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ChinaPoker in China

Gambling, including cash poker, is illegal in mainland China and there are no casinos. Visitors can play poker only at organised tournament events such as the China Poker Games, which run under a competition model with app registration and no on-site cash buy-ins; online poker for money is illegal.

Is Poker Legal in China?

Live Poker
Restricted
Online Poker
Illegal
Casino Age
-
Last Checked

A summary of the law from official and reliable sources, not legal advice. Laws change: check the sources and the rules of the venue before you play.

AsiaPokerHub Data Desk
ByAsiaPokerHub Data Desk
Reviewed byJessy
•
7 min read

Based on data from AsiaPokerHub and generated using AI assistance. Fact-checked by Gábor Magyari, October 28, 2026.
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ChinaChina at a Glance

Capital
Beijing
Population
about 1.4 billion
Currency
Chinese yuan (CNY, ¥)
Languages
Chinese
Time Zone
UTC+8
Calling Code
+86

Where to Play Poker in China

The casinos and venues that host the most poker festivals in our database.

China

Chimelong Hengqin Bay Hotel

Zhuhai, China
Festivals
3
Last Festival
China

Howard Johnson by Wyndham Resort Sanya Bay

Sanya, China
Festivals
3
Last Festival
China

Atlantis Sanya

Sanya, China
Festivals
2
Last Festival
China

Zhangjiakou International Hotel

Zhangjiakou, China
Festivals
1
Last Festival

Is Live Poker Legal in China?

Restricted

Under Article 303 of the Criminal Law, gambling for profit by gathering people to gamble or making a living from gambling, and running a gambling venue, are crimes; since a 2021 amendment, organising Chinese citizens to gamble abroad is punished in the same way. Taking part in gambling with significant stakes is an administrative offence under Article 82 of the Public Security Administration Punishments Law (revised 2025, in force 1 January 2026), with up to 15 days' detention and fines. Poker tournaments do run legally in places such as Sanya, Zhuhai (Hengqin) and Chongli, organised mainly by the China Poker Games (CPG), which presents poker as an organised competitive activity: players enter through online satellites or prepaid packages and vouchers in the official app, with no walk-in cash buy-ins. Cash games are not offered.[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

  • No casinos exist in mainland China; casino-style and cash-game poker is gambling and is illegal.
  • Criminal Law Art. 303: up to 3 years for gambling for profit, up to 10 years for running a gambling venue in serious cases; organising citizens to gamble abroad is punished the same way since 2021.
  • Taking part in gambling with significant stakes: up to 5 days' detention or a fine up to CNY 1,000; serious cases 10 to 15 days and CNY 1,000-5,000 (PSAPL Art. 82, from 1 January 2026).
  • Non-profit games for money among relatives and friends are not punished, but a host who takes a cut can be treated as organising gambling, per a court guidance note.
  • CPG events in Sanya (Hainan) were approved through the Hainan Poker Association; entry is app-only with satellites, packages or vouchers, and there are no on-site cash buy-ins.
  • International players enter CPG events by buying travel and poker packages from CPG or its official sponsors.

Where You Can Play Legally in China

  • Organised tournament festivals under a competition model, such as the China Poker Games (CPG) in Sanya and its satellite stops (for example Hengqin, Zhuhai)
  • No casinos or legal cash games in mainland China

Age: Mainland China has no casinos and no legal gambling age for casino games; the minimum age for organised poker tournaments was not found.

Is Online Poker Legal in China?

Illegal

There is no licensed online casino or online poker in mainland China. Police treat online gambling platforms as a major target: the Ministry of Public Security said it dismantled more than 4,500 illegal online gambling platforms in 2024, investigated 73,000 cross-border gambling cases and worked with other departments to cut payment channels. Individuals who gamble with significant stakes face administrative detention and fines, and the law does not distinguish online from offline play.[1, 2, 7, 8]

Licensed online poker
None
Players can be prosecuted
Yes
Sites blocked
Unclear
Advertising ban
Unclear
  • No licensed online poker or casino operators in mainland China.
  • MPS figures for 2024: over 4,500 online gambling platforms dismantled, 73,000 cross-border gambling cases, over 11,000 suspects detected in major cases.
  • Payment channels used for gambling are targeted, and China keeps a blacklist of foreign gambling destinations.
  • Organising Chinese citizens to gamble abroad (in serious cases) is a crime since the 2021 amendment of Art. 303.
  • Participants in gambling with significant stakes face detention and fines under the PSAPL.

Poker Cities and What to See

Sanya (Hainan)

Sanya is the tropical beach city at the southern tip of Hainan Island, served by Sanya Phoenix International Airport, and it has hosted most of mainland China's major poker festivals, including the CPG Championship Final.

Poker in Sanya (Hainan)

  • Howard Johnson Resort Sanya Bay
  • Atlantis Sanya
  • JW Marriott Sanya Dadonghai Bay

What to See in Sanya (Hainan)

  1. 1Yalong BayLong white-sand bay east of the city lined with resorts, good for swimming and snorkelling.
  2. 2Nanshan Cultural Tourism ZoneLarge Buddhist park west of Sanya with the 108-metre Guanyin statue standing in the sea.
  3. 3Tianya HaijiaoScenic coastal park with the 'Ends of the Earth' rocks, a classic Chinese postcard view.
  4. 4Wuzhizhou IslandIsland off Haitang Bay known for clear water, diving and water sports.
  5. 5Luhuitou ParkHilltop park on the peninsula between Sanya Bay and Dadonghai with views over the city and bays.
  6. 6Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism ZoneTropical rainforest park north of the city with walking trails and suspension bridges.

