Malaysia Casinos
There are no two ways about it – gambling (in all forms) is very much illegal in Malaysia. However, Malaysia’s strict anti-gambling laws only apply within the country itself. You are technically free to branch out beyond Malaysia’s borders. Might online gambling in Malaysia (albeit at international sites) be the answer to the problem?
If so, where should you sign up to play? After all, you still wouldn’t want to get caught by the Malaysian authorities, as they may still punish you. Fortunately, Malaysians don’t have to worry too much about that. We’ve put together a top selection of online Malaysian casinos that are safe for tourists and Malaysians alike.
We’ll also look at all the ins and outs of betting from Malaysia in this guide. Let us welcome you to a few top international and offshore casinos known for catering to players in the Southeast Asian country.
Best Real Money Online Casinos for Malaysia Players
Is It Legal to Gamble Online in Malaysia?
If you reside in Malaysia, you’ll already know the answer to this question. In short – no, not a chance. Malaysian has not licensed any gambling operators, from lotteries to land-based casinos (save for one tourist only venue, the Casino de Genting in Pahang). What about internet betting? Is online casino gaming legal in Malaysia? Nope – no way. Admittedly, this may leave you feeling short of options. However, there are always offshore casinos for you to play at. Let’s be clear here; these are not legal gambling sites in Malaysia. Legit Malaysian online casinos simply don’t exist. However, Malaysia’s laws don’t extend beyond its borders. For that reason, playing at offshore and international betting sites technically falls into a grey zone.
Let us be clear about something, though. The Malaysian authorities don’t approve of this either. Although there is technically no law prohibiting gambling at offshore sites, Malaysia’s Muslim population is still subject to Sharia Law. As you know, gambling is forbidden at a religious level, so the authorities do have the option of punishing you even though there is no secular law written for online gambling. Common punishments for being caught gambling range from a fine of 200,000 ringgits up to five years in prison. This is something you’re going to want to avoid.
The laws you need to know are the following:
- Betting Act of 1953: States that all forms of gambling are illegal, barring lotteries.
- Common Gaming Houses Act 1953: States that sportsbooks and bookmakers are illegal.
- Sharia Law: Generally reserved for family cases, and only applicable for the sixty percent of Malaysia that is Muslim, and its punishments can vary depending on who is meting out the sentence, for which crime, and in which state.
To help you get around any potential punishments, we recommend using a VPN when betting online in Malaysia, even if you don’t happen to be a follower of Islam. On top of that, you’re going to need to find a betting site that permits VPN users. Alternatively, cryptocurrency casinos could fit the bill for you here. Despite the risks, a large population likes to gamble in Malaysia, so unsurprisingly, there are plenty of offshore sites prepared to cater to you.
Let us look at the gambling options players can commonly find globally and see what they mean for you in Malaysia…
Online Casino
As touched on, there are no legit Malaysia online casinos. Instead, you’re going to need to head to offshore casinos. For this reason, it is imperative that you pick a site that is licensed, that permits VPN usage, perhaps accepts cryptocurrencies, and offers a fair degree of anonymity. You can find these types of casinos right here on our page.
Online Poker
Playing online poker is forbidden in Malaysia. Again, if you want to play with the best or even engage in a spot of single-player video poker action, you’re going to need to head to an offshore casino. Offshore poker rooms may be a suitable alternative if you are only interested in playing poker and not other casino games, but the choice is yours.
Online Sports Betting
Online sports betting was made illegal under the Common Gaming Houses Act of 1953, with punishments ranging from 5,000 ringgits up to six months in prison – yes, less than visiting/running a casino. Online sportsbooks that accept Malaysians do exist, but once again, you will need to be prepared to venture offshore to play at these betting sites.
Online Lottery
Lotteries are the exception to the gambling rule. Malaysian authorities don’t consider lottery betting to be gambling. The Lotteries Act of 1952 states that lotteries are lawful, although some Sharia courts reject this definition. As the Lotteries Act of 1952 is a national law, it technically overrules Sharia courts.
Online Bingo
Some countries consider bingo to be another form of lottery. Malaysia is not one of them. In Malaysia, bingo games are considered the same as gambling and are, therefore, illegal. Again, though, there are bingo rooms online that do permit players from Malaysia to sign up and play their bingo games.
