Gambling Guide
Legal gambling age in CN: 18 On This Page
Best Online Casinos for Players from China - Insightful Guide with Tips
Introduction
Gambling in China is illegal under Chinese law. That’s, at least what the theory says. But in practice, the situation is drastically different. Punters not only try luck with state-run lotteries, but they travel to different places and visit gambling centers, namely Hong Kong and Macau.
On top of that, they access foreign entertainment websites via proxy. We all know that this is not the most recommendable thing in the world to do, but still, it’s the reality. To minimize potential issues, players need to be familiar with the entire situation and need to know how to choose the safest option.
What’s the main element a good Chinese-friendly casino should have?
First and foremost- the license. It’s the main indicator that tells whether a venue is running its business in line with some standards. Other factors should be checked as well- games selection, banking options, the assortment of bonuses, and more.
Having in mind the specific situation from the legal point of view, punters need to open their eyes widely and be very careful when selecting the hub to play in.
In this guide, we shall discuss the most important aspect each punter should have in mind when choosing the best betting shop for themselves. We shall explore all the payment options customers from China have at their disposal and tell you more about problem gambling in China.
Tips for Online Gambling in China
If you’re looking for options to gamble online in China, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First of all, the legal aspect of it.
As we mentioned…
…gambling is prohibited in this country. That may come as surprise, knowing that China is a country with a long history of gambling. Keno, which was invented approximately 3,000 years ago is one of the most widely spread forms of gambling.
While from the social point of view gambling is a quite acceptable activity, in the eyes of the law, the situation is drastically different. Despite so many forms of land and web-based entertainment available today, Keno is the only one fully legal, plus two forms of Lottery - the Welfare Lottery and the Sports Lottery.
On the other hand…
…it’s a fact that the gambling business in Macau is so big that its daily revenue amounts to the same figures as monthly in Sin City. Even though China issued a ban on VPNs in 2017, that didn’t prevent people from engaging in this sort of activity on offshore websites.
As far as the operators say, no laws against foreign entertainment suppliers outside this country exist. However, the truth is the consumers from that region are violating the law when they gamble online.
It’s not a secret that hefty fines and imprisonment are some of the risks that go along with gambling online. Foreigners residing in China may face additional restrictions- getting the status of blacklisted and ban on entry for 10 years.
Until the legal aspect of it becomes clearer and defined, and what’s even more important- fully regulated, there are a couple of useful hints to minimize the issues.
Here are a couple of things to take into account when selecting a betting shop:
- Is the website licensed and trustworthy?
The moment a player accesses an entertainment platform, the first thing to check out is the license. Despite the fact that there are no local regulators in China, a site should hold approval from some other jurisdictions.
In addition to this, one should look for opinions on platforms that are specialized in reviewing and analyzing online casinos. What’s even more important- websites that give honest and independent reviews, the ones that are not afraid to dig deep and expose the hubs which are involved in bad practices.
Among reasons why a venue could earn the reputation of a blacklisted is unresponsive customer support, refusal to pay winnings, predatory terms, and similar.
Trusted Portals
- How informative are the Terms and Conditions?
The purpose of Terms and Conditions is both to protect the players and establishments. If everything is well-explained and established, both sides will be satisfied.
What’s the cashout policy? How fair are wagering requirements for bonuses? Do consumers need to submit notarized documents when registering or requesting withdrawals? What’s the casino’s attitude towards various betting patterns and strategies- are they seen as abusive behavior?
These are just some of the questions that should be answered in Terms, and you, as a responsible player, should always read them. In case there are no sufficient information, feel free to get in touch with customer support. This way you will test how it works and will have your doubt solved.
In addition to these, check out the selection of games and providers. Chinese-themed slots are extremely popular, and some operators even offer a separate list of such releases.
Live Dealer Options for Chinese Players
Online gaming provides an ultimately immersive experience, and that’s particularly visible in slot games. So many features, a variety of topics, amazing soundtracks, and whatnot. Still, one piece of the puzzle seems to be missing.
The significant difference between brick and mortar and digital gambling is the authentic atmosphere. That’s where live dealer games step in, being the closest to playing terrestrial variants of table games from the comfort of his/her own home.
That explains why its popularity is growing in every corner of the world. What’s even more, there are so many studios specialized in providing customized games for the oriental market, such as Asia Gaming, Asia Live Tech, and more.
Below is the list of entertainment venues that offer live dealer games to players in China:
Live Dealer Casinos For Players From China (489)
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Licensed and Regulated Chinese Casinos
One thing for sure, trustworthy entertainment facilities with a large base of customers certainly won’t risk spoiling their reputation by tricking players. That’s why they will put all the efforts to create a safe environment for gambling.
