Poker in China:
Live, Cashgames, Tournaments

gambling for real money in China in with 1.400.050.000 residents, is just permitted in casinos or poker rooms.

In China and across , poker is defined as a game of luck. That is why, it is just legal in casinos to poker for real cash. On this page we present you all the various options to play poker in China and clarify the legal framework in .

We show you how and where you can play Poker China

Poker Cash Games can fulfill in and thus also in China the criminal offence of illegal gambling. One can be sentenced according to these regulations if one hosts public gambling or takes part in it.

Is poker in defined as a game of chance?

The question of whether poker is a game of luck in the sense of the law has been a complicated one for decades and there have been many treatises on the subject. However the law in China and therefore also in China grades poker as a game of chance. The difference is that state casinos in have a permission. Playing poker there is allowed.

Poker in bars in China

Risk for the pubs & hosts: There is possibility of losing the official permission to operate a restaurant in China if you make yourself liable to prosecution.

Conclusion

  • Poker cash games are basically not allowed in China and therefore also in China.
  • The casinos in China have a state licence.
  • Often it is very tricky for the authorities in China to evidence prohibited gambling.
  • Tournaments are considered a game of skill, cash games a game of luck

Please note that the information provided does not constitute legal advice under the law and cannot replace legal advice, as such advice always requires knowledge of all individual circumstances, in particular of the specific individual case.

Cashgames: Real money poker games in China

Entering poker cash games for real money is not allowed in public. If like to poker for real money in China, you will need to go to casinos & poker clubs and poker rooms in the local area. Please read carefully the information on Home Games if you need additional alternatives.

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Poker tournaments in China

There are a big number of poker tournaments in China. Tournaments are allowed as long as no real money is paid out, but the award is a non-cash prize. In addition, big poker tournaments take place often in ! Upcoming tournaments can be seen in the tournament calendar.

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Past Tournaments

  • ¥ 2,200 No Limit Hold'em - Runner Runner Member Cup (Event #8)
    Runner Runner Poker Club, 05-Jan-2020
  • ¥ 3,300 No Limit Hold'em - Head Hunter (Event #7)
    Runner Runner Poker Club, 04-Jan-2020
  • ¥ 4,400 No Limit Hold'em - Elite Deepstack (Event #6)
    Runner Runner Poker Club, 03-Jan-2020
  • ¥ 22,000 No Limit Hold'em - Master Event (Event #5)
    Runner Runner Poker Club, 03-Jan-2020
  • ¥ 3,300 No Limit Hold'em - Short Deck Event by Dongli Beer (Event #4)
    Runner Runner Poker Club, 02-Jan-2020
  • ¥ 6,600 No Limit Hold-em - Runner Runner Cup
    Runner Runner Poker Club, 31-Dec-2019
  • ¥ 22,000 No Limit Hold'em - TPC Main Event Grand Finale
    Runner Runner Poker Club, 30-Dec-2019
  • ¥ 2,400 No Limit Hold'em - Closing Event
    Mo Li Poker Sport Club, 27-Dec-2019
  • ¥ 6,000 No Limit Hold'em - Elite Head Hunter
    Mo Li Poker Sport Club, 26-Dec-2019
  • ¥ 11,000 No Limit Hold'em -Master Event by Shanghai Wanti
    Mo Li Poker Sport Club, 25-Dec-2019

Poker Clubs: The best poker rooms in China

Other options are offered by the various poker clubs & poker rooms with tournaments in and around China. The poker scene in China is organized in many clubs & rooms and every year live poker events come to the city. Here is a good overview:

Live poker in casinos near by China

China itself unfortunately does not provide a own casino with a poker floor. has its casinos primarily in little places and outside the city center. It is though not a problem to get to them by car or public transport. The majority have on top an own shuttle service. In case you want to go by your own car, all casinos offer large parking facilities for poker players. This year, however, practically every casino in China is offering poker tournaments. There are a lot of tourneys and poker events that you can enter. At Poker-in.com you'll discover an overview, organized by federal states, of all places running poker with their individual games and all required infos. Within a radius of China you will get to minimum two casinos with decent travel times and good live poker offers.

Casinos, Poker Rooms & Venues offering Poker in China

  • BaoYuLin Poker Club
    No.1, Xi’an Banpo Art’s Park, Xi’an, China
  • Beijing Star Poker Club ( Website )
    8 Gong Ti Xi Lu, Chao Yang District, Beijing, China
  • Boao Forum For Asia Dongyu Island Hotel
    Dongyu Island, Qionghai 571434, China
  • Changsha Huaya International Hotel
    81 Middle Wanjiali Road, Changsha
  • Crowne Plaza Resort Sanya Bay
    228 Sanyawan Rd, Tianya District, Sanya, Hainan, China, 572000
  • Hainan Resort Software Community
  • Howard Johnson Resort Sanya Bay
    188, Sanya Bay Road, Sanya City, Hainan Province, 572000 Sanya
  • Huayu Resort & Spa Yalong Bay
    Yalong Bay National Resort District, Sanya, Hainan, China, 572000
  • MGM Grand Sanya ( Website )
    Yalong Bay National Resort District, Sanya, 572000 People Republic of China
  • Mo Li Poker Sport Club
    No 56, A6-103-1 Wan Liu Cun Street, Hebei District, Tianjin, China
  • NUO Hotel Beijing
    2 Jiangtai Rd, Chaoyang Qu, Beijing Shi, China, 100016
  • Pullman Oceanview Sanya Bay & Resort
    158 Sanyawan Rd, Tianya Qu, Sanya Shi, Hainan Sheng, China, 572033
  • Runner Runner Poker Club
    BLD #8, Business Tower Level 3, No. 68 Xinzhong Road, Julong Garden, Dong Cheng District, Beijing, China
  • Sanya Shangri-La Hotel
    88 Haitang N Rd, Haitang Qu, Sanya Shi, Hainan Sheng, China
  • Sapphire Princess

Best Poker Players from China

The following list shows you the Top 10 poker players with the highest tournament winnings from China.

Homegames: Pokern for real money in China in private locations

In China the legislation of the federal state applies. In order not be prohibited to play poker home games in China you must follow of the following:

Is it a public poker game?

If the poker game is not public, it can be legal in general and does not have to justify any criminal liability. A poker round is public after the jurisdiction in , if "it is made outwardly recognizably accessible to a not firmly closed circle of acquaintances". A good example of this is cash games in pubs in China that anyone could join. Attention, this is forbidden!

Habituality

Even a closed society can be considered public in according to § 285 II StGB, if gambling takes place there according to law.If the round takes place habitually, it is illegal in private rooms in China as well as in public. For example, if cash games are organized for every week on the similar day, it does not matter if it is a private room or not. Both are illegal.

The best Online Poker Rooms in comparison

The best and not prohibited way to play poker in China is online poker. There are some established poker sites where you can play poker for real money. After decades of online poker history, several providers proofed themselfes as the most trustful and stable. We strongly recommend opening an account with these poker platforms and playing poker there. The poker games on offer are great, the options are large, the players are numerous and the fees are reasonable. Poker-in.com lists the most important and best providers in comparison.

 updated: 02.11.2024
 –  of  of the best online poker sites compared
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