In this article, I’m going to show you where to find a legal sports betting platform that accepts residents of the UAE, and give my assessment of the gambling laws in the country.
Further down below, I’ll talk about the payment methods you can use to deposit and withdraw in betting sites and teach you everything you need to know before getting in on the betting action. Read on!
Best Legal Sports Betting Sites in UAE
You’d be surprised how many betting sites accept UAE residents.
In fact, the number is so huge that it could be a bit overwhelming for a casual bettor to differentiate the best sites from the not-so-good-ones. And with these things, you have to be extra cautious because you may end up on a fraudulent betting site.
Tell you what, why don’t you leave it to us to show you the way to world-class online bookies. We’ve already done our homework and located a couple of noteworthy candidates.
For easier access, we’ve put all the best ones on the list below. Take a look at it!
Rank | Rooms | Expert Score | Signup Bonus | Play Now |
---|---|---|---|---|
1
5/5 Read Review
|
106 user ratings |
Deposit $25, Get up to $2500 (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! | |
2
4/5 Read Review
|
93 user ratings |
50% up to $200 (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! | |
3
3.5/5 Read Review
|
30 user ratings |
300% Casino Match / 50% Sports Match (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! | |
4
5/5 Read Review
|
112 user ratings |
50% up to $250+$100 Welcome Bet (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! | |
5
4.8/5 Read Review
|
109 user ratings |
100% up to $500 (T&Cs apply, 18+) |
Get Bonus! |
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Is Online Sports Betting Legal in UAE?
No, it’s not. In fact, all forms of gambling are strictly forbidden by law. If anyone were to try offering gambling services within UAE they would face severe punishment.
On top of that, there is a regulatory body called the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority whose sole job is to block access to any sites with inappropriate content, which includes online bookmakers.
There is a way to circumvent this law — playing on offshore sites. By using a VPN, you could hide your IP, and the government wouldn’t be able to track you down.
It’s tricky, I know, but there are a lot of people worldwide that place online wagers using proxy servers and VPNs.
How We Picked the Best Sports Betting Sites in UAE
Before we get to the picking phase, we lay all the options out on the table. Then we do a detailed assessment of each nominee’s most significant characteristics and set aside the operators that outclass their competitors.
These are only the cliff notes, there is much more that goes into it. To be as transparent as possible, we’ve provided you with some insights as to how we go about our business. Read on!
Why You Can Trust LegalGamblingAndTheLaw
Because we have the know-how to recognize a genuinely great betting site.
We’ve been in the industry for over two decades now, and during that time we learned how things work in the iGaming market. Also, we always consult a team of lawyers to make sure that you don’t have to face any legal consequences when betting on our featured sites.
We are the real deal, and our reputation precedes us.
How We Make Sure That UAE Sports Betting Sites Are Legal and Safe
A license is the most reliable indicator of a betting site’s safety.
If a betting operator has been approved by reputable licensing jurisdictions, then it’s most likely safe to play there. But just to be sure, we also check out the security measures that are put in place to safeguard players’ personal and financial details.
The industry-standard security protocols are SSL encryption and high-end firewalls. Without these, we won’t even consider recommending a betting site to our readers from UAE.
What We Look for in UAE Betting Sites
We look for an operator that meets the highest standards as far as bonuses, security, banking, customer support, and other relevant areas are concerned.
An ideal betting site should offer lots of bonuses, have a wide range of betting markets, provide an abundance of payment methods, and have an around-the-clock customer support team.
If the candidate checks all of these boxes, it will surely rank high on our list.
Online Sports Betting Industry in UAE
There isn’t one, to be quite frank. And it’s highly unlikely that things are going to take a turn for the better any time soon.
All Islamic countries include the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar among others, try to stay as far away as possible from gambling, as the pastime is considered a sin, under the Quran.
If religion wasn’t involved in the lawmaking process here, we could talk about how politicians may turn a blind eye towards these affairs, but this isn’t the case here.
Whatever the case, you can still join an offshore-based bookie, and place online bets there. Our advice is to use VPNs to cover your tracks as the government will be closely watching your every move.
Mobile Sports Betting in UAE
It’s possible for someone living in UAE to place online bets using nothing but their mobile device.
Regardless of whether you’re an iOS or Android user, you can easily access any UAE-friendly bookie.
Best part? You don’t have to download any software to do it. You could be roaming the desert, and still place bets on your favourite sports events. The only requirements are a stable internet connection and a compatible mobile device.
Popular Payment Methods for UAE Bettors
The safest pick would be money transfer services like Western Union.
Bank wire transfers and credit/debit cards are off the table since all financial institutions in the country are required to block all transactions to gambling sites.
You could also try using cryptocurrencies and e-wallets such as Neteller, as these payment solutions are considered completely anonymous and the UAE government doesn’t have any authority over them.
Responsible Gambling
Gambling addiction is a severe condition and needs to be addressed accordingly.
If you notice that you’re losing control over your gambling spending habits, I urge you to contact the following organizations. These professionals will help you cope with your problem gambling and regain control over your life through therapy and counselling.
Final Thoughts
Although things may seem hopeless for UAE bettors, there is a way to bypass the strict laws and place bets online from within the country.
It’s not going to be easy, but it is what it is. We can do nothing but adapt to the situation. And to avoid any unpleasantries while betting online, I recommend that you chose one of our sponsored operators listed here.
Gambling should be considered a fun pastime and nothing else. Gamble responsibly and we wish you all the best in your future gambling adventures.
Let us know if we can help with anything else. Just drop a comment in the section below and we’ll make sure to reply as soon as possible.