Gambling and online casinos in Bahrain

Bahrain is a small but economically developed state of the Persian Gulf, where Islamic norms are strictly observed, but unlike Qatar or Saudi Arabia, there is a moderate approach to morality and entertainment.

Gambling is officially prohibited by law, but in fact the country shows tolerance for offshore online games, especially among expats and foreign tourists.

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Religious and legal basis

Islam (the Sunni branch) is the state religion of Bahrain, and Sharia serves as a source of legislation.

The Quran explicitly prohibits gambling (maysir, qimār), defining it as "filth from Satan," which means that any form of gambling is contrary to Islamic norms.

The Bahraini authorities formally support this principle, but unlike neighboring states, they do not conduct mass religious campaigns against gambling and do not use criminal prosecution for ordinary users.

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Legislation and punishments

Main legal acts:

1. Bahrain Penal Code (Art. 308-310) - prohibits the organization and participation in gambling.

2. Cybercrime Act (2014) - prohibits the use of the Internet for gambling.

3. Media and Advertising Act (2002) - prohibits the promotion of casinos and bets.

Possible sanctions:

In practice, punishments are applied exclusively to organizers, while ordinary users are practically not held accountable.

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Real situation

Bahrain is known as the most liberal monarchy in the Persian Gulf.

Alcohol is allowed here, nightclubs operate, and tourism policy is aimed at attracting foreigners.

However, there are no official casinos in the country, and any organization of gambling within the state is considered illegal.

However, in recent years there has been an active growth in online gambling among expats working in the oil and gas and financial sectors.

Access is via VPN, and settlements are via cryptocurrencies or international wallets.

Main platforms:

• 1xBet
• BetWinner
• Stake
• BC. Game
• PokerStars

According to Arabian iGaming Insight 2024, about 150,000 Bahraini users visit offshore sites every month, and the volume of illegal bets is estimated at more than $500 million per year.

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Control and supervision

Internet control is carried out by:

• Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) - site filtering and VPN;
• Home Office - cybercrime investigation;
• Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs - monitoring compliance with Sharia.

Although gambling sites are officially blocked, technologies to circumvent censorship are widely known.

VPNs, proxies and encrypted DNS services are used by thousands of users daily.

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Online gambling and cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies are not banned in Bahrain, and the Central Bank (CBB) was among the first in the region to allow licensed crypto exchanges and fintech companies.

This has made the country attractive to those looking for ways to engage in online gambling through anonymous transactions.

Key trends:

• deposits through USDT, Bitcoin, Ethereum;
• Win through Binance P2P or Rain Exchange (Bahraini license)
• using Tron and Litecoin for microtransactions.

Although the government is aware of such schemes, it prefers not to intervene when it comes to offshore sites and non-residents.

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Tourism and entertainment policy

Bahrain is actively developing recreational tourism.

It hosts Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix auto races, music festivals and international conferences.

However, gambling is still taboo.

Experts note that with further economic liberalism

Bahrain may become the second candidate after the UAE for partial legalization of casinos within tourist zones for foreigners.

However, this is unlikely in the coming years due to pressure from religious circles.

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Socio-cultural aspect

Bahrain's society is heterogeneous:

• Muslims (about 70%) strictly adhere to Islamic principles;
• expats (about 30%) treat gambling neutrally, perceiving it as an element of leisure.

For citizens, gambling is a sin and a violation of traditions, and for foreigners it is part of the usual way of life, so the authorities are trying to balance between conservatism and openness.

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Economic aspect

Bahrain, like other Gulf states, is looking for ways to diversify its economy.

Instead of a casino, he relies on financial technology, the crypto industry and tourism.

However, experts believe that in the future, with growing competition with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, partial legalization of the gambling business in the form of "entertainment licenses" is possible

for foreign operators in resort areas.

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Prospects

Bahrain will maintain its official gambling ban in the coming years, but will continue to develop financial and travel services including blockchain and esports.

Probably in the 2030s, the country will move to a limited tolerance model -

for example, licensing casinos at hotels for foreigners, similar to projects in the UAE (Wynn Resorts) or Saudi Arabia (Neom).

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Bahrain is intermediate between strict sharia and economic freedom.

There are no legal casinos and online gambling, but the state does not aggressively fight offshore sites, especially when it comes to foreign players.

Bahrain remains an example of a soft Islamic approach, where prohibition exists formally, and reality is gradually moving towards regulated digital freedom.