Online gambling regulation in China
No single online gambling regulator; Ministry of Public Security leads enforcement with telecom and financial authorities. Online gambling prohibited model. Checked 2026-09-21.
- Advertising unlicensed gambling banned
- Yes
- Public licence register
- No
- Online casino
- Prohibited
- Online sports betting
- Prohibited
Casino, sports betting, poker and more
Mainland China generally prohibits private gambling: casino-style games and sports betting are illegal except the state lottery carve-outs, while poker is also prohibited; there is no licensed private online gambling market.
| Product | Status | What that means |
|---|---|---|
| Online casino | Prohibited | — |
| Online sports betting | Prohibited | — |
| Online poker | Prohibited | Prohibited in mainland China under Criminal Law Article 303; online poker apps and online gambling are banned. |
| Sweepstakes and social casinos | Not confirmed | No confirmed China-specific rule found for sweepstakes/social casinos using dual-currency or prize redemption models; likely risk depends on whether prizes or staking create gambling. |
| Prediction markets | Not confirmed | No confirmed China-specific regime found for real-money prediction markets; likely constrained by gambling ban or securities/derivatives rules depending on structure. |
| Mystery boxes | Restricted | 2016 Ministry of Culture notice and 2022 Shanghai mystery-box compliance guidelines require odds disclosure; disguised gambling remains illegal under Criminal Law Article 303. |
Advertising unlicensed gambling in China
Prohibited. Advertising Law Article 9(8); criminal liability may also attach under Criminal Law Article 303 and related enforcement guidance.
Advertising or promotion of illegal/private online gambling is prohibited.
Regulator and law
No single online gambling regulator; Ministry of Public Security leads enforcement with telecom and financial authorities
Criminal Law of the PRC, Article 303; Advertising Law of the PRC, Article 9(8)
Online casino: Prohibited. Online sports betting: Prohibited.
Checking a licence
There is no public register of licensed operators. No public licence register found because mainland China does not license private online gambling.
How the black market is fought
- ISP and site blocking; payment interdiction; telecom/financial coordination; fines and detention; criminal prosecution of organizers
- Platform takedown and notice/removal pressure on ads, websites, and apps
- Cross-border enforcement against offshore operators targeting China
Advertising rules for licensed operators
- No licensed online casino or sportsbook exists in mainland China
- Only state lottery advertising is potentially lawful; private gambling promotion is banned
- Advertising cannot induce gambling or mislead about legality
- Use of minors or social impact claims is restricted under general ad law
Recent developments
- 2026 reporting continues to describe intensified cross-border crackdowns on gambling promotion and payments
- 2025-2026 sources describe broader platform removal pressure for gambling ads and facilitation
- No licensed online market or whitelist has emerged in 2025-2026
Questions
Is it illegal to advertise unlicensed gambling in China?
Yes. Advertising Law Article 9(8); criminal liability may also attach under Criminal Law Article 303 and related enforcement guidance. Advertising or promotion of illegal/private online gambling is prohibited.
Who regulates online gambling in China?
No single online gambling regulator; Ministry of Public Security leads enforcement with telecom and financial authorities. The main law is Criminal Law of the PRC, Article 303; Advertising Law of the PRC, Article 9(8).
How can I check whether a gambling operator is licensed in China?
No public licence register found because mainland China does not license private online gambling.
What we could not confirm
- Exact current sectioning of gambling offences in the latest Criminal Law text should be verified before citation in formal advice
- Exact article numbering for all advertising exceptions should be checked against the latest PRC Advertising Law text
- Whether any local lottery or media guidance creates narrow ad exceptions is unclear
- Whether China treats social casinos/dual-currency sweepstakes as gambling, consumer promotions, or an unregulated product category.
- Whether any specific rules or enforcement actions exist for mystery boxes/loot boxes in mainland China.
- Whether real-money prediction markets are treated as gambling, illegal securities activity, or another regulated financial product in China.
Sources
- advennt.io/jurisdictions/china/
- gamblingmaps.org/map/regulations/china
- gamblingmaps.org/map/regulations/china/for-operators
- richads.com/blog/gambling-ads-regulations-by-country/
- practiceguides.chambers.com/practice-guides/gaming-law-2025/macau-sar-china/trends-and-developments
- gamingzion.com/china/gambling/gambling-sites/
- cryptopick.bet/blog/is-crypto-gambling-legal-in-china/
- chinalawtranslate.com/en/19889-2/
- somuchpoker.com/poker-guides/asia/china
- pokerrankings.eu/go/china-en/article/legal-info/
- pokersitesranking.com/is-online-poker-legal-china-2026/
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling_in_China
- yourpokerdream.com/overview-dealspartner/chinese-poker-sites/
- riverodds.app/poker-in-china/
- poker.org/latest-news/new-chinese-laws-up-the-stakes-for-illegal-gamblers-aq3jh4c6Ryk2/
- blog.empiredrop.com/mystery-box-laws-by-country-where-are-they-legal/
- blog.promise.legal/loot-box-laws-game-developers/
- qualitativecriminology.com/from-valve-to-soft2bet-an-investigation-into-loot-boxes-video-game-compliance-and-igaming-regulation
- lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=09038e0d-fbe0-4ee3-aa4c-6c3c6b8dee34
- gachawiki.com/wiki/gacha-regulation
Researched 2026-09-21 from public sources and summarised by the Brandfense team. Not legal advice — confirm with the regulator or your counsel before acting.