Listen To Article
Timor-Leste President Ramos Horta has stated that the nation is not interested in building local casinos on its lands.
However, it would not mind having online gambling operations aimed at foreign markets outside Timor-Leste’s territory.
In an interview with a Macau news broadcaster, Horta stated his disinterest in local casinos within the country.
“Gambling is not something that interests me unless it targets foreigners. I don’t want some poor Timorese to lose everything in gambling with all the human and sometimes tragic consequences. But if foreigners want to gamble online and Timor offers an online gambling possibility, fine,” he was quoted saying.
Since 2023, Timor-Leste has positioned itself as the latest hub for licensing and professional support services in iGaming, with the Virtual Gaming Association (VGA) of Timor-Leste as the regulatory body creating a framework of best practices for iGaming licensing and regulation in the country. This development marks a crucial step for Timor-Leste.
While Timor-Leste established itself as an iGaming support hub, the Philippines has recently banned all offshore gaming operators (POGOs) from its territory, after a major raid earlier in the year uncovered serious criminal activities linked to POGOs. The effects of said ban were still in discussion, with voices questioning the decision as well as those supporting the ban.
Meanwhile, Australia geared up on its effort to block more illegal gambling sites from reaching its citizens, as ACMA’s latest report has shown.
