Online casino Bhutan
Bhutan is a landlocked country located in South-Central Asia, bordered by China and India. The ‘land of the dragon’ has a population of nearly 800,000 citizens and a total land area of more than 38,300 km2. The capital city of Thimphu has an estimated population of 115,000 people. Bhutan is a relatively sparsely populated country, dominated by mountains, including the Great Himalaya in the north.
Dzongkha is the official language, while there are more than 20 other languages, which are linguistically related to the Tibeto-Burman language family. A vast majority of the population practices Vajrayana Buddhism, while Hinduism is another major religious group in the Kingdom of Bhutan.
The ‘country of happiness’ is famous for its mesmerizing monasteries, staggering architecture, religious festival called ‘Tsechu’, beautiful temples and stunning valleys. The list of famous Bhutanese includes:
- Chencho Gyeltshen (professional footballer)
- Punya Prasad Dhakal (human rights activist)
- Kelly Dorji (actor)
- Sonam Topgay Dorji (politician)
- Daw Penjo (ambassador)
- Chimi Wangmo (athlete)
Zow shungo (red rice mixed with leftover vegetables) is among the most famous dishes in the ‘land of the dragon’.
The state lottery is the only legal form of gambling in the little kingdom in the Himalayas. Online gambling is also illegal, but there is no evidence to suggest that players of foreign online gambling sites face penalties in Bhutan. Additionally, the government doesn’t restrict access to online casinos hosted in other countries.
Claim your ₹7500 welcome bonus at Royal Panda!
Best Bhutanese online casinos
Bhutanese, like many Asians, love games of luck, and underground gambling is mushrooming, especially in the capital city of Thimphu. It is reported that even government officials visit such illegal gambling parlors on a regular basis. Therefore, it’s not much of a surprise that there are many so-called ‘loan sharks’ that offer loans at very high interest rates.
Bhutanese gambling devotees with a weak spot for table games and/or slot machines are forced to play at foreign-based gaming sites, such as this trio of trusted and reputable platforms:
Popularity online casinos in Bhutan explained
As mentioned, gambling is a widely accepted leisure activity in many Asian countries, including in the tiny kingdom of Bhutan. Due to the gambling ban, locals have massively flocked to underground gambling dens and gaming sites hosted in other countries. In fact, the national lottery is the only legal option for Bhutanese gamblers, which partly explains the popularity of online gambling.
The economy of Bhutan mainly depends on agriculture and forestry, while hydroelectricity and tourism are the other main sectors. Bhutan’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 6.4 percent in 2012, followed by two years of subdued growth (3.6 percent and 4 percent respectively). In 2015 however, the Bhutanese GDP expanded at a 6.1 percent pace, while growth accelerated slightly (6.4 percent) in 2016. The Asian Development Bank expects a 8.2 percent expansion in 2017, and a 9.9 percent growth in 2018.
In addition, inflation dropped to a new low in 2016, which is expected to reach a 4.9 percent level in 2017. The Asian Development Bank forecasts a 5.4 percent rate in 2018.
Poverty remains an important issue as about 12 percent of the population lives below the poverty rate. It should be noted however, that the government has made significant gains in reducing extreme poverty from 2007-2012.
The government of Bhutan plans to extend the production of hydroelectric power, which will probably reduce poverty even further. Market watchers believe that public private partnerships and subcontracting should boost private investments in the hydropower industry.
Nearly 290,000 Bhutanese have access to the world wide web, which represents a 37 percent internet penetration rate, compared to 5.9 percent in 2007. Almost needless to say that an increasing number of internet users in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan use a mobile device. If you add the local craze for gambling and the lack of legal options, it comes as no shock that online casinos are hugely popular with Bhutanese.
Gambling and online casinos in Bhutan
It is generally well-known that both internet casinos and online sportsbooks are beloved leisure activities in nearly every country on the globe. Considering the broad range of edges in comparison to gambling at brick and mortar casinos and betting shops, it’s easy to see why. These are the main benefits of online casino gambling:
- Awesome bonuses
- Mobile gambling (smartphones and tablets)
- Fantastic promotions with great prizes
- Stunning jackpots and massive payouts
- Cartloads of cool online casino games packed with innovative features
- Rewarding VIP clubs
- The ability to enjoy live online gambling
How to deposit money in an online casino when I’m from Bhutan?
In addition to the benefits as mentioned above, online gaming sites are equipped with many swift, secure and trustworthy banking methods. Indeed, the huge number of payment and withdrawal systems is definitely a tremendous plus. These two categories include the most popular methods:
- Credit cards, with Maestro, Visa and MasterCard as the leading brands
- E-wallets, such as Skrill, Neteller and PayPal
Ready to enjoy the pulse-racing excitement of internet gambling after reading our “online casino Bhutan” page? Join Royal Panda and get a 100% first-deposit bonus!