Is online gambling legal in Oman?

Legal overview

Oman bans gambling through its Penal Code, issued by Royal Decree 7/2018, which replaced the earlier penal law of 1974. Article 288 defines gambling games as games in which it is agreed that the loser gives the winner some consideration. Under Article 289, anyone who arranges, opens or manages a place for gambling, or organises gambling games, faces three months to three years in prison and a fine of 100 to 1,000 Omani rials, or either penalty. Article 290 makes playing a gambling game an offence in its own right, punishable by one to six months in prison and a fine of 100 to 500 rials. Article 291 requires courts to confiscate the money, materials and instruments involved and allows the venue to be closed.

The law draws no distinction between land-based and online play, and there is no licensing authority, casino, sports betting operator or lottery licence of any kind in the country. Online casino games, sports betting and poker are therefore unlawful for people in Oman, and every site that accepts Omani players does so without authorisation. Players who use such sites expose themselves to prosecution as participants and have no local regulator or dispute service if an operator refuses to pay.

Police enforcement is visible in practice. Royal Oman Police regularly report arrests for gambling, for example nine people detained at a residence in the Wilayat of Izki in September 2023, with cash and a gaming device seized. No sign of any move to legalise or license gambling was found.