Gambling and online casinos in Lebanon

Lebanon has a special place on the Middle East gambling map.

Unlike neighboring Islamic countries, where gambling is completely prohibited,

Lebanon chose a moderate model of regulation - with the preservation of state control and a limited license for offline casinos.

This policy allowed the country to create one of the oldest and most famous gambling centers in the region - Casino du Liban,

but at the same time maintain a moral and religious balance corresponding to the multinational and multi-confessional nature of Lebanese society.

Historical context

Gambling appeared in Lebanon in the middle of the 20th century,

when the government decided to develop tourism and entertainment as part of the economy.

In 1959, Law No. 320 was passed, which allowed the creation of an official casino with strict state control.

This is how Casino du Liban, a world-class gambling complex that opened in 1960 in Junia (25 km from Beirut), arose.

The casino experienced civil war, crises and restorations,

and today remains the only legal gaming establishment in the country.

Legislation and regulation

Main provisions:

gambling in any form is prohibited,
except for Casino du Liban,
licensed exclusively by the Government of Lebanon;
lotteries and sports betting are allowed,
conducted only by government organizations;
online gambling is officially prohibited;
all casino and bookmaker sites are blocked by the Ministry of Telecommunications;
participation of citizens in offshore games is not criminally punishable,
but the state does not recognize such winnings as legal.

Key laws:

1. Law No. 320 (1959) - regulates the creation and activities of Casino du Liban;

2. Decree No. 6919 (1995) - extends the casino license for 30 years;

3. Law on Lotteries (1974) - establishes a state monopoly on lotteries;

4. Cybercrime Law (2014) - prohibits online gambling and blocks illegal sites.

Casino du Liban - symbol of legal gambling

Casino du Liban is Lebanon's main gambling hub and one of the most prestigious in the region.

The complex is located in Junia overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and includes:

376 slot machines;
56 tables (roulette, blackjack, baccarat, poker);
theatre hall, restaurants, shows and VIP rooms;
hotel and congress center.

The casino is owned by Intra Investment Company,

and the Ministry of Finance of Lebanon controls the activities.

Casino du Liban welcomes tourists and foreigners,

however, Lebanese are also eligible to play, provided they reach the age of 21.

According to estimates, the annual turnover of casinos exceeds $150-200 million,

and tax revenues account for about 40% of income - a significant contribution to the country's budget.

Online gambling in Lebanon

Officially, online casinos are prohibited,

and the law does not provide for a licensing procedure for Internet operators.

However, as in many countries in the region, the market continues to exist in the shadows.

Players actively use offshore sites and cryptocurrencies,

to circumvent restrictions and participate in international games.

The main features of the illegal market:

using VPN and foreign payment gateways;
deposits in Bitcoin, Tether (USDT), TRX, Skrill, Jeton;
popular sites: 1xBet, Stake, BetWinner, 22Bet, PokerStars;
Telegram groups offering access to mirrors and "promo codes";
ads on social media, especially Instagram and TikTok.

According to independent sources (2024), the volume of illegal online gambling in Lebanon exceeds $500 million per year,

at the same time, about 300 thousand players use foreign casinos at least once a month.

State lotteries and betting

La Libanaise des Jeux (LDJ)

A state-owned company that has operated national lotteries since 2002.

Popular formats:

Loto Libanais - weekly draw;
Zeeda and Scratch Cards - instant lotto;
TeleLoto is the television version.

Sports4ever и Pari Liban

Limited forms of sports betting available only at offline locations,

are regulated by the Ministry of Finance.

Online betting remains banned.

Supervision and combating illegal casinos

Control over the field of gambling is carried out by:

Ministry of Finance - licenses and taxes;
The Ministry of the Interior - the fight against illegal clubs;
Bank of Lebanon (BDL) - control over transfers and AML compliance;
Internet providers Ogero and Alfa - blocking illegal sites.

In 2023, the authorities blocked more than 400 domains of offshore casinos,

but through mirrors and VPNs, access is quickly restored.

Social and cultural aspect

Lebanon is a country with religious and cultural diversity,

and attitudes to gambling here depend on denomination:

the Christian part of the population is tolerant of gambling,
seeing it as a form of entertainment and tourism;
the Muslim community (Sunni and Shia) holds the position,
that excitement is contrary to Islamic values (haram).

This balance explains why there is a licensed casino in the country,

but there is a lack of full legalization of online gambling.

Economic aspect

Gambling, despite restrictions, matters to the economy:

Casino du Liban generates about $40 million in taxes annually;
lotteries and licensed rates provide income for the state budget and social funds;
gambling remains an important element of tourism infrastructure,
especially in Junia and Beirut.

Prospects

Lebanon considers partial legalization of online gambling

as part of economic reform and the fight against "shadow" currency flows.

Plans include:

1. Creation of a national license for online operators;

2. Using revenue to support tourism and sports;

3. Introduction of 20-25% tax on GGR and AML control.

However, religious and political factors are still holding back the reform.

Lebanon is a rare example of a Middle Eastern country where gambling is not completely banned,

and legalized partly under state control.

Casino du Liban remains a gambling icon in the Middle East,

and the online market exists in partial shade, serving domestic demand through offshore platforms.

💡 Lebanese excitement is a balance between tradition and modernity:
a country where roulette can be played legally,
but only to the sounds of the Mediterranean and under state supervision.

In the future, Lebanon could become a regional hub for regulated iGaming,

if you decide to take the next step - legalize online casinos at the national license level.