Online betting is illegal in Iraq. All forms of gambling, land-based and online, are prohibited under the Iraqi Penal Code (Law No. 111 of 1969). There is no gambling regulator or licensing system, and no legal domestic betting operators exist. Anyone gambling in or from Iraq does so outside the law and at their own legal risk.

No. Iraq bans gambling in all its forms. The governing law is the Penal Code (Law No. 111 of 1969), which criminalises gambling and the running of gambling houses (Article 389 penalises participation with a fine or imprisonment, with harsher penalties for operators). Because the law predates the internet, it does not mention “online” gambling specifically, but the prohibition on games of chance is generally understood to cover online casinos, poker and sports betting alike. Lotteries and other pure games of chance fall under the same ban.

This legal position is reinforced by religious prohibition. Gambling (Arabic maisir) is forbidden (haram) in Islam. Iraq is a Muslim-majority country, and this prohibition is woven into both law and social attitudes. We note this respectfully: it helps explain why Iraq maintains one of the region’s stricter stances.

Is There a Regulator or Any Licensed Operators?

No. Iraq has no gambling regulator and issues no gambling licences. Enforcement falls to general law-enforcement bodies rather than a dedicated gaming authority. There are no lawful casinos, betting shops or licensed online operators. Any brand advertising “licensed casinos in Iraq” is offshore and not authorised by Iraqi law.

Licensed vs Offshore Reality

Because no domestic licences exist, every gambling site accessible from Iraq is offshore, operating under a foreign licence (or none) and outside Iraqi oversight. That means:

  • No Iraqi consumer protection, dispute resolution or player-fund safeguards.
  • No recourse if an operator withholds winnings or closes an account.
  • Legal exposure for the player, since participation itself is unlawful.

Enforcement against individuals is inconsistent, and underground venues do exist, but this is a tolerated-in-practice grey area, not legality. In August 2019 Iraqi security forces ran a large campaign in Baghdad that closed roulette and gambling halls and led to around 140 arrests, a reminder that crackdowns happen.

Payments and Crypto Status

There is no legal payment rail for gambling in Iraq. Local banks will not knowingly process gambling transactions, and card issuers block many gambling merchants.

Cryptocurrency is not a safe workaround. The Central Bank of Iraq prohibits banks and licensed financial institutions from dealing in cryptocurrencies (Circular No. 125/5/9, issued November 2021), citing anti-money-laundering and financial-stability risks. In June 2025, authorities in the Kurdistan Region separately ordered the closure of crypto and forex trading companies. There is no framework that legalises crypto for gambling, and using it to fund offshore betting compounds both financial and legal risk.

Are Winnings Taxed?

There is effectively no gambling tax in Iraq because there is no legal gambling to tax. The relevant risk is not a tax bill but potential criminal liability under the Penal Code and, where crypto is involved, anti-money-laundering exposure.

Safer Gambling and Getting Help

Gambling can cause real harm, financial, legal and personal, and in Iraq those risks are amplified by illegality. Iraq has no dedicated gambling helpline. For mental-health and psychosocial support, general services are available through the Iraqi Ministry of Health and helplines listed at findahelpline.com. The World Health Organization’s Eastern Mediterranean office also documents psychosocial support channels in Iraq.

Gambling is 18+ everywhere it is legal; in Iraq it is prohibited entirely. If gambling is harming you or someone you know, please seek support.

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