Gambling Laws in Oman
According to Article 2 of the
Basic Law, the state’s religion is “ Islam and Islamic Sharia is the basis for legislation”, which means that there is no
legal gambling in Oman. Article 289 of the
Penal Law imposes a penalty of up to three years in prison to whoever establishes or manages a gambling shop. But Article 290 of the same law specifies that a smaller sentence of up to six months in jail shall be imposed on all those who gamble, and all tools and money used to gamble are prescribed to be confiscated.
Although it is not explicitly prohibited, the interpretation of the articles of the
Omani Penal Law makes
online gambling in Oman also illegal. There is no strict internet control over platforms, but playing at
online gambling sites offering online casinos or online poker is considered to be an illegal activity in the country and thus subject to penalty.
Is Online Gambling Legal in Oman?
No. Gambling, including online gambling, is illegal in Oman, according to The Penal Law. |
Online Casinos in Oman
As of July 2019, there are no
online casino sites in Oman. Online gambling in the country is prohibited under the
Omani Penal Law, so no
Omani online casino licenses are on the offer. Despite the prohibition, however, illegal access to
casino sites from Oman is frequently reported by many European online casino providers.
Online Poker in Oman
Online poker sites in Oman are also not legal
. Although there are no specific
Omani online poker laws, the general prohibition on gambling coming from the application of the
Penal Law holds for this game too. Yet, players can access foreign platforms without fearing prosecutions.
Online Lottery in Oman
Even though there are no separate
Omani lottery laws, the general prohibition on gambling coming from the law applies to this game as well. Consequently, the lottery does not have any long tradition, neither as gambling games nor for charitable purposes. And as of July 2019, there are no
online lotto sites in Oman.
Online Bingo in Oman
As it is the case with the other gambling sites,
online bingo sites in Oman are illegal. Although there are no specific
Omani online bingo laws, the general prohibition on online gambling in the country, coming from the
Penal Law, holds for this game too. However, players are still able to freely access international platforms.
Online Sports Betting in Oman
Online sportsbook sites in Oman are also not allowed
. As it is the case with other gambling games, online betting also falls under the general prohibition on gambling coming from the application of the law. But although there is an active blockage on betting content in the country, illegal access to foreign platforms from Oman is frequently reported by many operators..
Online DFS in Oman
There are no
online DFS sites in Oman. Although the status of the game is a frequent topic of discussion between lawmakers worldwide, it is plausible to suppose that Daily Fantasy Sports, notwithstanding the status, will also fall under the prohibition coming from the Islamic Sharia.