Home » Best online casinos in Malaysia 2020

Best online casinos in Malaysia 2020

When it comes to the best online casino, Malaysia can be a very complicated topic since the country has a harsh approach on most forms of online gambling. Many international casinos don’t accept players from Malaysia or the MYR currency, with a lot of local and non-reliable brands operating in the region. That’s why we researched and researched and list some of the most trustworthy MYR casinos that accept Malaysian players. We’ve even managed to find some sites boasting a great no deposit bonus for new players. Check out our top list below as well as all the info you need to navigate the Malaysian casino environment.

Malaysia online gambling: Is land-based the only option?

Despite Malaysia being one of the most robust nations in Asia from a financial point of view, online gambling is technically illegal in the region. The Betting Act and the Common Gaming Houses Act, both issued in 1953, clearly outlaws all forms of gambling. And, for a law that is already over 60 years old, it does an excellent job at covering today’s online gambling as well. With such strict rules on online gambling, Malaysia doesn’t offer a lot of options for land-based gambling either. The Genting Highlands Resort is practically the only place where gambling is allowed in the country.

The Racing Act passed in 1961 made horse racing bets legal, as long as betting is done at the track. Lotteries are also legal in the country, according to the Lotteries Act of 1952 and to be able to enjoy either horse racing, lotteries or land-based casinos, Malaysian citizens must be 21 years of age or above.

With such a harsh take on online gambling in Malaysia, there’s no talk about winnings being taxed. And the same harsh take, has led to a rise in Malaysian casino players going after trusted international casinos. While the authorities are intensifying their fight against these operations, there’s no blacklist on online casinos in Malaysia yet.

Is online gambling legal in the region?

If you’re trying to find legal gaming in the sense that applies to regulated markets like the UK, you can kiss that dream goodbye. The truth is your “legal” options in Malaysia are very limited. However, there are quite a few trustworthy online casinos that do accept players from the region.

Casinos in Malaysia: What are your options?

Locals have basically 3 options. One can choose to play at the only land-based casino in the country, international online casinos that operate in the region, or at the local illegal websites. We’re going to do a proper comparison for all three so that you know the best way to proceed.

Genting & Sky Casino

Both located in the Resorts World Genting, Genting Highland Casino and Sky Casino are the only destinations where Malaysian casino enthusiasts over the age of 21 can play legally and choose from a combined offer of around 3,000 slot machines and 400 table games. In operation since 1965, the resort offers over 204,514 square feet of entertainment over various levels. There are dedicated VIP areas with high limit table games such as roulette, blackjack or baccarat.

You will also find slot machines both in their dedicated area as well as randomly placed next to the tables in case you feel lucky after winning a blackjack hand. If you’re not a high roller, there’s nothing to worry about as they have Pai Gow Poker, baccarat or Sic Bo tables with low minimum bets so that everyone can have a great time.

However, that’s where the list of advantages ends since you won’t be able to enjoy any bonuses or promotions to boost your play, you are not allowed to bring any electronic devices with you in the casino and there’s quite a strict dress code.

Furthermore, even though the offer of slots in Genting casino is quite generous for a land-based venue, the number of providers is limited and many of these slots have the same mechanics, with just the skin being changed. So, there’s a big chance you’ll end up feeling like you’re playing the same game over and over again. The table games are quite varied at Genting casino Malaysia, however, you’re looking at a 5% commission for each bet you win.

International sites

If you want to play at the best online casinos in Malaysia, international sites is pretty much the only viable alternative. Quite a few accept Malaysian players and boast high percentage bonuses, like the one offered on Joo Casino. 1xSlot even offers MYR as a standard currency, so you won’t have to worry about currency exchange fees. Also, the legal age to enjoy any casino on the list is 18, compared to 21 for the land-based ones. The biggest plus of them all is that you’ll be able to dig into thousands of slots and table games from the comfort of your home.

Best-Rated Brands On Malaysian Forums

Local illegal brands

As a direct result of the harsh legislation on online casinos, illegal local sites have boomed. These don’t offer any guarantee as they don’t have any type of license and the local forums are full of complaints against them.

• QQClubs
  They offer games from popular providers, however, these games are mere copies of the originals, with considerably lower RTP.
• EuWins casino
  Just like QQClubs, this casino doesn’t have any kind of license. Furthermore, there are complaints online about the casino holding wins with no justification. And since they don’t have a license, there’s nobody to complain to.
• Regal88.com
  Offering pompous welcome offers and promising huge prizes, Regal88 takes in players from Malaysia and then refuses to pay withdrawals, often without any reason.
• MyLVKing
  A quick Google search will result in forum entries filled with players complaining about this casino. Tampered games, no license and hardly any customer support – according to players that tried it.
• Win Club 88
  This website is a copy of Regal88.com, the same well-intended company looking to increase their profits by delivering pirated games and no real chance of winning.
• iBet6888
  iBet Malaysia is one of the illegal casinos that even bothered to get a license from PAGCOR. That’s the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. However, that doesn’t prevent them from not paying withdrawals for all sorts of reasons.
• 7luck888
  7luck88.net has been repeatedly exposed as a scam by Malaysian players that got their accounts locked and wins forfeited based on abusive Terms and Conditions.

Most popular payments on MYR online casinos

Despite all our efforts, out of all the online casino Malaysia credit card-friendly sites, we could find only a few that accept the Malaysian Ringgit. A prime example of those is 1xSlot, where you will be able to bet without currency exchange, while USD is the best currency to choose on others. None of the recommended online casinos will apply any fee on currency exchange so the only discomfort is having to always double-check the deposited amount.

