Best Sports Betting Sites in Malaysia 2023

Sports betting legislation in Malaysia is limited due to the lack of regulation within the country. Some forms of gambling, such as horse racing, lotteries, and casino games, are legal, whereas sports betting is not. Thanks to offshore betting sites bettors based in Malaysia can still get involved in the online gambling scene.

These offshore sites don’t need to conform to Malaysian gambling laws and, as a result, are the best alternatives for Malaysian residents to bet online.

At Techopedia, we’ve listed the best Malaysian betting sites with information on how they work, how to create an account, the sports on offer, and the types of bonuses and promotions you can claim.

Comparing Sportsbooks in Malaysia

As online betting in Malaysia continues to grow, the range of sportsbooks now accessible to residents of the countries follows suit. The table below includes an overview of the best betting sites in Malaysia with information on the promotions you can claim.

Reviews of the Best Malaysia Betting Sites

Expanding from the table of the best Malaysia betting sites, we’ve taken the time to fully test and review how each of the top five picks performs. Use the reviews below to get a deeper understanding of the best Malaysia gambling sites and what you can expect from each when it comes to sports betting.

1. BK8  – Best Online Betting Site in Malaysia

• Payout time: 24 hours
• Established: 2014
• License: Curacao
• Headquarters: Malta
• Available in Malaysia: Yes

Our Verdict: 9.2/10

BK8 offers the best online sports betting in Malaysia. Before jumping into the main sportsbook, it’s worth noting that the brand has lucrative sponsorship deals with Premier League outfits, Aston Villa and Burnley, giving huge credibility.

One of the major selling points for BK8 is its betting lines, with the best overall coverage of any sites we’ve tested. Not only are they strong for many bets, such as moneyline, spreads, and totals, but even prop bets and team bets are very competitive. When you get odds as good as this, parlay betting becomes an obvious choice as value increases tenfold.

With 18 sports to bet on, it’s not the biggest betting site we’ve tested, but coverage across soccer, tennis, basketball, American football, and ice hockey is superb. Most games move into the live betting section, enhanced with a detailed match center and live betting stats.

The promotions and bonuses on offer round off this incredible package. You have access to a lucrative welcome bonus and can claim multiple existing player bonuses and enhanced odds on selected markets.

Features Overview

• Promotions & Rewards: 9/10
• Desktop Experience: 9/10
• Mobile Experience: 9/10
• Registration Process: 9/10
• Payment Methods: 8/10
• Sportsbook: 9/10
• Casino: 8/10
• Live Casino: 9/10
• Poker: N/A
• Customer Support: 9/10

Top Sign-up Offers:

Pros & Cons:

2. 12Play – Best Malaysia Betting Site for Esports Betting

• Payout time: Up to 7 days
• Established: 2012
• License: Philippines
• Headquarters: Singapore
• Available in Malaysia: Yes

Our Verdict: 9.1/10

12Play has been online since 2012 and started life solely as an online casino. It remains one of the best Malaysia online casinos today. The sports betting side was a late addition, but the improvements made over the last couple of years have propelled the brands to be one of the best options when it comes to online sportsbook betting in Malaysia.

Football, basketball, and tennis make up the majority of the betting market, and although there are 15+ sports to bet on, these three are what most users are betting on. Betting lines across the board are competitive but less consistent than BK8.

The esports betting section is one of the best that we’ve tested. The coverage of games is impressive, to say the least. Tournaments worldwide are covered in great detail, mainly thanks to the esports game provider CMD368, which specializes in these markets. Games include League of Legends, CS:GO, PUBG,  Warcraft 3, and Fortnite, to name just a few.

The only negative is the usability of the site. When the server is under heavy load, they move you to a different domain, which is slightly odd but improves speed when you jump. The design is solid and easy to use, with the ability to filter and sort to your needs.

