Is online gambling legal in Myanmar?
Online casino, sports betting and poker are illegal in Myanmar. Gambling is illegal for citizens except for the state lottery, 'Aung Bar Lay', whose tickets can be bought from official vendors or via the state's online system. All unauthorized online gambling is a criminal offense under the 2019 Gambling Law and the 2025 Cybersecurity Law, and Myanmar citizens can be prosecuted even for play on foreign sites.
OverviewOverview built from public sources. An in-depth review of Myanmar is available on request. Request it
| Product | Online |
|---|---|
| Online betting | Illegal |
| Online casino | Illegal |
| Online poker | Illegal |
| Lottery | Partial |
Gambling in Myanmar: what you need to know
On illegal online sites there is no official dispute resolution path. Winnings from the state lottery are exempt from personal income tax.
What's legal in Myanmar: no online gambling
Online gambling is not legal here. Playing on offshore sites can get you into legal trouble.
Online sports betting is banned in Myanmar. Online casino is banned in Myanmar. Online poker is banned in Myanmar. The lottery is only partly legal in Myanmar (partial).
Using a VPN to reach gambling sites from Myanmar: Banned.
Gambling with crypto: Banned.
Minimum age: 18
You must be 18 to gamble online in Myanmar, for sports betting and lottery alike.
Tax on winnings in Myanmar
Gambling is illegal for citizens, and winnings are considered proceeds of crime. Winnings from the legal state-run Aung Bar Lay lottery are exempt from personal income tax. There is no tax framework for winnings by foreigners in the limited legal casinos.
What happens if you play anyway
There are approximately 1 licensed operators in Myanmar as of 18 Jun 2026.
No national licence for online gambling exists here, so a site taking deposits from players in Myanmar is not licensed locally, whatever licence it shows from elsewhere.
Prominent operators in Myanmar
Red flags: how to spot an unlicensed site
- For online players: there are no safety flags.
All forms of online gambling for real money are illegal and criminally prosecuted in Myanmar. Any website offering such services is, by definition, operating illegally and offers no player protection or legal recourse.
- For foreign tourists: only play at large, official hotel-casinos.
The 2019 law allows for casinos in specific locations approved by the Union Government, typically large hotels. A foreigner should only play in person at such a venue and must present their foreign passport for entry. Avoid all smaller, unregulated gambling dens.
- Avoid any service requiring a VPN for access.
The 2025 Cybersecurity Law makes the unauthorized use of VPNs illegal. Any gambling site that instructs players in Myanmar to use a VPN is explicitly advising them to break the law, which is a major red flag.
- Only participate in the official 'Aung Bar Lay' state lottery.
This is the only form of gambling legally available to Myanmar citizens. Tickets can be purchased from official vendors or via the state's online system. All other lotteries are prohibited.
Bonuses: what's allowed and red flags
What the rules mean for bonus offers you see in Myanmar. The rules operators must follow are on the operator page.
- Welcome bonus
- Banned
- • All verticals are prohibited for Myanmar citizens.
All forms of online gambling and related promotions are illegal for citizens under national law.
Self-exclusion and problem-gambling help in Myanmar
We have no record of a national self-exclusion scheme or problem-gambling helpline in Myanmar. The law does not require licensed sites to offer deposit limits. Reality checks (reminders of how long you have played) are not required.
Complaints: the operator first, then Union Government
- 1
1. Direct Complaint to the Casino Operator
For a foreigner at a legal land-based casino, the first step is to resolve the dispute directly with the casino's management. There are no statutory deadlines for a response.
- 2
2. Report to Myanmar Police Force
If the dispute involves alleged fraud or theft, the player can file a criminal complaint with the police. This is treated as a standard criminal investigation, not a regulatory one. For players on illegal online sites, there is no official dispute resolution path.
Common myths about gambling in Myanmar
- MythIt's safe to play on offshore betting sites because the government only targets big operators.Reality
This is false. The 2025 Cybersecurity Law has extraterritorial reach, so Myanmar citizens can be prosecuted for online gambling offenses even if committed on foreign sites. While operator enforcement is the priority, individual players face real legal risk and have no consumer protections.
- MythUsing a VPN makes online gambling anonymous and legal.Reality
This is incorrect and dangerous. The 2025 Cybersecurity Law explicitly criminalizes the unauthorized provision and use of VPN services. Relying on a VPN for protection is a significant risk, as the activity itself is illegal.
- MythUsing cryptocurrency for gambling is a safe way to avoid government detection.Reality
This is not true. The government's crackdown on online scam and gambling hubs has specifically targeted the seizure of crypto-transaction gateways. The 2026 AML Law also increases scrutiny on digital asset transactions, so their use is considered part of the illegal financial infrastructure and is actively targeted.
What Myanmar bets on most
Football is Myanmar's most-followed sport. National team matches at the AFF Cup and SEA Games drive offshore betting handles, even though all gambling is illegal for citizens.
Biggest wins in Myanmar
A woman from Magway won the top prize in the 59th drawing of the official state-run Aungbalay Lottery.
Source: Myanmar Transparency News
Methodology & sources
This page is a Quick AI overview: a summary of public information, not yet checked against the law or the regulator. Treat it as a starting point. It has not yet been through our Deep AI Scan.
How we researchAsk us to run the Deep AI Scan for Myanmar
- Myanmar Cybersecurity Law Takes Effect - Tilleke & Gibbins
- Myanmar: Anti-Money Laundering Law 2026 - DFDL
- Myanmar authorities intensify crackdown on illegal online gambling - AGBrief
- New Gambling Law Permits Casinos to Operate in Myanmar - Asia Law Portal
- Gambling Regulation in Myanmar - iGaming Today
- Myanmar enforces cybersecurity law targeting unauthorised online gambling - The Star