Gambling is a huge part of the entertainment industry, being one of the oldest and most popular forms of entertainment, dating back to the ancient world. Many historians even believe that gambling has existed since the first human societies.
However, evidence for this is non-existent.
Still, the practice has endured for quite some time. Naturally, that shows that there is a huge market and demand for gambling. This fact remains true in most of the world, including the Middle East. So, is gambling legal in the region?
In this article, we explore the question of gambling laws in Arabic-speaking countries.
Is Gambling Legal in the Middle East?
The short answer is no, gambling is not legal in the Middle East.
There are no land-based casinos in these countries. And if there are, the full-time residents are not allowed to visit them. Casinos serve as tourist attractions, and even then, it is rare for a Middle Eastern city to have one.
Online casinos too are prohibited. Residents of the Middle East are not allowed to own or operate online casinos, and the practice is strictly forbidden. It seems like prospective gamblers from the region might have to give up on their desire to roll the dice or play some cards.
But perhaps not. You see, there are ways for Middle Eastern gamblers to play some of their favorite games. Best of all, these options are perfectly legal, so you will not be in any trouble if you decide to give them a go.
Traveling Outside the Region
While gambling is illegal in the Middle East, you are perfectly free to do it in Europe, the USA, or even India. Countries in these regions are full of slot casinos, poker rooms, and roulette tables that are sure to give you quite a thrill.
Best of all, in most of Europe, online gambling is legal and very well-regulated.
So, you can find some of the best online casinos in Arabic language, even when you are outside of an Arab-speaking country. Understandably though, not everyone has the means to travel outside their country. So, what is a gambler to do in this circumstance?
Offshore Casinos
It is absolutely true that Middle Eastern countries prohibit owning and operating online casinos. However, some of them do not prohibit playing at online casinos. In other words, a prospective gambler could make an account at an offshore casino.
For the unaware, an offshore casino is basically any gambling website headquartered outside of your country. To ensure these websites are safe, you must look for two things: reputation and license.
In order to research the reputation of a website, you merely need to read professionally-done reviews or even fan reviews.
A license is also quite simple. All casinos are required to show their license on the front page. These permits often come from internationally acclaimed gambling commissions, the most trustworthy of which are the following:
- Malta
- Cyprus
- Curacao
- The United Kingdom
Conclusion
So, we hope that this article has enlightened you regarding the online gambling industry in the Middle East. While gambling is illegal in the region, there are ways for prospective gamblers to try out their favorite games.