Myanmar Casino Bonuses

Deposit Match Bonuses

One of the most common types of casino incentives that Myanmarese players can come across while playing online is the deposit match bonus. This type of offer requires players to make a certain deposit and enjoy, for example, double the amount as bonus funds. The percentage of the match bonus varies across different casinos, with every offer also having a set cap on the bonus amount players can receive.

Match bonuses are often given as a Welcome Bonus offering and apply to newly registered players’ first deposits. That said, match bonuses are also often given as returning players’ offers. Match bonuses are not withdrawable money and need to be wagered a certain number of times before they can be withdrawn. Players should carefully read the terms and conditions of such offers as there might be games excluded from bonus wagering contributions.

No Deposit Offers

While the aforementioned type of casino incentive always requires players to deposit at least a specific minimum, the No Deposit offer allows players to enjoy some sort of bonus without having them deposit any amount into their casino balance. No Deposit promotions are often given to newly registered players and can be awarded either in the form of a bonus or free spins on a slot.

Neither bonus nor winnings from free spins given as a No Deposit offer can be withdrawn without meeting specific wagering requirements. Players will know the bonus turnover conditions attached to the No Deposit promotion by checking its terms and conditions. Just as in the case of match bonuses, this type of casino incentive requires players to carefully check the promotional terms and conditions as not all casino games may have the same contribution towards bonus wagering.

Free Spins

As mentioned above, free spins can sometimes be offered as a No Deposit promotion but they can also be given as an addition to a Welcome Match Bonus or as an individual casino offer. Free spins may be available exclusively on a single slot game, or players might have the chance to choose from a number of slots to play with the bonus spins. Either way, each free round of the bundle of bonus spins will have a set value. That means players will not be able to increase their bet per spin while using free spins.

Winnings generated through free spins are typically credited to players’ bonus balances. To convert these funds into withdrawable money, players must wager the amount of their winnings a specific number of times. Once the wagering requirements are met, players may be allowed to withdraw all of their winnings or there might be a cap on the withdrawable amount of winnings.

Changes Introduced by Gambling Law of 2019

Despite the step taken toward the liberalization of gambling in Myanmar, there is still no proper licensing framework to authorize casino operations in the sovereign territory. What is more, the 2019 Gambling Law still has not changed the legal status of the majority of gambling forms as almost any type of gambling remains illegal on the territory of Myanmar.

Before the Gambling Law of 2019 was passed, casino operations in Myanmar were allowed only at hotels in restricted areas. In addition to the number of casinos operating legally in Myanmar being limited, these facilities were allowed to accept only foreigners. Even though the most recent Gambling Law plans to permit casino operations in additional buildings and places around Myanmar, it is still unclear whether locals will be allowed to apply for permits to operate these casinos. One thing is certain, however. Еven if more casinos launch operations in Myanmar, they will still accept only foreign players.

Online Gambling Legal Status and Potential Changes in Regulation

Despite the potential of liberalizing land-based casino gambling in Myanmar, online casinos are still illegal in this region. Even the amended Gambling Law is concerned only with land-based gambling defining illegal activities as such when they are conducted in a physical gambling house. Since there is no legal text covering online gambling, we can conclude that this type of activity is not regulated in any way.

The lack of any regulations on online gambling has led to numerous Myanmarese people resorting to illegal virtual casino gaming. With no licensed local online casinos, players from Myanmar resort to gambling at offshore virtual casinos. Even if access to such websites is restricted, many players use virtual private networks (VPNs) to access foreign gaming websites.

At the beginning of 2022, Myanmar military junta proposed a draft law on cybersecurity, which was supposed to ban the use of VPNs for online gambling. The proposed penalties for illegal virtual gambling and the use of VPNs included a fine of $2,800, imprisonment of three years, or both types of penalties combined.

Since Myanmar has become a popular market for online gambling companies in the last few years, the uproar against the proposed law was understandable. The ban on VPNs was also criticized by Free Expression Myanmar (FEM) and the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI).

The main issue still remains the unregulated online gambling sector in Myanmar, which leads to immense amounts of illegal gambling in this sovereign territory. With no laws assigning a regulatory body or a proper casino licensing process, the future of online gambling in Myanmar remains vague.