Growing of Taiwan Poker Scene and Gambling Laws - 2025

The country is still a long way from regulating online poker, but as regulations typically reduce the severity of problem gambling, it may still move in that direction.

Is Online Poker legal in Taiwan?

Contrary to other countries, there was no blocking of poker websites in Taiwan until January 2022. Legislation then closed the legal gaps that had been present in online poker, and since then, any online play via telecommunication devices has been subject to a fine of up to NTD5,000.

However, players are facing of low risk of any legal consequences, as authorities are on the lookout for gambling sites, going so far as to cooperate with China to bring them down. So, even though they are targeting operators and not players, it is best to stay away from Taiwan poker sites, as those are the authorities’ primary focus. Although online gambling seems to be trending down in the country, due to the widespread use of cryptocurrencies and VPN services, it is very difficult to track down illegal gambling.

Taiwan poker players still find ways to continue gambling online, and the favourite place to play online poker is Natural8 for many, as it is, besides GGPoker , the most popular online poker room among Taiwanese players.

The Golden Cruise Casino was busted on the grounds that tickets were sold in local convenience stores and were intended only for use as credits online.

Established foreign-based online poker sites are thus a much better choice. You can find our recommendations below.

The Criminal Code of the Republic of China prohibits gambling in Taiwan. As a result, only state-run lotteries, like the Uniform Invoice lottery, are legal on mainland Taiwan.

Is it Legal to Play Live Poker in Taiwan?

The islands of Taiwan, however, are subject to different regulations. In 2009, amendments to the Offshore Islands Development Act legalized the establishment of casinos on the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, and Penghu, though none have been built since then. Although two-thirds of local residents are in favour of the project, the government is reluctant to start any development. From the government’s point of view, they have to be very careful about managing gambling since it might involve the mafia and lead to dire consequences.

How is Illegal Live Gambling Present in Taiwan Poker?

Underground illegal poker games are very common in Taiwan, similar to baccarat and mahjong games, which are often found in night markets and private clubs. If you want to find a live Taiwan poker game, you can do so through local acquaintances, but the places are subject to regular police raids and are often controlled by organized crime gangs.

The solution for Taiwan poker players, as in many Asian countries, came in the form of tournaments, while cash games are still strictly prohibited.

Indeed, the penalty for social gambling in public in Taiwan is a fine of up to NTD4,600, with the confiscation of any cash found on the premises. However, some games are allowed on special days or under special restricted circumstances.

If you host gambling games in your home or wager high stakes, you may face a fine of around NTD13,800 and up to 3 years in prison.

Finally, if you are found to be gambling professionally in the country, you could face a sentence of 2 years in prison (or 6 months for agents).

What are the best Live Poker Venues in Taiwan?

With no casinos yet existing in the country, the poker scene has emerged in bars offering non-cash prize poker tournaments, and more recently, in dedicated rooms or clubs for the Taiwan poker scene. Following the same logic, the most famous one is the Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Association.

To this day, only a few of those rooms still exist, but in  Japan  and  Vietnam , their number is expected to grow in the next few years, as the Taiwanese are known to enjoy games and gambling in general.

Gambling parlors also welcome players to gamble and receive tokens, provided that money is not won. However, tokens can often be exchanged for cash in discreet locations, but this is, of course, absolutely illegal. This is how most underground gambling is conducted in the country, aside from home games.

What are the best Taiwan Poker Events?

The most popular poker tournaments in Taipei in 2025 are the Taiwan Millions Tournament (TMT), Asian Poker Tour (APT), and the WPT Prime Taiwan Championship . You can also qualify for a live WPT Taiwan poker event online via satellites on the WPT Global online poker site .

Taiwan Millions Tournament

This Taiwan poker festival was introduced by the Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Association in 2017. It offers a low-stakes competition with a moderate buy-in of NTD 9,000 (~$280), helping to involve new poker enthusiasts in the Taiwan poker game and also giving local players an opportunity to participate in a live event with a large field. The recent TMT 18 Main Event attracted a record-breaking 8,478 poker players, of whom Shin Chen Tai emerged as the winner, taking home a prize of $215,860.

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Shih Chen Tai Triumphs in Record Breaking TMT 18 Main Event

Shih Chen Tai triumphs in record-breaking TMT 18 Main Event, lifting the iconic Incense Cedar TMT Main Event trophy and claiming the NT$ 6,400,000 (~US$ 215,860) top prize.

07/29/2025

Asian Poker Tour

APT has been one of the premier live poker tours of the region since 2006. The tour hosts 6-8 festivals in Taiwan, the Philippines, Korea, and Vietnam, and is also popular among international players. The Player of the Series and Player of the Year schemes are additional perks that make poker players more interested in entering multiple events, thereby increasing the competition.

WPT Prime Taiwan Championship

The World Poker Tour is among the most well-known tours with its history of over 20 years. It is one of the leading global televised gaming brands of the live poker scene. The tour boasts an astonishing feature of hosting poker events in more than 50 countries worldwide, making it second to none in this achievement. The Taiwan poker tournament scene has been integrated into the global poker map, and this is a strong reason to pay attention to its future evolution.