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Gambling and online casinos in Jordan
Jordan is a conservative Arab state where gambling is prohibited by law and religion.
According to Islamic law, gambling (maysir) is considered a sin, and in secular legislation it is a criminal offense.
Yet despite strict norms, the digital age has opened Jordanian gamblers to offshore online casinos and betting platforms.
Officially, Jordan has no licensed casinos or betting operators,
however, small forms of betting exist in the shadows - on the Internet and among tourists.
Historical and religious context
Jordan has adhered to the Islamic legal tradition since its founding (1946).
The Constitution of the country (Art. 2) proclaims Islam as the state religion,
and sharia is one source of legislation.
Gambling, like alcohol, is banned by the Qur'an (Surah "al-Ma'ida," ayat 90-91)
and are treated as "a sinful affair leading to enmity and forgetting of prayer."- Therefore, in no region of the country, including the tourist centers of Aqabu, Madabu and Amman,
the organization of casinos, lotteries or bookmakers is not allowed.
Legislation
The basic laws are:1. Jordanian Penal Code (1960), articles 339-344 - prohibits the organization and participation in gambling.
2. Law "On Printing and Publishing" (1998) - prohibits advertising gambling.
3. Law "On Cybercrimes" (2015) - punishes online gambling and participation in illegal games via the Internet.
4. Sharia Courts Act - enshrines the religious basis of the ban.
Main provisions:- casinos and machine rooms are prohibited;
- online casinos and betting sites are illegal;
- gambling advertising equates to the distribution of "immoral content";
- providers are required to block sites and domains associated with gambling;
- participation in betting or casino - an administrative offense,
- and organising gambling is a criminal offence.
Real situation
Despite formal bans, online gambling actively exists in the shadows.
Many Jordanians use VPNs and cryptocurrencies to gamble in international casinos.
Access to foreign sites is not possible directly, but it is bypassed through mirrors and proxies.
The main features of the underground market:- deposits through Bitcoin, USDT, Binance Pay, Skrill, Jeton;
- popular offshore brands - 1xBet, Stake, BetWinner, Parimatch, PokerStars;
- Telegram channels and chats serve as "portals" to games;
- advertising goes through social networks, VPN applications and crypto chat.
According to independent IT analysts, about 250,000 Jordanians
place bets or play online casinos annually,
and the total volume of shadow transactions exceeds $100-150 million per year.
Tourism and limited forms of entertainment
Despite a strict ban on citizens, Jordan allows private forms of entertainment for foreign tourists.
Five-star hotels in Amman, Aqaba and the Dead Sea often host lotteries, billiard tournaments or private games,
not treated as gambling in the absence of cash bets.
However, even an attempt to open a tourist casino in Aqaba in 2010
caused fierce opposition from religious parties and was canceled before launch.
Online gambling and cryptocurrencies
Since Jordan's banking system is controlled by the Central Bank and Islamic banks,
transactions associated with gambling sites are automatically blocked.
Therefore, players use alternative methods:- cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Tron, USDT);
- payment cards issued abroad (Revolut, Wise, Payoneer);
- P2P transfers via Binance or Telegram.
In 2023, the government tightened control over crypto operations,
by introducing a law on "unregistered digital platforms,"
which further complicated access to gambling sites.
Control and supervision
Digital space regulation is engaged in:- Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MIT) - blocking sites;
- Public Security Directorate (PSD) - fight against illegal clubs;
- Jordan Cybercrime Unit - monitoring VPN, Telegram and crypto transactions;
- Ministry of Religious Affairs (Awqaf) - moral control and preaching against gambling.
Social and cultural aspect
Jordanian society adheres to conservative Islamic values,- where gambling is equated with moral downfall and "harm to the family."
- Imams and religious leaders regularly remind,
- that participation in betting and casinos "leads to addiction and poverty."
Nevertheless, among young people and the IT community, interest in crypto betting and poker is growing.
Many see it as a "digital export of excitement" rather than a religious sin.
Economic aspect
No legal gambling market means:- lost tax revenues (potential is estimated at $50-100 million per year);
- the growth of the shadow sector and cryptocurrency operations;
- loss of tourism potential,
- especially in Aqaba and Petra, where casinos could attract foreigners.
- where gambling would be allowed for foreigners,
following the example of Egypt or the UAE.
However, religious and political factors make this scenario unlikely.
Prospects
For the coming years, the legalization of gambling in Jordan is impossible.
The state maintains a course towards the Islamic model of the economy,
and any mention of casinos generates public opposition.
The only real vector is the fight against illegal sites and crypto platforms,
together with limiting the use of VPN and offshore transactions.
However, shadow online gambling will continue to grow,
while the younger generation looks for digital ways to bypass the system.
Jordan is a country of strict moral and religious principles,
where gambling is prohibited by both law and faith.
There are no official casinos, and online gambling is a crime.
However, the reality of the digital age shows- that even in conditions of total control, excitement finds a way -
through VPNs, cryptocurrencies and international platforms.
living between faith, law and the lure of the digital world.
- keep the ban forever - or one day turn excitement into a source of taxes and tourism.
