When it comes to the gambling industry, Southeast Asia has enjoyed some immense growth over the past decade. In fact, hordes of gamblers seem to be trading the casinos in China for a more relaxing encounter in nearby countries such as Vietnam or the Philippines.
But what makes the casinos in these countries so enticing or exciting?
Well, Southeast Asia is an extremely enjoyable and popular travel destination in general. Aside from the excellent food and hotels, many of these countries have an impressive tourist infrastructure with friendly locals and things to do at every turn. More notably, you can now find a lineup of top quality and perfectly legal casinos in many of these places.
You see, gambling is not legal in every country and Thai citizens are prohibited from playing any betting or casino games. In fact, Thailand is extremely strict in terms of gambling laws which is partly why online gambling is so popular. However, gambling continues to flourish online because of loopholes that can make the process or act legal. That is to say, the Thai government cannot prevent locals from gambling online when using overseas casinos.
Anyway, let’s dive into some of the best southeastern countries if you like gambling:
The Best Southeast Asian Countries if You Like Gambling
- Philippines
Believe it or not, the Philippines is one of the fastest growing hubs for the casino industry. With more than $3 billion revenue per year, these casinos are also helping to transform the local economy. What’s more, you will find more than fifty offshore gambling companies in the Philippines and no less than one hundred thousands workers from China in the capital of Manila alone. And then there’s the online casinos in the Philippines, some of which are the fastest growing in the world according to this article by Ann Holmes. Aside from a devastating attack in 2017, the variety of casinos and world class hotels make the Philippines one of the most enjoyable Southeast Asian countries in which to gamble.
- Cambodia
Meanwhile, many casinos have closed in Cambodia due to a recent ban for online gambling. In fact, thousands of jobs were lost because of this ban as the government continues to crackdown on illegal gambling. At the same time, Cambodia has an excellent tourist infrastructure and many world class attractions that draw millions of visitors every year. More specifically, these visitors are permitted to use the many casinos still in operation in both Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. Just so you know, there are almost one hundred casinos in this particular area and Phnom Penh’s Nagaworld is currently the largest casino in Cambodia.
- Singapore
Singapore is fast growing in many respects and this is also true about the gambling industry, in spite of opposition within the government. In other words, the government is not fond of gambling but permits the industry to prosper as a result of tourism. Interestingly, locals must pay at least $100 to set foot inside these casinos as locals are encouraged to steer clear. In fact, the Marina Bay Casino Resort has thousands of local workers but the government actively dissuades any other locals from visiting the casino by enforcing large fees and strong legislation. That being said, for the visitor, Singapore is an excellent place to visit for gambling and a number of gambling cruises arrive here during the tourist season. What’s more, online casinos are more and more common and these can be accessed by locals or tourists without having to pay any lofty entry fees.
- Malaysia
Malaysia is home to the increasingly popular “Resorts World” which firmly states the country’s case for being a gambling destination. At the same time, casinos have been in operation here since the 1970s and the industry continues to grow in tandem with demand. Located just a short distance from Kuala Lumpur, this modern casino is also one of the most impressive in the world, and features an exciting cable car ride that offers unrivalled views of the surrounding area. Although several more casinos exist, this is certainly the first pick for visitors and an option for those who have already frequented the other countries on this list of gambling destinations in Southeast Asia.
- Vietnam
Vietnam is one of the most attractive options for gambling in Southeast Asia. Due to recent government legislation, locals are now allowed to gamble and endless casinos seem to be cropping up from Da Nang to Van Don and Phu Quoc. With this in mind, Vietnam is also the subject of interest for investors and the gambling industry is set to rise even further in the coming years. For instance, more than $4 billion has been poured into the Ho Tram Strip Casino and the wonderful beaches, hotels and amenities suggest that Vietnam could emerge as the number one destination for gamblers within the next five years.
Final Thoughts
As you can see gambling is fiercely popular in Southeast Asia and an excellent tourist infrastructure ensures there are more than a few reasons to visit each country. What’s more, with reasonable legislation, there is peace of mind and when it comes to favorable distractions from the casinos, there are few places in the world with so many exciting attractions to explore. At the same time, it should be said that online casinos are always an option regardless of destination and for many players, it’s sometimes best to choose one of the above countries based on what they want to see or experience as opposed to what casinos in which they wish to spend their time.