Qatar: gambling regulation and licensing
- Online sports bettingProhibited
- Online casinoProhibited
- Online pokerProhibited
- iLotteryProhibited
- Land-based (reference)Prohibited
- Regulator
- Not yet verified
- Headline tax
- Not yet verified
- Licence required
- No
- Last verified
- 24 Sept 2026
Summary
Qatar prohibits gambling in every form and has no gambling regulator, no gambling licence and no lottery. Article 1 of the Constitution makes the Sharia the principal source of legislation, and the operative rules are Articles 274 to 277 of the Penal Code of 2004. A gambling game is any game in which winning or losing depends on luck rather than controllable factors and the loser pays the winner money or another benefit. Qatar punishes the player wherever he plays: up to three months in prison and a fine of up to QAR 3,000, rising to six months and QAR 6,000 in a public place or a place prepared for gambling. Running a gambling place or organising gambling carries up to a year and QAR 5,000, and the court must confiscate the money and close the premises. No law mentions online gambling, but Article 13 treats an offence as committed in Qatar if any part of it, or its result, occurs there, and the 2023 FATF-MENAFATF evaluation records that online gambling is prohibited throughout the country, including the Qatar Financial Centre. The Ministry of Interior enforces the ban through raids, including the arrest of 50 people playing online at a residence in December 2023. The only lawful draws are free-entry sales promotions licensed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry under Decision No. 312 of 2018. No bill to legalise or regulate gambling was found.
Common pitfalls
Assuming only public gambling is an offence: Article 275 punishes anyone who plays any gambling game, and the Ministry of Interior arrests players at private residences, including for online gambling. Reading the FATF figure of QAR 5,000 as the player fine: that is the organiser maximum under Article 276; players face up to QAR 3,000, or QAR 6,000 in aggravated cases. Treating the Qatar Financial Centre as a separate regime: the FATF evaluation records that gambling is prohibited there too. Confusing licensed free-entry promotional draws with a lottery licence.
Key facts
- Regulator
- Not yet verified
- Regulator type
- No dedicated regulator
- Headline tax
- Not yet verified
- Licence required
- No
- Minimum age
- Not yet verified
- Tax base
- Not yet verified
Legal framework
Primary statutes
Penal Code, issued by Law No. 11 of 2004
قانون رقم (11) لسنة 2004 بإصدار قانون العقوبات
- Year
- 2004
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Dated 10 May 2004, published in Official Gazette No. 7 of 30 May 2004 and in force fifteen days after publication; it repealed the Penal Code of 1971 (Law No. 14 of 1971). Chapter Three (drinking, gambling and begging) contains the gambling offences. Article 274 defines a gambling game as any game in which the chance of winning or losing depends on luck, not on factors that can be identified and controlled, and in which each party agrees to pay the winner a sum of money or any other agreed benefit if he loses. Article 275 punishes anyone who plays any gambling game with up to three months' imprisonment and a fine of up to QAR 3,000, or either; the maximum rises to six months and QAR 6,000, or either, where the offence takes place in a public place, a place open to the public, or a place or house prepared for gambling. Article 276 punishes anyone who prepares, equips, opens or manages a place for gambling, and anyone who organises any gambling game in a public place, a place open to the public or a place or house prepared for the purpose, with up to one year and a fine of up to QAR 5,000, or either. Article 277 requires the court in every case to confiscate the materials, money and tools obtained from or used in the offence and to close the premises, which may reopen only for a lawful purpose with the approval of the Public Prosecution. Under Article 13 the Code applies to anyone who commits an offence in Qatar, and an offence is treated as committed in Qatar if any act constituting it took place there, or its result occurred or was intended to occur there.
Permanent Constitution of the State of Qatar, Article 1
الدستور الدائم لدولة قطر، المادة 1
- Year
- 2004
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Qatar is an independent sovereign Arab State; its religion is Islam and the Sharia is the principal source of its legislation.
Law No. 14 of 2014 on Combating Cybercrimes, Articles 21 and 53
قانون رقم (14) لسنة 2014 بإصدار قانون مكافحة الجرائم الإلكترونية
- Year
- 2014
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Dated 15 September 2014. It does not mention gambling. Article 21 requires service providers to block links on the information network on orders from the judicial authorities and to keep subscriber information for one year. Article 53 requires the court, on conviction for an offence under this law, to confiscate the equipment and proceeds and to close the premises or block the website through which the offence was committed.
