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Online Gambling in Pakistan - the Legal Situation

Gambling in Pakistan - find out the legal situation

Pakistan has strict anti-gambling laws that prohibit all forms of gambling except for highly regulated horse racing betting at the country's four racetracks. Even lotteries are banned!

The penalties for gambling can be a fine of 1000 PKR or up to five years in prison. Foreign nationals have even been deported for breaking these rules.

And contrary to what other online gambling sites say, Pakistani authorities apply the law to internet gambling too.

Many other countries in the region - where gambling is also illegal- struggle to enforce bans on online gambling sites because existing legislation does not cover internet wagers. It's hard to catch people, and the framework isn't there to punish those caught betting online.

However, in Pakistan, police use illicit conduct and money laundering charges against people found gambling online. Connecting to the internet to place online cricket betting wagers, for example, is considered the same as operating a gambling den.

While you would need to be very unlucky to be punished for gambling online, it's not a risk-free hobby.

Despite the government's opposition to gambling, Pakistan has high numbers of gamblers - both offline and online - with cricket by far the most popular sport for betting.

Can you gambling online in Pakistan?

The rise of online betting is welcome in Pakistan. Before internet gambling, illegal Mumbai-based bookmakers dominated the underground scene, offering poor odds, engaging in match-fixing, and sometimes failing to honour bets.

Pakistan has attempted to block many online betting sites. But gamblers can still find a wide range of trusted international gambling and betting companies online, especially if they use a VPN.

These gambling operators are highly-regulated by the likes of the UK Gambling Commission and other world-leading authorities.

As they are not registered in Pakistan, they do not have to follow local law and may choose to offer online betting for real money to Pakistani customers.

These operators have the best cricket odds, the ability to place cricket bets in-play, and various deposit bonuses and regular promotions to keep their customers happy.

You will also find betting on all other major sports like football, tennis, and even squash and kabaddi. Plus, online casinos exciting offer games like blackjack, roulette, and slots.

Want to play poker? Most sites offer great poker action too where you can play against people from across the world.

How can you fund an online gambling account in Pakistan?

As gambling is outlawed, you will find it nearly impossible to use payment methods like Visa, Mastercard and bank transfers as they block deposits to gambling sites.

And most people would not want to draw attention to the fact they were gambling online anyway.

Instead, make use of secure eWallet services like Neteller, Skrill, or local equivalents. These all provide fast and safe deposit and withdrawal services to online gambling sites.

Open your eWallet, add funds to it via an extensive choice of options, and then use the eWallet to send money to your betting account to gamble and place bets.

Note that it's rare to be able to deposit in PKR at most big European brands, although some Asian-based sites let you.

For the rest, you would need to choose to deposit in dollars or another main international currency. But your eWallet can do the international currency transactions for you.

Are gambling winnings taxed in Pakistan?

Officially, yes. Individuals must pay the appropriate level of tax on horse racing prize bonds. The tax law also covers prizes won in raffles, on game shows and even in crossword puzzles!

Clampdowns on companies offering prizes and not withholding taxes, and the targeting of individuals for not filing taxes, does happen.

Why is gambling banned in Pakistan?

The Prevention of Gambling Act from 1977 formally outlaws gambling and borrows much from British colonial-era laws established in India before partition.

Pakistan is an Islamic republic with over 96% of the population identifying as Muslim. Gambling is not permissible in Islam.

Any government looking to relax gambling laws would face extreme opposition from the country's religious hardliners and their supporters who wield huge power.

So despite a thriving cricket betting culture and a young population using the internet and apps to gamble online, the Pakistani public will be waiting a very long time before the legal situation changes.

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