Iraq, a big part of the Middle East with a population of almost 46 million, has had and continues to have a complex relationship with gambling.
This stance towards gambling is affected by many factors such as Iraq‘s culture, religious beliefs, and external factors.
In this article, we will be diving into how gambling works in Iraq and the legal framework of it all.
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Is Gambling Legal in Iraq?
In the Middle East gambling has never been as big as in the West. This is partially due to the Middle East being an Islamic region Iraq included.
In Islam, gambling of any kind is prohibited, therefore gambling has been banned in Iraq for ages.
Although as years passed the Middle East has been influenced by Western culture gambling has never quite been a widely accepted pastime. Consequently, gambling in all forms is banned in Iraq according to Article 389 of the Iraqi Penal Code.
This law encompasses casinos and online gambling and the breaking of this law may result in imprisonment or a fine however, gambling does continue to exist in many forms.
Different Forms Of Gambling In Iraq
Online Gambling
Online gambling is a go-to choice for most gamblers living in the Middle East. Although the ban on gambling in Iraq does include online gambling, betting websites are hard to regulate since most of them are operating from abroad.
Most of these websites are pretty safe to use and are licensed however we must note that their licenses do not originate in Iraq.
Online gambling is a great way to gamble for those living in the Middle East since it is easy to use from the comfort of their own homes which makes it extremely convenient in said circumstances.
Informal Gambling
Although this type of gambling is not as high stakes as online betting, informal gambling does take place in Iraq.
These games may be as simple as betting while playing card games or betting on a football game’s outcome between friends however, these games do still exist all over Iraq.
Will Gambling In Iraq Be Legalized?
Due to the heavy opposition towards gambling that is ongoing is it unlikely that gambling will be legalized in the near future.
However, it is unknown if Western forces and entertainment-seeking tourists will be able to influence a change in Iraq’s stance on gambling.
In conclusion, gambling is still banned in most of the Middle East including Iraq however, gambling does still exist in some contexts such as online gambling or informal games.