Online betting is illegal in Pakistan. All forms of gambling are prohibited under the Prevention of Gambling Act 1977, and authorities interpret that ban to include online casinos and sportsbooks. There is no gambling licence, no regulator issuing casino permits, and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) actively blocks betting websites and apps. Only two narrow, state-sanctioned exceptions exist - tote betting on horse racing and National Prize Bonds. If you are in Pakistan, treat every online casino or bookmaker as unlicensed and outside the law.

Pakistan’s core statute is the Prevention of Gambling Act 1977, which unified earlier provincial rules and traces back to the British-era Public Gambling Act of 1867. It bans gambling in essentially all forms, reflecting the Islamic prohibition of maisir. Penalties include fines and imprisonment for running a gaming house, gambling in public, or repeat offences.

The original law predates the internet, so online gambling is not named explicitly. In practice, authorities read the general prohibition to cover online betting, and the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) lets them treat hosting a gambling site or app as a cybercrime - carrying heavier penalties than a physical “gaming house.”

Who regulates it? (No one licenses it)

Because gambling is banned, there is no gambling regulator or licensing authority in Pakistan. Enforcement is shared: the PTA blocks domains and apps, and law enforcement acts under the 1977 Act and PECA. In 2025 the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) issued lists of illegal betting and trading apps and directed the PTA to block them - reportedly 184+ gambling sites and apps, including a list of 46 apps such as 1xBet, Dafabet and 22Bet.

Licensed vs offshore operators

There are no licensed Pakistani online casinos or bookmakers - none can legally exist. Sites and apps that market to Pakistani users (and the local Teen Patti “real cash” apps you may see advertised) are offshore or unlicensed and are routinely blocked. The only legal wagering is tote betting at licensed horse-racing clubs and the state prize-bond draw.

Payments locals use

Pakistanis commonly transact online with local rails such as Easypaisa and JazzCash (mobile wallets), plus bank transfers and debit cards. However, banks and payment processors are steered away from facilitating gambling, so betting deposits are legally and practically risky. Any operator asking you to route deposits through personal wallets or third parties is a red flag for fraud.

Crypto gambling: regulated coins, still-illegal betting

Crypto’s status changed sharply. After a 2018 State Bank of Pakistan ban/advisory, the government signed the Virtual Assets Ordinance on 8 July 2025, and the Virtual Assets Act was signed into law on 7 March 2026, creating the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) to license and supervise virtual asset service providers. Major exchanges (e.g. Binance, HTX) received No Objection Certificates rather than full licences.

Crucially, virtual assets are not legal tender, and regulating crypto does not legalise gambling. Using Bitcoin, USDT or any coin to bet remains illegal because the underlying activity is banned. “Crypto casino” access is still blockable and offers no consumer protection.

Tax on winnings

With no licensed gambling market, there is no player-winnings tax regime for casino or sports betting - the activity is criminal, not taxed. The one adjacent case is prize bonds, where prize money is subject to a withholding tax deducted at source (reported at 15% for filers and 30% for non-filers under FBR 2025-26 rules, treated as a final tax); verify current rates with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Do not assume any “tax-free winnings” claim from an offshore site.

Safer gambling and help

TopicStatus in Pakistan
Online casino/sports bettingIllegal, PTA-blocked
Regulator/licensingNone (prohibited)
CryptoRegulated (PVARA), not legal tender; betting still illegal
Legal wageringTote horse racing; prize bonds
Winnings taxNo gambling-tax regime (prize bonds withheld at source)

Gambling can cause real harm. If you or someone you know is struggling, contact the Umang helpline: 0317-4288665 (24/7, first session free), or reach out to Rozan, Fountain House Lahore, or the Edhi Foundation.

18+ only. Gambling is illegal in Pakistan - this article is informational, not encouragement to break the law. Please gamble responsibly where it is legal, and seek help if gambling stops being fun.

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