Gambling and online casinos in Yemen

Yemen is one of the most religiously conservative states in the Middle East, where gambling is completely banned by both law and religion.

Any form of money gambling is treated as a sin (haram) and a criminal offence.

There are no casinos, bookmakers or lotteries in the country, and gambling is punishable under Islamic sharia.

Nevertheless, despite poverty, military conflicts and social instability, there is a small underground segment of online gambling in Yemen, working through cryptocurrencies, Telegram and foreign sites.

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Religious and legal basis

Yemen is an Islamic republic, and Sharia (Islamic law) is recognized as the source of all laws of the state.

The Constitution (Article 3) explicitly enshrines:

In the Quran, gambling (maysir, qimar) is referred to as "the work of Satan" and "the path to enmity and poverty."

Accordingly, any game based on chance and money bet is considered sinful and contrary to Islam in Yemen.

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Legislation

The basic laws are:

1. Yemeni Penal Code (1994, Art. 320-324) - prohibits gambling, their organization and participation.

2. Sharia Courts Act - provides for the use of religious punishments (hadd, taazir) for "sinful entertainment."

3. Cybercrime Act (2014) - includes online gambling in the list of "activities contrary to Islamic morality."

4. Press and Media Act (1990) - prohibits advertising and mention of gambling in any form.

Punishments:

Thus, any participation in gambling in Yemen entails real criminal liability.

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Real situation

In practice, due to the lack of a sustainable legal system and the ongoing civil war, control over the Internet and cyberspace is fragmented.

Different regions (Sana'a, Aden, Saada) are controlled by different political forces -

• including the Houthis and the interim government, -

resulting in varying degrees of severity in the application of Islamic norms.

Real market features:

• in the northern provinces (under the control of the Hussites), gambling is severely punished, up to public censure;
• in the southern areas (Aden, Hadramout), the authorities are more liberal, and small "game clubs" for foreigners can work unofficially;
• online gambling develops covertly, mainly through VPNs, cryptocurrencies and Telegram groups.

According to unofficial sources (2024), about 50-70 thousand users from Yemen have visited offshore gambling sites at least once.

Popular destinations are 1xBet, Stake, BetWinner, PokerStars, Parimatch.

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Online gambling and cryptocurrencies

Due to the lack of banking services and international payment systems

(sanctions, isolation, lack of Visa/MasterCard), in Yemen cryptocurrencies have become the main means of accessing online gambling.

Players use:

• Bitcoin, Tether (USDT), Tron (TRX) for deposits;
• Binance P2P and OKX for exchange without bank cards;
• anonymous Telegram bots for "replenishment through intermediaries."

The largest offshore casinos have adapted the interface to Arabic, and local Telegram groups distribute mirrors and login codes.

However, the risks are great:

• in 2023, cases of arrest of citizens for participating in online betting were recorded, and mobile providers began to actively block VPN applications.

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Control and supervision

In peacetime, supervision would be carried out by the Ministry of the Interior and the Sharia Committee, but due to martial law, local religious bodies perform control functions:

• Islamic sharia courts - sentencing for "sinful acts";
• Houthi morality police (Zainabiyat) - identifying "immoral behavior," including gambling;
• Ministry of Communications (in government areas) - blocking sites with "prohibited content."

In practice, the state controls only a part of Internet traffic, and most users freely use VPN and foreign networks.

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Social and cultural aspect

Yemeni society is deeply religious, and gambling is perceived as a symbol of moral decline and "Western influence."

Even talking about gambling is considered shameful, and participation can lead to social ostracism.

Nevertheless, among the urban younger generation with access to the Internet and cryptocurrencies, excitement is seen as digital entertainment that is not associated with traditional "sin."

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Economic aspect

Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the world, with more than 80% of the population living below the poverty line.

Any form of legalisation of gambling is not possible for political, religious and social reasons.

However, experts note:

• if the country stabilized, the creation of tourist areas (for example, on Socotra Island)
• could attract foreign investment -
• including resort gambling for non-residents.
• This is only a hypothetical scenario of the future.

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Prospects

To date, the legalization of gambling in Yemen is impossible.

The state is oriented towards Islamic law, and religious forces fully control public morality.

Nevertheless, the growing digitalization and use of cryptocurrencies are creating new paths for illegal gambling.

Online casinos, anonymous Telegram groups and crypto payments will remain part of the "underground Internet" until the country returns to a stable legal system.

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Yemen is an example of a country where religion completely defines the legal system.

Gambling here is not just a prohibited activity, but a symbol of spiritual decay and Western influence.

However, even in such conditions, the Internet and cryptocurrencies have spawned a new generation of players who live in the digital underground, playing anonymously.

The country remains one of the toughest opponents of gambling in the Islamic world, and there can be no talk of legalizing casinos and online games until a peaceful government appears.