Taiwan

Exploring Taiwan's Growing Poker Scene and Legislation

For a good few years now, poker in Taiwan has been growing ever-so-slowly. Today, there are quite a number of poker rooms scattered all over the country. Similar to the laws in China and Vietnam, cash games are illegal while tournament poker is alive and well. Players can find a tournament everyday and get paid in actual cash. The rooms are open to both locals and foreigners.

The last half of 2018 saw a rise in attendance of foreign players with international events entering the market. The world-renowned Global Poker Index (GPI) also hosted an event with its second Global Poker League China series held in Taipei. Since then, the World Poker Tour followed suit.

Due to the strict regulation of no cash games, law enforcers frequent the poker rooms almost daily. Routine ID checks may come as a shock to players experiencing this for the first time, however, this is directed more towards Taiwanese players. In the event you are spot checked, just present your passport.

Famous poker player and poker commentator Maria Ho was born in Taiwan, but grew up in the United States with her family.

Online Poker in Taiwan

Online Poker Legislation in Taiwan

Contrary to other countries, there is no blocking of poker websites in Taiwan.

Taiwanese authorities are on the look for gambling sites operated within their territory, going as far as cooperating with China to bring them down. So even though they are going after operators and not players, it is best to stay away from Taiwan-based poker sites if you ever come across one.

The Golden Cruise Casino got busted on such grounds, as tickets were sold in Taiwanese convenience stores only to be used as credits online.

Established foreign-based online poker sites are thus a much better choice.

Taiwan is still a long way away from regulating online poker, but playing there should not be a problem.

Best Online Poker Sites in Taiwan

high-stakes
special games
VangPoker
UPPoker

VangPoker

4.6
Rakebackup to 40%
Bonus code
SMPBONUS
SMPBONUS
crypto-friendly
Stake Poker
Independent

Stake Poker

4.5
RakebackFixed 5%
Bonus code
SMPBONUS
SMPBONUS
Crypto Friendly
CoinPoker
Independent

CoinPoker

4.8
RakebackFixed 33%
Bonus code
SMPBONUS
SMPBONUS

Live Poker in Taiwan

Live Poker Legislation in Taiwan

Gambling in Taiwan is prohibited by the Criminal Code of the Republic of China. As a result, only state-run lotteries, like the Uniform Invoice lottery, are legal on mainland Taiwan.

Taiwan islands, 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.

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

Indeed, the penalty for social gambling in public in Taiwan is a fine of up to NT$4600, 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 are hosting gambling games in your home, or wagering for high stakes, you are facing a fine of around NT$13,800 and up to 3 years in prison.

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

Live Poker Venues in Taiwan

With no casinos existing in Taiwan yet, the poker scene has emerged in bars offering non-cash prize poker tournaments, and more recently in dedicated poker rooms or clubs following the same logic, the most famous one being the Chinese Texas Holdem Poker Association.

To this day, only a few of those rooms exist, but as for Japan or even Vietnam, their number is expected to grow in the next few years, the Taiwanese being 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 doing is of course absolutely illegal. This is how most of the underground gambling is run in Taiwan, aside from home games.

Google Map

Venues in Taiwan

Ace8 International Poker Association
CountryTaiwanTaiwan [TWN]
CityTaipei City
Phone+886 (2) 2712 0080
Email
Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Association
CountryTaiwanTaiwan [TWN]
CityTaipei City
Phone+886 (3) 427 6098
Email
Website
CTP Asia Poker Arena
CountryTaiwanTaiwan [TWN]
CityTaipei City
Phone
Email
Dream Room
CountryTaiwanTaiwan [TWN]
CityTaipei
Phone+886 (3) 325 8885
Email
Red Space
CountryTaiwanTaiwan [TWN]
CityTaipei
Phone
Email
Website

