Best Macau betting sites

Population: 680.000
Active players: 100.000
Currency: Macanese pataca (MOP)
Regulated gambling products: Casino games, lotteries, sports betting
Operator types: Casinos, lotteries, one locally licensed bookmaker, unlicensed online bookies & casinos
Designated authority: Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ)
Status: Regulated

Macau is a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China. It is located on the south Chinese coast near Guangzhou and around 65km away from Hong Kong. It runs under a ‘one country, two systems’ model with China, as it has a separate government and its own currency. Moreover, it runs under local laws. So, unlike its big neighbor, gambling in Macau is legal. Not only is it legal, it actually makes up a vast percentage of its economy. Macau has shaped into a major destination for gambling tourism, with an industry even larger than that of Las Vegas.

Sports betting in Macau is also legal and under proper -yet complex- regulation. Still, there’s no law framework for the online sector. Nonetheless, online sports betting is generally considered legal. Players are able to access any online bookies they wish, in their quest for better odds and a wider betting variety than the sole local betting operator currently offers.

Gambling in Macau - 5 things to know

• The legal gambling age is 21 for both locals and tourists
• There is only one Macau betting site, SLOT
• Many international bookies accept local players
• The Macanese casino industry has surpassed the Las Vegas one
• Currently Macau has more than 30 land-based casinos

Best betting sites in Macau

The online sports betting offering is quite rich for local players. Thus, we hereby list the best online bookies in Macau, to save you the fuzz. Their coverage of the best football competitions is unparalleled so check them all out and choose the one you like.

Macau betting: The law framework

Gambling is the region’s main economic source. The gambling regulation in Macau however is rather complex and consists of many laws. The main ones are: Law No. 16/2001 of September 2001 (the Macau Gaming Law); the Executive Order no. 20/2005 of 27 May 2005, on basketball betting; and Executive Order no. 67/2018 of 20 April 2018, on Macau football betting.

Casinos host the majority of Macau sports betting activity, in designated rooms within their premises. Sports betting mainly takes place within casinos. Betting operators also have to deposit 1 million Patacas (almost $125.000) every year to a Public Health fund, as a form of social contribution. Their taxation ranges from 20-30%, depending on the GGR they generate.

As it stands, there are three types of legal gaming in the MSAR:
1) Games of chance - ‘depending mainly on the luck of the player'.
2) Pari-mutuel sports, horse and greyhound betting - where players place bets on animal racing or sporting events in which the winners split the total amount wagered; after deduction of commissions, fees and taxes.
3) Lotteries and interactive gaming - where players participate in a game by means of telecommunication; namely telephone and data networks.

Note that interactive gaming does not include the online sector. It only includes interactive gaming through the games that the casinos are offering. The only exceptions are SLOT for sports betting, and the Macau jockey club for horse and -occasionally- greyhound racing.

However, the Macau online gambling sector is still very active. The laws do not refer to gambling sites from outside of Macau, leaving a wide open legal window for those who opt for them.

Essential info for bettors

If you are over 21, either you’re Macanese or a foreigner, you may legally engage in any type of gambling. Notably, winnings do not fall under taxation in Macau. Also, the authorities do not block access to online operators and do not seem to really bother with the online sector at all. However, since online betting in Macau is not 100% regulated, use a VPN. It’s better to hide your internet address in case problems arise.

There is only one local online bookmaker, SLOT. Any other you might come across, apart from the ones we list in our analysis, shall probably be a scam. So, simply keep away from it. Both players and operators are enjoying a very easy-going stance from the authorities. Laws mainly target the land-based gambling sector and there are no reports of monitoring or prosecuting online bettors whatsoever. Just stick to the bookies we suggest and you shall enjoy a safe betting experience.

How to deposit at online bookies

People in Macau bet a lot. Banks do not block transactions; so, players freely use bank wires and credit cards to fund their betting accounts. There is no active blocking from the state; however, Skrill, PayPal and Neteller are not available in the region. Thankfully, ecoPayz accepts local registrations; constituting a good alternative for those who are keen on using e-wallets. Furthermore, if you are familiar with cryptocurrencies, you should bear in mind that more and more online bookies that operate in the region are accepting deposits through them.

Macau betting online: What the future holds

The MSAR is a region built for gambling. Naturally, there is no surprise why land-based and online gambling in Macau have skyrocketed. The only question is whether a more concise and less complex regulatory framework can come forward. This would mean less bureaucracy and therefore more interest from international operators to enter the local market. It may be a very small region in terms of population; yet, the interest it draws from the hundreds of thousands of visitors, makes Macau a force to be reckoned with. The authorities have always seemed interested in the regulation of the sector altogether. Either way, the area will continue to strive as a gambling hotspot. Although major changes are not expected as it stands, we will be updating you if any come up.

The complete list of bookmakers in Macau

The local gambling scene is rich and so is the offering of online betting sites in Macau. That’s why we list all the legitimate ones. These are all renowned online bookies; so, just pick the ones that suit you best and enjoy a great betting experience.