Is Gambling Legal In China

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If you’re looking for a list of the best Chinese gambling sites, look no
further! You’ve come to the right place as we’ve got our top picks listed below
as well as much more detail about online gambling for Chinese players.

By the time you finish reviewing this page, you’ll have all of the details you need to
know to select the perfect online gambling site for you. Not only will you see
our list of top picks, but you’ll also discover other helpful details such as
sections on gambling laws, frequently asked questions, deposit methods, and
more.

To kick things off, we wanted to start with our list of the best Chinese
gambling sites. If you’re itching to get started with online gambling now, these
are by far the optimal options for Chinese players.

Gambling in China is illegal under Chinese law 1 and has been officially outlawed since the Communist Party took power in 1949. 2 Any form of gambling by Chinese citizens, including online-gambling, gambling overseas, opening casinos overseas to attract citizens of China as primary customers, is considered illegal. Despite the strict laws against gambling, China is known to have a thriving underground gambling industry, with many Chinese nationals illegally placing bets on unofficial lotteries, atmakeshift casinos, on the popular game mah-jong and many other card games. Busts are common, and anyone found gambling in China runs the risk of arrest or hefty.

You can view more detail on
why we’ve hand-selected these options in a later section. In short, each of
these online gambling sites is a legit, safe, and reputable place where you’ll
have an incredible gambling experience.

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Even though gambling is illegal, many residents of China still partake in it. It’s worth noting that there are a couple of special administrative regions of China that do allow some forms of legal gambling. Specifically, both Hong Kong and Macau have some legal forms of gambling. By far, Macau is the most gambling-friendly portion of China. The Constitution of the People’s Republic of China (PRC or China) declares that citizens enjoy freedom of speech and freedom of the press. In practice, however, these freedoms are not institutionally protected. Public speeches of wide impact on forbidden subjects could result in punishment, including criminal sentences.

For those of you looking to learn more before deciding on a site, be sure to
keep reading below. We’ve provided much more detail about Chinese gambling
sites. Using this added information, you’ll be able to absorb as much as you’d
like on the topic. When you’re ready to select a site, you can simply come back
to our list of suggested sites above.

If you’re looking to get the most out of this page, then we’d suggest you
read it from start to finish. However, if you’re short on time, be sure to use
the jump links provided below. With these, you can skip ahead to the portions of
the page you’d like to review.

What Are the Gambling Laws in China?
How Do I Know These Sites Are Legit?
Deposit Methods
China Online Gambling FAQs
Conclusion

What Are the Gambling Laws in China?

If you’re in mainland China, all forms of gambling are illegal. That being
said, Foreignpolicy.com said it best when stating that “China is a
place where no vice is legal, but every vice is tolerated.” Even though gambling
is illegal, many residents of China still partake in it.

Is Gambling Legal In China Stocks

It’s worth noting that there are a couple of special administrative regions
of China that do allow some forms of legal gambling. Specifically, both Hong
Kong and Macau have some legal forms of gambling. By far, Macau is the most
gambling-friendly portion of China. If you live in one of these regions of the
country, you’ll have an easier time gambling than you will in mainland China.

When specifically looking at online gambling, it’s technically illegal.
However, just as with traditional forms of gambling, Chinese players still find
ways to do it, and many residents gamble online. Despite the ban, major online
gambling sites, such as Bodog Asia and Bet355, accept Chinese players with no
issues.

To view additional detail about the gambling laws in China, check out the
link below. It will take you to our dedicated page focused on the topic. To
visit this page now, click the link.

How Do I Know These Sites You’ve Recommended Are Legit?

Now that you’ve viewed our top picks for the best China gambling sites, we
wanted to pull the curtain back a bit to show you what went on behind the scenes
here to help us come up with our list of recommendations. As you’ll see from the
information below, we don’t take this selection process lightly. Instead, our
team here works hard to scour the internet in search of the actual best of the
best.

Is Gambling Legal In China Travel

Always top of mind, one of the primary things we investigate is the safety of
any website we’re considering for a recommendation. It’s vital to us that you
have a safe online gambling experience with a trustworthy and legit operation.
If you choose to work with any one of our suggested websites above, we’re
confident that you’ll be safe and secure.

Other than safety, we also investigate a slew of other things. Some of the
other factors we consider are gambling options, banking methods, history, bonus
potential, and much more. We’ve scrubbed tons of available options with the end
goal of bringing you an honest list of the cream of the crop for Chinese
players.

Finally, there’s one other thing you should be aware of. Here, we never take
money from any gambling site so they can be listed as one of our recommended
websites. Instead of being able to buy their way on to our list, these spots can
only be earned by performing as one of the most trusted and legit online
gambling sites for China players.

Deposit Methods Available for Chinese Gamblers

Gambling

When it comes to banking methods at online gambling sites, Chinese players
tend to have a decent collection of options to choose from. Below, we’ve
included a list of some of the most popular deposit options that Chinese players
will typically have access to so they can move their funds into their online
gambling account.


