Welcome to our guide to Malaysia betting online. Here we’re going to show you the current state of the Malaysia esports betting scene and even point you toward some of the most popular esports betting sites in Malaysia.
Before we get too carried away it’s important to note that all forms of gambling are outlawed in Malaysia. So let’s have a closer look at what this means for anyone who wants to try some online betting in Malaysia.
Is esports betting legal in Malaysia?
You should know that Malaysia’s Betting Act 1953 outlaws all forms of gambling. This covers everything from casino gaming and regular sports betting all the way through to esports betting and beyond.
Anyone in Malaysia who is caught operating a ‘betting house’ could be given up to five years in jail along with a massive fine. The reasons behind this are the fact that Malaysia is a largely Muslim country and so it is highly unlikely that these restrictive gambling laws are going to change any time soon.
While this doesn’t bode well for anyone wanting to try Malaysia betting online, it’s worth noting that there is something of a grey area in the law regarding actually using an online gambling site.
This is because the law only technically outlaws you from using a ‘betting house’ and it’s a matter of interpretation as to whether this could refer to a website. Plus there is the fact that Malaysian law has shown little interest in actually convicting anyone for playing at an offshore betting platform.
The best esports betting sites in Malaysia
The key thing to realise here is that Malaysia doesn’t have any homegrown esports betting sites as you’d find elsewhere. As we’d said above, the Malaysian law forbids anyone in the country from creating a ‘betting house’ that could host any form of gambling.
Despite this, it’s clear that there are a number of offshore esports betting sites that can be used by anyone in Malaysia. These betting sites are labelled as being ‘offshore’ as they tend to be located on small islands like Curacao that are outside of the jurisdiction of major countries.
If you look at a betting site like Rivalry Esports, you’ll see that it is licensed and regulated by the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission. This means that it provides customers with a good amount of protection and that it will give players a safe and fair way to play. So while Rivalry could be classed as being an ‘offshore betting site’ it will still provide a professional and secure betting service.
The most popular games in the Malaysia esports betting scene
The good news is that it’s perfectly legal to play esports in Malaysia. The nation has quickly shown itself to be more than capable of hosting a vibrant competitive gaming scene.
Malaysia put itself at the epicentre of the South-East Asian esports community when Kuala Lumpur hosted a massive Dota 2 tournament in 2018. The Kuala Lumpur Major proved to be a pivotal moment with thousands of eager esports fans flocking together in the expansive confines of the Stadium Axiata Arena.
In fact, Malaysia has proven itself to be a hotbed of Dota 2 gaming with local teams like Team Malaysia showing themselves to be more than capable of taking on the world’s best for this battle arena game.
Other popular esports in Malaysia include:
- StarCraft 2
- League of Legends
- Hearthstone
- PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG)
- Fortnite
The only thing that separates Malaysian competitive gaming from other nations is the fact that Counter-Strike Global Offensive is not widely played here. Plus there is the obvious fact that all forms of Malaysian betting online are outlawed, so you’ll just have to play for fun!
Find your perfect Malaysia betting website
There are literally dozens of betting sites that are open to Malaysian customers and it’s worth shopping around to find an operator that fits your esports betting needs. So if you want to try betting in Malaysia, here are some factors that could influence your choice of esports betting site:
- Payments: This is one of the trickiest things to overcome because the chances are that your Malaysian bank won’t let you make a deposit at a gambling site. As such, you might have to use a third-party payment provider to fund your bets. This is why many people prefer esports betting with Neteller or other e-wallets like Skrill. Some players even choose to bet on esports with crypto when they use offshore betting sites.
- Esports bets: Esports are a relatively new phenomenon and some betting sites haven’t gotten up to speed yet. This means that you should shop around to see which bookmaker features your favourite game. Thankfully if you go to a serious esports betting platform like VulkanBet Esports you’ll find extensive coverage of all major and minor esports from Fortnite and Dota 2 to Warcraft III, Halo and Valiant.
- Bonuses: We should also note that certain esports betting bonuses can only be claimed by customers located in specific countries. So be sure to check through the small print of any deal so as to avoid disappointment.
Awaiting the arrival of Malaysia betting online
By now you’ll understand that the options for enjoying Malaysia betting online are seriously limited. After all, it is a country that is vehemently opposed to all forms of gambling and the laws governing this won’t be changing any time soon. This means that if you want to bet on esports odds, you will have to play at some offshore gambling sites.
Thankfully there are a number of legit operators out there who will let you bet on esports in a way that is fair and safe. However, you should understand the risks involved in any activity that could be considered to be breaking the law – even if there is something of a grey area around Malaysia betting online. So watch this space to see whether any form of esports betting gets legalised in Malaysia!
