Syria’s gambling culture is defined by prohibition. Beyond a state-run lottery, gambling is illegal and religiously discouraged. Today the everyday “gambling” landscape is really the state lottery plus deeply rooted social games like backgammon - while economic hardship has pushed some residents toward illegal offshore betting apps that authorities are now trying to shut down.

Background

Organised gambling has never established a durable legal foothold in Syria. There are historical reports of casino and card-game activity in Damascus in the mid-20th century, but such venues did not survive, and no legal casino industry exists today. Where specific dates or venue details are uncertain, we avoid stating them as fact - published, verifiable records on Syria’s early gambling scene are limited.

What is clear is the current position: organised gambling is prohibited, shaped by both the Penal Code’s ban on games of chance and mainstream religious opposition.

What Syrians actually play

  • The state lottery (Yanasib): the only legal game of chance, operated by the Public Establishment for International Fairs and Exhibitions, with high-profile New Year draws that draw wide interest.
  • Backgammon (tawla): a cornerstone of cafe and home life, played socially for skill and pride rather than as a regulated betting product.
  • Card games: poker and similar games exist informally but fall under the legal prohibition on games of chance.
  • Illegal offshore betting: apps such as “Ichancy,” focused on football, have spread despite being unlicensed and illegal.

Attitudes

Attitudes are shaped by religion and law together. Mainstream interpretation treats gambling (maisir) as forbidden, and this moral stance is reinforced by the Penal Code’s criminalisation of games of chance. Public discussion in 2026 has centred on harm - local reporting has documented addiction and debt among young people using betting apps - which has strengthened support for the government’s move to block gambling websites.

The bottom line

Syria’s gambling culture is best understood as prohibition plus a single state lottery, set against a backdrop of religious and legal opposition. Offshore betting apps are a symptom of economic hardship, not a legal market. For anyone in Syria, online betting remains illegal and risky.

Sources

18+. Online gambling is illegal in Syria. Please gamble responsibly and within the law.