The rules and regulations around betting in Dubai
In the majority of Islamic countries gambling, in any form, is illegal due to religious reasons. Islam condemns gambling as the Quran states that it's a source of addiction and that it leads to people neglecting more other important duties
The United Arab Emirates in its entirety is an Islamic country, meaning that despite it being one of the most glamorous and wealthy places in the world, gambling can often be a grey area in Dubai. Across the board gambling is illegal in Dubai, and if you're found guilty of this you could face up to two years in jail.
Casino Gambling
If you're heading to Dubai with the hope of finding various promotions and bonuses to take advantage of, then you're out of luck. Casino gambling, both traditional and mobile is prohibited in Dubai. In some other countries where casino is illegal they often have 'Casino Ships' docked just off the coast. However in Dubai even international ships that enter the waters of Dubai are constrained by the anti-gambling laws. Despite the facts these ships may host top of the range casino facilities, they will have to remain unused for as long as they are docked in Dubai.
Poker
There is no rule outlawing the game of poker in Dubai, however you'll be hard pushed to find anywhere to actually play it due to the lack of casinos. Online sites that allow you to play poker are also banned for IP addresses registered in the U.A.E, however there has been some talk of the that these rules aren't quite as stringent in some areas.The law regarding VPN's also states that people found to be altering or using fraudulent IP addresses will be punished with at a fine at minimum, and in some cases temporary imprisonment.
Lottery
In keeping with the U.A.E gambling rules and legislation there is no state lottery in any of the seven emirates; (Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain). The closest thing to a lottery is the 'Multi Millionaire' raffle that is organised by the Dubai Duty Free. Tickets for the 'Multi Millionaire' are sold in the airports of Dubai and Abu-Dhabi but are also available online. This is an international raffle, or lottery with the winner receiving $1 million and other prizes such as cars and motorcycles being given away.
Sports betting
One area where you see a slight link to betting in Dubai is in sports. The Nad Al Sheba based Meydan racecourse is considered to be one of the best in the world and is host to the Dubai World Cup; one of the most famous sporting events on the calendar.
Although placing bets on the races at Meydan isn't something that's readily available there will be people who are looking to exploit the fact that gambling is illegal. These illegal gambling vendors are always present at the races and should be avoided.
On the whole, if you're looking to visit somewhere with beautiful views and some of the most iconic scenery in the world the Dubai is the place for you. If you're trying to find somewhere to go and place a bet, then Dubai might not be for you.
