If you’re looking to travel to Malaysia for gambling there are a few things you should consider first. In today’s article, we go over the gambling laws, institutions and more.
Gambling Laws in Malaysia
The Betting Act of 1953, the Common Gaming Houses Act of 1953, and the Shariah law are the three primary legal frameworks that have significant influence over gambling laws in Malaysia. The most significant of these is the Betting Act of 1953, which has since undergone a number of further revisions. This act covers communications and other ways of sending bets between clients and betting houses.
It also prohibits all kinds of wagering unless the entity doing the activity has a valid licence to conduct business in the country. According to the provisions of this Act, the maximum penalty for anybody found operating a gambling house or being found within one is an RM200,000 fine and a 5-year prison sentence.
When compared to the Betting Act, the Common Gaming Houses Act of 1953 (and its changes) covers a wider variety of gaming activities than does the Betting Act.
The Malaysian Finance Minister has proposed an increase in the penalties that would be imposed on illegal gamblers as well as those who run illegal gambling businesses in the country’s budget plan for 2020. The highest amount of money that may be fined to people who gamble unlawfully has been raised from RM5,000 to RM100,000, and the minimum amount of time that they must serve in jail has been set at six months.
Because Islam is the majority religion in Malaysia, Sharia law and Sharia courts are recognised. There is no Sharia law that applies to non-Malays (mostly ethnic Chinese and Indians). Sharia law forbids all types of gambling.
How To Gamble In Malaysia Legally
Visiting non-Malaysians and non-Muslims can engage in gaming with no hindrance. Despite this, gambling is less popular in Malaysia than it is in other places. Casinos are mainly located in tourist destinations, and slot machines are something of a rare occurrence. There are no betting shops in the nation. It is unlawful for anybody or any firm to provide gambling services in Malaysia due to the country’s majority-Muslim population. However, there are several offshore gambling websites in Malaysia that many players can legally use without fear of prosecution unless they follow Islamic Law.
All of Malaysia’s gamblers may access a wide selection of offshore service providers, from sports gambling to slots, bingo to baccarat, yet, only a small fraction of the population does so. In fact, it’s common knowledge that much of the gambling is done illegally. In fact illegal lotteries make up a whopping 60% more revenue than the few legal entities operating.
Payments Methods
In Malaysia, the process of depositing and withdrawing real money from your online gaming account might be a bit complicated. People in the United States still prefer to pay for their goods and services by handing over cash. It’s a little more difficult to pay with cash online!
It is common practice in Malaysia to do online transactions using direct banking channels. Online gambling sites in Malaysia that accept direct bank transfers are available if your financial institution offers this option. Third-party payment processors can handle internet transactions even if your bank does not.
Additionally, Visa and MasterCard debit and credit card payments through the Internet aren’t common.
With Bitcoin casinos, Malaysians have a credible solution to bank transfers when it comes to online gambling. As long as you don’t utilise them, you may continue to transact in crypto. Bitcoins may be used in a casino or sports book to make bets, and you can then withdraw your profits in Bitcoin and convert them back to Malaysian ringgits so that you can spend them elsewhere.
Is The Use Of Offshore Casinos Safe?
Many think offshore casinos are not safe due to them not being licensed by the country or state, this couldn’t be further from the truth. In our case, Malaysia does not legally permit any casino or online casino to operate from Malaysia even though they are aware of the illegal markets. In this case, the best and safest option is the use licensed offshore sites. Just because a site is offshore does not mean they do not have a governing body, in fact many offshore sites are governed by high authority sites such as the MGA or UKGC and undergo strict and scrutinous checks to make sure they provide fairness to their clients.
Conclusion
Bahamian History Through Its Colonial Architecture is an interesting one just as the history of Malaysia’s gambling scene and how it came to be. As it stands Malaysia is still a fun place to visit if you enjoy gambling. Of course, if you look to gamble in person one must stick to the more touristy places around Malaysia, otherwise, you must look to offshore gaming sites.
