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Is Gambling Legal in Yemen?

Prohibited
All forms of gambling are strictly banned under Yemeni law and Sharia principles; there is no legal or regulatory framework for gambling.
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    Key Information Highlights Legislation Timeline Requirements Sources

    Key Information

    Last Update 2025
    Regulatory Authority None
    License Cost Varies

    Regulation by Activity Type

    Casinos Prohibited
    Online Casinos Prohibited
    Betting Prohibited
    Online Betting Prohibited
    Lotteries Prohibited
    Poker Prohibited

    Highlights

    • All forms of gambling are strictly prohibited under Yemeni law, reflecting the country's adherence to Islamic Sharia principles.
    • There is no official licensing framework for gambling operators; no licenses are issued for land-based or online gambling.
    • Online gambling, including casino and sports betting sites, is illegal and unregulated, with access often limited to offshore platforms.
    • No specific taxation system exists for gambling activities, as all such activities are considered unlawful and not recognized by authorities.
    • Enforcement is strict, with penalties for illegal gambling including fines and possible imprisonment under local laws.
    • No consumer protections or responsible gambling measures are mandated, leaving players exposed to potential fraud and abuse.
    • Cryptocurrency and decentralized finance platforms are increasingly used by some Yemenis due to lack of formal regulation and access to traditional banking.
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      Legislation

      Primary Legislation

      Yemen’s legal framework governing gambling is rooted in Islamic Sharia law, which is the foundation of the country’s entire legal system. Under Sharia law, all forms of gambling are strictly prohibited. This absolute prohibition is reflected in Yemen’s national legislation, which criminalizes both the participation in and facilitation of any gambling activities, including land-based and online gambling. There are no specific gambling laws or regulatory acts separate from Sharia; instead, the prohibition is enforced through the general application of Islamic law and the country’s penal code. As a result, there are no legal avenues for any type of gambling, including lotteries, casinos, sports betting, or online gaming within Yemen.

      Regulatory Authority

      There is no dedicated gambling regulatory authority in Yemen. Oversight and enforcement of the gambling prohibition fall under the general jurisdiction of the country’s law enforcement agencies and judicial system, which are responsible for upholding Sharia law and the provisions of the penal code. No government body exists to license, regulate, or supervise gambling operations, as all such activities are categorically banned.
      • Enforcement of gambling bans is managed by law enforcement and judicial authorities.
      • No specialized agency or commission exists for gambling regulation.
      • All regulatory actions are carried out within the broader framework of upholding Sharia law.

      License Types

      Overview of Gambling Licensing System in Yemen

      Yemen does not have a formal gambling licensing system. All forms of gambling, including land-based and online activities, are strictly prohibited under Yemeni law, which is based on Islamic (Sharia) principles. As a result, there is no governmental authority or regulatory body that issues licenses for any type of gambling operation within the country.

      Types of Gambling Licenses Available

      • No licenses are available for any gambling activities in Yemen.
      • This includes casinos, sports betting, lotteries, poker rooms, and online gambling platforms.

      Application Process and Eligibility

      • There is no application process for gambling licenses in Yemen, as no such licenses are issued or recognized.
      • No eligibility criteria exist for operators, as all gambling activities are illegal.

      Duration, Renewal, and Maintenance of Licenses

      • There are no provisions for license duration, renewal, or ongoing maintenance, as gambling licenses do not exist in Yemen.

      Licensing Costs and Financial Requirements

      • No fees or financial requirements are stipulated for gambling licenses, since the licensing system is non-existent.

      Key Requirements for Obtaining and Maintaining a License

      • There are no requirements or regulatory standards for obtaining or maintaining a gambling license in Yemen, as all forms of gambling are banned and unlicensed activity is subject to legal penalties.

      Summary Table: Gambling Licensing in Yemen

      Aspect Status in Yemen
      Types of licenses available None
      Application process Not applicable
      Eligibility Not applicable
      Duration/renewal Not applicable
      Costs/fees Not applicable
      Key requirements Not applicable
      In summary, Yemen has a complete prohibition on all forms of gambling and does not operate or recognize any system for the licensing of gambling activities. Any gambling operations, whether land-based or online, are unlicensed and illegal under Yemeni law.

      Gambling Tax

      Tax Rates for Gambling Operators in Yemen

      Currently, Yemen does not have any formal taxation system for gambling operators. All forms of gambling, including land-based and online operations, are strictly prohibited under both state law and Sharia law. As a result, there are no legal gambling operators within the country, and therefore no established tax rates for any type of gambling activity.

      Basis for Taxation

      • There is no legal basis for gambling taxation in Yemen, as gambling activities are not recognized or permitted by law.
      • No framework exists for taxing Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR), turnover, or any other metric related to gambling operations.

      Tax Reporting and Payment Requirements

      • Since gambling is entirely illegal and unregulated, there are no tax reporting or payment procedures applicable to gambling operators.
      • No government body or authority is designated to oversee gambling-related tax matters.

      Tax Incentives, Exemptions, or Special Provisions

      • No tax incentives, exemptions, or special provisions exist for gambling operators, as the activity is not legally recognized.
      • There are no provisions for the taxation of winnings or for the operation of gambling businesses.

      Summary Table: Gambling Operator Taxation in Yemen

      Gambling Type Tax Rate Tax Basis Reporting/Payment Incentives/Exemptions
      All (land-based, online, betting, casino, lottery) Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable
      In summary, Yemen does not levy any taxes on gambling operators because all forms of gambling are illegal and unregulated. There are no official procedures, rates, or incentives related to gambling taxation.

      Prohibited Individuals

      Age Restrictions and Identification Requirements

      There are no formal age restrictions or identification requirements for gambling in Yemen. This is because all forms of gambling are strictly prohibited under both national law and Islamic (Sharia) law. As a result, there are no legal gambling venues or regulated platforms where age verification could be enforced. The concept of a legal gambling age or mandatory ID checks is not applicable in the Yemeni context.

