Where is slit Gambling Illegal?
Gambling has been a popular pastime throughout history. However, it’s not always been completely legal, and even today, there are plenty of countries that have harsh restrictions on gambling as well as those where it is completely illegal. Gambling is certainly a lot of fun for most people, but for some, it can lead to addiction and debt, resulting in social problems and even crime. As a result, it’s often a topic of discussion among lawmakers. Gambling regulation in the world is a complex issue. Even countries where it’s legal agree that there should be restrictions on how casinos and gambling companies are allowed to operate.
By making gambling illegal, countries with the strongest gambling laws strive to deter their population from indulging in any type of gaming. This, however, tends to drive all forms of gambling underground instead of stopping it completely.
If you want to enjoy slots or gambling while traveling or on holidays, it pays to know exactly which countries have strict rules against them so you can avoid falling foul of the law. Our expert on gambling and slots, Ella Houghton (more info here), has made this list of countries where gambling is restricted to help you stay within the rules and avoid any potential legal trouble.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE)
UAE has become a popular tourist destination over the last few years as the country and Dubai in particular, have seen a lot of investment and development. However, one thing you won’t be able to do while in the country is a gamble. Most Islamic countries have strict gambling laws as it’s considered forbidden according to their holy scriptures. Despite this, however, gambling does still take place in many of these countries, as governments haven’t caught up with the growth of technology yet.
This isn’t the case in the United Arab Emirates, where all forms of gambling, including online slots real money, are punished severely. Any gambling activity is illegal by up to two years in prison in the UAE, and the government also censors the Internet to the point where all online casino sites are inaccessible.
China
China is the largest country in the world, with a population of nearly 1.4 billion. The country has advanced a lot over the past decade as the Communist regime strengthened its hold and relaxed rules against businesses and capitalism. Despite the changes to rules throughout the country, gambling has remained illegal ever since the Communist party took power in 1949. Except for state-run lotteries, all kinds of gambling are prohibited in mainland China. Domestic users are unable to access gambling websites due to a ban imposed by the Cyberspace Administration.
However, anyone interested in gambling in the country can still take a trip to Macau, an autonomous region off the south coast of mainland China. Here, gambling is very much legal, and the area contains some of the biggest and most impressive casinos in the world. Here you can enjoy slots gambling as much as you like as well as loads of other games such as Baccarat and Sic Bo.
Cambodia
Cambodia, which borders Vietnam and Thailand in Southeast Asia, has had a long-standing gambling problem. This problem eventually prompted the government to pass the Suppression of Gambling Act in 1996, which bans all forms of gambling for the country’s residents. Slots, card games, and Roulette, are all banned. However, gambling is still possible in the country.
Although residents of Cambodia aren’t allowed to gamble, the government didn’t want to miss out on the potential revenue from casinos, so they were allowed to stay open but only for tourists. That means if you’re simply visiting the country, you can still enjoy slots while avoiding key mistakes as much as you like.
Japan
Although it might be surprising to many, Japan is another country that has strict laws against gambling. Throughout the country, most forms of gambling, including slots and casino games are banned. Japan’s criminal code states that gambling is mostly banned, although it does make exceptions for horse race betting as well as motorsports.
While slots are banned in Japan, the country has an obsession with a different type of game known as Pachinko machines. These work in a very similar way to slots, and while it’s technically illegal to gamble on them, the operators found a loophole that allows them to stay in business. Players can’t win money directly from the machine, but they can instead win prizes, which can then be traded for money.