Asia Casinos

Hunting for the best online casinos in Asia? Below you will find our expert-picked Asia-focused casino sites with regional payment options and multilingual support.

Asia boasts the world’s fastest-growing online gambling market, which is anything but surprising considering the continent is home to over 60% of the planet’s population. The rapid pace of growth in this sector can be attributed to the technological progress of the past decade, with an increasing number of people gaining access to desktop computers and mobile devices. That said, the legal climate in most Asian countries is somewhat confusing and is far from that of the legalized and regulated iGaming sector in Europe.

Asians are known for their passion for partaking in gambling activities, which are a common form of recreation in their culture. In China, for instance, gambling is often part of different social events like parties and even weddings, where it is not unusual to see a group of guests seated in a corner, engrossed in Mahjong, one of the most popular games on the continent. Moreover, Asia has a rich history as far as gambling is concerned. Many popular games originated on this continent.

It makes sense that this passion extends to online gambling as well, with an increasing number of Asian players enjoying the benefits of being able to bet on their favorite casino games from the comfort of their homes. Unfortunately, online gambling is yet to be properly legalized and regulated in most Asian countries, with the majority of players resorting to offshore online casino gaming. It is worth noting that the Philippines has established a local regulator, the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), which issues licenses to operators who wish to enter the Asian market. While a license from CEZA does not permit operators to accept players from the Philippines, it allows license holders to accept players from other Asian countries.

Registrations from Asian players are accepted at some of the most reputable web-based casinos, which support widespread Asian currencies like HKD, CNY, and JPY. Players from the largest countries in Asia can manage their casino accounts, process payments, and partake in promotional offers conveniently and hassle-free, since some of the biggest operators in the industry support common Asian languages such as Chinese and Japanese. We will tackle the legality and regulations regarding online gambling in Asia in greater detail below.

Overview of the Gambling Industry in Asia

Being the largest continent on the planet, Asia accounts for the biggest gambling market in the world and has achieved consistent growth in gambling revenue over the last few years. Many of the global trends in the industry are also prevalent in the Asian gambling markets. For instance, there is a shift toward online gambling as well as an increase in the popularity of gaming on the go via commonly used portable devices such as smartphones and tablets.

In some Asian countries like Macau and the Philippines, the general trend leans toward building the so-called integrated casino resorts. These mammoth structures offer tourists a range of recreational activities to spend their money on, including luxurious casinos, shopping centers, exquisite accommodations, fine-dining restaurants, and entertaining shows. The integrated-resort model works to the advantage of Asian governments since it helps boost the profitability of the local casino industry – this way, gambling establishments are less reliant on high rollers.

Apart from this, some of the biggest changes in the Asian market relate to regulations regarding gambling. Similar to European countries, each state in Asia is individually responsible for the enforcement of its own gambling regulations and laws. Interactive gambling legislation varies wildly from one country to another.

While the brick-and-mortar casino industry on the continent is thriving, the same cannot be said for online gambling, which is prohibited in a large number of Asian countries. Despite this, Asian players succeed in finding various loopholes that allow them to register and play at established online casinos; VPN access is the most common solution.

Legal Landscape of Gambling in Asian Countries

Since the government of each Asian country has devised different regulations for land-based and online gambling, there are dramatic differences in the legislation of the individual markets. Because of this, we invite our readers to take a closer look at the Asian gambling industry country by country.

Singapore

Singapore has become one of the biggest gambling hubs in the world ever since the local government passed legislation allowing land-based casino gambling within the country as of April 2005. This piece of legislation included several provisions aimed at preventing the potential negative effects of land-based casinos. The local land-based gambling sector was capped at only two licensed operators. In addition, integrated resorts in the country are allowed to dedicate no more than 5% of their floor space to gambling venues.

