Before, Las Vegas, Nevada was the biggest gambling destination in the world. Everyone who went there visited for just one thing: to gamble and win. But recently, new gambling destinations in Asia have been popping up left and right. There’s the sudden rise of Macau, now a gambling wonderland waiting to be dethroned in Asia. But what other countries in Asia should you visit if you want to gamble and win?
Here’s a list of other gambling destinations in Asia you can visit this 2020:
Malaysia
Malaysia is a beautiful country in Southeast Asia. It’s separated into two: West Malaysia and East Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur, a tourist haven, can be found in West Malaysia, and so is their one and only traditional land-based casino: Genting Highlands, or Resorts World Genting.
60% of Malaysia’s population is of Muslim religion, so majority of the people are subjected to Sharia Law which restricts gambling. But with a country where betting is ingrained and part of their culture, it’s very difficult to legally enforce this. So, some forms of gambling is legal to some extent.
Lotteries like 4D Lotto are considered legal, and are actually popular among the common people. And so is Genting Highlands. They have lavish casinos with good casino games, and it’s also placed in an appealing location. Built on top of a mountain in Cameron Highlands, many Malaysians and tourists alike visit Genting Highlands for the relaxing, cold weather.
Many people also like to visit Genting Highlands because of the change of scenery; it’s not surrounded by the heavily urbanized cities of Kuala Lumpur or Penang. Rather, it’s surrounded by nature and mountains. They also have incomparable restaurants and other fun attractions that can be appealing to those who want a break from gambling.
But if you need to practice your gambling skills, or if you miss Genting Highlands’ casino games, you can always try online casino gambling. Malaysia has a lot of top online casinos like EMPIRE777 Casino, which features thousands of online slot games, classic table games and Live Casino. Go check their trusted online casino platform while you’re in Malaysia, and even when you’re back home.
Still, Genting Highlands’ casino is topnotch, which is why we recommend you add Malaysia to your list of Go-To Gambling Destinations in Asia.
Hong Kong
Like Malaysia, only specific forms of gambling is allowed in Hong Kong. Still, it’s one of the top gambling destinations in Asia due to the active gambling community and environment.
Some of the legal forms of gambling in Hong Kong include horse race-betting, sports betting (like football), and of course, lottery.
One of the classics though is Mahjong. Challenge some of the masters of Mahjong in Hong Kong and you’re bound to have a gambling match of a lifetime! Sadly, one of the more Western classics like Poker seems to be in a gray area in terms of legality. But don’t let that ruin Hong Kong for you.
Macau, China
Although Macau is officially part of China, it’s first a Special Administrative Region, meaning it has its own government and laws. You can argue that Macau is no longer the Asian version of Las Vegas, Nevada. Rather, Las Vegas is the Western version of Macau since it has already surpassed the American city in terms of total gambling revenue.
Which is why Macau is the main gambling destination not just in Asia, but the whole world. Here, gambling is more than alive: it’s thriving. Traditional land-based casinos and even sports betting and card games like Poker are considered legal.
Most of the people who come to bet here come from China, but a lot of people from other countries also visit the beautiful region to get a taste of the brilliance of gambling.
Singapore
Recently, Singapore has banned gambling operators that are based outside of the country (looking at you, online casinos). But their licensed land-based casinos are still very legal. Here are some of the best legal casinos to play in when you visit the Merlion City:
- Marina Bay Sands Casino
A 15,000-square-meter casino with about 500 gaming tables, 1,600 slot machines and more than 30 private gaming rooms.
- Resorts World Sentosa
Like Resorts World Genting, Resorts World Sentosa is not just purely a casino, but an overall tourist spot with theme parks like the Universal Studios Singapore, S.E.A. Aquarium, Adventure Cove Waterpark and more. It has a wide variation of casino games that are catered especially to the Asian gambling community.
- Aegean Paradise Cruise
This is a cruise that has a 24/7 casino, complete with a Chinese buffet and the ocean view. There’s Poker, Blackjack, slot machines and more.
Singapore Pools is also still legal, with lotteries like Singapore Toto, 4D and even horse racing betting.
Japan
Asides from being a gambling destination, Japan is also a top tourist destination with beautiful gems like Mt. Fuji, Hokkaido, Sapporo, and of course Tokyo. Lottery, scratch cards and race-betting like horse racing, bicycle & motorcycle racing, powerboat racing are all legal. The same goes for toto wagers. Pachinko, an internationally-famous gambling game that originated in Japan, is also legal in the country.
Although online gambling is illegal in Japan, many of its residents still access non-Japan based online casinos like EMPIRE777 Casino which is popular due to their unparalleled casino games and services.
Although there are currently no legal land-based casinos, a new law has been passed that will soon legalize gambling resorts in the country. So, keep your eyes peeled on Japan for an even better gambling experience in Asia.
Special Mentions:
Vietnam
All forms of gambling is illegal in Vietnam, including online and land-based gambling. Still, gambling is thriving in Vietnam, with a lot of illegal casino games, lotteries (other than the legal state lottery) and online poker & sports betting. That’s why a lot of top online casinos like EMPIRE777 is still not blocked in Vietnam, with authorities making no moves to block them either.
Thailand
Thailand is infamous for online gambling. Gambling, in general, is heavily regulated by multiple laws. But most of the gambling activities in the country is illegal. Still, that never stopped Thai people from playing and betting in top online casinos like EMPIRE777 Casino.
Currently, these are the legal gambling activities in Thailand:
- Horse Racing in Bangkok
- National Lottery
To satisfy Thai people’s desire for gambling, there are legal land-based casinos in nearby countries like Cambodia, Burma, and Laos. Also, of course, online casinos as long as they are not based in the country itself.
Did you like our list of top gambling destinations in Asia you should visit this 2020? Share this article to your travel-and-gambling buddies and give us a heads-up if you’ve visited our recommended countries.
