Is gambling legal in Iran?
Short answer: No. The Penal Code bans gambling, bans keeping or carrying gambling instruments, and bans running gambling houses. Sanctions can include fines, custody, and seizure of gambling materials. When organizers profit or activity is public, sanctions can be heavier. Courts can close premises tied to repeat offenses. In practice, games of chance for money or valuables fall within the ban whether arranged in private spaces or public venues.
Reviews of other casinos in Iran
What this means for a country page: There is no regulator, no licensing path, and no “locally approved” operator to list. If you see a brand that accepts Farsi speakers, it is doing so offshore. That does not change the legal status inside Iran and does not create domestic consumer protections.
Iran online casino snapshot (law & access)
Here’s the high-level view for 2025. Policies shift, filtering is extensive, and availability is unstable.
| Topic | Status (2025) | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Offline gambling | Prohibited by law | Gambling (“qimār”) is criminalized; penalties exist for play, running venues, and gambling instruments. |
| Online gambling (players) | Not permitted | No local licensing route; accessing offshore sites does not change the legal status. |
| Operating/promoting sites | Criminal liability | Authorities periodically target illegal networks, domains, and payment funnels. |
| Internet environment | Heavily filtered | Popular international platforms and gambling sites are routinely blocked; outages/shutdowns have occurred. |
| VPN policy | Unlicensed VPNs prohibited (2024 policy) | Using unlicensed circumvention tools is restricted; enforcement evolves. |
| Domestic payments | Shetab + Shaparak rails | Local card/payment networks are domestic; offshore casinos generally cannot plug in. |
| Cross-border payments | Sanctions constraints | Some offshore brands push crypto or e-wallets; availability shifts and does not imply legality. |
Notes: Gambling crimes sit in the Penal Code (Book Five, Ta’zirat). The internet is extensively filtered, and unlicensed VPNs are restricted. Domestic payments clear over Shetab and Shaparak; cross-border tools appear intermittently due to sanctions and do not legalize gambling.
Are online casinos allowed in Iran?
Internet access & blocking – what to expect
Iran’s network uses layered filtering: DNS tampering, IP blocks, packet inspection, and app-level restrictions. Whole categories, including gambling, face routine blocking. During sensitive periods, bandwidth can be throttled or regions can be cut off. Messaging apps and social platforms are common targets, which affects traffic to affiliate pages and cashier links.
Unlicensed VPNs are restricted, and policy language pushes users toward controlled domestic tools. Even with a connection, reliability is shaky. Email one-time codes may arrive late or not at all. SMS verification can fail due to carrier filtering or number reputation. Payments time out because redirects hang on blocked scripts or third-party CDNs. Support chats can drop mid-KYC. If you research front-end behavior, note the time of day and your connection method; the same page can act differently hours later.
Hosting rules matter. Domestic providers risk penalties if they serve filtered content, so most gambling pages stay offshore. That pushes sites to lower-grade hosting and rapid mirror rotation, which hurts uptime and trust signals like TLS health, mixed content, or odd subdomains.
Payments & banking reality for Iranian users (research context)
Domestic rails. Shetab is the interbank backbone used by local cards and ATMs. Shaparak oversees the national card-payment network under the Central Bank. These systems are built for domestic commerce and compliance. Offshore casinos generally cannot integrate them. Card pages you see on foreign sites are almost always aimed at other markets.
Cross-border twists. In late 2024, Shetab and Russia’s MIR network announced cross-acceptance to ease general spending and travel. That link helps cardholders in limited scenarios and does not create gambling merchant acquiring. Even where technical acceptance is possible, risk controls, sanctions, and scheme rules block gambling categories.
