Online poker is illegal in Taiwan following amendments to the Criminal Code that took effect in January 2022. The Legislative Yuan amended Article 266 to explicitly criminalize gambling via telecommunications equipment, electronic devices, the Internet, or any similar method (1). The penalty for violating this provision was increased from a maximum criminal fine of TWD 30,000 to TWD 50,000, closing previous legal loopholes that allowed some online gambling activities to operate.
The amendment addressed ambiguity regarding whether online gaming sites employing restricted access techniques constitute a public place under the Article 266 prohibition on gambling (1). Taiwan's Supreme Court had previously upheld certain gambling activities on restricted sites as not being open to the public. Authorities now actively target operators rather than individual players, cooperating with China to shut down illegal gambling platforms and blocking access to offshore poker websites.
"This amendment explicitly makes it a crime to gamble via telecommunications equipment, electronic devices, the Internet, or any other similar method. The penalty for violating this provision was also increased from a maximum criminal fine of TWD 30,000 to a maximum criminal fine of TWD 50,000."
Live poker tournaments remain legal in Taiwan, while cash games are strictly prohibited under the Criminal Code of the Republic of China (2). Tournament poker has flourished through venues and private clubs, with law enforcement conducting routine ID checks at poker rooms to ensure compliance. Penalties for hosting illegal gambling games include fines up to NTD 13,800 and imprisonment of up to three years, while professional gambling carries sentences of up to two years in prison.
Source:
https://eiger.law/taiwan-tightens-the-noose-on-online-gambling/
https://somuchpoker.com/poker-guides/asia/taiwan
Last updated: 10-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
