Palestinian gambling culture is defined by prohibition, not participation. Games of chance are treated as unlawful under Islamic (Sharia) principles, and there is no legal, regulated gambling sector today. The single most notable chapter in this history is the Oasis Casino in Jericho, which opened in 1998 mainly for Israeli visitors and closed in 2000. Modern activity, where it exists, is limited to informal games and unregulated offshore websites.

A prohibition rooted in faith and law

Across the West Bank and Gaza, gambling is regarded as forbidden. The position draws on Islamic teaching, which classifies maisir (games of chance) as unlawful. This is not merely a legal technicality: it shapes everyday social attitudes, so gambling is widely viewed as morally and socially unacceptable. There is no gambling regulator and no licensing system, and none is expected given the religious and political context.

The Jericho Oasis Casino: a brief, controversial boom

The most striking episode in Palestinian gambling history is the Oasis Casino in Jericho. It opened in September 1998, operated by Casinos Austria International, with the Palestinian Authority holding a significant equity stake (reported at around US$60 million) and hopes of generating investment and revenue. Press reporting at the time cited roughly US$92 million invested during construction, with total project cost estimates ranging higher. The casino had a large gaming floor, reported at around 120 tables and more than 300 slot machines.

Crucially, it was designed for outsiders rather than locals. It catered chiefly to Israeli gamblers, for whom casino gambling was largely unavailable at home. Palestinians without foreign passports were barred from entry. Contemporary reporting put daily attendance at roughly 2,900 visitors, the large majority Israeli, though some accounts cite higher figures. It was always controversial among residents, most of whom, as Muslims, objected to gambling on religious grounds.

The boom was short-lived. Shortly after the Second Intifada began in September 2000, the casino was caught up in the violence and closed, with its largely Israeli clientele cut off from travelling to Jericho. More than two decades on it has not reopened, and periodic talk of revival has come to nothing.

There is no legal betting in Palestine. Where informal or offshore activity occurs, it tends to centre on football, the most popular sport, along with online slots accessed via offshore casino sites, and informal social card games. All of this sits outside any legal or regulated framework, with no consumer protection.

Sources

18+. Gambling is prohibited in Palestine. This article is for information only and is not legal or financial advice.