Is online gambling legal in China?

Legal overview

Gambling is illegal in mainland China, with the single exception of the two state lotteries, the China Welfare Lottery and the China Sports Lottery. Article 303 of the Criminal Law punishes anyone who, for profit, gathers people to gamble or makes gambling their profession, with up to three years' imprisonment, criminal detention or public surveillance, plus a fine. Opening a casino carries up to five years, rising to five to ten years in serious cases, also with a fine. Less serious gambling is handled under the Public Security Administration Punishments Law, which provides for detention and fines.

Criminal Law Amendment XI, in force since 1 March 2021, added a new offence: organising PRC citizens to gamble abroad when the sums are large or the circumstances serious. According to joint guidance from the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Ministry of Public Security, this covers foreign land-based casinos and cross-border online gambling alike. There is no licence of any kind for online casinos, poker or sports betting, and foreign sites that take Chinese players are illegal.

Lottery tickets may not be sold online without express approval. In April 2015 the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Security, the People's Bank of China and five other departments jointly announced that unauthorised internet lottery sales had to stop. Any internet sale needs approval from the Ministry of Finance. Investigations target not only operators but also the domestic "money-running" networks that move stakes and winnings through bank, WeChat and Alipay accounts. Hong Kong and Macao have separate gambling laws.