Quick answer
No, in neither country. 888starz relies on a Curaçao licence and holds no authorisation from Sri Lankan or Malaysian authorities. Malaysia does not license any online casino or online betting site at all. Sri Lanka has set up a gambling regulator, but as of August 2026 it had not yet issued rules for online gaming, and the government has been shutting down unlicensed gambling websites.
| Country | Local licence? | Status | Regulator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | No | Unlicensed – not permitted | Gambling Regulatory Authority (new); Ministry of Finance for casinos |
| Malaysia | No | Illegal – online gambling is banned | Ministry of Finance (land-based licences only); police and MCMC enforce |
Who operates 888starz and which licence it holds
According to the site’s terms and conditions (also quoted in the AskGamblers review), 888starz is run by Bittech B.V., a company registered in Curaçao under number 153870. The terms cite two numbers:
- OGL/2024/665/0201 – a number from the new Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) licensing system introduced by the LOK law;
- 8048/JAZ2020-048 – an older sublicence from Curaçao’s former “master licence” system (Antillephone N.V.), which is being phased out.
We checked the regulator’s own records. In the CGA’s public online licence registry (edition dated 31 August 2026), Bittech B.V. is listed as a B2C operator with the status “Assessment in progress”, meaning the application is still being assessed. We found no CGA certificate with “Active” status for this company, so we could not confirm that licence OGL/2024/665/0201 has actually been granted.
Separately, the Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission (Canada) lists Starshine Global Services Limited against the address 888starz.bet in its permit-holder list, which is dated 28 September 2023.
Whatever their status, a Curaçao licence or a Kahnawà:ke permit only covers the operator’s home jurisdiction. Neither gives any right to take bets from players in Sri Lanka or Malaysia.
The law in Sri Lanka and Malaysia
Sri Lanka
- Land-based casinos operate under the Casino Business (Regulation) Act of 2010, and betting has long been taxed under the Betting and Gaming Levy Act.
- A dedicated gambling regulator has now been established. In August 2026 the Deputy Minister said the issue of online gaming was being discussed by the government, with regulations expected later in the year (reported by MonetaBrief, 8 August 2026).
- No online operator has been licensed for Sri Lankan players, and 888starz does not claim any Sri Lankan licence.
- Enforcement is active: in early August 2026 the Digital Economy Ministry said it had shut down 122 websites targeting Sri Lanka. We could not confirm whether any 888starz domain was among them.
Malaysia
- Gambling is governed mainly by the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 and the Betting Act 1953. Only specific land-based activities are licensed, such as the single casino at Resorts World Genting and licensed number-forecast operators.
- No licence exists for online casinos or online sports betting. In 2023 a Malaysian court ruled that online gambling is an offence under the Common Gaming Houses Act.
- Muslims are prohibited from gambling altogether, and the minimum age for permitted gambling is 21.
- We found no public, searchable Malaysian blocklist, so we could not confirm whether 888starz domains are blocked there. It does not change the conclusion: no offshore site is legal in Malaysia.
What this means for players
- Legal exposure. In Malaysia the Common Gaming Houses Act covers people who take part in gaming, not only operators, so players themselves can be charged. In Sri Lanka, using an unlicensed site means acting outside the law while the new regime is being built.
- No local complaint route. Neither country’s authorities can help if 888starz withholds a withdrawal or closes your account. Your only option is the operator itself or a foreign regulator.
- Payment risk. Offshore sites often route deposits through agents, e-wallets or cryptocurrency. Transactions can be frozen, and money sent through third parties is hard to recover.
- No self-exclusion or player protection. Local safeguards such as age checks and exclusion schemes do not apply on an offshore site.
How to check any gambling site yourself
- Look for a licence issued by the country you live in. A Curaçao, Anjouan or Kahnawà:ke licence is not a local licence.
- If a site claims a Curaçao licence, check it at the CGA portal: portal.gamingcontrolcuracao.org. Look for “Active” status and the exact domain.
- In Malaysia, remember that no online casino or online bookmaker is licensed, whatever the site says.
- In Sri Lanka, follow announcements from the new gambling regulator and the Ministry of Finance before trusting any “licensed” claim.
Licensed alternatives
We do not recommend any online gambling site for players in Sri Lanka or Malaysia, because neither country currently licenses online operators. In Malaysia, the only legal options are the licensed land-based products regulated by the Ministry of Finance. In Sri Lanka, check for official updates from the new gambling regulator before using any online service.
FAQ
Is 888starz licensed in Sri Lanka?
No. It claims only a Curaçao licence. Sri Lanka had not issued online gaming licences as of August 2026.
Is 888starz legal in Malaysia?
No. Malaysia does not license any online casino or online betting site, and courts treat online gambling as an offence under the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.
Is the Curaçao licence valid in these countries?
No. And in the CGA registry Bittech B.V. is shown as “Assessment in progress”, not as an active licence holder.
Can I be punished for playing?
In Malaysia, yes: the law covers participants as well as operators. In Sri Lanka, playing on unlicensed sites carries legal and financial risk while online rules are still being drafted.
What if 888starz doesn’t pay my winnings?
No Sri Lankan or Malaysian authority can intervene. You would have to complain to the operator or to a foreign regulator.
How we checked
Desk research carried out in September 2026. We reviewed 888starz’s terms (via extracts published on review sites), the Curaçao Gaming Authority’s online licence registry, the Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission permit-holder list, the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, and recent reporting on Sri Lanka’s new gambling regulator. We used no affiliate links and did not open an account.
Responsible gambling
The minimum gambling age is 21 in both Sri Lanka and Malaysia, where gambling is permitted at all. We could not verify a dedicated national gambling helpline in either country. If gambling is causing you harm, speak to your doctor or a mental-health professional. More advice: Responsible gambling.
