Online bingo in Taiwan is illegal under the Criminal Code, which explicitly prohibits gambling through electronic and digital means. In December 2021, Taiwan's Legislative Yuan amended Article 266 of the Criminal Code to close a legal loophole, declaring that telecommunications equipment, electronic communications, and the internet all fall under the definition of "public places" for gambling purposes (1). This amendment, which took effect on January 14, 2022, increased maximum criminal fines from TWD 30,000 to TWD 50,000 for those engaging in online gambling activities, including online bingo (1).
The amendment was specifically designed to address a previous Supreme Court decision from December 2018 that had found private online gambling fell outside the law's scope (1). Prior to this change, gambling websites using restricted access techniques technically operated in a legal gray area, but the new legislation eliminated this avenue for offshore operators targeting Taiwanese residents (1). However, a notable exemption allows gambling for "temporary amusement" purposes to remain outside criminal prosecution, both in land-based and online contexts (1).
"The amendment was floated by the Ministry of Justice some two-and-a-half years ago in response to a Supreme Court decision that found private online and cellphone gambling fell outside the scope of the law's antiquated public gambling criterion."
Taiwan maintains government-authorized legal gambling limited to the Taiwan Sports Lottery, overseen by the Ministry of Education under the Sports Lottery Act (2). The government-licensed sports betting segment offers betting on international sports events with a maximum payout ratio capped by law at 78 percent (1). Enforcement efforts continue against illegal operators, with authorities conducting regular raids and prosecutions targeting those who accept bets on online platforms, demonstrating Taiwan's commitment to eliminating illegal online bingo and other forms of unauthorized gambling activities (1).
Source:
https://www.vixio.com/insights/gc-taiwan-criminalises-online-gamblers-increases-cash-penalty
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/01/28/2003830980
Last updated: 01-11-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
