Gambling and online casinos in Kuwait

Kuwait is one of the most conservative Islamic states in the Persian Gulf,

where gambling is categorically prohibited both religiously and legally.

Islamic law (Sharia) is the basis of the Kuwaiti legal system,

and therefore any form of gambling, including betting, lotteries, casinos and online gambling,

are equated with sin (haram) and punishable by law.

Despite this, Kuwait is among the countries in the region,

where underground online gambling continues to exist,

especially among young people and foreign residents.

Religious and legal basis

In Kuwait, Islam is the state religion,

and Article 2 of the country's Constitution states:

💡 "Islamic law (sharia) is the main source of legislation."

The Quran explicitly condemns gambling (maysir) as a "devilish occupation,"

leading to enmity and spiritual degradation.

Accordingly, any actions related to playing for money,

are considered not just as a violation of the law,

but as a sin against Allah and society.

💡 "Gambling and intoxicating drinks are an abomination from Satan's works;
avoid them to succeed"
(Surah "Al-Ma'ida," verses 90-91)

Legislation

The basic laws are:

1. Kuwaiti Penal Code (arts. 201-206) -

prohibits the organization and participation in gambling.

2. Cybercrime Act (No. 63 of 2015) -

provides for punishment for participating in online gambling and using a VPN to bypass locks.

3. Media and Publications Act (2006) -

prohibits the advertising or publication of casino and betting information.

Sanctions:

Violation	Punishment
Gambling organisation	Up to 2 years in prison and a fine of up to 2,000 dinars (~ $6,500)
Gambling	Up to 6 months of arrest or a fine of up to 500 dinars
Online gambling	Up to 1 year imprisonment and confiscation of devices
Casino or betting ads	Up to 3 years in prison and deportation (for foreigners)

Laws are strictly applied, especially in cases

when gambling is combined with money laundering or fraud.

Real situation

In practice, despite the ban,

there is a digital gambling underground in the country.

Online gambling through cryptocurrencies and VPNs is especially active,

since government filters block almost all known casino sites.

Key trends:

Access via VPN (NordVPN, ExpressVPN, ProtonVPN);
Deposits through cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Tether, Tron);
Use of offshore casinos (1xBet, Stake, BC. Game, BetWinner);
Distribution of "mirrors" and links through Telegram groups and Discord;
Anonymous settlements through Binance P2P and Trust Wallet.

Gulf Digital Insights 2024 analysts estimate

more than 120,000 Kuwaiti users visit offshore gambling sites every month,

and the turnover of shadow online gambling exceeds $400 million per year.

Control and supervision

The Internet in Kuwait is under strict control.

Content filtering and VPN blocking are carried out by:

Ministry of Communications and Information (MCIT),
Ministry of the Interior,
Cybercrime Control Department (CCD).

Any sites containing the keywords "casino," "bet," "poker,"

are immediately blocked,

and for repeated violations, users can be summoned for questioning.

Moreover, providers are required to store user traffic history,

which makes anonymity difficult in Kuwait.

However, tech-savvy users use:

TOR browsers,
encrypted DNS services,
cryptocurrency networks to circumvent restrictions.

Online gambling and cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies in Kuwait are not officially recognized or regulated,

but not completely banned either.

Central Bank of the Country (CBK) in 2023

recalled "the risks and inadmissibility of the use of digital assets

in gambling and speculation."

However, anonymous cryptotransactions have become the main way

entrance to offshore sites.

USDT (Tether) is especially popular -

stable coin that is easy to transfer through P2P platforms without banks.

This allowed Kuwaiti users to circumvent the bans,

and foreign casinos - to receive customers from the country,

without directly violating local laws.

Cultural and social aspect

Kuwaiti society is deeply religious,

and gambling is perceived as a moral aberration and humiliation of family honor.

Imams are regularly reminded in Friday sermons,

that participation in gambling "leads to poverty and destruction of faith."

However, the younger generation, especially educated Qataris and expats,

see online games not as a sin, but as Western-style entertainment.

For them, this is not a crime, but a way to experience excitement,

without leaving the apartment.

💡 One of the bloggers from Kuwait wrote anonymously:
"I can't have a drink or go to a casino, but I can play online poker via VPN.
This is my trade-off between tradition and modernity"

Economic aspect

Unlike the UAE and Saudi Arabia,

Kuwait does not seek to develop tourism and the entertainment industry.

The state economy is fully based on the oil and gas sector,

and living standards are among the highest in the world.

Therefore, the authorities do not see the economic need

in the legalization of gambling,
especially since public opinion and clergy
strongly against any form of "un-Islamic entertainment."

Prospects

Kuwait has no plans to legalize gambling in the next 10 years

neither offline nor online.

The state will continue the policy of tight control over the Internet

and maintaining Islamic norms.

However, the underground online gambling market

will grow due to cryptocurrencies, VPNs and offshore sites.

As long as religious power dominates politics,

Kuwait will remain a country of absolute prohibition,

where excitement exists only in the digital shadow.

Kuwait is one of the strictest Islamic states in matters of morality.

Gambling here is equated with crime and sin,

and the state actively blocks any of their manifestations.

💡 However, the Internet and cryptocurrencies are creating a new generation of players,
for which excitement is not a casino on the street,
and virtual entertainment hidden behind a VPN.

Kuwait remains a country

where casinos will never be legalized,

but where digital excitement has already become part of a hidden modern reality.