Online Gambling on the Orient Express

Author: Skyla Burrell

China holds the title of ‘Gambling Capital of the World', but what about online gambling? Does China also hold that title? Is online gambling even legal in China? Inquiring minds want to know and we are here to help clear the somewhat murky waters associated with gambling online in China and the Far East.

Before we dive in head first, it is important to understand that China does not recognize the Lottery or Sports Betting as gambling. Both are 100% legal and of course, those operations are owned and operated by the Chinese Government. Keeping that in mind let’s click over to online gambling and investigate how it’s possible that one of the world’s fastest growing online casino markets does not actually allow gambling online.

In 1997 a revision to the People’s Republic of China’s criminal law (Article 303, for those who like to be precise) stated that “Whoever, for the purpose of profit, gathers people to engage in gambling, runs a gambling house or makes gambling his profession shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention or public surveillance and shall also be fined.” The word “professional” is the key here, and technically the law does not apply to casual gamblers (like 99% of us) but nonetheless they can still be targeted, which usually results in just a fine. These same rules apply to online gambling.

It is against the law to operate an online casino in China. It is also illegal for online casinos to supply gambling services to Chinese residents. What? Confused? The Far East sure does hold its mysteries well, but let’s debunk some of those myths. Many online casinos offer their games to players from China, many even tailoring their operations to attract players specifically from China. The dawn of digital wallets, crypto-currencies, and VPN services makes this possible. Gambling City lists a large selection of reputable casinos that welcome players from China with open arms.

In Taiwan, land-based gambling is regulated by strict laws; however, they do not apply to online gambling. Taiwanese prefer to play at international online casinos by eWallet. The Philippines has had online gambling regulations in place for years and the online gambling market is rich and robust. Singapore is tough, they recently cracked down by blocking hundreds of gambling sites and many operators have removed themselves from the market.

The hot point currently is in Japan, where online gambling is strictly prohibited, yet recently passed regulations for land-based gambling seem to be loosening that noose and creating a slight opening for online operations. India’s online casino industry has skyrocketed, but only Lotteries and Horse Racing are legal. Again, like most of the Far East, there are many online operators that offer their casino games to residents of India. The same goes for all Asian countries excluding Muslim nations, where you just don’t gamble, you can’t, and you really don’t want to get caught as the penalties are swift and severe.

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Online Gambling on the Orient Express

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