Secondary instruments
قرار وزير الاقتصاد والتجارة رقم (312) لسنة 2018 بتنظيم ترويج بيع السلع والخدمات عن طريق الإعلانات أو السحب على جوائز أو توزيع هدايا
- Year
- 2018
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Shops may promote sales through prize draws, scratch-and-win or gifts only under a Ministry licence (Article 3), applied for at least 30 days in advance (Article 4) and valid for up to 12 months (Article 6). The entry card must be free, the prizes owned by the shop and specified by type and number (Article 7). The draw must be public, at the time and place in the licence, in the presence of a judicial officer (Article 8(13)). The owner, partners, staff and their relatives to the fourth degree may not take part (Article 9). The Ministry may cancel the licence for any breach (Article 11). It replaced Decision No. 19 of 2002. The Hukoomi portal lists the licence fee as QAR 200.
Licensing
- Licence required
- No
- Application window
- Closed
- Local establishment required
- Not yet verified
- Local server required
- Not yet verified
- Barriers to entry
- There is nothing to apply for. No Qatari law provides a licence for betting, casino, poker or lottery; Articles 275 and 276 of the Penal Code make playing and organising gambling offences, and the 2023 FATF-MENAFATF evaluation records that gambling, including online gambling, is prohibited throughout the territory including the Qatar Financial Centre. The only lawful draws are free-entry sales promotions licensed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry; they are marketing permits, not a gambling licence.
Compliance
- Minimum age
- Not yet verified
- National self-exclusion
- Not yet verified
- AML regime
- There is no gambling AML regime because there is no lawful gambling sector. Law No. 20 of 2019 on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing covers the designated non-financial businesses except casinos, which are banned (FATF-MENAFATF 2023, criteria 22.1 and 28.1). Gambling is a predicate offence: the evaluation records 14 illegal gambling reports passed by the Qatar Financial Information Unit to the Economic and Cyber Crimes Combating Department, and six money laundering investigations with gambling as the predicate in 2020 and 2021, none of which went to a money laundering trial. Money laundering carries up to ten years and a fine of QAR 2 million to QAR 5 million or twice the amount laundered, whichever is greater (AML/CFT Law, Article 78).
- KYC requirements
- Not yet verified
- Stake limits
- Not yet verified
Advertising
- Advertising permitted
- Not yet verified
- Penalties for breach
- For licensed promotions, the Ministry may cancel the licence on any breach, publish the cancellation on the shop front and its website, and refuse the shop future draw licences (Decision No. 312 of 2018, Article 11). No statute specific to gambling advertising was found.
Restrictions
- Promotional prize draws and scratch-and-win campaigns need a Ministry of Commerce and Industry licence under Ministerial Decision No. 312 of 2018; entry must be free and the licence number and campaign period must appear in the advertising
- The advertisement for a licensed promotion may not contain exaggeration or misleading claims, and its approved wording may not be changed during the licence without new approval (Decision No. 312 of 2018, Articles 7 and 8)
Payments
- Credit card ban
- Not yet verified
- Crypto stance
- Prohibited
- Payment blocking regime
- No gambling-specific payment blocking rule was found. Suspicious transaction reports linked to illegal gambling reach the Qatar Financial Information Unit, which passed 14 of them to the Economic and Cyber Crimes Combating Department (FATF-MENAFATF 2023, Table 3.9).
- Currency restrictions
- As recorded in the 2023 FATF-MENAFATF evaluation, Qatar prohibits virtual assets and virtual asset service providers, in the State and in the Qatar Financial Centre (Qatar Central Bank Circulars 19, 21, 23 and 46 of 2019 and Circular 2 of 2022); financial institutions may not carry out virtual asset activities, on pain of up to three years and a fine of up to QAR 5 million.
Enforcement
- ISP blocking
- Not yet verified
- DNS blocking
- Not yet verified
- Payment blocking
- Not yet verified
- App store takedowns
- Not yet verified
- Criminal penalties
- Playing any gambling game: up to three months and up to QAR 3,000, or either; up to six months and up to QAR 6,000, or either, in a public place, a place open to the public or a place prepared for gambling (Penal Code Article 275). Preparing, opening or managing a gambling place, or organising gambling in such a place: up to one year and up to QAR 5,000, or either (Article 276). In every case, confiscation of the money and tools and closure of the premises (Article 277). Laundering the proceeds: up to ten years and a fine of QAR 2 million to QAR 5 million or twice the amount laundered (AML/CFT Law, Article 78).
