Your Guide To The Best Asia Online Casinos

Asia online casinos are soaring in popularity, and even though many countries on the continent have yet to legalise online gambling at a federal level, there are still plenty of ways to access and play at the best casinos. What exactly are the obstacles, how can you get started with online gambling and what is there to look forward to? Keep reading to find out.

  • Aleksandra Nolan
  • Updated: 25.10.2023

  • Updated: 25.10.2023

    Best Asia Casinos

    The Best Asia Casinos In The World

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    Introduction To Asian Online Casinos

    Introduction To Asia Online Casinos

    Asia has arguably one of the fastest growing online gambling markets on the planet, which isn’t surprising considering the continent is home to more than 60% of the world’s population. Thanks to technical progression and more people gaining access to desktop and mobile devices, it’s little wonder that Asia online casinos are on the rise.

    online casinos asia

    Gambling is a common form of recreation in the Asian culture. In China, gambling often makes up part of social gatherings, where it’s not unusual to see groups of people engrossed in a game of Mahjong, for example. In fact, plenty of popular games originated from Asia, with some suggesting that lottery-style games like Keno contributed to funding to build the Great Wall. Legend even has it that entire areas of India have been won and lost on the roll of a dice.

    The passion extends to online gambling, too, with more and more players benefiting from betting on their favourite casino games at Asia online casinos. Today, registrations from Asian players are accepted at the best sites that support Asian currencies like CNY, HKD and JPY. You can claim exciting bonuses and promotional offers, find your favourite slots, traditional and Live Casino games, and even enjoy support in languages like Japanese and Chinese – all at the casinos on our top list.

    Legalities of Playing From Asia

    Is Online Gambling Legal In Asia?

    CountryLegislation
    SingaporeThe 2014 Remote Gambling Bill renders all forms of online gambling in Singapore illegal unless operators have a special license from local authorities. Players who don’t follow the laws face jail time and a hefty fine.
    PhilippinesGambling is regulated by the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, which licenses and regulates online gambling. Operators cannot offer their services to residents in the Philippines, though, but may do so to players in other Asian countries. Philippine players are permitted to gamble at offshore casinos.
    MacauThe Monte Carlo of the Orient, there aren’t regulations around online gambling in Macau, making it acceptable for citizens to gamble at offshore casinos.
    ChinaGambling in China, and at international Asia online casinos, is strictly prohibited.
    JapanOnline gambling is not allowed, but players can bet on scratch cards, lotteries and certain types of sports. However, players are able to access foreign casino sites.
    Hong KongHong Kong views online gambling as illegal but does not block international casino operators.
    South KoreaOnline gambling is a criminal act in South Korea and players who are caught in the act face prosecution.
    IndiaEach state in India has its own rules and regulations, but online gambling is not regulated, and players have access to foreign gambling operators.
    VietnamThere is strict internet censorship in Vietnam and all forms of online gambling are prohibited, with many offshore casinos blocked by local internet service providers.
    ThailandWhile gambling is restricted, players do have access to offshore casino sites.

    We know that laws and legislation around online gambling can change in a heartbeat, so it’s always a good idea to check out the latest in your country before you sign up at Asian online casinos. However, different countries on the continent have different laws, and we address those in the table above.

    As you can see, the Asian iGaming market is a varied and interesting arena. While the landscape is pretty complex, we have noticed that most Muslim countries forbid online gambling, as do countries with strong political leadership that block this liberal market. While there are gambling havens like the Philippines and Macau, there are countries like Malaysia and Thailand that forbid gambling but don’t block Asia online casinos based overseas.

    Licence And Regulation At Asia Casinos

    Gambling Licence, Jurisdiction And Authority In Asia

    Asia is the biggest continent, so it makes sense that it’s the largest digital gambling market. But as you can see, gambling is illegal in many Asian countries. While the continent itself doesn’t have a general gambling regulator, all countries have singular autonomy over Asia online casinos and gambling activities.

