Kuwait’s culture treats gambling as forbidden, and the country has never had a legal gambling industry. As a Gulf state whose legal system draws on Islamic law, Kuwait regards gambling (maysir) as haram, and its Penal Code prohibits games of chance and wagering in every form. Yet Kuwaitis are passionate about games of skill, competition and heritage sport — card games in the diwaniya, camel racing in the desert and equestrian events at the racing club — pursued for social standing and tradition rather than money. Understanding that distinction is key to understanding gambling culture in Kuwait.

A prohibition rooted in law and faith

Gambling has been banned throughout Kuwait’s modern history. The prohibition reflects Islamic principles embedded in the legal system, which view games of chance as a source of social harm. The Penal Code criminalises both playing and organising gambling, and the law’s broad definition — activities where gain or loss depends on luck — captures lotteries, casino games and betting alike. There is consequently no state lottery, no casino and no licensed bookmaker anywhere in the country.

Popular games — skill, not stakes

The heart of Kuwaiti game culture is the card table. Baloot, a trick-taking game related to the French Belote and played four-handed in partnerships with a 32-card pack, is among the most popular card games in Kuwait and across the Gulf. Other favourites include Koutchina and the six-player Kout Bo Setah. These games are fixtures of the diwaniya — the traditional gathering space where friends, family and neighbours meet — and are prized as tests of memory, strategy and wit. Crucially, they are typically played for pride and hospitality rather than cash; keeping them stake-free is what keeps them lawful and socially acceptable.

Heritage sport without a betting pool

Camel racing and equestrian events hold a treasured place in Kuwaiti heritage. They are staged as celebrations of tradition, breeding and skill, and prizes are funded by sponsors and patrons rather than by wagering. Because betting is illegal, there is no parimutuel pool or bookmaker attached to these events — a striking contrast with racing cultures elsewhere, and a reminder that in Kuwait the contest, not the wager, is the point.

Modern attitudes and enforcement

Social attitudes remain firmly aligned with the legal position: gambling is widely seen as religiously and socially unacceptable. That consensus is backed by active enforcement. In September 2025 the Ministry of Interior dismantled an international online-gambling and money-laundering network and arrested seven foreign nationals, and in January 2026 a court handed down seven-year sentences to nine defendants — with a 15-year term for the alleged ringleader — in an online betting and money-laundering case. The message from both faith and state is consistent: games of skill and heritage are celebrated; games of chance for money are not.

18+. Gambling is illegal in Kuwait. This article is informational and not legal advice.

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