Internet Restrictions Don’t Discourage Gamblers 

It would be unusual to see a government that was against land-based gaming decide to welcome Internet betting sites with open arms, so it is only natural that Omani officials do what they can to prevent Internet casinos from flourishing here as well. As in many countries around the world, however, banning online gambling is easier said than done. 

The general laws that apply to other forms of gambling also apply to virtual bets, and as such, you won’t see any regulated or licensed betting sites here. However, that’s not to say that no online play takes place in the country. While the government has a fair amount of control over the Internet, gambling sites have not been at the forefront of these efforts, so many foreign casinos can be visited by players here. While the government has a fair amount of control over the Internet, gambling sites have not been at the forefront of these efforts, so Omani players can visit many online casinos, such as Korean or American sites.

Given the lack of a regulatory framework, it is true that some of the largest companies in the industry do not offer gaming in Oman, but those which are frequently seen in grey markets are a constant presence. With no indication that the government has any interest in prosecuting players who place bets online, or the foreign operators who provide them with the opportunity, this has become the most convenient way for citizens to place bets on slots, blackjack, baccarat, sporting events, or anything else they’re interested in wagering on.

Ruling Government Forbids Gaming Industry 

The fact that there are no land-based casinos in Oman shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. While policies certainly vary between Islamic and Middle Eastern nations, control over gambling tends to be pretty strict in many countries, and outright bans are common – meaning that the policies here are more or less in line with most neighboring jurisdictions. Gambling is seen as a game of luck as opposed to skill or prudence, and as a result directly breaks the laws of Islam, which is the basis of gambling being illegal in all forms in Oman.

What does that mean for people who live here, or the many tourists who visit the nation every year? Of course, there are no brick-and-mortar resorts with slots or table games, as not even “foreigner-only” establishments have been permitted here so far. Omanis have been known to spend a substantial amount of time at overseas casinos, but there hasn’t been any real attempt to bring that action back to their homeland. 

Other forms of betting are equally prohibited. Bingo, sports betting, and poker: all are disallowed under the laws of the Sultanate. Horse racing is popular, as is the traditional sport of camel racing, but no bets are taken on either of these pastimes. There are no lotteries offered by the government, either; the closest things available are legal raffles occasionally held by banks and other businesses as parts of promotions, but these hardly constitute the kind of activity we generally talk about when discussing the gaming industry worldwide. 

As in most nations with strict or total prohibitions on gambling, though, there are some underground games that can be found if you know where to look. Obviously, these operations are completely illegal, and both running these games and playing them can carry moderate jail time and fines – which means that we don’t recommend that anyone go seeking out these opportunities.

Popular Games and Software at Oman Online Casinos

With several popular foreign operators providing their services to players in online casinos in Oman, there is a wide choice of gaming options available to players in the country. One of the most popular forms of gambling in Oman is sports betting, especially on horse racing, but as the online casino world grows, so too does interest from Omani players. Slots and table and card games are becoming very popular as a result. 

Some top software developers provide their games to Omani players, meaning there is a lot of choice available. Some of the best software providers at Oman online casinos include: 

Evolution Gaming

Live dealer games have not yet reached the level of popularity in Oman that they enjoy in other jurisdictions, but attention for this type of game is growing in the country. Evolution Gaming is undoubtedly at the top of the list for players looking for this game category in the Oman region. 

Microgaming 

Microgaming has produced some of the most famous slots available in the online casino world, and the portfolio of slots and progressives from this developer, including frequent new releases, is available at multiple online casinos in Oman. 

NetEnt 

NetEnt can do pretty much everything. Best known for their wide selection of slots including progressive jackpots. Also turning a hand to live dealer games, NetEnt provides one of the most comprehensive and best gaming suites around. 

Playtech

Playtech’s Age of the Gods progressive jackpot series is right up there in terms of popularity, but this developer has much more than that. A wide variety of slots, and some very impressive table and card games mean Playtech is one of the most well-known and respected developers around. 

Yggdrasil

Yggdrasil is a relatively new name in the online casino world but has defied all expectations since arriving on the market. Going from best newcomer to best developer in just one year, Yggdrasil’s unique and exciting slots portfolio saw this provider rapidly climb to the top of the industry.

Payment Methods at Online Casinos in Oman

Despite online casinos in Oman not being considered legal, banks are not blocked from allowing players to make deposits and withdrawals from casino sites. As a result, many players choose debit and credit cards as their chosen payment methods. 

For those who prefer not to share banking information with a casino, e-wallets such as Neteller and PayPal are growing in popularity as the chosen banking options. Other available deposit and withdrawal options are limited at this point, but it looks like cryptocurrencies are likely to grow in popularity here as well in the very near future, as they have in many other parts of the world.

Little Talk of Expansion 

While many countries have at least considered using some sort of gaming venue as a lure for tourists, we’ve seen nothing to suggest that this is the case in Oman. If anyone in the country is promoting the idea of regulated gambling, they’re being rather quiet about it: there have been no news reports of debate or discussion on the topic, and the Islamic nature of the country is a major stumbling block for any efforts that might spring up in the future. 

Another reason that the nation might shy away from even a tourist-only model for a resort is the fact that the tourism industry here is already quite strong – it’s just a bit more family friendly than a gaming hub would be. Water parks and other waterside destinations are quite popular, and there are many high-class hotels providing accommodations in resort towns. With such a vibrant influx of revenue coming from visitors already, there may be less pressure to dip into activities that are less palatable to an Islamic government, such as casinos. With that in mind, we find it unlikely that you’ll be able to place bets on anything in Oman anytime in the foreseeable future. This prediction applies to both brick-and-mortar and online casino play, as neither seems to be gaining any momentum in the country at this time. 

It’s certainly possible that this could change over time – while Oman is a conservative country, it isn’t nearly as oppressive as some of its neighbors – we would expect that the first reforms to gaming policy would come through horse or camel racing, or perhaps a lottery, and that even those modest offerings are likely decades away at this point.

If you are interested in less strict countries to gamble, you can always check our gambling guides from countries like Japan or the Philippines.