    In countries like the Philippines, for example, plays turn to offshore casinos for gambling fun. In other countries, even that isn’t allowed. For now, countries that do permit online gambling usually allow operators who hold licenses either from a country’s local authority or international regulators like the UKGC and Alderney.

    What About Playing In Asian Currencies?

    With so many countries on the continent comes an abundance of currencies, making it difficult for operators with Asia online casinos to include all of them. But the casinos that we recommend for Asian players offer a accept of local currencies, along with major options like Euros, GBP and USD. You can play at the best Asian casinos with rupees, Yuan or sometimes even Thai Baht.

    Software Developers For Asian Gamers

    Top Asia Online Casino Software Developers

    You’d be hard-pressed to find Asia online casinos that don’t have at least one major provider on the list of content contributors. Ezugi, in particular, is known for developing Asia-inspired live games like Lucky 7, Andar Bahar, Teen Patti and 32 Cards. NetEnt, on the other hand, creates casino table games and online slots specifically for Asian players (more on that in a bit). So, when you enter online Asian casinos, you feel as though you’re on an international site with a special focus on your home culture.

    Top Online Games At Asian Casinos

    The Most Popular Casino Games In Asia

    Asian gamblers are known for their high roller activities, placing large bets on games of chance like blackjack, craps, baccarat and roulette. They’re also fond of slots and progressive jackpots from developers like Microgaming and Playtech.

    Popular Asia online casinos boast extensive libraries with hundreds and sometimes thousands of games. The most popular amongst the Asian population include:

    • Teen Patti
    • Andar Bahar
    • Pai Gow
    • Baccarat
    • Sic Bo

    You’ll also find speciality games at these casinos, including Bingo, Keno and scratch cards. Some sites even offer Mahjong, a game invented more than 2,500 years ago in China.

    Asian-Themed Online Slots

    Besides popular games at Asia online casinos, some of the world’s leading software developers have come up with Asian-themed slots, like those we outline below.

    Quest To The West by Betsoft

    This is the highest RTP slot to come out of the Betsoft camp. It has a 97.53% RTP with stunning graphics and symbols like lucky animals, lotus flowers and Asian warriors. The Mighty Monkey is what you really want, though, which acts as the game’s Walking Wild and moves around the 5 reels to enhance your winning combinations.

    Lotus Heart From Playtech

    This funky Asian-themed slot isn’t available at all Asia online casinos that stock Playtech games, making it even more appealing than usual. This game looks similar to the popular title, Immortal Romance, but it’s a totally different theme, boasting a zodiac-centric and Chinese theme. You’ll find symbols like pigs, roosters, dogs and rabbits complete with Scatters, Wilds and Expanding symbols.

    NetEnt’s Twin Happiness

    Another Asian slot out of the NetEnt studios, Twin Happiness is about chasing your good fortune. If you like risks, you’re going to love this game, found at some of the best Asia online casinos on our top list. Besides the simple rules, this game boasts a 96.45% RTP and a solid hit frequency. You’ll find Chinese letters and fruits, reminding you of a classic fruit slot, but the best thing about this game has to be the Synchronising Reels feature that forces multiple reels to spin at the same time and lock in place matching symbols.

    Pragmatic Play Presents Caishen’s Gold

    This Asian slot is not one you come across often, but when you do, you’ll never want to stop playing. The pick-a-coin mini-game is the most exciting feature in Caishen’s Gold, offering up to four jackpots. The 5-reels and 3 rows game gives you a whopping 243 ways to win and is often a popular title in slot tournaments. The Asian continent in the game is depicted in symbols like the fans, moon guitar and Chinese God of Wealth, but it’s the golden coins you want to keep an eye on as they are the most valuable.

    Blazing Tiger Brought To You By RubyPlay

    RubyPlay is a lesser-known software developer that’s brought us other Asian slots like He He Yang. But Blazing Tiger, an animal slot set upon a 5×3 reel grid with 30 pay lines really stands out at Asia online casinos. The roaring tiger is the protagonist in this game and when you play, you become the ultimate conqueror of the wilderness. In this game, you can score dozens of free spins, Mystery Wilds, Symbol Collections and Scatter Symbols. There’s also a 900x your stake jackpot, making sure you could walk away a big winner.

