Online bingo is technically illegal in Myanmar under the 1899 Gambling Act and the amended 1986 Gambling Law, which prohibit all forms of gambling unless specifically authorized by the Union Government (1). While the 2019 Gambling Law legalized land-based casinos restricted to foreign tourists, it did not establish licensing frameworks for online gambling operations, leaving online bingo in a legal grey area (1). The Myanmar Cybersecurity Law, effective August 2025, explicitly penalizes operating unapproved online gambling systems with imprisonment of 6 months to 1 year and fines of MMK 5-20 million without providing a pathway for obtaining official approval.
The Myanmar Police Force actively investigates and prosecutes illegal online gambling operations, dismantling websites and shutting down gambling-related social media pages and payment accounts since 2023 (2). Promoting or accepting online gambling advertisements is explicitly punishable by law, and individuals who sell or rent mobile payment or bank accounts for gambling purposes face legal action (2). However, the government does not actively prosecute individual players accessing offshore online bingo platforms, though many users employ VPNs to bypass domain-level blocking restrictions implemented by authorities.
"The Myanmar Police Force announced that it is actively investigating, dismantling and prosecuting illegal online gambling and fraud websites, as well as social media pages promoting such activities. Promoting or accepting online gambling advertisements is punishable by law."
Myanmar nationals accessing online bingo platforms operate without legal protections or regulatory oversight, placing them at risk of fraud, unfair practices, and unscrupulous operators unwilling to pay out winnings (1). While the government technically prohibits online gambling, enforcement focuses on operators and facilitators rather than players, resulting in continued participation without widespread prosecution (2). Until Myanmar develops a comprehensive regulatory framework explicitly legalizing and licensing online bingo operations, the activity remains technically illegal though tolerated in practice, leaving players vulnerable while the government pursues operators through criminal enforcement.
Source:
https://www.igamingtoday.com/gambling-regulation-in-myanmar/
https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2025/10/17/myanmar-police-crack-down-on-illegal-online-gambling-and-fraud-websites
Last updated: 01-11-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
