Casino Licences in China
So, we have established that online gambling in China is, legally, a no-go area. That means that no licences for gambling operators based in the country are granted by the government since local people aren’t supposed to be wagering, even at foreign gambling sites.
China’s government has been putting a great deal of effort into filtering out offshore China online casinos, but there are still thousands of top-notch platforms that accept Chinese players, with some even catering especially to the Chinese.
Hong Kong and Macau are two such examples, with both boasting a more welcoming online gambling legal landscape. In Macau, the online gambling laws are somewhat blurred, and being a former Portuguese colony, there are no online casinos in Macau, but it’s acceptable to play at offshore China online casinos.
In Hong Kong, it’s perfectly adequate to place wagers at licensed premises as well as online casinos, but provided you bet within these restrictions. Fail to follow the laws, and you may be prosecuted.
Overall, the country’s Ministry of Finance is responsible for the administration and supervision of online lottery sales, which are legally permitted. Since China online casinos are strictly forbidden, we recommend platforms that are licensed and regulated by reputable authorities like the UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority and the Government of Curacao. We only ever suggest playing at licensed casinos where you know your details and funds are secure, the gaming is provably fair and bonus terms and conditions are transparent.
Are Gamblers In China Punished?
Only if you’re caught! In all seriousness, the Criminal Law of China’s Article 303 says that anyone gambling for the purpose of profit, running a gambling establishment or gathering people to gamble or even making gambling their profession will be sentenced to a fixed term in prison of at least 3 years. Perpetrators may also be fined and sentenced to public surveillance or criminal detention.
That is heavy stuff, and it means that even casual gamers who are caught gambling at China online casinos face serious repercussions from the law. But it’s very, very rare.
To date, most people that have been caught gambling online have faced a fine of no more than 3,000 Chinese yuan. Television channels run by the state go to great lengths to tell you about casual gambling punishments and tend to report unrealistic (or possibly made-up) numbers of arrests and fines to scaremonger you into not gambling.
Why the intensity, you may be wondering? Well, the Chinese government actually loses out on a big chunk of potential tax revenue since players can only play at offshore casinos. Will it lead the country to regulate China online casinos and the larger online gambling market? Only time will tell, but we’re betting that should things change, profits will likely be the catalyst.
On the bright side, Chinese residents won’t get into trouble for placing online bets, but it’s a good idea to play at reputable offshore casinos to safeguard yourself.
