Malaysia is a high-potential but tough market for online gambling promotion. While the country has strict gambling laws, demand for online casinos is strong, many players are turning to offshore casinos to bypass the law. This makes Malaysia an attractive but strategically complex geo for affiliate marketers and media buyers to advertise gambling traffic.
In this guide from ROIads ad network experts, we’ll break down how to buy gambling ads traffic in Malaysia effectively, list key traffic sources and explain why push and popunder traffic are the best options for gambling promotions. You’ll learn about market landscape, audience demographics, practical tips to optimize your campaigns and maximize ROI.
By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear strategy to run successful gambling advertising traffic campaigns in Malaysia — whether you’re a seasoned media buyer or just entering the market. Let’s get started!
Economic and Demographic Characteristics of Gambling in Malaysia
Malaysia’s gambling landscape is unique and complex, shaped by laws, cultural factors and high-demand for online gambling options. While land-based gambling is extremely limited, online casinos are thriving, many Malaysian players are turning to offshore casinos.
Understanding the economic and demographic characteristics of gamblers in Malaysia is crucial for advertisers looking to buy gambling ad traffic in Malaysia. By analyzing the market size, legal framework and player behavior, media buyers can create highly-targeted campaigns and optimize their traffic sources.
Legal Framework: Casino Gambling in Malaysia
Malaysia has strict gambling laws, with limited legal casinos and a growing underground and offshore online gambling industry. The gambling laws are influenced by religious, cultural and political factors, making it one of the most restrictive markets in Southeast Asia.
- Resorts World Genting – Malaysia’s only licensed casino, located in Genting Highlands. It operates under a special government license and is very strictly regulated to serve non-Muslim customers. The casino offers a wide range of gambling options, slot machines, table games and VIP gaming rooms.
- Online casinos – Operating an online casino within Malaysia is illegal under the Common Gaming Houses Act of 1953. However many Malaysians play on offshore gambling platforms, which are accessible despite government restrictions.
The Online Casino Market in Malaysia
Despite strict laws, online gambling is booming in Malaysia. Many players use VPNs or offshore platforms to access online casinos. Offshore casinos are popular among Malaysian players because:
- No local online casino options
- High interest in slots, poker, and live dealer games
- Local payment methods (e-wallets, crypto and alternative banking solutions)
Since advertising gambling in Malaysia is risky, affiliates and casino operators promote offshore online casinos through push and popunder traffic sources, which offer higher anonymity and lower compliance risks compared to traditional advertising channels.
In 2024, the gambling market is worth USD 5.33 billion, projected to grow to USD 7.14 billion by 2026. This growth is mainly due to the growing popularity of mobile gaming, which accounts for about 70% of the total revenue.
Best Sources to Buy Gambling Ad Traffic in Malaysia
Malaysia’s gambling market is competitive but lucrative for advertisers who want to advertise gambling traffic. However, strict regulations prevent direct promotion on mainstream platforms like Google Ads and Facebook. To get around these restrictions, media buyers use alternative traffic sources, including SEO, PPC, native ads, push notifications and popunder ads.
In this section we will break down the best ways to buy gambling traffic in Malaysia, explaining the pros and cons and recommended strategies to maximize conversions.
1. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for Gambling Websites
Search engine marketing (SEM) is a popular way to generate targeted gambling traffic but comes with high compliance risks and costs. Google is very strict on gambling ads so direct promotion is not allowed.
SEO is a long-term strategy that allows gambling sites to rank organically in search results. Many Malaysian players search for “best online casinos”, “casino bonuses” and “how to play online poker”.
Advantages:
- Free organic traffic once ranked
- Works well with affiliate marketing and review sites
Challenges:
- High competition – Gambling SEO is very competitive
- Slow results – It can take months to rank a new site
- Google algorithm risks – Frequent updates can affect rankings
2. PPC Ads on Alternative Search Engines
Since Google Ads doesn’t allow gambling promotions, some media buyers turn to Microsoft Ads (Bing) or local search engines like Yahoo and Baidu to run gambling ads. These platforms have less restrictions but still need compliance strategies.
Advantages:
- Faster results than SEO
Challenges:
- Less traffic volume compared to Google
- Still need to comply with platform policies
- Higher CPCs for gambling keywords
Search traffic can be effective, but due to high costs, slow scalability and compliance challenges, many advertisers prefer more flexible and immediate traffic sources.
3. Social Media Traffic: Can You Advertise Gambling on Facebook and Instagram?
Social media is a high-traffic environment but gambling advertisers face major restrictions on platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Direct gambling ads are banned and even indirect approaches require compliance techniques.
