Asia casinos range from Macau, by far the region’s biggest casino market, to countries where every form of gambling is banned. Macau and Singapore are the two big destinations, Japan is building its first legal casino resort in Osaka, and a number of other countries allow casinos with tight rules, often for foreigners only. Online gambling is illegal or unregulated in most of the region.
Where Casinos Are Legal in Asia
There is no single rule for the continent. Each country sets its own laws, and they range from open casino markets to total bans. The main markets:
| Country or territory | Casinos | Key rules |
|---|---|---|
| Macau | Legal, six licensed operators | Minimum age 21; regulated by the DICJ |
| Singapore | Two integrated resorts | Citizens pay an entry levy; regulated by the GRA |
| Japan | Legal only inside integrated resorts; first one under construction in Osaka | Limits and an entry fee for Japanese residents |
| Mainland China | Casinos illegal | State lotteries only |
Other Asian countries with legal casinos include the Philippines, where PAGCOR regulates the casino resorts in Manila, and South Korea, where only one of 19 casinos is open to local residents.
Macau
Macau has allowed gambling since the mid-1800s, when it was a colony of Portugal. In 1962 the government gave STDM, the company run by Stanley Ho, a monopoly over all forms of gambling. The monopoly ended when its licence expired at the end of 2001, and in 2002 the government opened the market to more operators.
Six companies hold casino concessions today: SJM, Galaxy Entertainment, Sands China (part of Las Vegas Sands), Wynn Macau, MGM China and Melco. The casinos sit on the Macau Peninsula and on the Cotai strip of reclaimed land, which is lined with resorts such as The Venetian Macao. The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) regulates the market, and you must be 21 to enter a casino.
The scale is far beyond anything else in Asia. Macau’s casinos won about US$30.9 billion in 2025, their best year since 2019 and more than double the Las Vegas Strip. Baccarat is by far the main game, bringing in more than 80% of Macau’s gaming revenue in early 2025.
Singapore
Singapore has two casinos, both inside integrated resorts: Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa. The government approved them in 2005. Foreign visitors enter free, but Singaporeans pay an entry levy of S$150 per visit or S$3,000 a year, a rate set on April 4, 2019. The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Singapore (GRA), formed on August 1, 2022, oversees casinos and other gambling. Singapore Pools, set up in 1968, is the only operator allowed to run lotteries.
Japan
Casinos were illegal in Japan until July 2018, when lawmakers passed a law allowing them inside integrated resorts, with up to three planned. MGM Resorts won the licence for Osaka as the only bidder and began construction in April 2025. Japanese residents will be limited to three casino visits in any seven days and ten in any 28 days, and will pay a ¥6,000 entrance fee. MGM is targeting an autumn 2030 opening.
Japan already has a lot of legal betting: horse racing, bicycle racing (keirin), powerboat racing and motorcycle speedway racing, plus lotteries and football pools. Pachinko is not legally treated as gambling. Online casino gambling is illegal.
Games You Will Find in Asian Casinos
Baccarat dominates the tables, above all in Macau. Other common games include Sic Bo, blackjack, roulette, Three Card Poker, Caribbean Stud Poker, craps, Fan Tan and Pai Gow tiles, the Chinese domino game that inspired Pai Gow Poker. Large resorts also have big slot floors and poker rooms. See all our casino game guides.
A Short History of Gambling in Asia
Games of chance in Asia go back thousands of years. Chinese records describe early lottery-style and tile games, keno-style games became popular in China long before they reached the West, and dominoes and Pai Gow tiles came out of China as well. Much of that history was pushed underground in the twentieth century, as many governments banned gambling. Macau kept it legal throughout, and its rise after 2002, followed by Singapore’s resorts, made Asia the center of the casino business again.
Online Gambling in Asia
Online gambling is illegal in most Asian countries, including Japan and mainland China, and few governments license it. Laws change often, so check the rules where you live. If you are in the United States, see our guide to online casinos for US players.
Asia Casinos FAQ
Where is the biggest casino market in Asia?
Macau, where six licensed operators run the casinos on the Macau Peninsula and Cotai.
What is the gambling age in Macau?
21.
Can Singapore citizens go to the casino?
Yes, but they pay an entry levy of S$150 per visit or S$3,000 a year. Foreign visitors enter free.
Does Japan have casinos?
Not yet. Its first legal casino resort is under construction in Osaka.
Please gamble responsibly. In the US, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET.