Five Countries Where Playing Poker Is Strictly Prohibited

A Common Rule: Where Poker and Gambling Are Most Likely Banned

The majority of the countries on this list are Islamic nations. In these countries, the law is based on sharia (a system of rules, traditions, and customs that form the foundation of Islamic law). Sharia prohibits gambling, including poker. However, as with any rule, there are exceptions.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is one of the strictest countries in terms of adhering to Islamic norms and laws. For example, barbecuing or smoking shisha in public places is prohibited, punishable by a fine of 100 riyals (around $27). Other banned activities include importing pork products, spitting on the street, and playing loud music in public places.

Poker, as well as other games such as chess, dice, backgammon, and roulette, is also banned. Violating this prohibition can result in imprisonment, fines, and even flogging.

In 2021, a viral video surfaced online purportedly showing hundreds or even thousands of people playing poker in a casino in Saudi Arabia despite pandemic restrictions. After fact-checking, it turned out that the video was from 2018 and depicted not a poker tournament, but a tournament for Baloot, a traditional card game.

Iran

This Islamic country has given the poker world famous players like Antonio Esfandiari and Hossein Ensan. However, Esfandiari moved to the U.S., where he began his poker career, and Ensan to Germany. In their native Iran, they would never have been able to become professional players, as gambling, including poker, is strictly forbidden.

Source: Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Gambling has been banned in Iran since the 1979 revolution due to Islamic laws that classify gambling as a major sin. The prohibition is outlined in the Islamic Penal Code of the Islamic Republic of Iran:

Article 705 – Gambling by any means is forbidden, and the offenders shall be sentenced to one to six months’ imprisonment or up to 74 lashes; and if they commit gambling publicly, they shall be sentenced to both punishments.

While the article does not explicitly ban online gambling, the government restricts access to online poker sites and blocks related transactions. 

Although Iranian law does not mention online gambling, existing regulations are applied to it as well. However, authorities do not usually pursue residents who play for real money on offshore online sites.

Qatar

All forms of gambling are illegal in Qatar. The penal code is based on sharia, which states that Muslims cannot gamble for money or leisure, as they should earn money through hard work rather than rely on luck.

Punishments for gambling are outlined in Articles 275 and 276 of the Qatar’s Penal Code:

Whoever gambles shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months and a fine not exceeding three thousand Qatari Riyals (QR 3,000), or one of these two penalties. If gambling occurs in a public place, openly or in any place or house made for this purpose, the imprisonment can be extended to six months and/or a fine not exceeding six thousand Qatari Riyals (QR 6,000).

Whoever opens or runs a place for gambling, and any person who organizes any gambling games in a public place, openly or in any place or house made for this purpose shall face imprisonment for a term not exceeding a year and/or a fine not exceeding five thousand Qatari Riyals (QR 5,000).

1,000 QR ≈ $275

Despite the strict laws, Qatar residents sometimes organize home games. Offshore gambling sites are also accessible, and the government does not typically pursue citizens for using them.

Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, the laws surrounding poker and any form of gambling are extremely strict and rooted in the country’s adherence to Islamic principles, specifically those derived from sharia law. This prohibition is based on Islamic teachings that view gambling (referred to as “maisir” in Arabic) as a sinful and harmful activity that leads to social and economic issues. Maisir means “abhorrence or Satan’s work.”

The punishments for participating in gambling activities, including poker, can be severe: arrests and imprisonment, fines and public shaming, and potential corporal punishment.

Online gambling, including online poker, is also illegal. Internet access is controlled, and authorities monitor online activities. While enforcement can sometimes be inconsistent, the risks associated with participating in online gambling from within the country remain high, including potential imprisonment and severe penalties if caught.

Hendon Mob lists 30 players from Afghanistan, two of whom are WSOP bracelet winners.

Qushqar Morad won a bracelet in the $5K 7 Card Stud at the 2002 WSOP. Sherkhan Farnood won a bracelet in the £2.5K H.O.R.S.E. at WSOP Europe 2008.

Source: WSOP.com

Sherkhan Farnood was a former chair of the now-defunct private Kabul Bank. He was accused of involvement in large-scale financial crimes, including fraud and embezzlement, violations of banking laws, and money laundering. In 2013, Sherkhan Farnood was sentenced by an Afghan court to 15 years in prison. Sherkhan Farnood died in prison from a heart attack in 2018 at the age of 57.

North Korea

Perhaps the only country that is not represented on Hendon Mob. And it is the only non-Islamic country on our list. In North Korea, the laws regarding gambling, including poker, are extremely strict and in line with the general policy of the state aimed at complete control over the lives of its citizens. Gambling is prohibited for locals and is considered a serious violation of the law.

Punishments for playing poker include imprisonment for up to five years, assignment to labor camps, and fines (the rarest form of punishment). Those caught gambling may face public shaming and additional sanctions, such as negative impacts on their career and social status of their family.

For foreign visitors, different rules apply. They are allowed to visit casinos and participate in gambling activities within designated areas, such as hotel casinos in Pyongyang. These areas are closed to locals and serve as a source of tourism revenue.