Gambling and online casinos in Algeria

Algeria is a country with a strict ban on all forms of gambling, including casinos, bookmakers and online gambling.

The ban is based on Islamic Sharia and is enshrined in criminal law. The state adheres to a strict line: gambling is contrary to the religious and moral norms of society.

Since independence in 1962, Algeria has not legalized a single casino, and in the era of digitalization, it has only strengthened control over the Internet and international transactions in order to suppress the participation of citizens in offshore gambling platforms.

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Religious and legal basis

Islam in Algeria has the status of a state religion, and the Constitution (Article 2) enshrines the principle:

The Quran and Sunnah strongly condemn gambling (maysir) as a manifestation of "satanic activity" leading to deception and loss of dignity.

These norms became the basis for a complete ban on gambling in the country.

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Legislation and punishments

The Algerian Penal Code and special morality laws provide for strict sanctions for organizing and participating in gambling.

Main provisions:

1. Article 194 of the Penal Code -

prohibits the organization of any luck-based games, including private bets.

2. Article 198 -

punishes participation in gambling with a prison term of up to 2 years.

3. Act No. 09-04 (on cybercrimes) -

qualifies online gambling as "spreading immoral practices over the Internet."

Possible punishments:

Any attempts to legalize gambling in the country are perceived as a violation of Islamic identity and are met with public condemnation.

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Historical context

During French colonization (1830-1962)

in Algeria there were casinos and saloons for European settlers, especially in Algeria and Oran.

After independence, all these establishments were nationalized and closed, and the profitable tourism sector was reoriented to cultural and historical tourism without elements of excitement.

Huari Boumediene's regime (1965-1978) finally enshrined Islamic socialism, which excluded gambling as a "symbol of capitalist decline."

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Current situation

Today, Algeria does not have a single official casino or bookmaker.

All forms of gambling - including lotteries, poker, bingo and online betting -

prohibited and controlled by the state.

However, there is underground activity on the Internet:

• citizens use VPNs and proxies to visit offshore sites;
• deposits are made through cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Tether, Tron);
• calculations are carried out using international electronic wallets (Skrill, Jeton, AstroPay);
• popular sites: 1xBet, Stake, BC. Game, BetWinner, Roobet.

According to the North Africa Digital Risk Report 2024, about 250,000 Algerian users visit offshore casinos every month, and the volume of shadow online gambling is estimated at $400 million per year.

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Control and cyber surveillance

The state is actively fighting Internet gambling:

• The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications blocks suspicious sites;
• The National Cybersecurity Agency (ANSSI) monitors VPN traffic;
• The prosecutor's office periodically initiates cases against the administrators of Telegram groups offering "football bets" or "lotteries."

However, due to poor technical equipment and a high level of digital literacy of young people, blocking is done in a matter of minutes.

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Economic and social dimension

Algeria has one of the largest economies in North Africa, which is based on oil and gas.

Gambling is considered a harmful and unnecessary element of Western culture, and religious leaders strongly oppose any attempt to discuss or legalize it.

Nevertheless, there is a discussion in the country among economists who propose in the future to allow limited zones of gambling tourism on the coast, exclusively for foreigners, following the example of Egypt or Tunisia.

In the meantime, the government is taking a tough anti-position, supporting the course of "Islamic morality and social stability."

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Online gambling and cryptocurrencies

Despite government bans, online gambling continues to exist thanks to cryptocurrencies.

Algeria has officially banned the use and mining of cryptocurrencies (2018), but the USDT and Bitcoin markets continue to develop illegally.

Typical schemes are:

• buying cryptocurrency on Binance P2P or Telegram exchanges;
• deposits with offshore casinos in USDT TRC-20;
• withdrawal of profits through P2P transactions.

Crypto gambling has become a "gray zone" for part of the population, where there is no direct control and surveillance.

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Cultural perception

Public opinion in Algeria regarding gambling is extremely negative.

Imams and spiritual leaders regularly decry excitement at Friday sermons, with state media linking gambling to "moral decay and Western influence."

However, young people, especially in large cities -

• Algeria, Oran, Constantine -
• perceives online gambling as a form of entertainment rather than a "sinful act."

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Prospects

Short-term: Fully maintaining the ban on all forms of gambling.

Medium-term: the possible appearance of discussions on the legalization of "game zones" for tourists.

Long-term: Partial liberalization of online gambling is unlikely before a change in policy.

Experts believe that liberalization can only be possible under international pressure or economic necessity, but so far Islamic doctrine remains the dominant basis of politics.

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Algeria is one of the most conservative countries in the region regarding gambling and online gambling.

The state relies entirely on sharia, banning any form of excitement as "immoral and harmful."

Yet in the era of VPNs and cryptocurrencies, even the strictest bans can't completely stop punters.

Algeria remains a country where casinos do not officially exist, but virtual betting has already become a secret part of modern life.