Is Gambling Legal In Pakistan
- Mali – only legal for foreign visitors. Malta – gambling services need a license from the government, this is up to R. to apply for. Poland – everything but online sports betting is illegal. Portugal – gambling services need a license from the government, this is up to R.
- In spite of Pakistan being a Muslim country, and one that has some very conservative laws towards gambling, they actually do have some forms of legal gambling here. For instance, they allow betting on horse races, based upon a particular interpretation of Islamic law.
- The laws running through Pakistan are exceptionally strict. Not solely about gambling, but generally speaking, laws within the country are very much upheld by a powerful government. Playing at an online casino actually constitutes as operating a gambling den there, and for this, anyone found to be playing at such can face serious jail time.
Gambling is subject to heavy restrictions under Pakistani law, with certain exceptions.
LAHORE, Dec 26: Six gambling dens are being run at public places in the city allegedly under the nose of men from a law enforcement agency. One of them that located in the heart of the city at. Slots and other forms of gambling have been legal in the United Kingdom since 1961. The gambling laws in the UK are flexible enough to permit individuals at least 18 years of age to play games of chance and bet on sports. When it comes to downloading casino apps, age is even lower.
Legislation[edit]
Gambling is illegal for citizens under the Prevention of Gambling Act 1977, which is based on the British-era Public Gambling Act of 1867. In 1978, the provincial versions of this act were brought into effect.[1] This legislation replaced the earlier laws such as the Baluchistan Prevention of Gambling Ordinance of 1961, West Pakistan Prevention of Gambling Ordinance of 1961, Punjab Prevention of Gambling Ordinance of 1961 and the Sindh Prevention of Gambling Ordinance of 1961.[2]
Under this act, individuals found conducting gambling-related activities may face penalties of varying nature according to the circumstances.[2] Those who knowingly operate gambling facilities may face fines of up to 1,000 rupees or a maximum imprisonment of up to one year, or both.[2] Individuals who are discovered engaging in the act of gambling at 'common gaming houses' are liable for fines of up to 5,000 rupees, a maximum imprisonment of one year, or both. The definition of a common gaming house includes any facility where there is evidence of gaming through the use of playing cards, dice, counters, money or instruments.[2] For people who gamble in public places, the penalty may comprise a fine of up to 500 rupees, a maximum one year of imprisonment, or both. Likewise, individuals who are found gambling in private facilities risk a fine of up to 1,000 rupees, a term of imprisonment extending up to two years, or both.[2]Repeat offenders may face fines extending up to 2,000 rupees or an imprisonment of up to three years, or both.[2] The legislation grants law enforcement agencies the authority to enter and search any premises which is reported or suspected of having acting as a gaming facility.[2]
This law provides an exception for 'tourist complexes,' which would be regulated by the relevant provincial governments, and to which only foreigners are admitted.[2]
References[edit]
- ^Riaz, Haroon (30 January 2016). 'Why Pakistan should legalise gambling'. The Nation. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- ^ abcdefgh'The Prevention of Gambling Act, 1977'(PDF). National Assembly of Pakistan. 25 May 1977. Retrieved 19 April 2020.Cite has empty unknown parameter:
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Why Is Gambling on the Rise in Pakistan?
Contents
Gambling interest in Pakistan has been on a steady upline in the past few years and it looks like the trend will continue in 2021 and forward as well. This is a sensitive topic when it comes to Pakistani people hence why it is illegal to operate gambling facilities or interact with such games offline. That being said, the laws don’t cover online gambling which leaves it in a gray area benefiting people that are interested in these types of games.
In this article you’ll learn while online gambling is on the rise in Pakistan. You’ll also find out about the laws on offline and online gambling. Laws are usually one of the roadblocks for why casinos cannot offer games to the general public. Finally, we will take a look at the top 3 most popular online casinos games in Pakistan.
Online and Offline Pakistan Gambling Laws
Before we continue, I need to mention that I am not an expert in the field. That’s why I had to reach out to such experts to get accurate information and thanks to Luke from roulettesites.org I was able to gather all the information I needed since the laws in the country are a bit odd.
Based on the Prevention of Gambling Act 1977 you cannot gamble in Pakistan. The idea behind the law is to prevent people from getting addicted to gambling and losing all of their money.
However, the country is losing out on a lot of tax money, which could be used to improve the country. Gambling is a big industry and for that reason governments can expect to accumulate a lot of taxes, but currently that is not happening.
Why Gambling Is Becoming Popular in Pakistan
While talking with Luke, we’ve tried to come up with the main reasons why Pakistani people suddenly became very interested in gambling. Most of the common reasons are:
- Access: with the amount of online casinos, it is easier now than ever before to create an account and play. In fact, you can access most casino games using your smartphone by downloading the app. The convenience means that you can play these games when you are out and about.
- Bonus offers: there are so many bonus offers available today that it makes it hard not to take advantage of them. The top casinos are trying to compete for new customers and for that reason the bonus offers can be huge. Also, most casinos offer a rewards program where you get rewards the more you play.
- Games: with so much choice you can play casino games for a long time before getting bored. The average casino provides hundreds of slot games for you to explore. Also, there are live casino games that enable you to interact with the dealer when playing.
These are just some of the main reasons why in Pakistan the popularity of gambling is growing. There are other reasons for the stable growth, but these were the main ones.
Top 3 Popular Games in Pakistan
Lastly, I asked Luke on which games are most popular in Pakistan. Based on his data, these were the games most popular with gamblers:
Is Gambling Legal In Pakistan Today
- Cricket: Cricket has and always will be the most popular sport in Pakistan. The game is heavily watched and played in Asia but specifically in India and Pakistan which tend to face off several times a year. In the last 3 years, betting on these matches have been more broadly accepted by viewers of the game which tends to also attract even more gambling sites to the country.
- Bingo: Bingo, or as some might heard of it as “Beano” has been on the rise as well. The game is fairly simple, luck based and has several variations of the game. That being said, the classical version of the game seems to be the most popular choice for Pakistani people. I was personally surprised that people were interested in Bingo in Pakistan. I was expecting slot games to be the second most popular game, but I guess I can’t argue with data.
- Poker: The classic Texas style of poker seems to be one of the most popular card games in Pakistan. The rules are fairly simple, but the whole idea behind the game is not to only focus on your hand but to focus on other players as well. Expressions, emotions and habits are sometimes more important that the hand you’re dealt with hence why the expression “Poker face” is often used.
Gambling Law In Pakistan
Final Thoughts
As you’ve learnt from this article the popularity of gambling in Pakistan is growing rapidly. Therefore, you can get in on the action by taking a look at a few of the games mentioned in this article. If you are thinking of trying out one of the games above, Luke has recommended taking advantage of the welcome bonuses that most gambling platforms offer.