Gambling and online casinos in Mauritania

Mauritania is one of the most conservative Islamic countries in Africa, where gambling is completely banned.

The state strictly follows Sharia law, and any form of gambling - from betting and poker to online casinos -

are considered a crime and a religious sin.

The law does not make exceptions for either citizens or foreigners:

• gambling is completely absent in Mauritania, and control over the Internet and financial transactions is aimed at preventing any form of online gambling.

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Religious and legal basis

Islam is the official religion and the basis of Mauritanian law.

The Constitution (Article 5) explicitly states:

In Sharia, gambling (maysir) is strictly prohibited, as it is considered a manifestation of deception, loss of dignity and destruction of morality.

This definition is fully incorporated into Mauritanian criminal law, making any gambling a criminal offence.

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Legislation and punishments

Main provisions:

1. Mauritania Penal Code (1983 revision) -

defines gambling as "an act contrary to Islam and public order."

2. Morals and Islamic Values Protection Act (2001) -

prohibits propaganda and participation in games for money.

3. Cybercrime Act (2018) -

qualifies online gambling as "harming digital morality"

and provides for punishment up to imprisonment.

Sanctions:

Laws are strictly applied, especially in large cities -

Nouakchote, Nouadhibou and Kaedi, where the morality police are active.

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No legal gambling sector

Unlike Tunisia, Egypt or Morocco, Mauritania does not even allow tourist casinos.

There is no gambling business in any form:

• no licences, no gambling, no regulators.

Lotteries, bingo, betting shops and slot machines -

• all this is equated with "non-Islamic activity."

From the point of view of the government, gambling is contrary not only to religion, but also to the national identity of the country, built on the principles of modesty and spiritual purity.

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Online gambling and bypassing bans

Despite the complete ban, some Mauritanians still play in foreign online casinos.

This can only be done anonymously, as local ISPs track activity for key requests.

The most common workarounds are:

• Using VPN (ProtonVPN, NordVPN, AtlasVPN);
• Registration on offshore sites (1xBet, Stake, BC. Game);
• Payment through cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Tether, Tron);
• Receiving winnings through P2P exchanges in Telegram.

According to Maghreb Digital Risk Report 2024, about 30-40 thousand Mauritanian citizens visit offshore casino sites annually, and the total volume of bets in the "shadow" is estimated at $20-25 million.

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Control and cybersecurity

Several structures control the Internet and digital transactions:

• Ministry of Interior and Islamic Affairs - supervision of moral standards;
• National Cybersecurity Agency (ANCS) - blocking sites;
• Ministry of Communications - filtering of key domains (casino, bet, slots, etc.).

Sometimes the authorities conduct demonstration raids against "internet groups" offering games or bets.

So, in 2023, several people were arrested in Nouakchott for "promoting illegal online games."

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Social and cultural context

Moorish society is extremely conservative.

Gambling is perceived not simply as a violation of the law, but as a moral desecration of faith.

Imams and scholars of religious schools regularly remind at sermons about the prohibition of maysir -

gambling as a "challenge that diverts from the right path."

However, among young people, especially in cities, an interesting attitude is widespread:

• playing over the Internet is perceived as entertainment without harm if it is not advertised and is not associated with deception.

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Economic aspect

Mauritania is a poor country with an economy based on fishing, iron ore mining and international aid.

Gambling is seen as an alien Western influence and its legalisation is never discussed at government level.

Nevertheless, experts note that in the future, with the liberalization of the economy and the growth of tourism, the country could consider the possibility of creating special recreation areas for foreigners, following the example of Egypt and the UAE -

but only under the condition of strict demarcation of access for Muslims.

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Prospects

Short-term: the absolute ban on all forms of gambling will continue.

Medium-term: tightening control over VPNs and cryptocurrencies is possible.

Long-term: the likelihood of legalization is extremely low, with the exception of the hypothetical admission of gambling zones for tourists.

Any attempt at legalization would face strong opposition from clergy and the public.

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Mauritania is an example of a country where Islamic religion completely determines public policy.

Gambling is illegal, casinos do not exist and online gambling is criminalised.

Despite this, the digital age gives people the opportunity to find workarounds using VPNs and cryptocurrencies.

But in general, Mauritania remains one of the most closed countries in the world for legal gambling.