Gambling Laws in Bahrain

There is no legal gambling in Bahrain. This is due to the fact that the Islamic Sharia is the basic source of legislation, as declared in Article 2 of Bahrain's 2002 Constitution as originally adopted, as well as the amendment from February 2012. According to the Sharia, gambling in Bahrain is illegal, which applies not only to land-based but also to online gambling. In fact, part of the internet content that is prohibited under the Sharia refers also to the different varieties of online gambling sites.  The Penal Code of 1976 also serves as a legal framework within which gambling is supervised. Promotions of gambling fall in the same group with the promotion of hatred and pornography and as such are also banned from websites and media sources.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Bahrain? No. Gambling, including online gambling, is considered to be illegal in Bahrain.

Online Casinos in Bahrain

As of July 2019, there are no online casinos in Bahrain. Online gambling in the country is prohibited under the Islamic Sharia, so no Bahraini online casino licenses are on the offer. Although there is an active blockage on any online gambling content, illegal access to casino sites from Bahrain is frequently reported by many European online casino providers and there are no records of players being prosecuted by the authorities. 

Online Poker in Bahrain

Online poker sites in Bahrain are also not legal. Although there are no specific Bahraini online poker laws, the general prohibition on gambling coming from the application of the Islamic Sharia holds for this game too. Yet, players are able to access international poker rooms as they are not prosecuted. 

Online Lottery in Bahrain

Although there are no separate Bahraini online lottery laws, the general prohibition on gambling coming from the Islamic Sharia holds for lotto too. As a result, lotteries in Bahrain do not have any tradition, neither as gambling games nor for charitable purposes and there are no online lotteries in Bahrain. 

Online Bingo in Bahrain

Although there are no specific Bahraini online bingo laws, the general prohibition on online gambling in the country, coming from the Islamic Sharia, holds for this game too. Therefore, and as it is the case with the other gambling sites, online bingo sites in Bahrain are illegal. However, players are able to access international platforms through the use of VPNs.

Online Sports Betting in Bahrain

Online sportsbook sites in Bahrain are also illegal. As it is the case with other gambling games, online betting falls under the general prohibition on gambling coming from the application of the Islamic Sharia. But although there is an active blockage on any online gambling content, illegal access to sportsbook sites from Bahrain is frequently reported by many international online sportsbooks.

Online DFS in Bahrain

There are no online DFS sites in Bahrain. Although the status of Daily Fantasy Sports is a frequent topic of discussion between lawmakers worldwide, it is plausible to suppose that this game, notwithstanding the status, will also fall under the prohibition coming from the Islamic Sharia.