The list of banking methods listed above is not a full list of all deposit
options available to Chinese players. Instead, it contains the most popular ones
typically found. As you begin your search for an online gambling site, you’ll
notice that not all of them offer the same collection of banking options.
Because of this, you’ll need to ensure that you locate a site that provides you
with the banking methods that suit your needs.

We’ve got a page dedicated to different types of gambling website deposit
options. Using the link below, you can learn more about the ones listed above as
well as other deposit methods that you might have available to you as a Chinese
player. Click below to visit this page now.

China Online Gambling FAQs

Before you conclude things, be sure to check out the frequently asked
questions below. These should be of assistance to you if you’re still looking
for some answers. To view one of the answers, just click on the question itself.

Can I gamble from my mobile phone on these sites?

Absolutely! By using any one of our suggested best Chinese gambling sites,
you’ll be able to enjoy the convenience of mobile gambling. And, it doesn’t just
include your smartphone; you can also use your tablet to gamble online! Thanks
to these mobile gambling options, you can quickly place your wagers in a matter
of minutes without needing to travel anywhere or be on your desktop computer.

Is it safe to do my gambling online?

Luckily, the majority of online gambling sites are safe places for you to
use. This is especially true when it comes to our list of the best China
gambling sites at the top of this page. We’ve done the research to ensure that
each of these options is a very safe and secure spot to gamble.

However, not all online gambling sites are trusted places. Unfortunately,
some of them use shady practices or have poor security measures in place that
don’t make the website trustworthy. As long as you do some advance homework on
sites before joining one, you should be able to avoid dealing with one of these
non-legit options. You can also check out the link below to view all of the
sites that have made our blacklisted online gambling sites. Each of these
options should be avoided to help you stay safe.

Which one of these online gambling sites should I choose?

Understandably, it can be a bit daunting to try and pick an online gambling
site to use. As you check out your options, it’s best to look for one that
brings you as many things on your wish list as possible. To view some ideas of
things you may want to consider in your search, check out the link below. This
link will take you to our page that’s focused on helping you know how to pick
the perfect gambling site for your individual needs.

Can I use your suggested sites if I’m not residing in China?

If you don’t live in China, some of the recommended online gambling sites
above may allow you to gamble there still. But, you might not be getting the
best online gambling experience possible by using one of these options if you
reside elsewhere. Instead, you should check out the link below. Here, you’ll
find our guides to other regions and countries around the globe. It’s best if
you use our suggested top picks for your country or region so you can get the
most out of your online gambling.

Are there other options for me as a Chinese player?

Yes. As a Chinese player, you have access to a broad assortment of online
gambling sites willing to accept you. However, just because one of these
websites takes players from China doesn’t mean that it’s the best place for you
to do your online gambling. That’s why we created this page so that you could
view a list of the best China gambling sites. By using one of our recommended
websites, you’ll gain access to some of the most significant bonuses and safest
online experiences available to China players.

Conclusion

Thanks for stopping by to check out our site. We hope that this page has been
able to provide you with all of the guidance you needed to find the best China
gambling site for you. If you’ve never visited our website before, be sure to
use the main menu to check out some of our other gambling-related guides.

Legal Online Gambling United States

You’ll find that we have tons of free resources that you can use to help increase your
skills and knowledge for gambling. Thanks for reading, and good luck with your
future gambling adventures!

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Most countries don’t have a big problem with their citizens gambling online. Even nations that have tougher laws on internet gambling, such as the United States, don’t often take legal action on the matter.

China, on the other hand, does care deeply about what their residents do online—whether it’s gambling or just general browsing. In fact, they use the Great Firewall of China to prevent citizens from accessing non-government approved websites.

Regardless of if you’re visiting or living in this country, you can’t just hop on Google and find what you’re looking for. You instead must use specific Chinese apps and websites.

Not surprisingly, your freedoms are limited when it comes to gambling online in China. I’ll discuss more on China’s internet gambling laws along with if it’s still possible to play at online casinos, poker sites, and sportsbooks here.

Online Gambling Is Illegal in China

The Red Dragon features harsh anti-gambling laws. China doesn’t allow land-based casinos, poker rooms, bingo halls, or sportsbooks on the mainland.

They also ban most instances of online gambling. The only government approved forms of gambling with this country include the following:

  • National lotteries
  • National sports betting lotteries
  • Land-based casinos in Macau (special administrative region)
  • Land-based casinos in Hong Kong (special administrative region)
Macau is definitely the crown jewel of the limited Chinese gambling industry. Featuring over 30 casinos, it draws more gaming revenue than any casino destination in the world.

Of course, not everybody has the travel money nor vacation time to skip off to Macau whenever they please. After all, this special Chinese jurisdiction is located on the country’s southeast coast.

No regulated form of online gambling has been able to penetrate the nation’s market. Tencent Holdings, China’s biggest tech company, once ran a popular Texas hold’em app. However, the Chinese government forced them to cease offering the app in 2018.

As a result, Chinese citizens and visitors have no true legal route towards online gambling. They must use other means to play at internet poker rooms, casinos, and bingo rooms (covered later).

Is Gambling Legal In China Border

What Are the Penalties for Illegal Gambling?

