Yemen: gambling regulation and licensing
- Online sports bettingProhibited
- Online casinoProhibited
- Online pokerProhibited
- iLotteryProhibited
- Horse race bettingProhibited
- Land-based (reference)Prohibited
- Regulator
- Not yet verified
- Headline tax
- Not yet verified
- Licence required
- Not yet verified
- Last verified
- 24 Sept 2026
Summary
Yemen has no gambling licensing regime and no gambling regulator. Article 3 of the Constitution makes Islamic Sharia the source of all legislation, and both the civil and the criminal law treat gambling as unlawful. The Civil Code (Law No. 14 of 2002, art. 1096) declares every gambling or betting contract void and unenforceable and says both parties are to be punished under the Penal Code, and a player who loses may recover what he paid whatever the contract says (art. 1097). The Penal Code (Republican Decree Law No. 12 of 1994) defines gambling in art. 286 as anything in which the chance of gain or loss depends on factors that cannot be determined or controlled in advance, even where skill is involved. Article 287 punishes anyone caught gambling in a public place with up to six months in prison or a fine of up to YER 2,000, and anyone who runs a gambling place, allows gambling in a public place or helps organise it with up to two years or a fine of up to YER 6,000, with confiscation of stakes and equipment and closure of the premises for up to a year. The Code does not mention the internet, but it applies wherever any part of an offence takes place in Yemen (art. 3). MENAFATF recorded in 2008 and again in 2014 that casinos are prohibited, which is why they sit outside the anti-money laundering regime, and gambling is a predicate offence for money laundering. No lottery, gambling tax, licensed operator, official market data or pending legislation was found.
Common pitfalls
Reading the Penal Code's silence on the internet as permission: gambling contracts are void under Civil Code art. 1096 and there is no licence to obtain. Quoting the art. 287 fines as a measure of risk: YER 2,000 and YER 6,000 are the 1994 amounts, and the consolidated texts show no later change to them, but prison terms of up to two years sit alongside them. Treating the art. 286 exclusion for races and sporting prizes as a carve-out for betting: it covers the prize paid to a competitor, while wagers are betting contracts void under art. 1096.
Key facts
- Regulator
- Not yet verified
- Regulator type
- No dedicated regulator
- Headline tax
- Not yet verified
- Licence required
- Not yet verified
- Minimum age
- Not yet verified
- Tax base
- Not yet verified
Legal framework
Primary statutes
Republican Decree Law No. 12 of 1994 on Crimes and Penalties (Penal Code), arts. 286 and 287
قرار جمهوري بالقانون رقم (12) لسنة 1994م بشأن الجرائم والعقوبات
- Year
- 1994
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Chapter 5 of the Code covers alcohol, gambling and drugs. Art. 286 defines gambling as anything in which the chance of gain or loss depends on factors that cannot be determined or controlled in advance, even where skill is involved, and excludes races, shooting and prizes for the winner of a sporting or scientific competition. Art. 287 punishes gambling in a public place and running or organising gambling. Issued in Sana'a on 12 October 1994 and in force from that date (art. 325).
Law No. 14 of 2002 on the Civil Code, arts. 1096 to 1102
قانون رقم (14) لسنة 2002م بشأن القانون المدني
- Year
- 2002
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Art. 1096 declares every gambling or betting contract void and unenforceable and says both parties are punished under the Penal Code; art. 1097 lets anyone who lost at gambling or betting recover what he paid, whatever the contract says, and prove it by any means. Arts. 1098 to 1102 allow races for a prize in horses, camels, shooting and war machines such as cars and aircraft on conditions, chiefly that the prize comes from someone other than the competitors.
Constitution of the Republic of Yemen, art. 3
دستور الجمهورية اليمنية
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Islamic Sharia is the source of all legislation.
Secondary instruments
Law No. 1 of 2010 on Combating Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism, as amended by Law No. 17 of 2013
- Year
- 2010
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Art. 3 lists among the predicate offences for money laundering activities prohibited by Sharia, such as gambling. Casinos are absent from the list of designated non-financial businesses because Penal Code arts. 286 and 287 prohibit them (MENAFATF, 2014). The text was read in the MENAFATF report, not on an official Yemeni host.
Law No. 25 of 1990 on the Press and Publications, arts. 68 and 103
قانون رقم (25) لسنة 1990م بشأن الصحافة والمطبوعات
- Year
- 1990
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Advertising agencies need a licence from the Ministry of Culture (art. 68), and the press, broadcasters and publishers must not publish adverts containing words or images that conflict with Islamic values and public morals (art. 103(10)); breaches carry a fine of up to YER 10,000 or up to a year in prison (art. 104).
Licensing
- Licence required
- Not yet verified
- Application window
- Not yet verified
- Local establishment required
- Not yet verified
- Local server required
- Not yet verified
- Barriers to entry
- There is no licensing route for any form of gambling, online or land-based, and no gambling regulator. Gambling and betting contracts are void (Civil Code art. 1096) and running or organising gambling is a criminal offence (Penal Code art. 287). No licensed lottery was found.
Compliance
- Minimum age
- Not yet verified
- National self-exclusion
- Not yet verified
- AML regime
- Casinos are not a designated non-financial business under AML/CFT Law No. 1 of 2010 as amended by Law No. 17 of 2013, because Penal Code arts. 286 and 287 prohibit them; gambling is a predicate offence for money laundering under art. 3 of that law (MENAFATF, 2014).
- KYC requirements
- Not yet verified
- Stake limits
- Not yet verified
Advertising
- Advertising permitted
- Not yet verified
- Penalties for breach
- A fine of up to YER 10,000 or up to one year in prison, unless another law sets a heavier penalty (Press and Publications Law art. 104).
