Many sports fans want to up the stakes to make watching the game more exciting, even when their team is not playing. The simplest way to get there is to place a bet on the game and see if their preferred outcome will be how things play out.
Now, if you’re planning to visit Malaysia, this might be a slight problem, considering how betting is technically illegal in this country. We used the word technically because there are ways to bet that aren’t illegal, even in Malaysia.
For those interested, here’s how to bet online when visiting Malaysia. These rules also apply to online casino gaming, as many of the top options in Malaysia in terms of gambling sites offer both a range of sports betting markets and a fun variety of casino games.
Is gambling online legal in Malaysia?
The short answer is no.
Like almost any other form of betting (except on horse races and state lottery), online casinos are illegal, as is betting on the outcome of other sporting events.
However!
Suppose the site is not based in Malaysia (the server is not in the country). It is legal for visitors (and even residents) to bet. This is the so-called offshore betting, and it’s a method used by the majority of countries in Southeast Asia—and US states that haven’t yet legalized sports betting—to avoid strict gambling laws.
The region has a long Islamic tradition, and under Islamic law, gambling is prohibited. This is why the single land-based casino that operates in the country doesn’t accept Malaysian Muslims.
What are your options while in Malaysia?
An important thing to understand is that while offshore gambling may sound to you like some marginal thing, the truth is that this industry is larger and more widespread than you believe. There are many options available, and so there are plenty of sites with good reviews available in Malaysia, to both residents and visitors.
This is important because there are also many sites operating without an offshore license, like those from the Malta Gaming Authority or the Curacao eGaming license. In the UK alone, over 1,000 players register on unlicensed, illegal casino sites each month. Instead, choosing a licensed and well-reviewed site will ensure players’ funds are safe and the games are fair.
The benefits of offshore betting are quite numerous. First, you can access more online casinos and games and browse sites with different bonuses and odds. In other words, you have a wider selection to pick from. Aside from this, you can enjoy the privilege of higher anonymity and greater privacy.
Sure, there are also some cons, like currency conversion and transaction fees; however, these are the sacrifices you’ll have to make if you want to bet in places without local legal online betting.
At the moment, it’s the only real option you have as a visitor in Malaysia, aside from visiting the country’s single casino. But remember, it’s an exclusive and luxurious venue, and also doesn’t offer sports betting, only casino games.
There’s one more question that you may be wondering – if gambling is illegal in Malaysia, can you play poker with friends? No, not really. If there’s money involved, even private property will be considered a common gaming house.
In other words, offshore sites and social games among friends (with no money involved) are the only way to enjoy this entertainment in Malaysia.
How convenient is this (and is it really necessary)?
First of all, offshore betting is designed to be convenient. All you need to do is access a website or download an app. You don’t have to install a VPN or anything like that, although it could be a smart move and even help you out in some scenarios. Over 1.5 billion people worldwide use a VPN to boost their online privacy by masking their location.
You probably already use some of these online casinos back home, so there’s no transition. At the same time, if you try them there for the first time and you like them, you can keep using them when you get back home, as they’re available in many countries worldwide.
As for the necessity, things are not that simple to answer. The thing is that people usually do this out of entertainment or enjoyment. Even when they’re making a complex betting ticket with many different games to maximize their gains, this, too, is a sort of gamifying the whole experience.
Naturally, people are not just betting on sports but also playing various casino games. Even in this case, it’s all about entertainment and excitement. The real question isn’t about whether it’s necessary but about your motivations to avoid it when there’s no practical reason for such a thing.
Nothing prevents you from lying on the beach on an island resort when visiting Malaysia, watching your favorite team play across the globe, and even having some extra stakes in the game.
Be the first to comment