Types of Online Casino in Macau
Macau can be compared to Las Vegas or Monaco when it comes to land-based gambling establishments operating on its territory, but when it comes to online gambling, it is difficult to say that players from Macau differ from others who access web platforms to have fun for real money. In fact, since Macau does not license online gambling operations, it means that people living there can access only foreign licensed web casinos. To tell the truth, gamblers from Macau are a real treasure for online destinations since these people are experts in gambling so almost every platform offering to play games online invites players based in Macau to join it. Consequently, people who reside in Macau and want to win large prizes making much smaller bets than in local terrestrial casinos located there, have access to all the variety of casino types including:
Web-based iGaming platforms
Modern game development companies incessantly provide online gambling platforms with new releases of games to play directly in the web browser. It is one of the easiest ways to dive into the pool of gambling without wasting time on many additional activities. The only thing required from players based in Macau is to register on the website to start their way to the reward desired.
Casinos to be downloaded as software
Being an old and popular way of playing games, downloadable casinos remain demanded thanks to the ease of access to them. It is enough to download software from the casino website once and set it up to be able to open a colourful and exciting world of fun at the click of a button on the icon, which is always on your screen.
Mobile gambling websites
Residents of Macau are acting users of mobile devices who never neglect accessing online platforms from their phones and tablets. Consequently, they take advantage of playing in mobile casinos opened directly in the mobile browsers or through the applications installed.
Live dealer online casinos
One of the most popular types of gambling among residents of Macau is joining online live games broadcast from the professional studios located in different countries. It is a fascinating experience that can be hardly compared with anything else, so the popularity of such live casinos keeps on growing and there’s nothing surprising in it.
Types of Casino Games for Macau Gamblers
The choice of games in the multiple land-based casinos located in Macau is incredibly big since every establishment wants to attract players with something special. However, there is always a list of the most popular games adored by the biggest number of players and what is interesting; this list does not differ much from the games selected by gamblers from Macau for online playing. The leading positions in the rating of the best games for Macau residents are taken by:
- Baccarat;
- Blackjack;
- Boule;
- Fan Tan;
- Keno;
- Poker;
- Roulette;
- Sic bo;
- Slot machines.
If some of the games from this list are considered top priorities in many other countries too, there are also games that have gained popularity with Macau residents, first of all. It is predictable to see such spectacular games as poker, roulette, baccarat, and blackjack among the favourites. At the same time, it can be strange to find out that the world’s most popular type of casino games with unbelievable bonus games such as slots have appeared at the end of the top list. At the same time, players from Macau appreciate some unique games which are not that popular in other countries. Think only a table game appreciated by the Asian population called sic bo, let alone such similar to roulette Boule game and a number lottery Keno game played there. Modern casinos have to look for such exclusive games among game providers to meet the expectations of Macau players and not limit them in the number of games they love. Consequently, if an Online platform wishes to be visited by Macau gamblers, it is very important to extend the range of games offered there and pay attention to adding games popular with Asian players first of all.
Online Gambling Laws and Regulations in Macau
Macau gambling success and revenue with dozens of millions of dollars is always connected with VIP gaming rooms where stakes are incredibly high. The focus of casinos is made on high rollers rather than mass-market players, so local citizens of the region consider it a luxury to be able to play in one of the multiple terrestrial gaming establishments offering gambling services in Macau. As a result, they need to look for alternative destinations to let their hair down and feel the rush of adrenaline for every bet made. The only benefit they get from land-based casinos located in Macau is profitable employment opportunities. Getting decent salaries, they can spend more on leisure activities one of which Is online gambling, a more comfortable and affordable way to feel a winner and entertain yourself.
– Is online gambling allowed in Macau?
There are no restrictions for people living or working in Macau to visit online gambling website anytime they want. Since Macau has been an island of gambling for several centuries already, there is a positive attitude to almost everything connected with casino life and online gambling is not an exception. At the same time, there are no laws regulating online gaming platforms and approving or disapproving their operation in this region. Moreover, there is no single online casino licensed by the Macau authoritative organs and offering its services in this region. Local gamblers have access to the endless world of fun online provided by offshore companies licensed in other countries. Such a way of gambling has a number of benefits over terrestrial casinos located in Macau. There is no need to leave your home or working place to be able to play. Moreover, both bonuses and promotions offered in online casinos are incredibly rewarding while fast withdrawals allow spending your winnings almost immediately.
– What is the main gambling law regulating gambling online in Macau?
Being treated as a separate jurisdiction in the country, Macau’s legal system is built on the basis of Portuguese civil law and does not apply to Chinese national law. Consequently, a set of laws regulating the gambling industry in Macau was developed long ago and was extended by several new laws. The main authority regulating gaming activities in Macau is DICJ (the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau). When it comes to the main law regulating the industry, it is the Macau Gaming Law (Law 16/2001) which is focused on providing quality gambling services to players. It sets out the legal framework for the commercial operation of different gambling products. However, there are other laws applicable to gambling in the Macau region too. They are devoted to the instant lottery, illegal gambling, gaming tender regulation, gaming credit, commissions, etc. Moreover, the DICJ has released several instructions regulating the industry focused on technical standards for electronic table games, jackpots as well as documents covering anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing. The official age for players accepted in the casinos of Macau is 21.
