Gambling and online casinos in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is one of the most conservative Islamic states in the world, where gambling is strictly prohibited.

The ban is based on a strict interpretation of Sharia, and the very idea of ​ ​ playing for money is considered contrary to the foundations of Islam.

Any form of gambling - from traditional casinos and lotteries to online platforms -

are classified as a sin (haram) and a criminal offense.

Nevertheless, in the digital age, even the toughest bans have not stopped citizens' interest in excitement:

• underground online gambling is actively developing in the country, using cryptocurrencies and VPNs to bypass restrictions.

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Religious and legal basis

In Saudi Arabia, Islamic law (Sharia) is the main source of legislation.

Gambling (maysir, qimār) is expressly prohibited by the Quran:

Based on this norm, any form of money game -

whether betting, lotteries or casinos - equate to sin and financial deception.

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Legislation

Main regulations:

1. Basic Law of Governance (1992) - enshrines Islam as the only source of law.

2. Anti-Cybercrime Law (2007) - punishes online gambling and "distribution of immoral content."

3. Penal Law of Saudi Arabia (based on Sharia) - prohibits participation and organization of gambling.

4. Media and Publications Law (2003) - prohibits advertising and promotion of gambling.

Sanctions:

In addition to criminal sanctions, religious punishments (taazir) are possible -

for example, public censure, corporal punishment or deprivation of work in government agencies.

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Real situation

Despite the complete ban, online gambling exists.

As cryptocurrencies digitalize and proliferate, Saudi Arabian players have found ways to circumvent restrictions.

The main features of the underground market:

• using VPN and proxy servers to access foreign sites;
• deposits and payments through cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, Tron);
• popular platforms - Stake, 1xBet, BetWinner, PokerStars, FortuneJack;
• Telegram channels offering "mirrors" and anonymous registrations;
• settlements through Binance P2P and foreign wallets (Skrill, Jeton).

According to the Arabia Digital 2024 analytical report, about 400,000 Saudi Arabians bet annually in online casinos, and the shadow turnover of illegal gambling exceeds $1 billion a year.

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Control and interlocks

Control over the Internet and online transactions in the country is carried out by:

• Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) - filtering and blocking sites;
• Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) - control over financial transactions and banks;
• Saudi Cybersecurity Authority - VPN and crypto platform activity monitoring;
• The Ministry of the Interior and the Sharia Police (Mutawa) are investigations into moral crimes.

All sites with gambling content are automatically blocked, and providers are required to report attempts to bypass the blocking.

Despite this, technical restrictions are bypassed by Tor and cryptocurrency networks, which makes control incomplete.

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Tourism and gray areas

There is not a single legal casino in the country, however, as part of the Vision 2030 initiative aimed at developing tourism and softening religious norms, the authorities are discussing the creation of tourist areas with liberal rules, including hotels of international chains, where "entertainment events" without bets are possible.

In 2024, the NEOM Entertainment City project was discussed in the media -

a futuristic Red Sea resort where "European entertainment" may be available to foreigners.

Officially, casinos are not mentioned, but analysts do not exclude that in the perspective of the 2030s, permitted forms of light gambling for foreigners will appear in certain tourist zones.

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Online gambling and cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies have become the main tool for circumventing bans.

Although the Central Bank of Saudi Arabia does not officially recognize Bitcoin and USDT as legal means of payment, P2P transactions through the Binance and OKX platforms are actively developing in the country.

Players use crypt to:

• deposit in offshore casinos;
• withdrawal of winnings without bank transfers;
• maintaining anonymity.

In 2023, the authorities blocked more than 200 sites related to cryptocasino and tightened AML rules, but the demand for crypto gambling continues to grow.

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Social and cultural aspect

Saudi society is extremely religious, and any manifestations of excitement are considered a moral violation.

Imams regularly remind that participation in gambling "leads to loss of faith and destruction of the family."

However, with the advent of a new generation focused on digital technologies, a division of worldviews appeared:

• the older generation - for strict sharia and complete taboo;
• young people - for access to "international entertainment," including sports and e-sports.

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Economic aspect

A complete ban on gambling deprives the country of potential income.

According to experts, with partial legalization

Saudi Arabia could earn up to $5 billion a year from taxes and licenses, as well as attract millions of tourists to entertainment areas (following the example of Dubai or Macau).

In the current climate, however, religious politics is stronger than economic arguments.

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Prospects

In the short term, gambling will remain completely banned.

However, under the Vision 2030 program, the state is gradually softening social norms -

permission was introduced for cinemas, concerts, international festivals.

Therefore, in the long term (by 2035)

limited legalization of gambling for foreigners is possible, but without access for Saudi citizens.

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Saudi Arabia is a symbol of a strict Islamic approach, where gambling is equated with sin and crime.

However, the digital world and the rise of cryptocurrencies make full control of gambling impossible.

The country maintains an absolute religious ban, but economic modernization and pressure from younger generations could one day lead to regulated, "tourist" gambling that would be part of a new era of open Saudi Arabia.