Online betting giant owned by one of Britain’s richest executives is exiting the online gambling sector in China as it looks to focus on safer bets.

Bet365 stated that it would no longer be able to provide services in the region starting March 27th, 2025. The gaming industry has developed in leaps and bounds in China. With 668 million players spending an average of 453 yuan each on gambling, China boasts the world’s most lucrative gaming market.

Online gambling in mainland China remains illegal, however, internet traffic routed via VPNs, underground banking networks, and payment platforms enable mainland Chinese customers to access and remit funds to online gaming sites.

According to 2023 estimates published in Economic Information Daily, an affiliate of state-owned news agency Xinhua, the annual amount bet through online gambling in the Mainland is more than one trillion yuan (US$145 billion), equivalent to nearly twice the annual income of China’s officially sanctioned lotteries.

The domestic Chinese demand for gambling is significant. Legal restrictions on onshore gambling in mainland China have contributed to the growth of overseas and online gambling sites that cater to Chinese nationals. 

Integrated gaming resorts in Singapore, Australia, Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines welcome growing numbers of Chinese tourists. Mongolia, which is a neighbour to China, is also looking into legalizing gambling and casinos for Chinese tourists.