Events at Taiwan

Taiwan related news

Big Side Event Winners At The Close Of Record-Breaking APT Taipei 2025 Series

Big Side Event Winners At The Close Of Record-Breaking APT Taipei 2025 Series

The Asian Poker Tour has made history in Taiwan with the just concluded APT Taipei 2025 stop at the brand new Red Space venue filled to the brim during an
today at 3:17 AM
Wayne Lam, Rintaro Kagawa Lead APT Taiwan Main Event Final 9; Thi Hue Dang In Contention

Wayne Lam, Rintaro Kagawa Lead APT Taiwan Main Event Final 9; Thi Hue Dang In Contention

Another rollercoaster day filled with highs and lots of lows at the record APT Taiwan 2025 Main Event, as the majority of the 48 returning players saw their
last Saturday at 6:05 AM
Kitty Kuo Eyes Second APT Taiwan Main Event Title Leads Final 48 

Kitty Kuo Eyes Second APT Taiwan Main Event Title Leads Final 48 

Natural8 ambassador, Kuo Hui Chen, better known as Kitty Kuo, has taken full command of the record-breaking APT Taiwan 2025 Main Event. After nearly ten hours
last Friday at 5:40 AM
Past Champions In Contention At Record APT Taipei 2025 Main Event; Nicholas Go, Kitty Kuo Lead Day 2 Finish

Past Champions In Contention At Record APT Taipei 2025 Main Event; Nicholas Go, Kitty Kuo Lead Day 2 Finish

Another action-packed day of flips and flops and heartbreaks at the record-breaking APT Taipei 2025 Main Event as nearly 1000 players pulled up seats at Day
last Thursday at 12:07 PM
APT Taipei 2025 Main Event Smashes NT$ 70M Guarantee with 1,577 Entries And Counting; Ka Chun Yuan Bags Day 1B Lead

APT Taipei 2025 Main Event Smashes NT$ 70M Guarantee with 1,577 Entries And Counting; Ka Chun Yuan Bags Day 1B Lead

Another record breaker? Sure looks like it! Day 1B of the Asian Poker Tour's - APT Taipei 2025 Main Event pulled in another 506 entries to boost the
04/29/2025
APT Taipei 2025 Main Event Headed For An Earth-Shaker; Wu Chun Yu Bags Day 1A Lead

APT Taipei 2025 Main Event Headed For An Earth-Shaker; Wu Chun Yu Bags Day 1A Lead

The Asian Poker Tour - APT Taipei 2025 festival continued with the Main Event and its NT$ 70,000,000 (~US$ 2.1 Million) guarantee now the centerpiece of all the action.
04/28/2025
APT Taipei 2025 Blasts Open With Record Breaking APT National Cup

APT Taipei 2025 Blasts Open With Record Breaking APT National Cup

The Asian Poker Tour's - APT Taipei 2025 - roared in with a record opening event as APT National Cup drew 2,161 entries for a prize pool of NT$ 21.2 Million.
04/26/2025
Extra Tips For Travelers Headed To APT Taipei 2025

Extra Tips For Travelers Headed To APT Taipei 2025

The Asian Poker Tour returns to Taiwan for APT Taipei 2025 featuring a loaded game lineup of 126 events and a guaranteed prize pool of NTD 126 Million ($5.4)!
04/11/2025
Star-Studded Global Poker League Opens GPI Asia Poker Festival In Taipei City, Taiwan

Star-Studded Global Poker League Opens GPI Asia Poker Festival In Taipei City, Taiwan

Star-studded Global Poker League - GPL Team Event - kicks off the 5th installment of the GPI Asia Poker Festival at the CTP Asia Poker Arena.
03/28/2025
Exciting New Brand Zodiac Series Of Poker Concludes Inaugural Festival In Taiwan

Exciting New Brand Zodiac Series Of Poker Concludes Inaugural Festival In Taiwan

New brand Zodiac Series Of Poker (ZSOP) launched its inaugural series in Taiwan from March 6-16, 2025 and smashed all expectations, paying out over US$ 2.4M.
03/19/2025
CapitalTaipei
Population23,503,349
CurrencyNew Taiwan dollar [TWD] $
TimezoneUTC+08:00
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