How Gambling Affiliates Use Social Media in Malaysia
- Cloaking techniques – Running “safe” ads (e.g. casino review sites) that redirect to gambling offers
- Community engagement – Promoting gambling content in Facebook groups and Instagram pages
- Private messaging apps – Using WhatsApp and Telegram for direct player acquisition
Advantages:
- Massive audience reach
- Highly engaged users in private gambling communities
Challenges:
- Tight ad policies – Most accounts get banned quickly
- High costs – Even indirect approaches require big budget allocation
- Manual effort – Running community-based traffic is time-consuming
Due to these restrictions and high costs, Facebook and Instagram are not ideal for large scale gambling campaigns.
4. Native Advertising for Gambling Advertising Traffic in Malaysia
Native advertising platforms like MGID, Outbrain and Taboola allow casino promotions if they comply with advertiser guidelines. These ads appear as sponsored articles on news and entertainment websites, blending in with the content.
Common Native Ad Approaches for Gambling Promotions
- “I won $10,000 playing online poker” – Story-driven ads
- “Best online casinos in Malaysia: 2024 ranking” – Review-driven content
Advantages:
- Builds trust with potential players
- Less invasive than traditional ads
Challenges:
- Expensive – Requires big budget to compete
- Limited direct conversion potential
- Strict platform compliance rules
Native ads are not ideal for direct gambling promotions due to high costs and policy restrictions.
5. Push Traffic for Gambling Ads in Malaysia
Push ads appear as small notification messages on a user’s mobile or desktop device, even when they’re not actively browsing a website. They look like standard app or system notifications, making them less intrusive but highly visible.
A push ad typically includes:
- A short, attention-grabbing headline
- An image or icon (casino chips, jackpot symbols or playing cards work well)
- A main image (only for desktop) – A larger visual banner displayed alongside the push notification, making desktop ads more eye catching
- A call-to-action (CTA) to a landing page
Push ads allow advertisers to engage with users directly, increase CTR and conversions. In ad networks that allow gambling ads (and there are many) there are no restrictions on launching casino ads in any geo, including Malaysia.
Advantages of Push Traffic for Gambling Ads
- High CTRs – Users interact with notifications
- Low restrictions – No Facebook or Google restrictions
- Good targeting options – Geo, device type, browser, and others
- Works for both new user acquisition and re-engagement
Challenges of Push Traffic for Gambling Ads
- Creative-dependent – Push ads success depends on headline and images
- Needs user consent – Push traffic comes from subscribed users, so volume is slightly lower than pop ads
6. Popunder Traffic for Gambling Ads in Malaysia
Pop ads, also known as popunders, open a gambling landing page in a new browser tab or window when a user clicks on a site. The page appears under the current browsing session, so users see it later when they close their active tab.
This format works well for gambling because it ensures visibility — users must see the landing page before they can continue browsing.
Advantages of Popunder Traffic for Gambling Ads
- Massive traffic volume – One of the highest-volume ad formats
- Extremely low CPM costs – Cheaper than native, search or social media ads
- No ad restrictions – No risk of bans or compliance issues
- Guaranteed visibility – Users always see the landing page
Challenges of Popunder Traffic for Gambling Ads
- Ad blockers can reduce visibility – Requires testing different sources
- Can be annoying for users – Set frequency capping to 1-2 impressions per user per day to avoid overwhelming them and improve engagement.
Comparison of Gambling Traffic Sources in Malaysia
| Traffic Source | Compliance | Volume | Cost | Best For |
| SEO (Search Engine Optimization) | ✅ High | 🟡 Medium | ❌ Expensive (requires time & effort) | Organic, long-term casino traffic |
| PPC Advertising (Search & Display Ads) | ❌ Strict (Google bans gambling ads) | 🟡 Medium | ❌ High CPCs | Fast traffic, but requires workarounds on alternative platforms |
| Social Media Advertising | ❌ Strict (Facebook, Instagram restrict gambling ads) | 🟡 Medium | ❌ Expensive & risky | Community-driven engagement, indirect casino promotions |
| Native Advertising (MGID, Outbrain, Taboola) | 🟡 Moderate | 🟡 Medium | ❌ High CPCs | Content-driven casino promotions with compliance workarounds |
| Push Traffic | ✅ No restrictions in gambling-friendly ad networks | ✅ High | ✅ Affordable | Fast-converting casino ads with direct user engagement |
| Popunder Traffic | ✅ No restrictions in gambling-friendly ad networks | ✅ Massive | ✅ Cheapest CPM | Large-scale gambling campaigns with aggressive user acquisition |
Push and popunder traffic offer best ROI, highest volume and easiest scalability for gambling promotions in Malaysia, that’s why they are the top choice for media buyers.
ROIads Ad Network — The Best Traffic Source for Gambling Ads in Malaysia
When it comes to buying gambling ad traffic in Malaysia, most platforms have high restrictions, high CPC/CPM or compliance risks, and it’s hard to scale campaigns. ROIads is the best choice for running gambling ads, offering premium traffic, advanced optimization tools, and cost-effective bidding.