In an attempt to dissuade locals from partaking in gambling activities, the authorities have imposed an SGD100 entry fee (around USD80.50) for Singapore citizens who wish to enter gambling establishments. The so-called “family exclusion order”, on the other hand, allows family members to restrict their relatives’ access to casinos if they battle pathological gambling.

Unfortunately, Singapore has adopted a rather restrictive policy as far as online gambling is concerned. In 2014, the Remote Gambling Bill was passed and effectively rendered all forms of online gambling illegal in Singapore. The only exceptions to this rule are operators that have received a special license from the local authorities. Naturally, advertising or promoting gambling-related activities on the web is also against Singapore law, as is processing financial transactions to and from online casinos.

The regulations are so stringent that the government has requested Internet service providers to block access to foreign gambling sites – those who fail to comply face hefty fines. Singapore is also among the countries where players who fail to abide by the law are prosecuted and face up to six months behind bars, in addition to a monetary penalty.

The Philippines

The legislation pertaining to gambling activities in the Philippines may seem a bit perplexing and even contradictory at first glance. Gambling in the country is regulated and overseen by two different bodies. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is responsible for the licensing and regulation of all permitted forms of land-based gambling, such as bingo, sports betting, and casino games of chance and skill like poker, blackjack, and roulette. PAGCOR also issues licenses for the so-called e-games, which should not be mistaken for online casino games, as the term refers to bingo and similar games connected to terminals at land-based facilities.

Online gambling is also allowed as long as operators have obtained a license from CEZA, the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority. The contradiction arises from the fact that CEZA-licensed operators are not permitted to offer their services to Philippine residents while being allowed to serve customers from other Asian markets.

Meanwhile, Philippine players are free to gamble at foreign websites thanks to a Court of Appeal decision issued in 2012. Since the law did not explicitly state that online gambling was illegal, there was no way to prosecute Philippine players for partaking in such activities. Thus, gambling on offshore casino platforms is technically legal, and Filipinos are free to join foreign casino websites as long as the latter accept registrations from the country.

Macau

Macau is a special administrative region located on the southern coast of the People’s Republic of China and is known as one of the most densely populated places on the planet. This territory was a Portuguese colony in the past and boasts a rich gambling history because partaking in such activities has been legal since the mid-19th century. It is hardly a surprise, then, that today the city enjoys a reputation for being one of the largest gambling hubs in the world, with its gambling revenue overtaking that of Las Vegas. Gambling is booming in Macau to such a great extent that the city has even been nicknamed the “Monte Carlo of the Orient”.

Brick-and-mortar gambling in Macau is legal for both locals and tourists as long as they are of legal age, which is 21 in this instance. Players can legally wager on sports, casino games, lotteries, and poker. The main government entity responsible for licensing and overseeing land-based gambling activities in the territory is the DICJ, which stands for the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau.

Uniquely, Macau’s legal system does not treat gambling legislation as a separate branch of the law. Instead, it functions as a collection of different legal topics that pertain to gambling, including criminal, tax, administrative, constitutional, and contract laws. The regulations on land-based gambling cover various aspects, including what types of games can be legally offered, the taxes on gambling revenue, and the licensing of casinos. In recent years, there has been a boom in land-based gambling, and Macau is now home to over thirty casinos, some of which are owned by major operators such as Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, and Galaxy Entertainment.

Meanwhile, Macau has not introduced any regulations regarding online gambling, at least not at the time of writing. Since the law does not expressly state that betting on the web is illegal, many players from Macau choose to join one of the numerous foreign online casinos that accept registrations from this jurisdiction. Currently, the region does not issue licenses for online gambling operations within its territory.

China

In mainland China, most forms of casino gambling are considered illegal. The ban covers poker, Mahjong, and casino games like blackjack, roulette, and craps. The only forms of gambling the Chinese government has not prohibited are lotteries, scratchcards, keno games, and slot machines. Sports betting is also legal, with the Chinese Sports Lottery holding a monopoly on this sector of the market. Many Chinese residents travel to Macau to play at land-based casinos, where they can choose from a wider range of gaming options.