- Operator liability
- Anyone who prepares, opens or manages a place for gambling, or organises gambling in a public place or a place prepared for it, commits an offence under Article 276. Under Article 13 an offence is treated as committed in Qatar if any act constituting it, or its result, occurs there or is intended to occur there. No prosecution of an offshore online operator was found; the reported cases target people who host or run gambling in Qatar.
- Player liability
- Playing any gambling game is an offence under Article 275, wherever it takes place, with a higher penalty in public places and places prepared for gambling. The Ministry of Interior has arrested players of online gambling at private residences and referred them to the Public Prosecution.
Notable actions
- 50 people engaged in online gambling at a residence8 Dec 2023
Arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department after a search authorised by the Public Prosecution; a significant amount of gambling money and alcohol seized, and the suspects referred to the prosecution
- 19 people of Arab, Asian and European nationalities, including the man running a house used for gambling27 May 2023
Arrested by the Al Rayyan and North Security Departments after an authorised search; QAR 174,508, USD 10,200 and other currencies, gambling equipment and alcohol seized, and the suspects handed to the Public Prosecution, according to the Ministry of Interior as reported by Gulf Times
- A man filmed gambling in a labour accommodation area10 Feb 2022
Identified from a video circulating online and arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department, where he confessed
Timeline
30 May 2004
Penal Code (Law No. 11 of 2004) published in the Official Gazette, with Articles 274 to 277 on gambling; it replaced the Penal Code of 1971
8 Jun 2004
Permanent Constitution issued; Article 1 makes the Sharia the principal source of legislation
15 Sept 2014
Law No. 14 of 2014 on Combating Cybercrimes issued, obliging service providers to block links on judicial orders
22 Oct 2018
Ministerial Decision No. 312 of 2018 regulates promotional prize draws, requiring a licence and free entry
2019
Law No. 20 of 2019 on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing replaces the 2010 law; Qatar Central Bank circulars prohibit virtual assets
10 Feb 2022
Ministry of Interior arrests a man filmed gambling in a labour accommodation area
Feb 2023
FATF adopts the Qatar mutual evaluation, recording that gambling, including online gambling, is prohibited and no casinos may operate
27 May 2023
Ministry of Interior breaks up a gambling operation at a house and arrests 19 people
8 Dec 2023
Ministry of Interior arrests 50 people for online gambling at a residence
Outlook
Nothing points to legalisation: no bill, consultation or licensing plan on gambling was found, and Articles 274 to 277 of the Penal Code remain unamended. What to watch is enforcement: further Ministry of Interior raids on gambling at residences and online, and whether money laundering cases with gambling as the predicate, six of which were opened in 2020 and 2021, reach trial.
Frequently asked questions
- Is gambling legal in Qatar?
- No. Articles 274 to 277 of the Penal Code of 2004 punish playing any gambling game and running or organising gambling, and no law provides a licence for any form of gambling. There are no casinos and no lottery.
- Is online gambling legal in Qatar?
- No. The Penal Code does not mention online play, but Article 275 punishes anyone who plays any gambling game, Article 13 treats an offence as committed in Qatar if any part of it or its result occurs there, and the 2023 FATF-MENAFATF evaluation records that online gambling is prohibited, including in the Qatar Financial Centre.
- What are the penalties for gambling in Qatar?
- A player faces up to three months in prison and a fine of up to QAR 3,000, rising to six months and QAR 6,000 in a public place or a place prepared for gambling. Running a gambling place or organising gambling carries up to one year and up to QAR 5,000. The court must also confiscate the money and tools and close the premises.
- How does Qatar enforce the ban?
- Through Ministry of Interior raids authorised by the Public Prosecution. In May 2023 it arrested 19 people at a house run as a gambling venue, and in December 2023 it arrested 50 people for online gambling at a residence. Six money laundering investigations with gambling as the predicate were opened in 2020 and 2021.
- Are prize draws allowed in Qatar?
- Only as sales promotions licensed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry under Decision No. 312 of 2018. Entry must be free, the prizes must be specified in advance, and the draw is held in public in the presence of a judicial officer.
Sources
- قانون رقم (11) لسنة 2004 بإصدار قانون العقوبات: الفصل الثالث (جرائم السكر والقمار والتسول)، المواد 274 إلى 277
Al Meezan, Qatar Legal Portal (official legislation portal of the State of Qatar)
The Al Meezan record gives the law date as 10 May 2004 and publication in Official Gazette No. 7 of 30 May 2004, page 53, status in force. Articles 274 to 277 carry no amendment marker; Article 278 (begging) was replaced by Law No. 28 of 2006. Al Meezan notes that its text is not to be treated as the official version, which is the Official Gazette.