The China Welfare Lottery Issuance Center (CWLC) is regulated by the Ministry of Civil Affairs while the General Administration of Sports is in charge of the China Sports Lottery Administration Center (CSAC). However, there are no gambling regulators like in some other jurisdictions:
- Gambling Commission of Great Britain
- Malta Gaming Authority
- Gibraltar Regulatory Authority
- Alderney Gambling Control Commission
- Curacao Gaming Control Board (and other European regulators)
These institutions have stringent sets of rules the operators interested in offering their products and services need to comply with. So, a seal from any regulatory institution is still better than no seal at all.
Casino Trust and Security
License is the first and foremost thing to check, but other indicators could help one evaluate how safe and secure a platform is.
If you are concerned about your data traveling back and forth on the web, check if the establishment has 128-bit SSL or any other encryption. This serves to protect the sensitive data, especially payment transactions and personal documents which are submitted as a part of the ID verification procedure.
In case you want to make sure the featured games have a random outcome, see if the website has its Random Number Generator (RNG) checked regularly. Look for some seals from Gaming Labs, iTech Labs, BMM Testlabs, eCOGRA, and other relevant institutions that would confirm that a website is safe and secure.
Banking Options for Chinese Players
Credit cards and bank transfers, for quite obvious reasons, cannot be used for gambling in China, but there are other options. What players usually look for is anonymity, convenience, and efficiency.
E-wallets are widely popular…
…for being extremely convenient. Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, Payz, are just some of the many options. Some of them may have lower limits for transactions, and some may include certain fees. But, having in mind that there are not as many options as in other parts of the world, these two are probably the last things punters should be concerned about.
For those who want an extra layer of anonymity, cryptocurrencies are an excellent choice. Aside from Bitcoin, other assets are available- Litecoin, Tron, Dogecoin, Ethereum, and many others are offered as well.
Casinos that accept local currency RMB are on the rise. A certain number of them even enables customers to choose domestic eWallets like AliPay and WeChat Pay.
Depositing and Withdrawing when in China
Even though each casino has its own policy on cashouts and deposits, there are a couple of things in common. Aside from checking which currencies and options are offered, players should also check out:
- How complicated is the registration procedure? Which documents are needed for either type of transaction, if any?
- Does the casino charge any fees for deposits and withdrawals?
- How much does it take to withdraw the winnings? Is the processing time too long?
- What are the min and max limits for deposits and cashouts? Is the platform low-roller friendly or is it aimed at big-time depositors only?
This “test” is useful regardless of where punters come from as it serves to help them determine how fair is the banking policy in a specific casino. Though it may seem like a lengthy procedure, it takes only a couple of minutes to check but eliminates plenty of troubles later.
Problem Gambling in China
Having in mind that the market is not regulated yet, there are no official channels of support for those who are experiencing gambling-related harms. The expansion of online entertainment led to an increasing number of issues. This is particularly noticed with younger people who travel to live and study offshore- they are not aware of all the risks.
On the other hand, China has been putting some effort, one of the examples is cracking down on VPNs. Also, online ticket sales and betting practices on any interactive platform were banned as well. In response, Apple pulled out about 25,000 apps from the China Apple App Store.
As for the players themselves, they should do all they can to be well-informed on all the potential risks. There are plenty of helpful platforms that offer questionnaires and useful directions on how to stay responsible.
Online Gambling in China FAQ
Are online casinos legal?
Unfortunately, the answer is negative. No form of gambling is permitted in China. Still, it doesn’t mean punters from this region don’t gamble at all. They do access offshore gambling websites that accept Chinese players.
Do I have to download software to play?
It depends from one venue to another. The vast majority of Internet-based betting facilities allow customers to play directly in the browsers. The others also offer downloadable software. It is usually listed which platforms are supported.
Can I play on my phone?
Absolutely. Mobile gaming is popular in all corners of the world, and China is not an exception. Operators do their best to optimize their products and services for as many different platforms as possible.
How can I deposit/withdraw money?
For the sake of privacy protection, people prefer e-wallets. Aside from widely-spread means such as Neteller, Skrill, and others, there are local options such as AliPay and WeChat Pay. The popularity of cryptocurrencies is growing as well, as it provides anonymous depositing and withdrawals.
How long does it take to get my winnings?
The timeframe varies from instant to a couple of business days. It depends on the selected payment option. E-wallets and crypto assets are usually the most efficient ones, while bank transfers are the slowest.
Why can’t I play games from a certain developer?
Even though a specific operator offers its games to punters from certain parts of the world, developers may restrict its content. Not all jurisdictions are open to branded releases or titles with specific storylines and characters, which is why a provider decides to restrict access to such products.
What should I do if I have a problem with a casino?
There’s a multitude of helpful tools that can assist punters to manage their time and funds wisely. Those are loss and deposit limits, reality checks, self-exclusion, and so on. If none of the listed works, punters should seek further help with some institutions specialized in treating consumers who have experienced gambling-related issues.
Written by: Alexis Gold