Features Overview

• Promotions & Rewards: 8/10
• Desktop Experience: 7/10
• Mobile Experience: 8/10
• Registration Process: 8/10
• Payment Methods: 7/10
• Sportsbook: 9/10
• Casino: 9/10
• Live Casino: 9/10
• Poker: N/A
• Customer Support: 9/10

Top Sign-up Offers:

Pros & Cons:

3. We88 – Great Range of Asian Betting Lines

• Payout time: 24 hours
• Established: 2010
• License: Curacao
• Headquarters:
• Available in Malaysia: Yes

Our Verdict: 8.9/10

We88 has benefitted from a recent re-design of the sportsbook and, as a result, has propelled the brand to be one of the best betting sites in Malaysia. It comes with one the biggest ranges of sports to choose from, with 20+ including darts, cycling, handball, winter sports, and water polo, to give you an idea of how diverse the range is.

The main sports are soccer, basketball, tennis and esports. That redesign now means it’s easy to switch between Asian betting lines and more traditional odds formats, such as fractional and decimal. You’ve also got the option of a parlay builder at the top of the page to make it easy to create these betting formats.

Mobile access includes downloadable betting apps, but we recommend using the betting site via a mobile browser as we’ve noticed a few crashing issues within the apps. You can claim and clear all the same promotions on mobile as you would online and enjoy the flexibility of betting on the go.

A couple of notable features that we wanted to include were the WePredict and WeTV tools. The former is a game where you predict the score of a predetermined soccer game for the day, and you earn points if you get it right. The latter is access to the TV channel via YouTube, where you can live stream games and get predictions and tips for higher profile matches.

Features Overview

• Promotions & Rewards: 9/10
• Desktop Experience: 8/10
• Mobile Experience: 9/10
• Registration Process: 8/10
• Payment Methods: 8/10
• Sportsbook: 9/10
• Casino: 8/10
• Live Casino: 8/10
• Poker: N/A
• Customer Support: 8/10

Top Sign-up Offers:

Pros & Cons:

4. Gembet – Best for Virtual Sports and Esports Betting

• Payout time: 1-3 days
• Established: 2019
• License: Cyprus
• Headquarters: Singapore
• Available in Malaysia: Yes

Our Verdict: 8.7/10

Gembet is one of the latest additions to our list of Malaysia’s best online betting sites, having opened in 2019. The site is about as good as it gets for design, opting for a clean black and white color scheme, with droppable menus down the left.

In terms of depth of sports, it’s also one of the biggest sites we’ve tested. There are 40+ sports in total, with huge coverage for soccer, tennis, American football, basketball, and esports. The integration with the bet slip on the right is seamless, and the ability to change odds types between Malaysia, fractional, decimal, Indonesia, and Hong Kong adds much-needed customization.

Virtual sports is one of the best features on Gembet. They have markets for soccer, cycling, greyhounds, horse racing, marble racing, and drag racing. Each comes with a plethora of markets and live betting options, as well as live streaming to watch the action unfold in real time.

Features Overview

• Promotions & Rewards: 9/10
• Desktop Experience: 9/10
• Mobile Experience: 9/10
• Registration Process: 8/10
• Payment Methods: 8/10
• Sportsbook: 9/10
• Casino: 7/10
• Live Casino: 8/10
• Poker: N/A
• Customer Support: 7/10

Top Sign-up Offers:

Pros & Cons:

5. AW8 – 300% Deposit Match for New Accounts

• Payout time: 24 hours
• Established: 2011
• License: Philippines
• Headquarters: Malaysia
• Available in Malaysia: Yes

Our Verdict: 8.5/10

AW8 uses up to five different sports betting providers in the form of MD368, MaxBet, SBObet, M8Bet and Bet radar. While it’s not uncommon for betting sites to have a range of providers, to see five is impressive and this creates a huge platform for users to take advantage of in terms of betting markets and promotions.

Having tested all five, SBObet is the best of the bunch for us. It has an easy to use layout, both on desktop and on mobile, and comes packed with sports and markets to bet on. They also came out best when testing betting lines, although the numbers were close between the five providers.

The promotions sections needs a mention and for existing player offers there’s no one better in the game. Not only do you get a range of reload bonuses, birthday bonuses, and referral prizes, but you can also claim up to 1% rebate on all bets placed across the sportsbook. For high volume bettors, this can be a substantial sum over the course of weeks or months.