History of Gambling in Malaysia
Not much is known about the history of gambling in Malaysia before its independence from Great Britain in the 1950s. However, once independence was granted, Malaysia wasted no time in forming its own laws, many of which were set around the nation’s majority Muslim population. We’ve attempted to chart the few major events for you below. They include:
- 1952: Malaysia passes the Lotteries Act of 1952, two years after gaining its independence. This states that lotteries in the country are deemed to be legal.
- 1953: One year later, the country passes the Betting Act of 1953 and the Common Houses Gaming Act of 1953. These two acts make owning and operating a gambling house illegal. Moreover, they establish that no other forms of gambling are recognised as legal in the county. Secular law (non-Muslims) and Sharia law (Muslims) are applied to punish those who break the laws.
- 2000s: Online gambling rises to become a global force. However, Malaysia is unable to act. Sharia law considers online gambling to be an extension of the already existing laws against gambling. However, some demand greater freedom under secular rule and claim that the existing laws don’t apply because they were written at a time before online gambling and, therefore, don’t mention them. Online gambling then falls into a grey zone for non-Muslims and becomes forbidden for followers of the Islamic faith.
Future Online Gambling Trends in Malaysia
Malaysia has quite the problem on its hands. On one side of the debate, you have sixty percent of the population who are Muslim, subject to Sharia law. This group forbids all forms of gambling. On the other, you have people of other faiths who want more freedom, something that secular law could provide. Malaysia continues to crack down on and break up illegal gambling circuits and rings, but this only led to greater calls for regulation amongst the non-Muslim population.
If Malaysia were to legalise playing online slots for real money in Malaysia, they would have to put secular law ahead of Sharia law. At present, the laws run side-by-side. The simplest solution would be to legalise gambling for non-Muslims and regulate it under secular laws. There have been discussions towards this path, and the argument between Sharia and secular laws in the country extends far beyond gambling, but no progress has been made yet.
Is It Safe to Gamble at A Malaysia Online Casino?
That depends on your definition of safe. If you want to play at an internet casino with no protection, you put yourself at risk that the Malaysian authorities will catch you, and that is not something you want to happen. Even with a decent VPN, we wouldn’t go all out and say that betting in Malaysia is safe from this perspective.
How to Choose the Best Online Casino?
Because of any potential punishments that await you, it is vitally important that we only represent and promote the most trusted online casinos for Malaysian players. Our team has done its research and checked out the terms and conditions available at such sites. This means that we are confident that the casinos you join won’t hand over your customer details to any Malaysian authorities. Of course, you still run a risk that your ISP (internet service provider) may choose to do so, but that’s out of the casino’s hands.
You don’t have to sign up for a Malaysian offshore casino blind, though. Head over to our online gambling reviews to find Malaysia casinos that are trusted, secure, safe, verified and recommended by our team today.
With that in mind, let us introduce you to a few of the things our skilled team likes to look for in casinos that accept players from Malaysia.
Casino Bonuses
Many players worldwide tend to choose where they play based on the size of the available bonus. However, this isn’t always advised. Instead, it is just as crucial that you check the terms and conditions attached to each bonus, particularly those related to wagering requirements. Similarly, you need to know what games a bonus is valid on. After all, live casino bonuses can seldom be used on other games and vice-versa.
Games and Software
Unless you are the type of online casino player that only wants to play one type of game, it helps to sign up for a casino that offers you a broad array of options to choose from. By opting to play at a casino that supports games from multiple providers that span many genres (not least video slots, live dealer games, random number generator titles), you’re boosting your chances of finding something exciting and interesting to play.
The Reputation of the Casino
Our team bears no bones about checking the reputation of any casino. After all, why should we recommend a site that doesn’t play ball or endangers players? We check our its license, regulatory body, certifications, and its adherence to responsible gambling rules. We check those tools and double down on researching its reputation. Only if a casino passes muster will we consider it worthy of being represented to our Malaysian casino players.
Casino Customer Support
Of course, Malaysian players may not be accustomed to seeking customer support in English. For this reason, we try to represent casinos that offer support in Malaysian or Malay. Over 20% of the population can also speak Chinese, and 5% can speak Indian, so having support in these languages is also advantageous to casinos that accept Malaysian players.
