Iran is located in Asia and the southwest Asian region and shares boarders with with Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The Islamic Republic of Iran was formed on April 1, 1979. Iran has very strict laws against gambling and as such it can be difficult for the individuals who want to gamble. Nevertheless, one has to know more about the legal framework, background, and present situation of online sports betting platforms and betting sites in Iran.
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Table of Contents
Summary of Key Events
Understanding Iran’s Gambling Laws
Laws against gambling in Iran are enshrised in the Islamic (Shari’ah) law which does not allow gambling in any form. This prohibition is seen in Iran’s Penal Code and Civil Code.
Historical Context
- 1979 Revolution: The departure of the Shah in 1979 was the start of stringent measures on gambling in the country of Iran. Since then, gambling has been outlawed and the offender is dealt with severely in accordance with the law.
- Article 705 of Islamic Penal Code: This article indicates that gambling is prohibited and the offenders shall be subjected to one to six months imprisonment or up to seventy four lashes. Both the above stated punishments are attracted by public gambling.
Regulatory of Betting Sites in Iran
There are no specialized gambling authorities in Iran because gambling is strictly prohibited, but law enforcement takes measures against the identified unlawful gambling activities.
- Law Enforcement: Different governmental agencies in Iran have played a role in closing down the said gambling activities. In March 2024, they takedown the biggest online gambling site Nitro Bet.
Prohibited and Permitted Bets
- Prohibited: A kind of betting is considered as unlawful no matter whether it is offline or online betting for sporting events and any other games, such as casinos etc.
- Permitted: None; there is no form of legal gambling as provided in the laws drawn by the government.
Licensing and Fees
- Iran does not offer gambling licenses since gambling itself is prohibited in the country. As such, there are no related charges or policies concerning the licensure of gambling in the country.
Iran’s Gambling Taxation
- As gambling is unlawful in Iran there is no legal provision for specific gambling taxes for citizens. In the same regard, like with clubs, there’s no taxation instituted for gambling profits for players.
Still Operating Betting Sites in Iran
Nonetheless, ey matching prohibited by law and some betting sites have been active in the covert in Iran. However, such operations always face a high risk of closure by the authorities either through direct force or under pressure from pressure groups and other stakeholders.
22Bet
22Bet: A regional bookmaker that evolved after the legal framework in the country changed and gained much market after satisfying the new requirements.
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1xBet
1xBet: An online betting firm that was faced difficulties in penetrating the Iranian market given the existing rules and other local enterprises.
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Betandyou
Betandyou: A sports betting system that was popular for its variety of bets both highly popular foreign sports and local championships and the active formation of a community of active wagerers.
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Megapari
Megapari: A betting site that is optimized for mobile devices and that took advantage of the high mobile usage across the region as well as mobile betting which has been on the rise.
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Milestone Events in Iranian Sports
Iran has a fairly long list of great sporting achievements with many events of historical relevance;
- Birthplace of Polo (6th century BC): Polo is recognized as one of the earliest team games; it was developed in Iran.
- Freestyle Wrestling: Considered as the Iranian national favourite sport, its team being internationally recognised and Olympic champions.
- Football Success: Currently the Iran famous or national football team has won three times the Asian cup also qualified for the FIFA World Cup in 1978.
Sports Star Glory
Iran has been able to produce several sports personalities that have performed well on the international stage;
Ali Daei: The man who was the captain of the Iranian national football team and the record holder for goal scoring amongst the male players.
Hossein Rezazadeh: An Olympic gold medalist (weightlifter) of 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympics and a four time World Weightlifting champion.
Saeid Marouf: Head coach of the Iran’s men volleyball team.
Gambling Laws in Neighboring Countries
Below is a brief of the legal and regulatory framework of gambling within three countries that border each other.
Turkey:
- Legal status: Turkish law allows gambling, though this can be said of many countries across the world today.
- Regulatory agency: Viz Spor Toto of the Directorate of the Ministry of Finance.
- Licenses issued: The licenses are acquired for the conduct of sports betting and lotteries.
Iraq:
- Legal status: Most types of gambling are prohibited but the state may formally sanction them on condition that they obtain licences.
- Regulatory agency: The Ministry of Tourism;
- Licenses issued: A special event license that usually covers some types of gambling events for a limited period.
Pakistan:
- Legal status: Gambling is not permitted in Pakistan and this law remains upheld to this day.
- Regulatory agency: The Federal Investigation Agency which is a federal government agency for security enforcement and criminal investigations.
- Licenses issued: There are no licenses that are given to persons or companies that intend on engage in gambling activities.
Conclusion
Engaging in gambling is unlawful and prohibited in the Islamic Republic of Iran as per Sharia law; therefore, it is very risky and even more, challenging. Nevertheless, there are betting sites which are in operation but are at the verge of being closed by the police.
FAQ of Betting Sites in Iran
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