Ever since it became a free nation in the 1950s, Malaysia has been establishing its name as one of the most financially stable and diverse countries in Southeast Asia. However, like in some other countries in the region, gambling remains a tricky subject. But how do Malaysia’s gambling regulations compare to other parts of the world?
By introducing its Betting Act of 1953, the country made gambling illegal. Unlike in Europe and many other countries across the world, anyone operating as a sports bookmaker or gambling in any other way would be breaking the law. The reason behind this is that Malaysia has a predominantly Muslim population and Islamic laws strictly prohibit gambling.
While the country doesn’t allow gambling, not all forms of it are banned. The 1953 Act didn’t cover lotteries, and they’ve always been run in Malaysia. It also made some adjustments to its law, permitting horse race betting since 1961.
Still, this doesn’t mean Malaysians don’t bet and play casino games. While the country doesn’t give licenses to online casinos, it doesn’t have control over the ones from abroad. These offshore platforms are operated by big names in the industry and act as safe places for citizens of this country to gamble. There are plenty of trusted online casinos in Malaysia, many of which offer complete anonymity and larger bonuses than regular casinos.
One of the biggest changes in the iGaming industry we witnessed in recent years was the introduction of cryptocurrencies as a legitimate payment method. Players from all across the world, including Malaysia, can now find an anonymous casino and make transactions without ever revealing their identity. This means they don’t have to worry about local regulations.
There’s another catch. It’s also possible to gamble in a brick-and-mortar casino in the country, but you have to know where to go. Malaysia has one land-based casino where this activity is legal. This place is called Casino de Genting and is a part of Genting Highlands Resort. It’s located in the Titiwangsa Mountain Range and offers a unique setting for casino enthusiasts to check out.
While gambling in only one place in the country may seem unusual, this isn’t only the case in Malaysia. For example, some provinces in Canada only allow online gambling through one platform which is regulated by the government. Some countries also had only one legal casino. Even in these instances, they mostly targeted tourists, to boost the local economy.
Malaysia’s laws and regulations may differ from many other parts of the world, but its citizens have similar gambling habits to the rest of the world. While the country had the most success in badminton and is home to many great players, Malaysians tend to bet on football. They place bets on the domestic Super League and European competitions, such as the English Premier League and the Champions League.
Since there are no legal sportsbooks in the country, they do it through the above-mentioned offshore online casinos. This activity is technically illegal and carries fines, enforcement of these penalties is rather relaxed. Players are usually not prosecuted and gambling online in the privacy of your home is perfectly fine.
This is a common thing in many countries that still don’t allow gambling. Players from all parts of the world gamble at online casinos and never worry about getting into trouble. Not only that, but many iGaming operators offer lucrative bonuses and keep introducing new games. This translates to more fun and playing without worrying about spending too much.
Malaysians will have to wait to see anything in the gambling laws change in the country. Luckily for them, until that happens there’s plenty of opportunity to enjoy their favorite casino games and place sports bets online.