Online betting and crypto gambling are illegal in Mongolia. Effective 1 July 2025, amendments to the Law on Permits (passed by the State Great Khural in 2025) prohibit paid betting, online gambling and paid lotteries. There is no licensed domestic market, offshore sites are actively blocked, and organising or facilitating gambling — including by providing a bank account, phone number, electronic money, virtual assets or a digital account — can be a criminal offence carrying fines, community service, travel restrictions or up to three years’ imprisonment. This guide explains the law, payments and where to get help; it is informational only and not legal advice.

No. Following a government-backed reform, Mongolia moved from a patchy enforcement regime to a comprehensive ban. The State Great Khural passed amendments to the Law on Permits (also referred to as the Law on Licensing) in 2025, prohibiting online gambling, betting games and paid lottery activities. The prohibition took effect on 1 July 2025 and applies to online poker, slot-style games, sports betting, lotteries and “paid prediction” games, whether run through websites, mobile apps or informal channels.

The government cited significant social and financial harm. Financial-investigation data pointed to roughly MNT 1.7 trillion (reported at around USD 500 million, or about EUR 400 million) transferred abroad through gambling activity, alongside registered gambling-related economic crimes. The Communications Regulatory Commission had restricted access to over 6,000 gambling domains, but operators repeatedly changed links and used VPNs, prompting the tougher statutory ban.

Regulator and licensing

Mongolia does not license gambling operators — there is no gambling regulator issuing permits, because the activity is banned. Instead, enforcement is shared: the Authority for Fair Competition and Consumer Protection (AFCCP) and the Communications Regulatory Commission handle advertising and site-blocking, while the Criminal Code (amended in 2025) provides the penalties. There is therefore no such thing as a “Mongolia-licensed” casino or sportsbook.

Licensed vs offshore sites

Because no domestic licences exist, every online casino or sportsbook accessible to Mongolian residents is an unlicensed offshore operator. These sites are illegal to use, are blocked by authorities, and offer no local consumer protection, dispute resolution or guaranteed payouts. “Mongolia-friendly casino” lists you may see online do not reflect any legal status.

Payments and crypto

MethodStatus for gambling
Domestic bank transfers / cardsProhibited for wagering; providing an account to facilitate gambling is criminalised
E-wallets / mobile moneyProhibited for gambling use
CryptocurrencyTrading is legal and regulated by the Financial Regulatory Commission, but using digital currency to fund or facilitate gambling is a criminal offence

Crypto occupies a specific niche here. Mongolia’s Law on Virtual Asset Service Providers (adopted December 2021, in force 25 February 2022) makes crypto trading legal — though crypto is not legal tender — and requires exchanges to register with the Financial Regulatory Commission and follow AML/KYC rules. Crucially, the 2025 gambling amendments list electronic money, virtual assets and digital accounts among the tools used to commit the offence, so channelling crypto into gambling does not create a legal loophole.

Winnings and tax

Since there is no legal domestic gambling, there are no lawful winnings to declare or tax. The practical exposure runs the other way: fines (measured in “basic units”), 240-720 hours of community service, travel restrictions of six months to one year, or imprisonment of six months to three years for organising or facilitating gambling.

Safer gambling and help

If betting is causing financial stress, debt or emotional harm for you or a family member, help is available. Mongolia’s National Center for Mental Health (ncmh.gov.mn) provides mental-health and addiction-related support, and international directories such as findahelpline.com list Mongolia crisis lines. Reaching out early matters more than any legal technicality.

18+. Gambling is illegal in Mongolia and can carry criminal penalties. If gambling is harming you or someone you know, seek help.

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