    Pachinko From Microgaming

    Pachinko is cute but far from naïve. This 2021 release from the world-renowned Microgaming was developed in partnership with Neko Games. The slot-bingo hybrid game is played by placing bets at the beginning of a round. Balls then start to appear on the reel grid but there aren’t specific reels like in traditional slots. Rather, there are four bingo cards on the board. The game boasts a low 95.82% RTP and you could win as much as 5,000x your stake, making it a highly exciting game of chance.

    Quickspin’s Sakura Fortune

    You might have heard about or come across Sakura Fortune at some point. It’s an all-time favourite from Quickspin about an empowered woman warrior on her quest for justice in cherry blossom season. The 40-payline Asian themed slot features Wilds, Re-Spins, Free Spins and Bonus Games along with an RTP of 96.61%.

    Live Casino Titles For Immersive Action

    Live Dealer Games To Rival The Land-Based Experience

    One of the most thrilling things about playing at Asia online casinos is the chance to play Live Casino games. Top software providers employ experienced native dealers who bring a local feel to the tables, attracting players throughout the continent. With Live Casino lobbies, you don’t need to fly off to Macau for some gambling fun when you can log in and chat with real dealers streaming games in real-time.

    Excitingly, the best online casinos that cater to Asian players are home to croupiers who speak Mandarin, Taiwanese, Thai, Japanese and Vietnamese, which means there’s a good chance that you can interact with dealers and fellow players in your home language.

    Popular Asia Online Casino Live Games And Studios

    Asian players like to play Live Casino games like poker, roulette and blackjack, but there’s an inclination towards traditional games, too, like Sic Bo, baccarat, Hi-Lo, Dragon Tiger, Andar Bahar and Teen Patti. Other live dealer games you’ll come across at Asia online casinos include live dealer Fantan, Lucky 7 and War of Bets.

    You’ll often find variations of traditional games, too, like Live Fabulous 4 Baccarat, Live Baccarat Playboy and Live Super 98 Baccarat, to name a few.

    Games and dealers aside, these immersive Live Casino games are streamed from glamorous studios, often based in Asia. At the centre of it all is a studio in the Philippines. Leading developers such as Vivo Gaming, Playtech, Asia Gaming, Entwine Tech, Opus Gaming and Ho Gaming all have studios in one of the two office towers in Makati City in Manila.

    On the other hand, Ezugi streams Live Casino games from a land-based casino in Cambodia and BetConstruct has a glitzy casino studio in Yerevan, Armenia.

    All of the Live Casino settings are exotic and glamorous as they aim to emulate the lavish interiors of upmarket brick-and-mortar gambling venues throughout Asia.

    Bonuses And Promotions At Asian Casinos

    Bountiful Bonuses You’ll Find At Asia Online Casinos

    Bonuses and promotions are not only a great way to pass your time at online casinos, but also the perfect chance to boost your bankroll from the moment you sign up at a site. All of the Asia online casinos we review and recommend offer bonuses for new and existing players in the form of:

    While these offers differ from platform to platform, they all have one thing in common – terms, conditions and wagering requirements. Always read the fine print before you accept any offer and make sure you know exactly what’s expected if you want to claim your bonus funds and winnings.

    Payment Methods for Asian Players

    Popular Payment Methods For Asian Players

    With Asia being a massive continent with no less than 48 countries, an abundance of currencies exists. While it’s difficult for all Asia online casinos to include all the currencies, you will find sites that accept one or more Asian currencies and payment methods. In addition to local currencies, the sites also accept USD, GBP and Euros, but you may be able to play with Thai Baht, rupees and Yuan, too.

    Currencies aside, you want to play at a casino that accepts trustworthy, secure and well-known payment methods. In top Asia online casinos, credit cards and e-wallets tend to be the most popular choices for funding an account and withdrawing winnings. Operators accept the most popular e-wallets, including:

    You can also use:

    Venus Point is a favoured payment method used in Japan that allows for both casino deposits and withdrawals. You’ll find that many casinos accept this payment option and Venus Point itself offers Japanese support.

