The United Arab Emirates, often known simply as “the Emirates” or the UAE, is a small country on the Arabian Peninsula. The name comes from the fact that the nation is actually a federation of seven emirates, each of which is governed by an Emir as part of a constitutional monarchy; chances are you’ve heard of at least two, including Abu Dhabi (the capital) and Dubai.
The UAE is a deeply Islamic nation, and that has consequences for its gambling industry. As with many such countries, all betting is forbidden. While the ruling government might not like it, online gaming still flourishes, with many foreign companies offering an online casino to United Arab Emirates residents.
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Given that sports betting in the UAE is forbidden, it is predictable that they also take a hard line against online gambling. In fact, the government has taken steps in recent years to bolster the laws against online gambling in the UAE. In 2012, President Sheikh Khalifa issued a decree that strengthened a number of laws against various cybercrimes, including the transmission of pornography and online gambling.
Clearly, you aren’t supposed to legally be able to use online casinos in UAE. While the agencies have blocked some of these websites, there are many online casinos in the UAE that still accept residents. Most of these UAE online casino platforms are safe and reputable, but it is worthwhile checking expert reviews on the matter.
You can probably understand why some companies would still decide not to venture into this market, given the fact that the government has made it pretty clear where it stands on the issue. However, there are numerous reputable companies who accept UAE online casino gamblers and allow them to play a variety of slots, table games, and other popular games for real money. Some of the software providers you’ll see on these platforms include:
There are a vast number of online casino options for UAE folks. Most of these casinos offer plenty of different payment methods, with cryptocurrencies becoming an increasingly popular option. There will also be tons of different bonus offers for UAE online casino players, such as free spins, no deposit bonuses, match bonuses, and so on.
If you are signing up for an online casino in the UAE for the first time, make sure that you take advantage of the welcome bonus offer. Our favorite UAE online casino options are listed above, and all come with excellent welcome bonus packages for new players. They have been carefully vetted by our expert gambling team to ensure you receive a safe yet exciting online gambling experience.
Gambling has never been a legal activity in the UAE, and the laws governing this prohibition are very strict. Not only can those running illegal establishments be subjected to long prison sentences or heavy fines (as well as a shutdown of their establishment, even for other legal activities that may have been on going there), but smaller punishments can also be doled out to gamblers themselves. Even ships and airplanes that have legal gaming aboard must stop the games before they enter the nation.
This is in line with the policies of many other Muslin nations, like Saudi Arabia, for instance. In most interpretations, Islam forbids gambling. This does not mean that all Muslims refrain from the activity at all times, nor that all governments with an Islamic base have complete prohibitions, but in general, it is a safe bet that most theocratic governments and devout practitioners will hold very negative views of the practice.
Interestingly, there are activities that take place in this nation that are bet on widely – it’s just that this betting takes place mainly outside of their borders. Horse racing is a major spectator sport, with both thoroughbreds and Arabian horses running regularly at four racetracks, including Meydan, the track that is home to the Dubai World Cup.
During the racing season, which runs from November through March, many visitors attend the races – though there is no betting allowed there (beyond some free contests in which fans can potentially win prizes by picking the right winners of several races). On the other hand, gamblers from around the world can easily place bets in locations where these races are simulcast. In particular, the Dubai World Cup – known as the richest race in the world for its $12 million purse – attracts plenty of attention from handicappers around the world.
Of course, there are no casinos or legal poker rooms in the Emirates. However, that doesn’t mean that illegal gambling isn’t operating in the country. Stories of busts on gambling dens or complaints about groups operating such games in public are fairly common. Playing in such games is not recommended, and the government does appear to actively try to shut down these operations. Harsh punishments can potentially be dished out against players and organizers, so it’s probably smart to steer clear.
There is very little about the UAE that would suggest that their anti-gambling policies are likely to change in the foreseeable future. Simply having a Muslim government is a huge strike against that possibility, with the current president and other rulers showing absolutely no inclination towards changing these policies. Even the people of the country (other than those who engage in betting themselves, presumably) haven’t shown much of an interest in making changes to this hardline stance. The one long-term ray of hope is the fact that the nation interacts heavily (and positively) with much of the world, but that may not count for much: remember, there are plenty of secular governments that aren’t fond of gaming, either.
It’s also possible that outside forces could make the situation worse before it gets better. As regulation becomes the norm in many nations, operators have taken steps to clean up their profiles, particularly if they are part of publicly owned companies. Perhaps the highest-profile example has been Amaya, which pulled PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker from many nations (including the Emirates), likely in part to ensure that their compliance with various national laws wasn’t in question.
Put all of this together, and it is hard to imagine a scenario where Internet gambling regulation comes to this country in the foreseeable future. If it were to happen, it would likely be preceded by the introduction of some sort of very controlled land-based betting first – perhaps limited to pari-mutuel wagering or sports betting, or a government-sanctioned casino open only to foreigners. But these possibilities are so far off in the distance that it is difficult to even speculate as to how change in this area could come to the nation. So, if UAE residents want to gamble online, they’ll need to visit casino sites licensed in other countries for the time being.
If you are living in the UAE and looking to play your favorite slots and casino games, look no further. As you can see, we’ve listed many great UAE online casinos that you can sign up for in a matter of minutes. You’ll then have access to massive game libraries that are full of games from the best software developers. What are you waiting for? Check out our list above and join a quality online casino in the United Arab Emirates today!
Online gambling is not currently legal in UAE, but there are plenty of leading online casinos that still accept players from the region. The activity does not look like becoming legal any time soon as UAE is a Muslim nation that has strong religious principles when it comes to gambling. However, thanks to modern technology, you can still play the best online casino games from the comfort of your own home in UAE.
While online gambling is not legal in UAE, you are able to access many great international online casinos if you are in the country. Many of these options are regulated by respected authorities in other jurisdictions, giving you peace of mind about the fairness and security of the casino. We have a whole list of top-quality online casinos that you can access in the UAE right here on this page.
While online casinos will not be regulated by any national authorities in UAE, many of the options available to you are regulated elsewhere. They may be licensed in the likes of Malta, Curacao or Gibraltar. To make sure that you are dealing with a legit online casino, you should check out expert reviews. These reviews will help you choose a safe and secure UAE online casino.
While casino games are not legal in UAE, you can still access many great online casinos that offer the very best games. All kinds of slots, table games, progressive jackpots, video poker and live dealer games will all be available to you at UAE online casino sites. You’ll never get bored with the types of casino games you can play on these sites.
A lot of online casinos that allow UAE players will also accept UAD deposits if you are playing games for real money. This will depend on the given online casino, as some sites will only have a very limited selection of currencies for you to use. Expert reviews for an online casino will showcase if UAD is an available option.
