China Blocks Gambling from Gaming Devices

This week the government in China issued a decree that all gaming machines and devices must eliminate all gambling content by January 1, 2020.

The regulation came down from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and will block gambling from being shown or offered on any type of gaming machine or device, including slot machines. Other devices that could potentially show gambling on them are arcade machines, pinball machines, or even television kiosks.

Those found in violation of the regulation may find themselves put on a blacklist for the cultural market.

In an attempt to put a positive twist on the ban, the Ministry is calling for operators of these devices to instead program information on them that shows the values of Chinese culture in a positive light, while also espousing the country's socialist values.

Gambling as a whole is considered illegal in China, although that hasn't stopped underground rings from popping up and offering services to players. Meanwhile, the wealthy in the country travel to destinations like Macau, the Philippines, or Las Vegas, where they bet billions annually.