Lebanon’s gambling culture is defined by a single iconic institution: Casino du Liban, one of the oldest casinos in the Middle East, opened in 1959 and run as a state-controlled monopoly ever since. Gambling is legal and visible, with slots, roulette, blackjack, poker, football betting and a national lottery all in play, yet it sits within a religiously mixed society where gambling (maysir) is prohibited in Islam and viewed cautiously by many observant Christians too. The result is a distinctly Lebanese balance: a glamorous, historic, tightly regulated casino sector coexisting with real cultural and faith-based reservations.

A landmark with a long history

Casino du Liban received Lebanon’s exclusive gaming concession in July 1957 and opened to the public on 17 December 1959 in Maameltein, in the hills above Jounieh overlooking the Mediterranean. It quickly became a Middle Eastern icon, drawing high-rollers, celebrities and lavish stage shows during Lebanon’s mid-century golden age.

The casino was heavily disrupted by Lebanon’s civil war (1975-1990) and later reopened and renovated, resuming operations as the country’s sole licensed casino. Its survival through war and, more recently, the country’s severe economic crisis reflects both its cultural weight and its value to the state as a revenue source.

What people play

Inside Casino du Liban the mainstays are slot machines and electronic gaming machines, roulette, blackjack and poker. Beyond the casino floor, sports betting - above all on football - is a major pastime, now channelled online through the licensed operator BetArabia. The national lottery (Loto) and scratch games run by La Libanaise des Jeux reach far beyond the casino’s clientele, sold widely across the country.

Who controls it

Gambling in Lebanon is entirely state-controlled. Casino du Liban holds the land-based monopoly and operates the online brand BetArabia; La Libanaise des Jeux runs the national lottery. There are no competing private casinos, and under its concession the casino channels a large, graduated share of its gross gaming profits to the government - making the sector a notable, if strained, contributor to public revenue.

Religion and social attitudes

Lebanon is religiously diverse, and attitudes to gambling are correspondingly mixed. In Islam, gambling (maysir) is prohibited by scholarly consensus, and many Muslim Lebanese avoid it on faith grounds; a number of observant Christians take a similarly cautious view. At the same time, Lebanon’s historically cosmopolitan culture has accommodated a legal, glamorous casino for over six decades. Gambling is therefore both legal and visible and quietly contentious - openly enjoyed by some, deliberately avoided by others.

Safer gambling

Lebanon has no dedicated gambling-addiction helpline. Anyone struggling can reach Embrace Lebanon’s Lifeline on 1564 for emotional support and crisis intervention, and should use operator self-exclusion tools.

18+ only. Gambling can be addictive. Please play responsibly.

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