Currencies and amounts. Many offshore pages quote balances in euros or US dollars. Some also show rials, while others use tomans (one toman is ten rials). This mix causes confusion in limits, caps, and bonus thresholds. If you document a page, write down the currency symbol, the exact number, and any note on conversion. Do not assume a fixed rate. Workarounds (non-endorsement). Third-party commentary sometimes mentions WebMoney, Perfect Money, or crypto in other sanctioned contexts. Availability shifts. Services can be blocked. Counterparties can vanish. None of this turns gambling into a lawful activity, and none of it guarantees withdrawals.
Practical impact for a page like this: Do not list “Iran-friendly deposit methods.” Keep any payment talk high-level and avoid steps that could be used to bypass controls.
What you’ll see marketed to Persian speakers
Offshore marketing often pushes slot catalogs, crash or arcade titles, and live roulette, blackjack, and baccarat. Poker rooms show up less consistently, but do appear. Some lobbies add Farsi language toggles and localized help articles. Others keep English UI but run Persian ads on social channels. Providers apply regional rules. A table might be visible with multilingual dealers one day and then show “unavailable in your region” the next. That is normal under active filtering and mirror churn.
If your team tracks these shifts, capture the lobby, table list, cashier, and bonus pages with timestamps. Save error banners like “region blocked” or “maintenance.” The goal is to document volatility, not to chase mirrors.
Bonuses & rollover – expanded (neutral, non-promo)
Bonuses from offshore sites aimed at Persian speakers follow the same global patterns. Treat the numbers as examples, not guarantees. Terms change without notice and there’s no local authority in Iran that reviews or enforces them. If you cite any figure, copy it exactly from the page you saw and add the capture date.
Wagering base.
Most offers use 30-45× on the bonus; some apply 25-40× to deposit + bonus. “Sticky” (non-withdrawable) and “cashable” bonuses behave differently; read the definition in the T&Cs.
Game weighting.
Slots commonly count 100%. Table games are often 10-20%. Live-dealer can be 0% (no progress). If a game’s weight is 10%, you must stake 10× more to move the meter the same amount.
Bet caps while active.
Many T&Cs cap stakes to about €2-€5 equivalent per spin/round during wagering. Bets above the cap can void the bonus or the payout tied to it.
Time limits.
Windows often land between 14-30 days. Some no-deposit promos expire in 24-72 hours. Expiry kills the bonus and may forfeit linked wins.
Max conversion / max cashout.
No-deposit or free-spin wins can be limited (for example, 5-10× the bonus). Anything above the cap is removed at cashout.
Balance order.
“Non-sticky” (a.k.a. parachute) uses real funds first; the bonus activates only if real balance hits zero. “Sticky” blends balances or locks the bonus until rollover is done.
Irregular play clauses.
Common red flags: covering most roulette outcomes, equal/hedged bets, minimal-risk wagering on 0-20% games to build balance, bonus-buy slots, or rapidly switching RTP profiles. Violations can void winnings.
Provider and title exclusions.
Progressive jackpots, some high-RTP slots, and specific table variants are often excluded or set to 0% weight. The list changes as mirrors rotate.
Payment-method exceptions.
Certain e-wallets/rails may be excluded from bonus eligibility. In Iran context, availability itself can change due to filtering/sanctions.
KYC & withdrawals.
Verification (ID, address, sometimes source-of-funds) can be mandatory before first payout. A withdrawal request can pause or cancel the bonus if wagering isn’t finished.
Account/household limits.
One bonus per person, device, IP, or household is typical. Duplicate accounts lead to confiscation.
Currency clarity.
Sites may show rial or toman equivalents (1 toman = 10 rials). Note the unit displayed; misreading it skews wagering math and caps.
Worked examples (for context only):
Example A – bonus-only wagering: you take a €100 bonus at 35× bonus. Rollover = €3,500 in qualifying stakes. With a €5 bet cap, clearing on slots (100% weight) takes €3,500 ÷ €5 = 700 max-bet spins. If you average €2 per spin, that’s €3,500 ÷ €2 = 1,750 spins.
