UN Human Rights Office discusses forced labor in Asian iGaming industry

November 23, 2023 World Crime & Legal

Illegal online casinos persist in taking advantage of vulnerable individuals throughout Asia by luring them in with deceptive claims of lucrative job prospects and respectable accommodations, only to subject them to appalling working conditions and inadequate compensation.

The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Office claims that transnational criminal gangs are responsible for these actions, pressuring individuals to perpetrate fraud against others. The problem has become worse as criminal enterprises take advantage of the area’s economic hardships, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to the fact that casino gambling is prohibited in both Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, offshore gaming companies specifically target Chinese players, making the Philippines a major center for these kinds of illicit activities. Promises of good living circumstances and high salaries are used to entice Chinese laborers to the Philippines, where they are greeted with the harsh reality of long work hours, poor pay, and cramped living quarters.

The Philippines has fought Chinese attempts to limit offshore gambling enterprises that target Chinese players, claiming the industry’s important tax money is essential to the nation’s security. Although President Rodrigo Duterte’s previous administration rejected similar requests, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s current administration has shown more consideration for China’s concerns.

Beyond the Philippines, there is a problem with forced labor in Asian online casinos; vulnerable individuals are being abused by illegal online gaming companies in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. The UN Human Rights Office has brought up the subject of labor exploitation and urged countries to support and aid those who are trafficked. The UN emphasizes the need to not prosecute people who are trafficked for engaging in illegal gaming activities and suggests cooperative strategies to address this growing problem in the field.