Features Overview

• Promotions & Rewards: 10/10
• Desktop Experience: 8/10
• Mobile Experience: 8/10
• Registration Process: 810
• Payment Methods: 8/10
• Sportsbook: 8/10
• Casino: 9/10
• Live Casino: 810
• Poker: N/A
• Customer Support: 7/10

Top Sign-up Offers:

Pros & Cons:

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Is Sports Betting Legal in Malaysia?

The gambling legislation in Malaysia is confusing, with laws outlined for different aspects and many contradicting each other. Sports betting, for the most part, is illegal in the country. This includes both land-based and online variations but does not include horse racing, which is accessible on both platforms.

However, although Malaysia is predominantly Muslim, sports betting is still prevalent. Sports betting laws state that bookmakers cannot work within the country, meaning players cannot access these sites. This legislation does not include offshore betting sites that accept Malaysian-based players.

Offshore online betting in Malaysia is growing rapidly. Not only is the number of sites now accepting players increasing, but also the quality of the product on offer.

Outside of sports betting in Malaysia, there are several regulated gambling sectors. These include six legal lotteries, one land-based casino, and three horse racing tracks, which have betting facilities for racing at each track.

What are the Malaysia Sports Betting Laws?

The legal framework in Malaysia is split into three sectors:

1. The Betting Act 1953 – The Betting Act has been around since 1953 but has seen multiple amendments. The act states that gambling is illegal in the country unless done via a fully licensed company.
2. Common Gaming House Act 1953 – The Common Gaming House Act 1953 has again seen multiple amendments and covers a broader range of gambling outside of sports betting. This covers online and on-land casinos, lotteries, and any game deemed a “game of chance or mixed chance and skill with money.”
3. Sharia Law – Malaysia recognizes Sharia Law, which strictly forbids gambling within the country. The caveat is that the law is not bound by no-Malays, which includes Chinese and Indians, of which there are a lot within the country.

The laws are strict, and the fines for playing on illegal gambling sites have recently (2020) been increased. However, it’s worth noting that even though unlawful gambling is a massive industry in Malaysia, offshore betting sites do not fall into this category and are perfectly legal to sign up, deposit, and wager.

How to Sign Up to a Top Malaysia Betting Site

One of the best things about Malaysia betting websites is the ease of creating an account. In this section, we’ll walk you through signing up with our top-rated sportsbook in Malaysia, BK8.

1. Open an account

To get started, click the orange “Join Now” button at the top of the page. It’s worth noting that next to the button is a dropdown menu where you can ensure you’re on the Malaysian version of the sportsbook.

2. Create an account

Enter a username and password you want to use for your account. If you already have a Telegram account, you can use these details to link the two platforms and save time filling in the forms. The site also includes a handy tutorial video if you get stuck at any point.

3. Enter account details

Next, you must add your phone number, email address, country, preferred currency, and full name. Please take the time to make sure all information is correct, as you’ll need to verify this before withdrawing.

4. Deposit

Once the account has been created, head to the cashier. Here, you can deposit into your account. The range of payment options will be based on your location and highlighted within this section for online betting in Malaysia.

5. Place a bet

Return to the sportsbook to place a bet when the deposit is completed. Click on the odds to add selections to the bet slip and enter your stake. Confirm your bets before placing.

Bonuses Available

One of the benefits of using offshore Malaysian betting sites is the vast range of bonuses and promotions on offer. All of the sites we promote at Techopedia have a welcome offer as the bare minimum, with most offering existing player promos, such as reload bonuses and boosted odds.

In this section on online betting in Malaysia, we’ve included an overview of the bonuses available and how they work. Not all sites have these offers, but most are covered across the range of promoted sites.