      Prohibited Activities and Game Restrictions

      • All forms of gambling are completely banned. This includes, but is not limited to:
        • Casinos (land-based and online)
        • Sports betting (retail and online)
        • Poker and other card games for money
        • Lotteries and instant-win games
        • Slot machines and gambling terminals
        • Bingo, keno, and similar games of chance
      • No exceptions or carve-outs exist for any specific gambling product or activity.
      • Operating, promoting, or participating in any form of gambling—whether in-person or online—is illegal.
      • Attempts to access foreign online gambling sites are technically prohibited, and the government employs internet filtering to block such platforms.

      Advertising and Marketing Limitations

      • All advertising and marketing of gambling services is strictly forbidden.
      • No legal gambling operators exist within Yemen, so there are no permitted gambling advertisements in any media (print, broadcast, digital, or outdoor).
      • Promotion of gambling, including sponsorship or endorsement of events, teams, or products by gambling brands, is not allowed.
      • Any attempt to market or promote foreign gambling sites to Yemeni residents is also illegal and subject to enforcement actions.

      Responsible Gambling Requirements and Player Protection Measures

      • There are no responsible gambling requirements or player protection measures in place, as all gambling is banned.
      • No legal framework exists for self-exclusion, deposit limits, loss limits, or responsible gambling information.
      • There are no government or regulated support services for problem gambling.
      • Players who choose to gamble illegally (e.g., via underground operators or foreign websites) do so entirely at their own risk, with no consumer protections or recourse in case of fraud or disputes.

      Geographic or Location Restrictions

      • Gambling venues of any kind are not permitted anywhere in Yemen, including hotels, clubs, or private establishments.
      • There are no designated zones or exceptions for gambling in any part of the country; the prohibition is nationwide and absolute.
      • Online gambling is also blocked at the national level, with government efforts to restrict access to foreign gambling websites through internet filtering.
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        Timeline

        Year/Date Event
        1962 Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) adopts a constitution referencing Islamic law (Sharia) as a key legal source, laying the groundwork for future prohibitions on gambling.
        1990 Unification of North Yemen and South Yemen forms the Republic of Yemen, establishing a national legal framework based on Sharia law, which strictly prohibits all forms of gambling.
        1994 The Yemeni Constitution is amended to reaffirm Sharia law as the basis for all legislation, explicitly banning gambling activities nationwide.
        2000s Yemen intensifies enforcement against gambling, with periodic police crackdowns on underground gambling operations and public awareness campaigns highlighting the prohibition.
        2014 Outbreak of civil war leads to further deterioration of state control, but the prohibition on gambling remains unchanged and is enforced by both government and de facto authorities.
        2020s Despite the strict legal ban, the rise of the internet and mobile access leads to increased use of offshore online gambling and betting platforms by Yemeni residents, though these remain illegal and unregulated under Yemeni law.
        2024 No formal changes to gambling regulation; Yemen continues to prohibit all forms of gambling, including online and land-based, under both civil and religious law.

        Requirements

        Technical and Operational Requirements for Gambling Operators in Yemen

        Due to the complete prohibition of all forms of gambling under Yemeni law, there are no official technical or operational requirements for gambling operators within Yemen. The legal system, based on Islamic law, strictly forbids both land-based and online gambling, and no regulatory or licensing framework exists for the operation of gambling businesses in the country. As such, the following sections clarify the status of each compliance aspect as it pertains to Yemen:

        Software Certification and Technical Standards

        • There are no recognized or mandated software certification processes or technical standards for gambling platforms, as all gambling activities are illegal in Yemen.
        • No governmental or independent bodies are authorized to conduct software audits or certify gambling technology.

        Data Protection, Privacy Measures, and Server Location

        • No specific data protection or privacy requirements are established for gambling operators, since such operations are not permitted.
        • There are no rules regarding the physical or logical location of servers for gambling operations.

        Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) Procedures

        • There are no AML or KYC obligations for gambling operators within Yemen, as the legal framework does not recognize or regulate such activities.
        • No reporting or monitoring mechanisms are in place for gambling-related transactions.

        Financial Reporting, Auditing Standards, and Record-Keeping

        • No requirements exist for financial reporting, independent auditing, or record-keeping for gambling operators in Yemen.
        • There are no authorities designated to receive or review financial statements from gambling businesses.

        Responsible Gambling Tools and Technical Implementation

        • There are no legal requirements or technical standards for implementing responsible gambling tools, such as self-exclusion systems, deposit limits, or player protection features.
        • No responsible gambling initiatives are recognized or enforced by Yemeni authorities.
        Summary: Yemen maintains a total prohibition on all forms of gambling. As a result, there are no technical standards, compliance procedures, or operational requirements for gambling operators. Any gambling activity—online or land-based—is illegal and subject to severe penalties. No regulatory infrastructure exists to support or oversee technical compliance in this sector.

        Sources

        Primary Regulatory Authorities

        • There are currently no dedicated official regulatory authorities or government agencies for gambling regulation in Yemen. Gambling is prohibited under Yemeni law and Sharia law, and there are no official bodies overseeing or licensing gambling activities.
        • For general legal inquiries or to report illegal activities, the Ministry of Interior of Yemen may be contacted:
          • Phone: +967 1 303 511
          • Email: info@moi.gov.ye
          • Address: Ministry of Interior, Sana'a, Yemen
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          Important Information Notice

          Gambling regulations are subject to change. The information provided on this page was accurate at the time of publication, but may not reflect the current regulatory landscape. Always consult official sources for the most up-to-date information before making any gambling-related decisions.

          Last updated: 18 April 2025