You can see that China is one of the toughest countries when it comes to gambling of any type. However, their laws are mainly aimed at illegal operators and professional gamblers.

According to Article 303 of the revised Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China, anybody who “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.”

Additionally, serious violators of Article 303 can be imprisoned for between three and 10 years. A land-based or online gambling kingpin might fall under this definition.

The law targets two main groups of people:

  • Illegal gambling operators
  • Professional gamblers

By definition of Chinese law, recreational players shouldn’t be targets. However, China has ignored their own laws in this regard by arresting casual gamblers in the past.

Fortunately, every recreational bettor so far has been spared jail time. But they have had to pay fines, which can be heavy in some cases.

As stated by Article 303, the harshest penalty can land any gambling figure in jail for a decade. But casual gamblers have only received fines so far.

Chinese Citizens Still Gamble Online

China definitely doesn’t make it easy to place online bets. However, they haven’t completely stamped out the market.

In fact, Chinese citizens and visitors actually enjoy a fair amount of options at their disposal. Some operators are completely comfortable in floating the country’s anti-gambling laws.

Realtime Gaming (RTG) and Bodog are two of the most popular providers in this market. They supply online casino games, poker, and/or sports betting to many people in China.

Established in 1998, RTG is one of the most experienced online gaming providers in gaming. They offer both games and turnkey solutions to perspective casino operators.

The turnkey solution alludes to how operators can use our RTG’s banking, customer support, games, and marketing strategies. Meanwhile, Realtime Gaming takes a hands-off approach to casino customers—even concerning which markets they operate in.

Online casinos can use the latter to their advantage by serving China and other countries/regions where internet gambling may be illegal or a grey area (e.g. US).

Bodog is no stranger to serving questionable markets either. Launched in 1994, Bodog quickly became controversial for serving Americans.

This brand has since left the US, at least in theory (see Bovada), but they’re still very active. Like RTG, they also offer a turnkey solution to operators that want to operate in any market around the globe.

Bodog and RTG are just two of the most prominent developers that supply games to the Chinese market. There are other game providers operating out of the Philippines and elsewhere that are also willing to brave China.

Some Gamblers Use a VPN

Most Chinese residents don’t need to worry about getting caught when they’re illegally gambling online. However, they still take considerable risk when doing so.

That said, some players use a virtual private network (VPN) to cover their tracks. A VPN allows users to access a remote server that’s located in a different city or even country.

Here’s an example on how these services work:

China
  • A gambler in China wants to access UK online casinos.
  • However, the UK market bans other countries from using their gaming sites.
  • The player still wants to enjoy these casinos due to the large jackpots and lucrative bonuses.
  • They pay $8 (56 yuan) per month to use a VPN.
  • The gambler chooses London as the remote server.
  • UK online casinos, which are programmed to detect users’ IP addresses, now think that the player is located in London.

The fact that the gambler is using a VPN doesn’t make their gambling activities legal under Chinese law. However, they stand less chance of being caught and can access a larger variety of gaming sites—even those in strict regulated markets like the UK.

Of course, users get what they pay for regarding a VPN. Some of the cheaper services are less likely to protect customers’ details when pressed by the law. That said, some Chinese gamblers are willing to pay a little more for extra protection.

Will Chinese Citizens Always Get Away with Internet Gambling?

If they’re willing to take the risk, Chinese players have many options and means to gamble online. Furthermore, they don’t stand a very high chance of being caught.

But the Chinese government has been working on a way to better track their citizens’ internet habits. It has specifically been exploring a national cryptocurrency that would be tracked via blockchain.

The Digital Currency Electronic Payment (DCEP) is China’s proposed future national cryptocurrency. Essentially a digital yuan, it could replace RMB if everything goes according to plan.

Blockchain — the backbone of Bitcoin — serves as a digital ledger for cryptocurrencies. It would allow China to virtually track all financial transactions made with DCEP and exercise greater control.

In theory, DCEP gives the government even greater control over its citizens. Chinese law enforcement would have a much easier time rooting out online gamblers and other alleged perpetrators.

Of course, many Chinese internet bettors don’t deposit with bank transfers, credit cards, and other easily traceable instruments. Instead, they use Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to fund their accounts and withdraw money.

Bitcoin doesn’t escape the government’s grasp entirely. However, it’s much more difficult to track than the yuan and traditional payment methods.

The DCEP could no doubt make it very difficult to gamble online in China. But other cryptocurrencies could still leave an opening for doing so.

Conclusion

Gambling online in China isn’t easy. The national government uses an all-encompassing firewall and harsh laws/penalties to keep people from placing internet bets.

However, they’ve been unable to completely prevent Chinese gamblers from playing at online casinos, poker rooms, and sportsbooks. Many citizens are still finding ways to make online wagers. Meanwhile, certain providers are supplying games and betting to China.

Whether this situation remains the status quo is unclear. The government has proposed a digital coin, DCEP, that’ll give the state better surveillance of transactions.

For the time being, though, citizens can still place online bets in China. Recreational gamblers who’ve been caught only face fines too.

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