Zhuhai (Hengqin)

Hengqin is an island district of Zhuhai directly across the water from Macau's Cotai, reached by land border from Macau or by rail and road from Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and home of the Chimelong resort area.

Poker in Zhuhai (Hengqin)

What to See in Zhuhai (Hengqin)

  1. 1Chimelong Ocean KingdomLarge marine theme park next to the Chimelong hotels, with aquariums, shows and rides.
  2. 2Zhuhai Lovers' RoadSeaside promenade along Zhuhai's coast, popular for walks and cycling.
  3. 3Zhuhai Fisher GirlStatue on the rocks in Xianglu Bay that is the city's best-known symbol.
  4. 4Macau day trip via Hengqin PortCross the border into Cotai for Macau's resorts and the Historic Centre of Macao (passport and Macau entry rules apply).
  5. 5Zhuhai Opera HouseShell-shaped performing arts centre on Yeli Island facing the sea.

Chongli (Zhangjiakou)

Chongli is the mountain ski district of Zhangjiakou in Hebei Province, which hosted the snow events of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and is reached by high-speed rail from Beijing.

Poker in Chongli (Zhangjiakou)

What to See in Chongli (Zhangjiakou)

  1. 1Genting Resort Secret GardenSki resort that hosted freestyle skiing and snowboard events at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
  2. 2Thaiwoo Ski ResortLarge ski area in Chongli with slopes for all levels and a resort village.
  3. 3Wanlong Ski ResortOne of the oldest and best-known ski resorts in the Chongli area.
  4. 4National Ski Jumping Centre (Snow Ruyi)Olympic ski-jump venue in the Zhangjiakou competition zone, shaped like a traditional ruyi sceptre.
  5. 5Grassland Sky Road (Zhangbei)Scenic highland drive through grassland north of Zhangjiakou, best in summer and autumn.

Travel Tips for Players

Visa
Citizens of 45 countries can enter visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism or business until 31 December 2026; citizens of 61 countries can enter Hainan (Sanya) visa-free for up to 30 days through Hainan's ports; and citizens of 57 countries can use 240-hour visa-free transit with an onward ticket to a third country. Others need a visa, see the National Immigration Administration (en.nia.gov.cn).
Money
The currency is the renminbi (CNY). Mobile payment (Alipay, Weixin Pay, UnionPay) is the norm, and the People's Bank of China has issued a payment guide for foreigners that also covers bank cards and cash; CPG buy-ins and payouts go through vouchers and credits in the CPG app.
Casino Entry
There are no casinos. CPG tournaments require a verified CPG app account and a prepaid event voucher or package; there is no walk-in registration or cash buy-in on site, so bring your passport for account and hotel registration.
Tax on Winnings
According to a 2019 interview with the Hainan Poker Association, CPG must withhold a 20% tax on prizes, with partial refunds offered to international players; this was not confirmed from an official tax source.
[6, 9, 10, 11, 5]

Responsible Gambling

Gambling should stay fun. If it stops being fun, get help early.

Help in China: No national gambling-specific helpline found. The national psychological assistance hotline 12356 has operated in all provinces since 1 May 2025 (Mandarin); Lifeline China 400 821 1215 offers English-language support.

More help and international lines on our Responsible Gambling page.[12, 13]

Poker in China: Frequently Asked Questions

Poker for money is gambling and is illegal in mainland China, and there are no casinos. Poker is played legally only at organised tournament events such as the China Poker Games, which run under a competition model with registration through an app and no on-site cash buy-ins.

Sources

The legal answers rest on official sources: laws, regulators, government and courts. News and poker media are marked as secondary sources and are used for the poker scene, not as the only basis of a legal answer.

  1. 1.法护新春 | 春节法律风险指南(一):守住娱乐底线,远离赌博违法 (quotes Criminal Law Art. 303) - Lushui People's Court via The Paper (澎湃号·政务), accessed October 28, 2026
  2. 2.中华人民共和国治安管理处罚法 (2025 revision) - elawcn.com (text of the law) (secondary source), accessed October 28, 2026
  3. 3.人大常委会 | 新修订的治安管理处罚法来了 - Xinhua via gov.cn, accessed October 28, 2026
  4. 4.Is There Really Poker in China? Inside the Country's Growing Tournament Scene - SOMUCHPOKER (secondary source), accessed October 28, 2026
  5. 5.China Poker Games revealed: Interview with Mr. Li, President of Hainan Poker Association - SOMUCHPOKER (secondary source), accessed October 28, 2026
  6. 6.Frequently Asked Questions On Attending CPG Championship Final Sanya 2025 - SOMUCHPOKER (secondary source), accessed October 28, 2026
  7. 7.China destroyed in 2024 more than 4,500 illegal online gambling platforms: Ministry of Security - GGRAsia (secondary source), accessed October 28, 2026
  8. 8.China shuts down 4,500 illegal online gambling platforms in 2024 crackdown - Yogonet (secondary source), accessed October 28, 2026
  9. 9.Notice on the Extension of the Unilateral Visa-Free Policy - Consulate-General of the PRC in Adelaide, accessed October 28, 2026
  10. 10.Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam Added to Countries Eligible for 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit and 30-Day Visa-Free Entry for Hainan - National Immigration Administration, accessed October 28, 2026
  11. 11.PBOC releases guide to payment services for foreigners - China Daily via chinaservicesinfo.com (secondary source), accessed October 28, 2026
  12. 12.12356 psychological assistance hotline launched nationwide - Xinhua (news.cn), accessed October 28, 2026
  13. 13.Gambling helplines in China - Find A Helpline (secondary source), accessed October 28, 2026
  14. 14.Live poker in China - SOMUCHPOKER (secondary source), accessed October 28, 2026

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