Payment Methods
Malaysians generally tend to use the same payment methods as most other players in the world. Banks in Malaysia are not as opposed to processing gambling-related transactions as the officials in the country would like them to be. However, if you want to be sure that you’re not being traced or won’t be reported for gambling, we’d recommend using alternatives options. Cryptocurrencies are popular with Malaysian players, but so, too, are e-wallets. Naturally, any casinos you want to play at should facilitate those payment options but also accept Malaysian ringgits.
Online Casino Games Available for Malaysia Players
What will you play, and what are the best online casino games in Malaysia? Allow us to guide you through a few of the most notable things about the games you can expect to see at most online casinos that accept Malaysian players.
- Malaysian casinos are based offshore, so they typically call all types of games, whether they are illegal in Malaysia or not.
- Malaysian-facing casinos that carry games from 20+ developers are those that are most likely to offer a regular array of new online casino games to Malaysian players.
- Live dealer games can be played at some sites, with Asian dealers and rules in play.
- Many top Malaysia-facing casinos also offer sports betting options to players.
- Always check that a Malaysian casino’s games are RNG (random number generator) certified before you decide to play them.
With that said, let us look more closely at a few of the most popular games available for Malaysian players at casinos. They include:
Online Slots
Online slots in Malaysia are commonplace. You can often choose between nifty video slots, some of the smaller-paying progressive jackpot slot machines in Malaysia, and an array of classic slots. MegaWays, Drops and Wins, and Cluster Pays slots are not out of the question, either.
Online Blackjack
Playing blackjack online for real money in Malaysia is only possible at offshore sites. You are likely to find RNG and live dealer games at these casinos, while some games may also appear in casino tournaments and competitions.
Online Roulette
The best online roulette gambling sites in Malaysia will be international domains, of course. These are guaranteed to offer American and European roulette tables, but some may also provide French roulette betting options, complete with the La Partage and En Prison rules.
Live Dealer Games
Live dealer games are about as realistic as you can get. Popular live casino games to play online in Malaysia include Asian favourites such as baccarat, Dragon Tiger, Sic Bo, Andar Bahar and Teen Patti. However, you can also play dice and card games such as poker.
Other Online Casino Games
As touched on above, you can often find a fair few alternative games that are tailor-made to an Asian audience. However, simplistic games such as video bingo, keno, scratch cards and other instant win games are not off the table, either.
Most Popular Casino Software in Malaysia
Offshore and international Malaysian betting sites may feature a mixture of games from different providers. It is rare to see Microgaming casinos in Malaysia or even the best NetEnt casinos Malaysia has to offer provide games from just one or two developers. For that reason, we would expect to see games from many of the following developers at top Malaysian casinos…
- BetSoft Gaming
- Evolution Gaming
- Ezugi
- Habanero
- HoGaming
- Microgaming
- NetEnt
- Playtech
- Pragmatic Play
- Real Time Gaming
- Red Tiger Gaming
- Spade Gaming
- Yggdrasil Gaming
Of course, there are other providers out there, too. It is not uncommon to see twenty or more providers all active at the same site. Check our online casino reviews to take a closer look at the developers associated with each casino.
Banking Information for Malaysia Players
Malaysians can (if they wish) use most of the conventional payment methods open to players elsewhere in the world. However, we would urge you to exercise caution. Following this advice to ensure that you stay safe:
- Avoid using Malaysian banks to process transactions directly to gambling sites, as these can be traced. For the same reason, avoid online casinos in Malaysia that only accept VISA Debit or credit card options.
- Use cryptocurrencies if you can, as they offer better anonymity.
- Don’t hesitate to use one payment method to deposit and another to withdraw, where possible.
- Avoid casinos that have a KYC process, as you will need to submit documents to verify your identity, thus giving away your identity and location.
- Try to use e-wallets if cryptocurrencies aren’t available. It is not illegal to send money from a Malaysian bank to PayPal for shopping, and your bank won’t know you’ve sent money to play at a Malaysian online casino that accepts PayPal.