Restrictions
- No gambling-specific advertising rule was found.
- The press, broadcasters and publishers must not publish adverts containing words or images that conflict with Islamic values and public morals, or that mislead the public (Press and Publications Law No. 25 of 1990, art. 103(10))
- Advertising offices and agencies need a written licence from the Ministry of Culture (art. 68)
Payments
- Credit card ban
- Not yet verified
- Crypto stance
- Not yet verified
- Currency restrictions
- No gambling-specific payment rule was found. Electronic payment and transfer services need a Central Bank of Yemen licence: on 26 June 2024 the Central Bank told all banks and exchange companies not to deal with 12 named e-wallets and payment services operating without one.
Enforcement
- ISP blocking
- Not yet verified
- DNS blocking
- Not yet verified
- Payment blocking
- Not yet verified
- App store takedowns
- Not yet verified
- Criminal penalties
- Running a place for games of chance, allowing gambling in a public place or taking part in organising or supervising it: up to two years in prison or a fine of up to YER 6,000; gambling in a public place: up to six months or a fine of up to YER 2,000. Furniture, equipment and stakes are confiscated and the public premises closed for up to a year (Penal Code art. 287).
- Operator liability
- Criminal liability under Penal Code art. 287 for anyone who runs a place for games of chance, allows gambling in a public place, or takes part in any capacity in organising or supervising the play. Any gambling contract is void (Civil Code art. 1096).
- Player liability
- Anyone caught gambling in a public place faces up to six months in prison or a fine of up to YER 2,000 (Penal Code art. 287(1)). The Civil Code says both parties to a gambling contract are punished under the Penal Code (art. 1096) and lets a losing player recover what he paid (art. 1097). No offence specific to gambling online was found.
Timeline
12 Oct 1994
The Penal Code, Republican Decree Law No. 12 of 1994, is issued and takes effect; art. 286 defines gambling and art. 287 punishes running or organising gambling and gambling in a public place
10 Apr 2002
The Civil Code, Law No. 14 of 2002, declares gambling and betting contracts void (art. 1096)
17 Jun 2014
MENAFATF's seventh follow-up report records that casinos are prohibited under Penal Code arts. 286 and 287 and that gambling is a money laundering predicate offence
26 Jun 2024
The Central Bank of Yemen bars banks and exchange companies from dealing with 12 unlicensed e-wallets and payment services
Outlook
No bill, consultation, licensing round or court case on gambling was found in this review, so no change is scheduled for the next 12 months. No official statement was found on blocking offshore betting sites or payments to them.
Frequently asked questions
- Is online gambling legal in Yemen?
- No. There is no licence for it, every gambling or betting contract is void under Civil Code art. 1096, and the Penal Code punishes running or organising gambling (art. 287). The Penal Code does not mention the internet specifically, but it applies wherever any part of an offence takes place in Yemen.
- Can a foreign operator obtain a licence?
- No. Yemen has no gambling regulator and no licensing regime for any form of gambling, online or land-based.
- Is it an offence to play?
- Gambling in a public place is punishable by up to six months in prison or a fine of up to YER 2,000 (Penal Code art. 287(1)). No offence specific to playing online was found, but the Civil Code says both parties to a gambling contract are punished under the Penal Code, and a losing player may recover what he paid (arts. 1096 and 1097).
- Is there a national lottery?
- No lottery law or licensed lottery was found. A lottery falls within the definition of gambling in Penal Code art. 286.
- Are prize competitions and races allowed?
- Yes, within limits. Penal Code art. 286 excludes races, shooting and prizes for the winner of a sporting or scientific competition from gambling, and Civil Code arts. 1098 to 1102 allow races for a prize in horses, camels, shooting and war machines such as cars and aircraft where the prize comes from someone other than the competitors. Bets on the outcome remain void betting contracts.
Sources
- Republican Decree Law No. 12 of 1994 on Crimes and Penalties, as amended, arts. 3, 103, 286 and 287
Public Prosecution of the Republic of Yemen (Attorney General's Office, Aden) (translated)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 12 Oct 1994 - Republican Decree Law No. 12 of 1994 on Crimes and Penalties (consolidated text, Official Gazette No. 19, part 3, 1994)
Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, Sana'a (translated)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 12 Oct 1994 - Law No. 14 of 2002 on the Civil Code, arts. 1096 to 1102 (gambling, betting and races)
House of Representatives of the Republic of Yemen (translated)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 10 Apr 2002 - Republican Decree Law No. 14 of 2002 on the Civil Code, arts. 1096 to 1102
Public Prosecution of the Republic of Yemen (Attorney General's Office, Aden) (translated)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 10 Apr 2002 - Constitution of the Republic of Yemen, art. 3
Public Prosecution of the Republic of Yemen (Attorney General's Office, Aden) (translated)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Law No. 25 of 1990 on the Press and Publications, arts. 68, 103 and 104
Public Prosecution of the Republic of Yemen (Attorney General's Office, Aden) (translated)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Executive Summary of the Mutual Evaluation Report of the Republic of Yemen on AML/CFT (adopted April 2008), para. 28
Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF)
Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Mutual Evaluation Report, 7th Follow-Up Report for Yemen, paras. 130 and 131 and the text of Law No. 1 of 2010, art. 3
Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF)
Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 17 Jun 2014 - Central Bank of Yemen circular banning dealings with unlicensed entities, e-wallets and electronic payment services
Central Bank of Yemen (head office, Aden) (translated)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 26 Jun 2024