Tier 1Accessed 24 Sept 2026Published 30 May 2004 - Law No. 11 of 2004 Issuing the Penal Code: Drinking, Gambling and Begging, Articles 274 to 277 (English version)
Al Meezan, Qatar Legal Portal (official legislation portal of the State of Qatar) (translated)
The English version is a translation. It renders Article 274 as a game whose outcome "depends on uncontrolled chance" and compresses the Article 275 aggravation; the Arabic text, which this record follows, applies the higher penalty where the offence takes place in a public place, a place open to the public, or a place or house prepared for gambling.
Tier 1Accessed 24 Sept 2026Published 30 May 2004 - قانون العقوبات رقم (11) لسنة 2004: الباب الثاني، نطاق سريان القانون، المواد 9 إلى 20
Al Meezan, Qatar Legal Portal (official legislation portal of the State of Qatar)
Tier 1Accessed 24 Sept 2026Published 30 May 2004 - Law No. 11 of 2004 Issuing the Penal Code: Issuance Articles 1 to 3
Al Meezan, Qatar Legal Portal (official legislation portal of the State of Qatar) (translated)
Tier 1Accessed 24 Sept 2026Published 30 May 2004 - The Permanent Constitution of the State of Qatar (8 June 2004), Part One, Article 1
Al Meezan, Qatar Legal Portal (official legislation portal of the State of Qatar) (translated)
Tier 1Accessed 24 Sept 2026Published 8 Jun 2004 - قانون رقم (14) لسنة 2014 بإصدار قانون مكافحة الجرائم الإلكترونية: المادة 21 (التزامات مزودي الخدمة)
Al Meezan, Qatar Legal Portal (official legislation portal of the State of Qatar)
Tier 1Accessed 24 Sept 2026Published 15 Sept 2014 - قانون رقم (14) لسنة 2014 بإصدار قانون مكافحة الجرائم الإلكترونية: الباب الخامس، الأحكام العامة، المادة 53
Al Meezan, Qatar Legal Portal (official legislation portal of the State of Qatar)
Tier 1Accessed 24 Sept 2026Published 15 Sept 2014 - قرار وزير الاقتصاد والتجارة رقم (312) لسنة 2018 بتنظيم ترويج بيع السلع والخدمات عن طريق الإعلانات أو السحب على جوائز أو توزيع هدايا (22 أكتوبر 2018)
Al Meezan, Qatar Legal Portal (official legislation portal of the State of Qatar)
Tier 1Accessed 24 Sept 2026Published 22 Oct 2018 - Apply for Promotion License (Ministry of Commerce and Industry service)
Hukoomi, Qatar Government e-services portal
Tier 1Accessed 24 Sept 2026 - Anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures: Qatar, Fourth Round Mutual Evaluation Report (adopted at the FATF February 2023 Plenary, published May 2023), paras 55, 61, 86 and 213, Tables 3.9, 3.14 and 3.15, criteria 3.9, 15.5, 22.1 and 28.1
FATF and MENAFATF
The FATF site returned HTTP 403 to direct requests on 2026-09-24, so the PDF linked from the FATF publication page was read from the Internet Archive capture of the same file (10 February 2026). Criterion 28.1 cites Penal Code Articles 275 and 276 and gives the organiser fine as QAR 5,000, which matches Article 276; the player penalties in Article 275 are lower (QAR 3,000, or QAR 6,000 in aggravated cases).
Archived copyTier 2Accessed 24 Sept 2026Published May 2023 - The Criminal Investigation Department arrested 50 individuals of Asian descent for engaging in online gambling at a residence
Ministry of Interior, State of Qatar (official X account)
The post rendered with a time of 21:11 on 7 December 2023 in the fetching browser's time zone, which is early on 8 December in Qatar; Gulf Times reported the statement as made on Friday 8 December 2023.
Tier 1Accessed 24 Sept 2026Published 8 Dec 2023 - تمكنت إدارة البحث الجنائي بالإدارة العامة للمباحث الجنائية من ضبط شخص من الجنسية الآسيوية لقيامه بممارسة لعب القمار في إحدى مناطق تجمع العمالة
Ministry of Interior, State of Qatar (official Arabic X account)
Tier 1Accessed 24 Sept 2026Published 10 Feb 2022 - 50 nabbed for online gambling
Gulf Times
Tier 3Accessed 24 Sept 2026Published 8 Dec 2023 - Tier 3Accessed 24 Sept 2026Published 27 May 2023