• Welcome Bonuses: The welcome bonus is the offer given to new accounts. This is usually the biggest and most lucrative sportsbook bonus you’ll receive and often comes as a deposit match.
• Deposit Match Bonuses: A deposit match will apply a bonus to your account based on your deposit amount. For example, BK8 has a 100% match-up to MYR 300, meaning that anything you deposit, up to MYR 300, will be matched as a bonus.
• No Deposit Bonuses: A no deposit bonus is applied to your account without needing to make a deposit. Once applied, the bonus will work like a deposit match bonus regarding clearing rates and wagering requirements.
• Free Bets: Free bets are applied to an account that can be used throughout the sportsbook. As the name would suggest, they’re free but limited in terms of how much you’re given. Most free bets come without wagering requirements and pay profits without the original stake returned.
• On-going Promotions: On-going promotions include seasonal and game/event offers. For example, most sites will have specialist promotions for major sporting events such as the Super Bowl and World Cup.
• Odds Boosts: Odds boosts are where the sportsbook boosts the odds for a specific market. For example, you might have odds of 2.00 for a team to win a soccer match, and the sportsbook increases these odds to 2.20, offering more value and a higher return. It’s worth noting that the maximum stake for odds boosts is usually limited.
• Parlay Insurance: Parlay insurance protects bets made on parlays where just one leg of your bet lets you down. For example, if you’ve placed a five-team parlay and four legs win, with just one losing, the sportsbook will refund your stake.
• Loyalty Bonuses: A loyalty bonus is where the sportsbook rewards players with offers as a thank-you for extended periods of play. This might be a one-off bonus or as part of a larger VIP scheme that allows players to earn points as they bet before converting points into bonuses/prizes.
• Refer-a-Friend Bonuses: When you refer a player to sign up, the person referred will be given a bonus. Some sites will pay a cash reward, whereas others will apply a bonus. Most sites won’t limit the number of times this offer can be claimed, making it lucrative if a player can refer many sign-ups.

Payment Methods Available

Sportsbooks in Malaysia provide a wide range of payment methods. Given that they’re offshore, restrictions around what can and can’t be used are less strict, so payment methods, such as crypto, can be used.

As online betting in Malaysia grows, the options to deposit and withdraw continue to increase. Below, we’ve included an outline of the payment methods you can expect to find at Malaysia betting sites.

• Cryptocurrencies: Crypto is now the most popular payment processing method in Malaysia. Platforms like Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum offer fast, safe, and secure ways to deposit and withdraw funds. They often come without fees and are processed instantly.
• Traditional payment methods: Traditional payment methods in Malaysia include TruePay 2, Secret Pay, VaderPay, PowerPay, and Spay. You’ll also be able to use bank transfer, although this will take several days to process and comes with fees. The likes of Visa and Mastercard are not available.
• eWallets: eWallet apps can offer a speedy alternative to crypto and traditional payment options. Most accept the MyPay88 eWallet, which can be linked to TouchnGo, Grab Pay, and Boost Pay. This is another speedy way to get money in and out, although limits are lower for withdrawals than most.

Popular Sports to Bet on in Malaysia

Online sports betting in Malaysia is dominated by the nation’s two favorites: soccer and badminton. They both have exceptional coverage across all sites, but it’s worth noting that sites are far from limited to just these.

Below, we’ve outlined the range of sports you can access from online betting in Malaysia.

Soccer

Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the country. All Malaysia betting websites will have some form of soccer betting options, with coverage from across Asia, including Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and, of course, Malaysia. BK8 is ranked as the best betting site in Malaysia for soccer betting because of its domestic and international coverage, including the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Champions League, and Europa League.

Badminton

Badminton is another massively popular sport in Malaysia, transpiring across the betting industry. Men’s and women’s games are covered in great depth, with markets such as outright winner, game/set betting, and a series of handicap options making up the bulk of the sportsbook. 12Play is the best badminton sportsbook, mainly due to the sheer volume of games.

Basketball

Basketball is one of the few sports that is accessible all year round. Asian leagues throughout China, South Korea, and Malaysia are very popular, but betting on the NBA draws the biggest attraction. Prop bets such as total points, first scorer, and alternative spread lines are widely available.

Esports

Malaysia online betting has seen a considerable shift towards esports. Most sites have dedicated esports sections away from the main sportsbook and include coverage from games such as League of Legends, CS:GO, FIFA, Call of Duty, Fortnite, NBA2K, and World of Warcraft. BK8 is the best for esports betting, mainly because it includes live streaming within the live betting section.

