Online gambling in China, Macau and Hong Kong: 2025 status

In short: what is allowed and what is not

Mainland China (PRC): Online casinos and online betting are prohibited. Exceptions to the general ban are state lotteries (Welfare/Sports Lottery) offline and on controlled digital channels.

Hong Kong (HKSAR): Horse racing and football betting are legal, as is the Mark Six lottery, but only through the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC). HKJC allows remote account-betting (web/app/phone). Any other online casinos and betting sites are illegal.

Macau (MSAR): Land-based casinos operate under concessions; online casinos are not allowed, remote gambling for money is prohibited.

Mainland China: ban + tough opposition to offshore

Legal regime. Criminal law and administrative regulations prohibit the organization and participation in gambling for money (except for specially stipulated exceptions). Offshore sites, intermediaries, "agents," advertising and payment schemes for gambling are prohibited.

Lotteries. The state-owned Welfare/Sports Lottery is the only legal mass product; digital channels operate in a tightly controlled format (tickets/services, not "online casinos").

Enforcement. Constant campaigns against cross-border gambling, blocking domains/applications, criminal liability of organizers; participants risk fines and other measures.

Payments and crypto. Banks/payment providers are required to filter transactions; the use of cryptocurrencies does not legalize gambling and can itself become a separate risk.

Hong Kong: HKJC "monocenter" and nothing extra

• horse racing and football betting;
• Mark Six lottery;
• remote betting through the official website/applications/phone when registering an account and passing checks.
• What is prohibited. Any online casinos, poker rooms, third-party bookmakers and their advertising in the jurisdiction. Landing on illegal domains/applications leads to locks, fines and possible criminal liability for organizers.
• Advertising and RG. Strict advertising rules, age-gating, liability messages. HKJC has a set of responsible play tools (limits, self-exclusion, help).

Macau: the largest offline cluster without "online"

Model. Macau is an offline casino resort operating under a concession system until 2032 (six operators).

Online status. Full-fledged online casinos and remote bets are not allowed for a wide audience. The regulator consistently confirms the ban on interactive gambling for money.

Supervision accents. Responsible play, tourist protection, AML/KYC, marketing and junket control. Any attempts at remote play/marketing from Macau are thwarted.

Advertising, Affiliates and Content

PRC: advertising of gambling and "gray" services (exchangers, agents) is prohibited; there is technological filtering and administrative measures against the involvement of citizens.

Hong Kong: only HKJC materials are allowed within the established framework; affiliate marketing of illegal sites is punishable.

Macau: Land casino promos are permissible as part of tourism and entertainment; remote "online sale" of gambling - banned.

Payments and compliance

Finmonitoring. Three jurisdictions have strict AML requirements; banks/providers block suspicious transactions related to offshore online sites.

Cryptocurrencies. The use of crypto assets does not change the legal assessment of gambling. Attempts to bypass the rules through the P2P/OTC carry a high risk of blocking, fines and criminal prosecution (primarily for the organizers).

Border cases. "Gaming applications" with loot boxes/virtual prizes periodically fall under the scope of regulators if the mechanics resemble a gamble.

Responsible play and consumer protection

Toolbox. Limits, self-exclusion, risk warnings, staff training and assistance routes are mandatory elements for legal operators (HKJC; in Macau - for offline casinos).

Players. Do not transfer money to illegal sites/" exchangers, "do not trust the" guarantees "of quick payments. In case of health and control problems - refer to assistance programs and use self-limiting tools.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Are online casinos allowed in China? No, it isn't.

Can I play on foreign sites from China/Hong Kong/Macau? This does not make participation legal; in Hong Kong, only remote betting is allowed at HKJC.

Does Macau have an online casino? No, Macau will only legalize land-based casinos.

Is it possible to get by with crypto or VPN? No, it isn't. The form of payment and the disguise of access do not change the legal status.

What exactly is legal in Hong Kong? Horse racing, football betting and the Mark Six lottery - exclusively through HKJC.

Trends until 2030 (cautious forecast)

1. Maintaining the PRC's prohibition line on online gambling with continued cross-border control.

2. Hong Kong will hold the HKJC monopoly and strengthen RG/AML procedures in remote channels.

3. Macau will continue to develop offline resorts, MICE and entertainment; a reversal to B2C online gaming is unlikely under current policy.

4. Control technologies (age/geo/KYC/AML) will become even deeper integrated into the payment infrastructure and app stores.

5. Responsibility communications and prevention of gambling addiction will expand in all legal channels.

As of October 2025, the picture is unambiguous: China - a complete ban on online casinos; Hong Kong - strictly limited legal spectrum through HKJC; Macau is the world center of offline casinos without legalizing online games for money. Any attempts to "bypass" the regime (offshore sites, crypt, VPN) do not transfer participation to the legal field and carry real financial and legal risks. For players, a safe reference point is to use only what is directly allowed in their jurisdiction.