Here are some of the many payments accepted at Malaysian online casinos, but again, not all of them will be well-suited to your needs. They include:
- Malaysian Bank/Wire Transfers
- Credit/Debit Cards (VISA and MasterCard)
- Neteller
You can also look at Malaysia-specific options such as GoCash88 and Zoom Payments. Double-check the terms and conditions of using these options to ensure that they aren’t going to hand over our transaction history and customer information to any prying Malaysian anti-gambling authorities.
Cryptocurrencies
As mentioned, using cryptocurrencies in Malaysia is surprisingly advantageous where possible. Here are the reasons why crypto gambling may be for.
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Cryptocurrencies offer you enough anonymity that it is difficult to prying eyes to track your activities.
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Most crypto casinos accept players from many countries, even those (such as Malaysia), where internet betting is illegal.
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Many Bitcoin-friendly betting sites do not have a KYC process, further strengthening your odds of anonymity.
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Bitcoin transactions are super-fast and are generally under the radar. It is possible for determined snoops to follow a transaction through the blockchain, but this is rare.
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Many Malaysian offshore casinos accept not just Bitcoin but also other cryptocurrencies.
Mobile Gaming in Malaysia
Most bettors online prefer to bet via their mobile phones than online nowadays. So, it should come as no surprise that mobile casinos for Malaysian players are commonplace. Again, these are not online gambling apps in Malaysia that are native for iOS and Android users. Instead, they are designed for an international audience. Alternatively, you can simply play via a web browser in most of these sites, as they have been developed using HTML5.
Malaysia Online Casino Bonuses & Promo Codes
Simply playing at the best bonus online casinos in Malaysia is not enough. You must also ensure that these sites carry fair promos that can be claimed in Malaysian ringgits to boot. It is crucial to not only consider the amount of free cash or the number of free spins in these bonuses. You will also need to consider the terms and conditions attached to the offers and if your Malaysia online casino requires bonus codes to be entered.
Ultimately, you should aim to find promotions that have low wagering requirements of 40x or less, decent game eligibility rules, a lengthy enough expiration period for you to fulfil those playthrough rates, low minimum deposit limits and high maximum win caps. Most of the casinos we represent can manage to accomplish this.
Let us take a quick look at some of the typical bonuses you can expect to see at Malaysian betting sites next.
No Deposit Bonuses
A typical no deposit casino in Malaysia will offer you a free bonus. You won’t be required to deposit, and you will get a chance to win real money with this offer. New Malaysia no deposit casinos are more ideal than older, more experienced ones, as they tend to have more rewarding bonuses with better terms and conditions. These will often consist of free spin bonuses and smaller sums of cash which can be used either on selected games or a greater array of options.
Deposit Match
Any first deposit bonus at a casino in Malaysia will likely provide you with a flurry of cash and possibly even a few free spins. The general idea is that you can claim a sum of bonus funds when you deposit into your account. In most casinos, these will be welcome bonuses but may also be extended to other deals, even monthly or as loyalty rewards. Always opt to play at Malaysian online casinos with low deposit limits to ensure that you get the best bonuses possible.
Free Spins
Free spins are commonly offered when you first register at a Malaysian casino. However, apart from the online casino free sign-up bonus, you can get with no deposit required, Malaysia-based casinos also typically offer free spins as loyalty offers, VIP deals or as part of regular promos for players. The basic idea is that you can spin the reels of top (or selected) games gratis, with the potential to win real money.
Reload Bonuses
Reload bonuses are, in many ways, near identical to typical match deposit bonuses, such as welcome offers. When you deposit into your account, you can claim a cash-based bonus and possibly free spins to boot. Reload bonuses are, admittedly, not as commonly found as the initial welcome bonuses at such sites.
New Online Casinos in Malaysia
Even after you’ve found a Malaysian casino that you think fits the bill, you shouldn’t hesitate to pay us another visit. We regularly recommend new Malaysian online casinos that go live. If you ever fancy mixing things up and want a change, check our casino review once more, and we’re sure that you will find what you’re looking for.
FAQs
Are you concerned about the situation surrounding online betting in Malaysia? It would be understandable if you were. Allow us to provide you with the answers to a few commonly asked questions then. Here is our FAQ on Malaysian online casinos.
