Gambling and online casinos in Syria

Syria is a country where gambling is officially banned, as in most Islamic states in the region.

The ban is based on Sharia law and is enshrined in criminal law, while enforcement is monitored by both government agencies and religious councils.

Before the outbreak of the civil war (2011), there were limited forms of gambling in Syria aimed at foreigners and tourists, but after the destruction of the economy and the imposition of sanctions, the gambling industry actually ceased to exist.

Today, all casinos are closed, and online gambling has completely gone underground.

Historical context

Unlike neighboring Lebanon, where gambling is partially legalized, Syria has always adhered to a hard line regarding gambling.

Nevertheless, in the 1990s-2000s, under the regime of Bashar al-Assad, the country experienced a period of liberalization, and then several private clubs and casinos for foreigners appeared, especially in Damascus and Aleppo.

The most famous was Damascus Casino, which opened in 2000.

It worked at the hotel and served mainly foreign diplomats and businessmen, and Syrian citizens were prohibited from entering.

After the outbreak of the conflict in 2011, the casino ceased operations, and all licenses were canceled.

From that moment on, gambling in Syria is under an absolute ban.

Legislation

Main regulations:

1. Syrian Criminal Code (Art. 620-625) - prohibits the organization and participation in gambling.

2. Public Morality Protection Act (1953) - Classifies gambling as immoral behavior.

3. Sharia religious norms enshrined in the constitution (Article 3) define Islam as a source of legislation where gambling (maysir) is a sin.

4. Cybercrime Act (2012) - Criminalizes online gambling.

Punishments:

organization of gambling - up to 3 years in prison and a fine;
participation in a game for money - up to 6 months in prison;
advertising, mediation, online payments - up to 5 years in prison;
foreign nationals are deported and have their visas revoked.

So any form of gambling - from poker to online betting - is officially a crime.

Real situation

Despite the bans, there is a small shadow market in the country that operates through the Internet and private clubs.

Online gambling has become the main form of participation of Syrians in gambling, especially among young people and emigrants.

The main features of the illegal market:

Access through VPNs and proxies
deposits are made through cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Tether, Tron);
popular offshore sites - 1xBet, BetWinner, Stake, Melbet;
Telegram channels serve as intermediaries for registration and withdrawal of funds;
some players use foreign SIM cards and PayPal through friends abroad.

According to the research group Syrian Economic Forum (2024),

about 200,000 Syrians have used online casinos or betting sites at least once,

and the total volume of rates is estimated at $150-200 million per year,

while almost all transactions take place in cryptocurrency.

Control and interlocks

The Internet in Syria is tightly controlled by the state.

Content filtering is carried out through the Syrian Telecommunications Establishment (STE),

and Home Office cyber units regularly block websites and VPN servers.

The authorities are actively cooperating with banks and financial monitoring to prevent money laundering through gambling.

However, technical restrictions are bypassed, and Telegram and Tor remain the main tools for underground access.

Social and religious aspect

Syrian society is traditionally religious,

and Islamic morality strongly condemns gambling as a sin (haram).

Preachers and spiritual leaders regularly remind of the ban on "luck games,"

equating them with alcohol and dashing.

Even talk of legalizing gambling is considered a taboo topic.

However, among the secular and emigrant part of society, the attitude is more neutral -

to them, gambling is seen as a form of entertainment, not a sin.

Economic aspect

Before the war, casinos and private lotteries provided a small but stable income to the budget,

however, today the gambling industry is completely destroyed.

The absence of a legal market means the loss of potential taxes and control over financial flows.

Experts believe that when creating tourist gambling zones in the future,

Syria could attract foreign investment - by analogy with Egypt and Lebanon.

But for now, the political and religious situation makes this impossible.

Online gambling and cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrencies have become key to circumventing restrictions.

Since international payment systems do not work due to sanctions,

residents of the country use Binance P2P and Tether (USDT) to replenish accounts in offshore casinos.

In 2023, the government announced its intention to introduce control over crypto transactions,

however, in practice, this process remains ineffective.

Prospects

There are no prospects for legalizing gambling in Syria in the coming decades.

The state is influenced by Islamic norms and is not ready to open a gambling market even for tourist purposes.

Nevertheless, with digitalization and economic recovery, limited legalization of lotteries or sports betting is possible,

but solely under state control.

Syria is a country where gambling is absolutely banned,

and any form of gambling is seen as a violation of morality and law.

Yet digital technology and cryptocurrencies are creating a new reality,

in which Syrians are increasingly turning to offshore platforms,

seeking excitement where the state sees sin.

💡 In Syria, gambling is not a business or entertainment,
a risky call to the system,
where even virtual roulette can cost freedom.

Thus, the modern Lebanese neighbor with legal casinos and the Syrian reality with an absolute ban demonstrate the contrast between regulated gambling and total denial,

in which Syria remains one of the most closed countries in the Middle East to the gaming industry.