Online betting and crypto gambling are illegal in Oman. There is no licensing regime, no gambling regulator, and no lawful domestic or offshore route to bet, play casino games, or gamble with cryptocurrency. Gambling is prohibited under the Omani Penal Code as a game of chance, and Royal Decree 12/2011 (the Cyber Crime Law) separately criminalises using information networks or IT facilities for gambling. Winnings are not taxed because the activity itself is a crime, not a regulated market.

No. Oman is an Islamic state whose Basic Law establishes Islam as the state religion, and gambling (maisir) is prohibited under Islamic teaching. The prohibition is also codified in written law: the Penal Code treats games where chance prevails over skill as criminal, penalising those who organise, manage or run gambling with imprisonment and fines. Because online betting is a game of chance conducted electronically, it is captured both by the general prohibition and by the Cyber Crime Law.

The Cyber Crime Law (Royal Decree 12/2011) provides for imprisonment and fines for any person who uses an information network or IT facilities in gambling, or to produce, publish, distribute or possess material that violates public ethics. There is no gambling regulator in Oman, no licence category for casinos or sportsbooks, and no path to authorisation. Any operator advertising “licensed Oman betting” is offshore and unlicensed for this market.

Licensed vs offshore operators

There are no licensed domestic operators of any kind. Foreign betting brands may be reachable online, but reaching them does not make the activity legal, and using them exposes a resident to legal liability. Oman also maintains internet content controls, and there is no consumer-protection framework to recover funds, resolve disputes, or enforce fair play against an offshore site.

Payments: local methods and crypto

Because gambling is illegal, no Omani bank, card scheme or licensed payment provider supports gambling transactions. Attempting to fund an offshore gambling account through local banking can trigger declines and compliance scrutiny.

Cryptocurrency does not create a workaround. The Central Bank of Oman has issued public warnings that cryptocurrencies are not legal tender in the Sultanate, are not protected by banking law, and are used entirely at the holder’s own risk with no legal recourse in the event of fraud, hacking or loss. Separately, the Financial Services Authority (successor to the Capital Market Authority) has been developing a Virtual Assets Regulatory Framework and requires Virtual Asset Service Providers to register under Decision E/35/2023 with AML/CTF obligations. Critically, that framework addresses virtual-asset investment and service activity - not gambling, which remains criminal regardless of the payment rail.

Crypto status in brief

  • Not legal tender; the CBO warns against use and trading.
  • The FSA is building a formal virtual-assets framework; VASP registration is required.
  • Using crypto for gambling is still gambling, and still illegal.

Are winnings taxed?

There is no gambling-winnings tax, because there is no lawful gambling to tax. Oman has historically imposed no personal income tax. A Personal Income Tax Law (Royal Decree 56/2025), published in the Official Gazette on 30 June 2025, will apply a 5% rate on annual income above OMR 42,000 from 1 January 2028. This does not legalise gambling or establish a taxable winnings category.

Safer gambling and help

Oman does not operate a state gambling-harm helpline, because there is no legal gambling sector. If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, seek support through a licensed mental-health professional or your doctor. Internationally recognised self-help resources such as Gamblers Anonymous also offer guidance. Given the legal risk in Oman, the safest course is not to gamble at all.

Gambling involves real financial and legal risk. This guide is informational, not legal advice. 18+. If gambling stops being fun, stop.

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