It is worth mentioning that Chinese authorities are predominantly focused on prosecuting unauthorized gambling operators, promoters, and “professional” gamblers. The repercussions for recreational players are less severe. While citizens can be arrested for partaking in prohibited forms of gambling, such as Mahjong, this happens only on very rare occasions.

The rules regarding online gambling coincide with those that apply to land-based gambling. Operating online gambling websites and providing such services to Chinese residents is illegal. Players from the country are practically prohibited from accessing offshore gambling sites. Although it is possible to be arrested for playing at unauthorized foreign websites, this rarely happens.

However, the Chinese government has taken stringent measures against citizens who gamble at offshore websites. Players cannot access some online casinos because their websites have been blacklisted and blocked by local Internet service providers.

In addition, Chinese players who have succeeded in registering at offshore casinos may experience difficulties when processing deposits with their credit or debit cards. This is because Chinese financial institutions often block payments to and from foreign gambling websites, causing players to resort to e-wallets, Bitcoin, and other alternative payment methods.

Despite the illegal status of online gambling in China, some reputable operators continue to accept registrations from the country. In many cases, Chinese players can receive customer support and manage their casino accounts in their native language. Some websites also support CNY, which prevents players from incurring currency conversion fees.

Japan

Most forms of gambling in Japan are illegal, with only a few exceptions such as scratchcards, lottery, and sports betting. Pachinko, which closely resembles arcade games, is among the most popular forms of land-based gambling in the country. At present, there are no legally operating brick-and-mortar venues offering traditional casino games like blackjack, roulette, and poker to Japanese citizens.

This is expected to change in the near future, as Japanese lawmakers have already passed a bill to legalize land-based casino gambling. The first Japanese casino is set to launch in Osaka, beginning operations in 2029.

Meanwhile, online gambling is currently not allowed for the most part, with players permitted to bet only on lotteries, scratchcards, and certain types of racing and sports. However, since the government does not take strict measures to prevent citizens from gambling on the web, players from Japan often access the websites of foreign operators and enjoy a wider range of options, including virtual casino games, poker, fixed-odds betting, and bingo. Because authorities do not block or restrict access to foreign operators, players can easily register at a variety of online casinos. Many operators that accept players from this jurisdiction also accept JPY and list Japanese among their supported languages.

Hong Kong

Similar to Macau, Hong Kong is a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China. After the Gambling Ordinance of 1977 came into effect, land-based gambling in this region became legal but strictly regulated. Thus, Hong Kong is home to many brick-and-mortar gambling establishments where it is possible to legally partake in traditional games like poker, blackjack, and roulette, to mention just a few. Other forms of land-based gambling, such as lotteries, sports betting, and horse racing, are organized exclusively by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

When it comes to interactive gambling, things are more complicated since betting online is considered illegal in Hong Kong. The good news is that authorities do not block the websites of offshore gambling operators, which means players from Hong Kong can easily access them and open real-money accounts to wager on a variety of casino games, poker, slots, bingo, and sports. Moreover, there are no known cases of Hong Kong players being prosecuted for partaking in unauthorized online gambling.

South Korea

South Korea is among the few nations where online gambling is considered a criminal act. Land-based gambling, on the other hand, is legally available predominantly to foreigners. There is one exception, however: South Koreans are allowed to enter and gamble in only one land-based casino, the Gangwonland.

Both offering and participating in online gambling activities are deemed criminal offenses under Korean law, with online lottery tickets being the only exception. The local authorities are rather unrelenting; habitual players caught violating the law risk prosecution and a fine of KRW5 million (about USD4,300).

Meanwhile, individuals who organize and conduct unauthorized gambling are naturally prosecuted and, if found guilty, may spend up to five years in prison. The South Korean government is stringent when it comes to censorship, with the websites of offshore gaming providers being blocked by Internet service providers in the country. Nevertheless, South Korean players can sometimes register at the websites of major casino operators like 888 and Ladbrokes despite these restrictions. The most widespread course of action among players is to use a VPN service to mask their IP addresses.