Tennis

Tennis is another sport available 52 weeks of the year and popular amongst professional bettors. Coverage is focused on the European and American domestic games, peaking with the four majors (French Open, US Open, Wimbledon, and Australian Open).

Horse Racing

Horse racing is one of the few regulated sports, but is also popular with online betting in Malaysia. Like esports, horse racing tends to have dedicated racebooks alongside the main sportsbook. Coverage is international for the most part, but Asian domestic races, particularly those based in Malaysia, are extremely popular.

Cricket

It’s not necessarily a huge sport in Malaysia, but cricket is prominent within the online betting sector. There are multiple Asian leagues and tournaments, such as the IPL (Indian Premier League) and PPL (Pakistan Premier League), which have many followers within the country and generate huge interest in online betting. Other notable betting opportunities include the multiple World Cups across all formats, The Ashes, the Australian Big Bash League, and the English T20 Blast.

Our Top Tips for Sports Betting in Malaysia

With the majority of online sportsbook betting in Malaysia done on offshore sites, it’s understandable that there will be some trepidation about which sites to use and avoid. We’ve created a section outlining our top priorities for sports betting in Malaysia and how to stay safe.

1. Choose a reputable brand – All the sportsbooks we outline at Techopedia are highly reputable and extensively tested by our team. We only promote brands that are safe, trustworthy, and protect players. This guide lets you learn more about how we rate and test sportsbooks.
2. Check for licenses – Licensing significantly affects a sportsbook’s credibility. To gain any license, the sportsbook must adhere to certain levels of security and safety. All betting sites listed on this page are fully licensed and legally accept players from Malaysia.
3. Use mobile betting apps/sites – Online design with most major sites is dated. However, the mobile betting apps/sites you can use are generally much more accessible. We highly recommend that you test sites online and mobile to see which is a better fit.
4. Bankroll management – Betting should be done responsibly, and one of the ways to ensure this is to apply a solid bankroll management strategy. To do so, each bet must be a percentage of the total bankroll, ideally around one to three percent. For example, a MYR 500 bankroll using the 1% method would mean MYR 5 per bet.
5. Research – All bets placed must be well-researched. Conducting research and finding value means you have the best chance of consistently making money from sports betting.

Best Malaysia Betting Apps & Mobile Sites

Mobile betting has seen a massive increase in the volume of bets placed over the last ten years. Online betting in Malaysia is following these exact trends, and many sites are now created with a “mobile-first” intention, meaning the mobile site or betting app is developed before the online platform.

Mobile options will be split across iOS and Android devices. BK8 is an excellent example of the flexibility of mobile betting, offering QR codes via the online platform to go straight to the download version of their mobile betting app.

Accessibility in terms of mobile betting will vary depending on which sportsbook you choose. Some will have a dedicated app you can download from the App Store (Apple) or the Google Play Store (Android).

Others have a mobile site where you enter the sportsbook via your mobile browser and use a converted online platform within your browser. In terms of usability, the pair work very much the same way.

Do You Have to Pay Taxes at Malaysia Betting Sites?

No, you don’t have to pay taxes on gambling winnings in Malaysia. They aren’t regarded as earnings, and any winnings from “luck-based” outcomes are not taxable.

However, it’s worth noting that as you use offshore betting sites, any changes in tax laws won’t apply either. Using these sites, you won’t have to declare winnings, and the sites won’t report it either.

The Best Betting Site for Malaysia

As online betting in Malaysia continues to grow, along with the range of betting sites on offer, the standard of the products continues to rise. At the top of the pile right now is BK8, and as a result, it has been voted as the best offshore sportsbook for Malaysia residents.

Our best Malaysia online sportsbook comes with 20+ sports to bet on and hundreds of markets. The betting lines are very competitive, and the inclusion of boosted odds on selected markets adds to this. The ability to switch between Malaysian, decimal, Hong Kong, and Indonesian odds format is a huge plus, given the range of people likely to access it.

Live betting is the heartbeat of the site, with live streaming accessible with a wide range of sports. The only negative is the need for horse racing, but features such as European view (changes layout to a more modern look), parlay builders, and fast markets make it a loss we’re willing to overlook.

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