Is Online Gambling Legal In Asia?
Lana / Sep 05, 2022
Facts:
- There are 50 sovereign territories in Asia.
- Among these, 16 have legalized online gambling. This is 32 % of Asia.
- Online gambling is illegal in 24 territories. This is 48 % of Asia.
- In other 10 territories online gambling is either in a legal grey area or their laws permit only some forms of online gambling. This is in 20 % of Asia.
- In 24 territories where online gambling is not legal (but not necessary illegal either), people gamble anyway.
- In 40 territories people gamble online regardless of the regulations; this is in 80 % of Asia.
The first map above shows all Asian territories and their legal status towards online gambling, and the second map shows the actual state of online gambling – whether people gamble or not, regardless of the legal status.
The table below briefly describes the legal status for online gambling in each Asian territory. I wrote down whether online gambling is legal or not for each territory, and whether or not people there gamble anyway.
When you are ready to play, take a pick among one of the top ranked Bitcoin casinos or look for bookie reviews of bookmakers, focused specifically on Asia.
If you are a resident of any of the Asian countries where online gambling is illegal but decide to gamble anyway because other residents seem to be doing it freely without legal consequences, know that you are doing so at your own discretion.
Is Online Gambling ILLEGAL? Yes
Do People Gamble: No
Description of Legal Status: All forms of gambling are prohibited.
Recommended Casino & Bookmaker: We don’t recommend playing from Afghanistan
Is Online Gambling ILLEGAL? No
Do People Gamble: Yes
Description of Legal Status: Online gambling is legal only on websites licenced in Armenia.
Recommended Casino & Bookmaker: Fairspin
Is Online Gambling ILLEGAL?: Legal gray area
Do People Gamble: Yes
Description of Legal Status: There are no specific laws for online gambling in Mongolia, putting it in a legal gray area and there is a vast array of online casinos offering their services to Mongolian residents.
Recommended Casino: MelBet
Is Online Gambling ILLEGAL?: Yes
Do People Gamble: Yes
Description of Legal Status: Online gambling is illegal but the government turns a blind eye to anyone doing it and there are no punishments, so people do it anyway.
Recommended Casino: BC.Game
Is Online Gambling ILLEGAL? No
Do People Gamble: Yes
Description of Legal Status: Online gambling is legal.
Recommended Casino & Bookmaker: Fairspin
Is Online Gambling ILLEGAL? Yes
Do People Gamble: No
Description of Legal Status: Online gambling is illegal and gambling sites are blocked.
Recommended Casino & Bookmaker: We don’t recommend playing from Bahrain
Is Online Gambling ILLEGAL? No
Do People Gamble: Yes
Description of Legal Status: While land-based gambling is forbidden, there are no rules for online gambling, so people can do it freely.
Recommended Casino & Bookmaker: Fairspin
Is Online Gambling ILLEGAL? Legal grey area
Do People Gamble: Yes
Description of Legal Status: There is no specific law to target online gambling, it’s unclear if their law for land-based gambling extends to online play. Since there are no punishments for gambling online, people do it freely.
Recommended Casino & Bookmaker: Fairspin
Is Online Gambling ILLEGAL? Yes
Do People Gamble: No
Description of Legal Status: Online gambling is illegal, laws are strongly enforced and punishments for breaking it are severe.
Recommended Casino & Bookmaker: We don’t recommend playing from Brunei Darussalam
Is Online Gambling ILLEGAL? No
Do People Gamble: Yes
Description of Legal Status: While gambling in general is allowed only for tourists within the country, casino operators and online websites offer their services to locals as well. Cambodian residents are free to play in foreign online gambling sites.
Recommended Casino & Bookmaker: Fairspin
Is Online Gambling ILLEGAL? Yes
Do People Gamble: Yes
Description of Legal Status: Online gambling in China is illegal but a lot of people do it anyway using VPNs and underground payment platforms. Online gambling is illegal even in Hong Kong and Macau, which otherwise allow some forms of land-based gambling.
Recommended Casino: BitStarz
Recommended Bookmaker: Thunderpick
Is Online Gambling ILLEGAL? Yes
Do People Gamble: Yes
Description of Legal Status: Online gambling is legal only on sites, licenced in Cyprus.
Recommended Casino & Bookmaker: Cloudbet
Is Online Gambling ILLEGAL?: Yes
Do People Gamble: No
Description of Legal Status: All forms of gambling are strictly forbidden and any violation of the law results in imprisonment of the person in question along with his family.
Recommended Casino: We don’t recommend playing from Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Is Online Gambling ILLEGAL?: Yes
Do People Gamble: Yes
Description of Legal Status: Online gambling is legal.
Recommended Casino: MelBet
Is Online Gambling ILLEGAL?: No
Do People Gamble: Yes
Description of Legal Status: Online gambling is restricted (with the exception of lotteries and horse racing) but no law specifically forbids Indian residents from gambling online, so around half of bets made in India are on foreign online gambling websites.
Recommended Casino: BitStarz
Is Online Gambling ILLEGAL?: Yes
Do People Gamble: Yes
Description of Legal Status: Online gambling is illegal due to Islamic law but there is no enforcement, so a lot of people do it anyway without consequences.
Recommended Casino: Fairspin
Is Online Gambling ILLEGAL?: Yes
Do People Gamble: Yes
Description of Legal Status: All forms of gambling are considered illegal, however there is no enforcement of the law. You can find a lot of foreign gambling websites offering their services to Iranian residents.
Recommended Casino: MelBet
Is Online Gambling ILLEGAL?: Yes
Do People Gamble: Yes
Description of Legal Status: Online gambling is considered illegal, however there is no attention by the authorities to enforce the law. People gamble anyway since there are no fines or arrests being actively carried out.
Recommended Casino: BC.Game
Is Online Gambling ILLEGAL?: Yes and no
Do People Gamble: Yes
Description of Legal Status: Online gambling is illegal, except for national lottery, horse racing and betting on certain sports, offered by Mifal Hapayis Lottery Authority and Israeli Sports Betting Board.
Recommended Casino: Fairspin
Is Online Gambling ILLEGAL?: Yes and no
Do People Gamble: Yes
Description of Legal Status: Gambling in Japan is forbidden with the exceptions of lottery, horse racing, toto and betting on some motor sports.
Recommended Casino: BitStarz
Author
Lana | Content Writer