India

Similar to other Asian countries, the legal landscape regarding gambling in India is perplexing and complicated. This is because the country consists of 27 states, each with its own regulations and rules. Consequently, the legal status of gambling varies from one state to another. According to the Public Gambling Act of 1967, the operation of and participation in gambling activities are punishable either by imprisonment or by a fine. There is one exception: games of skill, which means land-based poker is generally legal.

Other legal forms of land-based gambling in India include lotteries and horse racing, which also fall into the category of games of skill. Brick-and-mortar casino games are deemed illegal throughout most of the country, with only a few states making exceptions.

Online gambling is not regulated in India at present, but the first steps toward regulation have already been made. As usual, there is an exception: Sikkim is the only Indian state with its own online gambling regulations, thanks to the Sikkim Online Gambling Regulation Act of 2008. Thus, the state can issue licenses for interactive sports betting, keno, baccarat, poker, bingo, roulette, blackjack, Casino Brag, and several other games. We may see online gambling regulations adopted in other Indian states in the future.

Despite the lack of local regulation, Indian players can access foreign gambling websites and place bets there. Players are generally not prosecuted for online gambling, but foreign websites are often blocked by local Internet providers, and it is sometimes impossible to process payments via MasterCard and Visa. Because of this, many Indian players resort to VPN services to access blocked offshore casinos.

Vietnam

Prior to the fall of the communist regime, gambling in Vietnam was strictly prohibited by law. These restrictions became less stringent in the mid-1990s, which is not to say Vietnamese residents are free to partake in all forms of gambling. In fact, Vietnam is among the few countries where locals can be sent to prison for two to seven years if they win or lose over VND50 million (about USD2,000). So far, the only allowed forms of gambling are the Vietnam Lottery and horse and greyhound race betting on state-owned tracks. Tourists, however, are not subject to these prohibitions. The brick-and-mortar casinos throughout Vietnam are mostly run and managed by foreign companies.

Vietnam also enforces strict Internet censorship, so it is unsurprising that all forms of online gambling are prohibited. Furthermore, many foreign gambling websites are blocked by local Internet service providers. This censorship does not prevent players from accessing offshore gambling operators, as they typically use VPNs to load foreign online casinos. Moreover, many established web-based casinos cater to players from Vietnam and accept payments from local banking institutions.

Thailand

Thailand is also among the Asian countries where legal gambling is restricted to the National Lottery and horse-race betting on state-owned racetracks in the capital, Bangkok. One of the most important pieces of legislation is the Gambling Act, B.E. of 1935, which makes a distinction between List A and List B gambling games. List A covers wagering on animal games considered more violent, such as dogfights, as well as games of chance like roulette and slots. List B covers all other forms of gambling, including but not limited to bingo, sports betting, and raffles.

Penalties for illegally playing games in the first category are more severe; those found guilty face a fine of up to THB5,000. In extreme cases, violators can be jailed for up to three years. Penalties for individuals who illegally engage in List B games are milder: they face a fine of only THB1,000 and potentially up to one year in prison. Interestingly, it is illegal even to sell or own “unauthorized” decks of playing cards, thanks to the Playing Cards Act, B.E. 2486 of 1943.

All in all, the legal landscape regarding gambling in Thailand is extremely rigid, which has resulted in a boom in the illegal gambling market. Unauthorized bookmaker shops and gambling dens are widespread throughout Thailand. Players from this jurisdiction often join foreign gambling websites where they can partake in sports betting, poker, and other casino games. There are no known instances of players being prosecuted for gambling from home via foreign platforms. Similar to players from India, Vietnam, and South Korea, residents of Thailand often need to resort to VPNs to access offshore casinos, as the local government has already blocked many such websites.