions have made it possible for punters to conveniently and seamlessly move their betting funds through electronic means. Take for instance Skrill, a London-based company which was founded in 2001. One of the top online payment processors in the world, it has since undergone a lot of changes, the most notable of which is the company’s acquisition by Optimal Payments to the tune of EUR1.1 billion. 毫无疑问地,在线付款处理商是在 线赌博行业的生命线。从电脑和运 动设备可以赌博起 ,这些付款方 案公司就让玩家方便的通过电子支 付手段完成赌注,例如 Skrill, 一家在 2001 年在英国伦敦成立的 公司,是世界上知名的在线收付 款平台,成立到现在已经做了很 多改变,最知名的是他被Optimal Payments 公司以11亿欧元收购。
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But even before it was acquired, it has already established a relationship with the online gambling industry since its founding, when it was first called Moneybookers. Since then until it underwent a major re-branding in November 2015
2010 when it changed its name to Skrill, it became one of the most preferred payment methods of some for the world’s biggest gambling operators, making it increasingly popular among gamblers across Europe and the United States. With Optimal Payment’s acquisition finalized last August of this year, it is expected to further expand its influence in the market. Right now, in fact, it took the plunge into one avenue within the online gambling industry: affiliate marketing. 被收购前,它成立以来,就与在线 赌博行业有联系了,当时它被称为 Moneybookers 。那时以来,它就经历 了品牌名称,直到2010变成 Skrill, 它为世界上最受欢迎的赌博收付款平 台之一,获得世界上最大的赌场经营 者青睐,随后在欧洲和美国各地越来 越受欢迎。随着今年八月被正式收购 后,预期他将更进一步在市场扩张它 的影响力。现在,事实上,它进入了 在线博彩行业,联盟营销。
Affiliate marketing at a glance 联盟营销概况 A fast-growing market, it is a form of marketing wherein retailers and other types of businesses are able to offer their products or services through an affiliate or any company responsible for advertising the products or
Not Just an Online Payment Processor: Skrill’s Venture in Gambling Affiliate Marketing | EUROPE iGAMING
services over the Internet through different methods. These methods may involve organic search engine optimization (SEO) strategies, pay-per-click, content marketing, or e-mail marketing, as well as other less traditional digital marketing efforts.
Skrill 是博彩行业最知名的合作者商标之一,它进入者 联盟行销,就不再令人惊讶。它的网站将为其带来新的 客户,并带来金钱回报。另外 Skrill 还有其他项目, 包括促销中心或者特价服务,专门针对博彩客户和贸易 商。
Skrill the gambling affiliate has involved itself in numerous marketing tactics in an effort to get the attention of potential gambling customers, as well as those who are already gambling online. To begin with, the company’s website has banners of some of the most popular online gambling brands operating in regulated markets. Truly, Skrill’s new role as a gambling Affiliate marketing is generally made up of four key affiliate just goes to show its increased involvement players. The first is the retailer, or the one offering in the industry. Even its parent company, Optimal its products or services and is looking to advertise Payments, may likewise become more involved in the them. The second is the network, which acts as the industry now that operators expand their reach to new intermediary between the retailer and the publisher, regulated markets. Definitely, Skrill is not just about the third important player in the scheme which is providing their best payment solution, but also taking simply known as the affiliate. Last, but not the least, advantage of the opportunity to successfully engage in is the customer, which is basically the target of the affiliate marketing efforts. The affiliate is responsible for affiliate marketing with operators. bringing customers to the retailer’s website. Skrill 为了得到潜在赌博客户和在线玩家的注意、进行 联盟营销由4个主要参与者组成。第一是零售商,就是 了许多营销策略,首先,公司网站有很多最知名的在线 需要为产品和服务广告的一方。其次是网络,充当零售 赌博公司的商标。其实,Skrill 的新角色是不断的展示 商和出版者之间的中介,第三个重要的成员是的网络联 它在博彩行业进一步发展。虽然它的母公司可能同样进 盟。最后是消费者,就是联盟营销的目的。联盟负责带 军博彩这个行业,因为博彩经营者不断壮大新的规范的 客户到零售商的网站。 市场。可以确定的是, Skrill 不仅仅提供他们最好的 付款方案,也将和博彩经营者利用机会成功地打入联盟 销售。 Skrill’s new role as 一个快速发展的市场,它是一种营销方式,零售商通过 联盟营销用互联网为自己的产品和服务广告。这些方法 可能包括有机的搜寻引擎最佳化 (SEO)策略,点击付 费,内容行销、或电子邮件行销、还有其他非传统的数 字营销。
gambling affiliate Skrill 的博彩行业的新角色
With Skrill one of the brands mostly associated with online gambling, it is not anymore surprising that it has ventured into affiliate marketing. It now has its own affiliate program wherein websites that successfully bring in new customers to its own website can receive money rewards. This is something appealing, for sure, but Skrill also has other programs such as Promotional Centre or Exclusive Offers, which focuses on both gambling customers and traders.
Not Just an Online Payment Processor: Skrill’s Venture in Gambling Affiliate Marketing | EUROPE iGAMING
27 November 2015