Casinos in Israel and the UAE: religious restrictions

Introduction: Law, Religion and Geography

Two jurisdictions close geographically, but very different in legal approach. Israel maintains a "narrow gap" in the legal market (lottery and state sports betting), banning casinos and online casinos. The UAE has traditionally criminalized gambling, but from 2023-2024. began to build a centralized system of commercial gaming for limited projects, without lifting the general ban. In both cases, regulatory philosophy is markedly influenced by religious context and social policy.

Israel: "two state monopolies" and banning the rest

Which is legal. In fact, only two state segments are allowed: the national lottery Mifal HaPais and sports betting through the Israeli Sports Betting Board (ISBB); almost all other forms of gambling (including online casinos) are prohibited by criminal law.

Online. Courts have affirmed that offshore sites targeting Israelis (Hebrew advertising, local targeting) violate Israeli law; offshore domain does not make participation legal.

Casinos on the ground. The idea of ​ ​ a "casino in Eilat" has been raised for years, but has not been implemented and remains without a legislative move in 2025.

Quick checklist to the player. If this is not a Mifal HaPais lottery and not an ISBB product, then it is illegal. Promises "legally through offshore/crypt" is a red flag. The 2024-2025 survey indicates that the underlying design remains unchanged.

United Arab Emirates: From blanket ban to 'spot' regulation

Historical base. The UAE penal code makes gambling an offence (fines/imprisonment) and also punishes the organisation and promotion of gambling.

New Path. In 2023, the federal regulator General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) was created; in October 2024, Wynn Resorts announced its first commercial operator license. The Wynn Al Marjan project in the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah is announced for opening in the first quarter. 2027.

What it means in 2025. The general criminal norm on prohibition is preserved, and the permission is pointwise issued for a specific integrated resort in the RAC; there are no other operating casinos in the country. According to project partners, the license is exclusive and renewable (15 years) for the emirate.

Religious factor: why the framework is tight

Islamic law in the UAE traditionally classifies gambling as haram; even when launching commercial gaming, the authorities build a "fenced" model: a separate regulator, a limited number of objects, strict KYC/AML and advertising control. Criminal norms have not been abolished for the rest of the space.

Israel is legally a secular state, but gambling policies are affected by ethical/religious arguments and social risks of addiction, which historically holds a "narrow" legal perimeter (lottery + sports). Review legal chapters 2024-2025 confirm the course towards the status quo.

VPN and offshore: why it doesn't work

In Israel, offshore operators targeting Israelis are recognized as violators, and payments/advertising in their favor are suppressed. VPN/crypto does not change the legal assessment.

In the UAE, there are both criminal norms and payment filtering: banks/providers cut MSS/directions, and the promotion of illegal sites is subject to responsibility. Before the opening of the licensed resort, any "online game from the UAE" is illegal.

Payments, advertising, liability

Default KYC/AML. In both jurisdictions, regulators take a tough look at the origin of funds, identification, reporting; offshore transactions and "exchangers" are a high-risk area.

Advertising. In Israel, advertising of illegal gambling services is prohibited; in the UAE - criminal sanctions for organizing/promoting. Strict age-gating and warnings are mandatory for legal products.

Players: a short landmark

Israel: legally - Mifal HaPais (lottery) and ISBB (sports). Online casino/poker - no. Check that the product is valid from the state register.

UAE (2025): casinos have not yet been opened; there is a general ban. The first legal facility is Wynn Al Marjan in the RAC, expected to start in 2027. Any .com casinos and USDT cashouts are illegal.

Operators and brands: how not to burn out

1. Do not target residents of prohibited markets under the guise of "offshore." Israeli courts recognize such a target as a violation.

2. Build a local strategy under a real legal framework: in Israel - only partnership with government products (B2B services, martech), in the UAE - focus on licensed IR projects and strict compliance.

3. Marketing without "fast money." Registers of creatives, age-gating, a ban on aggressive promises - otherwise you risk a license and a criminal offense.

FAQ

Is there a casino in Israel? No, it isn't; only lottery and state sports betting are legal.

Can I play on foreign sites in Israel? No, offshore targeting of Israelis breaks the law.

Are casinos legal in the UAE? The general ban remains, but a federal regulatory circuit has been built for a specific resort in Ras al-Khaimah; opening announced for 2027.

Does VPN work? No, it doesn't legalize participation; payment and criminal risks remain.

In 2025, Israel holds the narrowest possible legal perimeter (lottery and state betting), and the UAE is moving from a total ban to a point-regulated resort project while maintaining criminal liability outside its perimeter. Religious and social grounds remain key policy drivers, and VPNs/offshore are not the way around the law. A safe strategy for players and businesses is to work only within directly permitted models and prepare for strict KYC/AML and responsible marketing.

Condition of materials: October 17, 2025