    MuchBetter has made a name for itself as a leading option at Asia online casinos, especially in India and Japan. The e-wallet has a lucrative loyalty programme, competitive exchange rates and low service fees. You can fund your MuchBetter account with your bank card, via bank transfer or even with cryptocurrency and then fund your casino account accordingly, just using your mobile phone number. Deposits are processed instantly and are free of charge. You can also use this method to cash out your winnings, which takes about 24 hours or less depending on the casino.

    Credit and debit cards remain a safe and easy way to fund your online gambling habits, too, provided your country and bank allows for gambling transactions. Asian online casinos accept payments from VISA, MasterCard and JCB, to name a few.

    Asian players may also use cryptocurrencies at some casinos. Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum and their counterparts make for untraceable, secure and fast casino payments.

    If you have a favourite payment method, make sure that a casino accepts deposits and withdrawals via that method before you register and that your preferred payment method is eligible for bonuses.

    Don’t Forget To Verify!

    When it comes to cashing out your winnings, make sure you’ve completed a casino’s verification process – something any reputable Asian online casino requires. The idea of verification is to avoid players abusing their accounts and bonuses, as well as prevent money laundering.

    It’s a good idea to get this process out of the way early on, like just after you sign up. The documents required for verification typically include:

    • Bank statement
    • ID card/driving license/passport
    • Utility bill

    You can send the documents to the casino’s customer support team by uploading them under your account or emailing them through.

    Best Casinos for Asians

    How To Find The Best Online Asian Casinos

    Finding the top Asia online casinos isn’t as scary as it sounds. Our team has a checklist of requirements a platform must meet to make our top list. When we review any casino, we register an account and put the following factors to the test:

    • The registration process
    • Depositing funds and withdrawing winnings, processing times, fees and payment methods
    • Bonus wagering requirements and terms and conditions
    • Customer support
    • Security and licensing
    • Game variety
    • Mobile compatibility
    • Usability
    • Responsible gambling

    The main reason why we only recommend credible Asia online casinos is that you will know exactly what you’re getting into. You should only play at regulated and secure casinos that use the latest security technology and where the games and casino are regularly audited for provably fair gaming and transparent terms.

    As for bonuses and promotions, it’s important that not only ther are low wagering casino bonus requirements but that all the terms and conditions are clearly laid out, so you don’t encounter any expensive surprises when it’s time to cash out your winnings. We like to find casinos that offer bonuses to both new and loyal players and preferably have loyalty schemes in place to reward their most important players.

    Responsible Gambling At Casinos

    Responsible Gambling Throughout Asia

    Asia online casinos put security features in place to protect your information and your money. There are also various tools and helplines designed to help you keep your gambling habits in check or support you when things get out of hand.

    Reputable online casinos dedicate a section to responsible gambling and besides offering quizzes to assess whether or not you have a gambling problem, tools such as the below are offered:

    • Time limits
    • Deposit limits
    • Cooling off period
    • Reality check
    • Self-exclusion

    If things are seriously getting out of control, there are usually links to local organisations in the various countries that assist with gambling addiction.

    asia online casinos

    Conclusion

    The Future Of Online Gambling In Asia

    Asia may not come across as a gambling-friendly continent, but it would be a mistake to write it off entirely. There seems to be a rising awareness of player protection measures along with the potential value of revenue which is seeing a shift in some countries attitudes towards Asia online casinos.

    Asia is a massive continent, though, and the market for online gambling is on the rise. That’s why we have put together our top list of the best Asia online casinos, so you know exactly which ones are legit, lucrative and waiting for you to sign up. Just make sure you’re not breaking the law in your country, and you should enjoy a secure and immersive experience at your favourite sites.

    Aleksandra Nolan

    Experienced online casino writer and reviewer who loves to share her knowledge and experience with others. She enjoys analyzing the latest trends in the industry and offering valuable tips to help others by having the most from betting at online casinos. She is constantly looking for new and interesting topics to write about and stays up-to-date on the latest changes in the online gambling industry.