Top Live Casinos in China

Live casinos in China are in a very complicated legal position. As a communist country, the government has forbidden online casinos, hence live casinos are not allowed to operate and offer their services to the people. However, it was mentioned in the beginning that China also has provinces, special administrative regions, and autonomous regions, which do have the power to pass legislation of their choosing.

Such is the case with Hong Kong and Macau. They are special administrative regions and have enough sovereignty to regulate the industry. Hence, live casinos are legal to operate in these regions and the players are more than happy to access them and play all of their featured games.

Traveling Abroad

The residents in Hong Kong and Macau have grown fond of these games very much in the past couple of years as they provide them with a unique gaming experience. Live casinos are also part of the reason why so many Chinese residents that are not from Hong Kong or Macau are more than willing to travel abroad where these sites are legal and access the games there. That is why some of their most popular destinations are Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

These days, gambling remains very popular in China, even though it is still illegal in most parts. Some estimates are that the revenue of the industry exceeds one trillion Yuan every year. To make things even worse, even though they are formally not allowed to visit other countries and gamble there, Chinese players still do it.

In most cases, they travel to close-by countries such as the Philippines and Singapore. In these countries, they are more than welcome to gamble on the best casino games and be provided with the highest level of entertainment. It is worth noting that the only two legal forms of gambling in mainland China are the Welfare Lottery and the Sports Lottery.

As for Hong Kong and Macau, the gambling industry flourishes there and both of these regions have massive economic benefits. Thanks to this industry, thousands of people are employed and the regions receive millions of dollars in tax money.

As stated earlier, gambling in mainland China has been made illegal ever since the Communist Party took power in 1948. The only two legal forms of gambling in the country are the Welfare Lottery and the Sports Lottery, which are entirely controlled by the state.

This has resulted in the development of a massive underground ring of gambling which is estimated to have around one trillion Yuan annually. Not only that, but Chinese residents are also more than open to the idea of travelling abroad to play their favourite casino games.

Two Regions Have Legalized Gambling

But, the two special administrative states of Hong Kong and Macau have legalized gambling and they are the only regions in the country where the residents can gamble without facing any consequences. Gambling in Hong Kong has been legal and regulated ever since 1977, while gambling in Macau has been legal since the 1850s.

The massive ban on gambling in mainland China has proven to be a big problem as the black market is developing at a fast rate, but the government still does not seem to be too concerned with it, hence they are not even discussing the possibility of legalizing land-based and online casinos.

Regulation Laws and Authorities

In mainland China, since gambling is illegal, all of these activities are mentioned in the Criminal Law. According to the legislative, the residents are not allowed to gamble at land-based or online casinos. That also makes live casinos illegal. To make things even worse, according to the law, the players are not even allowed to gamble offshore, but they choose to ignore this part. That is why Chinese people travel to neighbouring countries for the sole purpose of participating in gambling-related activities.

The Gambling Ordinance

The government of Hong Kong allows a certain number of gambling activities. The Gambling Ordinance was enacted in 1977 and its purpose is to regulate the gambling industry in this special region. Additionally, since horse racing is a big part of the history in this county, a special club that goes by the name the Hong Kong Jockey Club regulates all activities connected to betting on horses.

The law that regulates gambling in Macau is Law 16/2001 and the government of Macau is the direct supervisor of this industry. It is worth noting that gambling tourism is one of the biggest incomes for this region and it makes up around 50% of the total economy. Gambling activities in Macau are divided into the following categories:

• Casino games
• Greyhound racing
• Sports betting
• Lotteries
  It is worth noting that even though players in Macau can access live casinos and online casinos, the government does not license these operators.

A reputable game provider is always a good indicator of a quality game. Some of the world’s most renowned providers supply online casinos with HD games that have fantastic gameplay. That is the reason why Chinese players are always looking for the most reputable suppliers of live casino games. Hence, they will be on the lookout for the likes of Evolution Gaming and Asia Live Gaming.

Providers that create quality regular casino games are also a good bonus. Among the names that Chinese players are fond of are:

• NetEnt
• Microgaming
• Play’n GO
• Pragmatic Play
• Quickspin
• Red Tiger Gaming
• Yggdrasil
• Big Time Gaming

Most Preferred Casino Bonuses in China

The two most preferred casino bonuses in China are welcome bonuses and cashback bonuses. Since welcome bonuses are the first bonus that Chinese players come across, they are the number 1 most preferred. Thanks to welcome offers, the players from this country have a nice head start and get extremely familiar with the casino games.

Welcome Bonuses

Welcome bonuses vary from one site to another, but in most cases, they reward the player with match deposit bonuses and Free Spins. Free Spins are used on slot games, but players should be careful as they come with numerous terms and conditions, such as wagering requirements, timeframes in which they must be used, maximum bonus amount, etc. Players are also limited on the number of slots on which they can use the Free Spins.

Cashback Bonuses

Cashback bonuses are very popular and preferred because they mostly apply to live casino games. Additionally, they do not come with many terms and conditions and are very simple to claim. Players must play live casino games over a certain period, then log in to claim some of the lost amounts during that period on a specified day. The percentage varies from one operator to another.

Loyalty Programs

Lastly, loyalty programs also deserve a mention as they often reward the most loyal players in China with higher cash back percentages, among many other things. Depending on their level, players can receive up to 25-30% cashback on live dealer games. Additionally, they may be provided with exclusive gifts, personal account managers, VIP Support, higher withdrawal limits, etc.

How To Claim These Bonuses

By reading the terms and conditions of the bonuses, players will get familiar with the requirements to claim the bonuses. They are worth a read because they vary from one operator to another. Some general terms and conditions state that the players must be registered at the selected online casino and be of legal age.

To claim welcome bonuses, players will also need to make the minimum required bonus. They should keep in mind that the welcome bonus is only available to newly-registered players and can be claimed just once. Free Spins from welcome bonuses are a big subject to terms and conditions. Usually, they are rewarded over a few consecutive days and players have a limited time in which they can use them.

As for cashback bonuses, they are among the simplest bonuses that players claim. All they have to do is log in and play live casino games over a certain period. Then, they just need to log in on the specified day the next week and claim some of their lost amounts.

Some operators may require players to type in bonus codes or/and contact Customer Support. To check the specific requirements, players are ought to visit the Promotions tab of the chosen casino.