When it comes to online gambling, there is no special law regulating this direction in Macau. Experts have come to the conclusion that in the region where land-based gambling is flourishing, it is impossible to ban online gambling which is an indispensable part of the industry. Moreover, there are no separate regulations for online casinos so all the laws applied to the gambling activities in Macau must be applied to the online sphere as well.
Best Deposit Methods for Macau Gamblers
Since in Macau, it is possible to have fun online only playing in overseas casinos, local players should follow the rules of these platforms when it comes to deposits and withdrawals. At the same time, not all payment methods suggested on online platforms are applicable in Macau. Being a part of China, it started using mainland Chinese payment methods. Consequently, such popular wallets as PayPal or Skrill are not allowed in Macau and can’t be used for depositing cash. At the same time, it is not a reason to get sad since there are many other payment methods to be used by gamblers:
1. Credit and debit cards
There are several major banks operating in Macau so it is not a problem to get a credit or debit card such as Visa, MasterCard or Maestro. Each of them is suitable for transferring money to the casino account. The only thing to consider is a commission you need to pay.
2. Bank Wire transfers
One more popular way to deposit funds to the casino is to transfer them from the holder’s bank account to one provided by the casino. Such transfers usually can take up to a couple of days but are considered a reliable and popular way of both deposits and withdrawals.
3. ATM
There are special ATMs which can be used for sending funds to other card or account holders. Macau can boast a big number of ATMs since it is a tourist destination and many people get cash in this way.
4. Alipay
This leading online and mobile payment service is very popular with the Chinese population, so if it is supported by the online casino as well, it is a great benefit for players from Macau.
5. Cryptocurrency
Since China is home to one of the largest BitCoin mining facilities in the world, it is not surprising that cryptocurrency is incredibly popular in the country and Macau is not an exception. It is very easy to buy or mine crypto funds in the region and use coins as a way of making deposits in the online casinos. Such fund transfers are almost instant and feature very low transaction fees.
Accepted Currencies in Macau
Since Macau is a separate region with its own jurisdiction, it has its own official currency that is known as the Macau pataca. The MOP abbreviation is used to name this currency in the global market and the currency is backed by the Hong Kong dollar, which is also acceptable in the region. What is interesting, there is a decree in Macau banning making bets in pataca, while all the bills and bets in hotels, casinos, and restaurants must be paid using the Hong Kong dollar and Chinese yuan. There are multiple exchange booths offering to exchange currency in Macau in addition to banks and hotels, so it is not a problem to get both local and foreign currencies in the region. However, when it comes to online casinos, there is hardly any platform on the web to accept pataca for deposits. Probably, it is possible to find online casinos that accept the Hong Kong dollar and Chinese yuan that can be also possessed by local players, but still, the most popular currencies accepted in web casinos are USD, EUR, GBP, and others.
In addition to fiat money accepted worldwide, it is not a secret that many web platforms suggest their players making deposits in cryptocurrency. Players from Macau can easily find Bitcoin casinos as well as other top websites that accept cryptocurrency as a deposit and withdrawal method. Therefore, it is not surprising why local gamblers prefer to pay cryptocurrency instead of exchanging money to be able to access multiple online gaming websites.
Customer Support
Every player may face some challenges playing casino games, but it is very easy to cope with any challenges if you have a professional and willing to help customer support. It is not surprising for players from Macau to turn to the customer support team of the online casino and get the information they are interested in. Since there are gamblers who are novice in the gambling industry and experienced players who cannot solve a problem themselves, every online platform has a team of experts who are always ready to help players and improve their gambling experience. Macau is a gambling capital where it is not difficult to find specialists in this industry. But when it comes to online gambling, only customer support of a certain gaming destination will be helpful.
Most of the casinos welcoming players from Macau realize the importance of feedback for players so they offer several ways to get it and find a team of experts who will provide this help round the clock. Most of the members of this support team are multilingual gambling experts who know almost everything about the casino they work in and require a minimum of time to solve any issues. It is possible to get in touch with them using several ways, though the most popular ones are chat, phone, and email. One more task of the customer support employees is to allow players from Macau to find answers to their questions themselves, so many platforms have a detailed FAQ section which is devoted to the most popular questions asked by players.
Predictions About the Future of Online Gambling in Macau
Online gambling in Macau is represented only by foreign platforms that can be accessed by every player without any restrictions. Moreover, there is no regulation of online gambling in Macau and there are viewpoints that the reason for that is not the absence of desire of the local government but actions undertaken by the Chinese government, where only gambling is considered illegal. In fact, the government of Macau was addressing the issue of online gambling at the beginning of the 1990s and 2000s but the solution to this problem was not found. Probably, it is possible to predict that regulation of online gambling in Macau will be soon implemented in life because of the joint resolution between Portugal and China since Macau would have autonomy by 2049 according to it.
However, it is not the only positive change in the direction of online gambling for Macau players. Experts agree on the point that all the tendencies, which are being fulfilled nowadays, will be experienced by gamblers based in Macau too. There is a constant increase in the number of mobile and crypto casinos as well as platforms that get responsive and start accepting deposits in BitCoin and other popular coins. Moreover, more and more studios are opened all around the world to make the live dealer casino experience more exciting. It is not difficult to suppose that such innovative technologies as artificial intelligence and virtual reality will become an indispensable part of the gambling industry too making it much more entertaining and rewarding, so there are many interesting things waiting for players from Macau in the future.