Common local banks supported by Malaysian-facing sites include MayBank, Public Bank, Hong Leong Bank, AM Bank, CIMB, RHB, HSBC or BSN. When it comes to ewallets, Skrill and Neteller are both available on international sites, as well as direct transfer apps. All deposit methods are instant and you shouldn’t expect any fees on them. Furthermore, all online casinos in Malaysia from the list accept withdrawals with the same payment options. The most recommended method for cashing out your wins is an ewallet since you can get fees from your bank for credit / debit cards and bank transfers. Also, ewallets are the fastest with an average waiting time of 48 hours.

Top online casinos in Malaysia: What else sets them apart?

You already know you should steer clear of the non-reliable sites we’ve mentioned earlier. However, how can you be sure that an international online casino can be trusted? We’ve put together some criteria that can be easily applied in case you come across casinos accepting Malaysian players and you want to do a check of your own.

Signs of trusted online casinos in Malaysia

As promised, in order to make sure you’re playing at a trusted brand, here are some of the things you should check for. In fact, these are the criteria our experts applied to generate the list above.

• Non-pirated games
  A lot of the local brands we analyzed above declare they offer games by well-known providers such as Playtech, when in reality they only offer pirated versions of those. Be very cautious and always check for signs of pirated games, such as the artwork and design of the games, as well as weird-sounding game effects.
• Good ratings on review sites & forums
  If you look at the sheer amount of complaints from players regarding the local illegal brands we mentioned above, you will understand why researching sites in the local forums is important. Decent ratings from players on sites like Best50Casino.com is another check you should perform. Casinos like Playamo, Casinia or Svenbet have received very good feedback from users and that matters in volatile regions.
• License
  The UKGC, MGA and Gibraltar Gaming Commission are among the most-trusted licensing authorities in the world so check if the site you chose has their seal of approval.
• Fairness certifications
  A fair site will have no problem hiring third-party audit companies like eCogra or iTech Labs to check the RTP and fairness of their games and display the results properly. 888casino, for example, does that regularly.
• Sites that promote responsible gambling
  Trusted brands are also focused on their players’ wellbeing so they promote responsible gambling. Truth is,  local sites like QQclubs do have a Responsible Gaming section, but that means absolutely nothing if they are not endorsed by reputable responsible gambling organisations. On the contrary, Playojo for example is associated with Gamstop which ensures gambling remains an entertaining activity, and nothing addictive.

Malaysia online casino no deposit bonus – Which sites offer it?

Since the Malaysian market is a competitive one with local sites dominating a large share of it, international casinos that focus on it need to go the extra mile to get players’ attention. That’s why you will find quite a lot of Malaysia online casino free sign up bonus deals that allow you to check out the games and the overall feel of the casino. Common offers include 5-20 no deposit spins or even a $10-20 cash bonus as a free register bonus on international Malaysia casinos. Even though these come with wagering requirements attached, it’s still a great opportunity to test the casino and win some funds.

Top MYR No Deposit Bonuses

Mobile online casinos: How to find top on-the-go sites in Malaysia

As mentioned in the introduction, Malaysia is doing very well from a financial point of view. This also means that all the new technologies are rapidly embraced by Malaysian casino enthusiasts. As a result, most of the online gambling takes place on mobile devices. So, casinos that are looking to stand out in the region need to develop an exceptional casino online mobile Malaysia component.

No matter if they’re designing dedicated apps for iOS or Android, like 1xSlot does, or they go with a responsive mobile website like 888casino or Joo casino, the number of games has to be as close as the ones offered on desktop and the same goes for the bonuses. There are some mobile-first casinos such iLucki that even offer special bonuses for players using the mobile version for the first time.

Now that you know what makes a good online casino Malaysia for Android and iOS, all you have to do is pick the one that suits your needs best and enjoy high-quality online gambling on the go.

What you should expect from live casinos online in Malaysia

Having to compete with the famous Resorts World Genting, online casinos offering live dealer tables in the area need to step up their game. Sure, being able to play live casino online Malaysia games without leaving your apartment is a big plus, but the games also need to be of top-notch quality, so a focus on quality providers is a one-way road here.

Powered by Evolution Gaming, the world’s best live dealer games provider, casinos like 1xSlot, 888 Casino or PlayOjo deliver a wide choice of tables with all your favorite games, available in English. Thanks to the flexible betting limits, these live dealer games can be enjoyed both by high-rollers and beginners for the perfect online live casino Malaysia experience.

FAQ

After covering all the important aspects of online gambling in Malaysia, we thought to collect some of the most frequent questions we get from players and answer them. Here are some of the most pressing questions that casino players have when it comes to online casinos in Malaysia.

1. I am an expat from another country and I currently live in Malaysia. Can I access Sky Casino & Genting Casino?
Of course, the casinos in the Resorts World Genting welcome all Malaysian and foreign customers. No matter if you live in the country or you’re just visiting, you should visit this resort as it delivers an excellent experience.

2. Is Bet365 Malaysia servicing players in the region?
Bet365, just like any other online casino licensed in Europe, is available to Malaysian casino players.

3. I am a Malaysian living in another country. Can I play on international sites?
You should be able to access Malaysian online casinos from another country as well. Just in case the country you’re living in applies restrictions to certain casino websites, you can always turn to a VPN software.

4. Do Malaysians have to pay tax on their gambling winnings?
Winnings from gambling are not taxed in Malaysia as they are not considered income.