Located in the northeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, the State of Qatar boasts a well-developed economy largely driven by the export of oil and natural gas. As of 2020, the country was home to 2.8 million people and generated a gross domestic product (GDP) of US$146.4 billion. Qatar is also one of the countries with the highest GDP per capita, ranking eleventh in the world according to data compiled by Statista.
Qatar would undoubtedly make for a very lucrative gambling market, considering how developed its economy is. However, Islam is the official religion of Qatar, which prohibits its citizens from participating in gambling. Most forms of gambling are illegal in the country, and this is unlikely to change soon. Raffles are the closest thing to legal gambling that locals can enjoy.
If you expect to find casinos, card rooms, bookmaking shops, or bingo venues here, you will be bitterly disappointed. The general prohibition on betting extends to online casinos and sportsbooks as well. The country does not offer legal options for those interested in wagering over the web.
Many offshore gambling operators comply with the ban and decline registrations from Qatar. A few are willing to accept betting action from the country, which renders Qataris’ choice somewhat limited. Skim through this article for more information on the laws that pertain to gambling in Qatar.
The Penal Code of Qatar
Qatar lacks specific legislation regulating gambling, as all forms of betting are illegal in the country. The only legislation that applies to gambling is the Penal Code of Qatar, more specifically its third chapter. According to Article I, activities like alcohol consumption and gambling participation contravene the Islamic Sharia law, which applies to all Muslims.
Legal Definition of Gambling
Penalties for Gambling Participation
Penalties for Organizing Gambling
Sharia LawIllegal Gambling in Qatar
One might think that the Penal Code sanctions for gambling would have completely eradicated these activities in Qatar, but this is hardly the case. Since individual casual gamblers are a low priority to the authorities, some Qataris do place an occasional bet illegally. Qatar’s Penal Code makes no distinction between games of pure chance and those that involve elements of skill. Consequently, poker also falls under the general prohibition.
The illegal status does not prevent crime syndicates from running illicit card rooms in the country. News reports have emerged over the years about groups operating underground gambling dens out of private homes. Most seem to prefer running poker games, and one example dates back to 2006.
News outlets reported at the time that two criminal groups hosted illegal games in private properties without the owners’ knowledge. After bribing the caretakers of the vacant houses, the organizers would contact their potential customers by text message shortly before the illegal poker sessions started. Regularly changing the properties allowed the groups to avoid detection for around eight years, until they were eventually brought to justice.
Legal Forms of Gambling in Qatar
There are hardly any legal types of gambling in Qatar, as even lotteries are against the law here. The only legal activity that comes close to gambling is a raffle organized by the Qatar Duty Free division of Qatar Airways. The raffle was introduced in 2006 and continues to enjoy great popularity among the airline’s customers.
The maximum number of tickets sold per draw stands at 5,000, with passengers having the option to purchase them online at the official website of Qatar Duty Free. Three types of raffles are available: luxury car draws, motorbike draws, and millionaire draws. The latter award monetary prizes of US$1 million and have so far turned 38 people into instant millionaires.
The winners are of different nationalities, including Indian, Filipino, Lebanese, Sri Lankan, Nepalese, Pakistani, Syrian, and American. Ticket prices vary based on raffle type. At the time of writing, tickets for the millionaire draw cost QR950 (US$263), while those for the car and motorcycle draws are priced at QR650 (US$178) and QR100 (US$27), respectively.
The tickets are available for sale to all airline passengers who depart from, arrive at, or transit through Hamad International Airport. Each passenger can purchase no more than ten tickets per draw. Participants in the raffles must provide their passport numbers, contact information, and nationality so that airport authorities can get in touch with the winners. The Duty Free raffle may not sound as exciting as playing blackjack or roulette, but at least participants can feel safe knowing they are not violating Qatari law.
Conclusion
As you can see, Qatar is rather tough on gambling, banning all forms of betting one can think of. The country uses a dual legal system in which civil and religious laws combine to prohibit both online and land-based gambling. Only raffles conducted by Qatar Duty Free are permitted here. While still based on chance, these are far from the traditional forms of gambling allowed in other jurisdictions.
The only recourse for locals who seek to gamble online is to register with offshore sites that accept players from the country despite the prohibition. However, it is best to play discreetly and exercise due diligence if you choose this option. The opposition to such activities is deeply embedded in Qatar’s culture and official religion, as in other Islamic nations such as Kuwait, Oman, and the UAE. The country shows no signs of relaxing its restrictions on gambling anytime soon.