Why ROIads Is the Best Gambling Traffic Source for Malaysia
- Premium Traffic from Top Geos, Including Malaysia – High-quality, engaged users with millions of daily impressions.
- AI Bidding Technology for Maximum Campaign Performance – Automatically optimizes traffic sources for better conversions.
- Micro Bidding for Precise Traffic Control – Bid on specific sources and publishers to scale profitable placements and cut non-performing ones.
- Low CPC & CPM for Cost-Effective Gambling Promotions – Average push ad CPC is $0.05 and average pop ad CPM is $1.2, lower than other channels.
- Gambling as a Top Vertical – No restrictions, optimized for casino, betting and iGaming offers.
- Full Control Over Campaigns & Traffic Sources – Blacklist low-performing sources, whitelist high-converting ones and analyze detailed reports.
- Push and Popunder Ads for Maximum Reach – Best-performing ad formats for gambling, allows for rapid scaling and engagement.
For media buyers looking to advertise gambling ads traffic in Malaysia, ROIads provides the best combination of traffic quality, campaign flexibility and affordability. Start your gambling campaign on ROIads today and get premium traffic with push and popunder ads.
Tips for Launching Gambling Campaigns in Malaysia
Running gambling advertising traffic in Malaysia requires a strategic approach that considers local preferences, ad optimization and proper campaign structuring. Below are key tips to maximize conversions and ROI.
1. A/B Test Creatives and Launch 5–10 Variations:
Gambling ads are highly competitive, so testing multiple creatives is a must to find the best-performing ones. At the start of a campaign, launch at least 5–10 different creatives to test variations in headlines, images, icons and CTAs. This will help you find what resonates best with Malaysian players and prevent ad fatigue. Monitor performance closely and pause underperforming creatives to shift budget to high-performing ones
2. Use Localization to Match the Malaysian Audience:
Localized ads always perform better than generic ones. Use Malay, English and Chinese versions of creatives to match different audience segments. Incorporate culturally significant colors like red, yellow and gold which means prosperity and luck. Time-sensitive campaigns around major holidays like Chinese New Year, Hari Raya and Deepavali can give you a huge conversion boost as gambling activity spikes during festive periods.
3. Start with Broad Targeting and Optimize Over Time:
When launching campaigns, don’t set narrow targeting from the start. Instead, begin with broad targeting — only geo and device type — so the campaign gathers enough data to determine the best segments. After a few days of running, analyze performance by OS, browser, carrier and other then refine targeting based on actual conversion trends. This way you avoid excessive bid competition in the beginning and ensure the budget is spent efficiently.
4. Use High-Engagement Landing Pages for Gambling Offers:
A well-optimized landing page is just as important as a strong ad. Best performing gambling offers use fast-loading, mobile-friendly pages with minimal distractions. Simple and persuasive message with clear CTA increases conversions. Adding social proof — “100,000+ players won big this month!” — helps to build trust, single-click registration form reduces friction and drive more signups
5. Optimize Campaigns with Micro bidding:
Micro bidding is crucial for ROI in gambling campaigns. Not all traffic sources are created equal, so you need to bid at the most granular level. Increase bids on top performing traffic sources and publishers to direct budget to the best converting traffic, decrease or blacklist underperforming sources to avoid wasting ad spend. Additionally, adjust bids based on device, OS and browser to optimize campaign profitability.
6. Monitor and Scale at the Right Time:
Scaling too early can waste budget, so let the campaign run for at least 3-5 days before making big bid adjustments. Once a campaign is profitable, scale up slowly and monitor CTR, conversion rate and CPA. If push ads are performing well, consider expanding to other formats like in-page push or popunder ads to increase reach.
7. Request Whitelists, Blacklists, and Optimization Advice from Your Account Manager:
Advertising networks like ROIads have valuable insider data to improve campaign performance. Always ask for whitelists of top performing traffic sources and blacklists to exclude low-quality placements. Account managers can also recommend best performing bid strategies, targeting and traffic segmentation based on their expertise and network’s historical data. Using these insights can save you testing time and improve campaign efficiency.
By following these tips, media buyers can advertise gambling traffic in Malaysia, optimize for higher engagement, and maximize profitability.
Conclusion
Malaysia is a promising but competitive gambling market. While many advertising platforms have high restrictions and high cost, push and popunder ads are the best way to scale casino offers.
ROIads provides premium gambling traffic, AI-driven optimization, and cost-effective bidding, making it the top choice for media buyers targeting Malaysia. Start your campaign today and maximize your gambling advertising traffic in Malaysia with push and popunder ads on ROIads.