Example B – deposit+bonus and weighting: you deposit €100 and receive €100 bonus with 35× (D+B). Rollover = €200 × 35 = €7,000. If you try blackjack at 10% weight, required raw stakes jump to €7,000 ÷ 0.10 = €70,000; if live games are 0%, progress is 0.
Example C – time pressure: €3,500 required over 14 days means about €250/day in qualifying stakes. With a €5 cap, that’s roughly 50 max-bet spins per day (if slots count 100%).
These rules change without notice. There’s no Iranian regulator to escalate disputes, and offshore terms can be re-posted on new mirrors. If you document an offer, save the T&Cs, note the currency/unit, and timestamp your capture.
Mobile apps & APKs
App distribution is messy under filtering. When mainstream stores are limited, some brands try to push their apps through direct APK links on landing pages, rotating mirrors, or messaging channels. That creates a second problem: clones and look-alikes spread fast, and version numbers, package names, and publisher details don’t always match across mirrors. Even “official” pages can later redirect somewhere else, so the same link you saw yesterday may serve a different file today.
Sideloading increases risk. APKs can be tampered with to inject trackers, credential stealers, or screen overlays that capture inputs in webviews. Over-broad permissions-accessibility, notifications, SMS, clipboard-can expose one-time codes, chats, or banking details. Fake “update required” prompts are common and are used to get new permissions or to re-install with a modified signature. KYC uploads are another target: an app that controls the camera or file picker can harvest ID photos and proofs of address, then reuse them elsewhere. None of this is theoretical; it’s how mobile fraud usually works in filtered ecosystems.
If you mention apps at all, keep it to security hygiene. Treat every APK as untrusted by default. Check who signed it and whether that signature is consistent across versions. If you must handle a file for research, verify the hash against the release note you captured, and keep a timestamped copy of what you downloaded. Don’t install unknown certificates, don’t grant accessibility or notification access to gambling-related apps, and don’t enter banking credentials inside an in-app webview. Prefer the system browser for any login that touches money. The safest choice is to avoid sideloading entirely.
Distribution and circumvention can also raise policy issues. Providing instructions to bypass filtering or to obtain blocked content is out of scope for a neutral country page. If you document an app for research, save screenshots and the exact file name, note the source and time, and add a disclaimer that availability and behavior change without notice. The point is to explain risks and record what you observed-not to help anyone get around local controls.
Safety and compliance checklist
1. Check domain lineage (WHOIS and mirror networks) before citing a brand.
2. Save full-page screenshots of lobbies, T&Cs, and cashier pages-add timestamps and IP notes.
3. Record “region restricted,” DNS, or CDN errors to show availability shifts.
4. Note payment logos carefully; attempt no transactions; flag misuse of local marks.
5. Capture bonus terms verbatim and compare them to banner headlines.
6. Do not use real ID; if an account is essential for UI research, keep it data-minimal.
7. Do not provide or seek workarounds to national filtering or VPN restrictions.
8. Put a clear legal disclaimer on every research artifact that explains Iran’s prohibition.
9. Keep raw files and hashes in a dated folder so sequence is clear.
10. Revisit the same URLs later and document how mirrors rotate.
Fairness, RTP and “provably fair” claims
RTP describes a game’s long-term average return under test conditions. Certificates or lab reports you see online are issued in other jurisdictions; they don’t make a site legal in Iran and they don’t say anything about whether withdrawals will be paid. Live games are supervised under the studio’s local license where the studio operates, which is separate from Iranian law.
“Provably fair” uses cryptography (seeds and hashes) to let users check that results weren’t altered. It can help verify randomness, but it doesn’t guarantee payouts, speed up KYC, or create a dispute path. There’s no Iranian regulator to handle complaints, so treat these labels as technical descriptions, not promises.
Responsible play and support resources
Where gambling is prohibited, the safer choice is to not engage. If someone already feels harm-financial stress, sleep issues, hiding activity-talk to a trusted person early. Short, honest conversations help reduce secrecy and pressure. Consider professional support through general mental-health providers or community counselors. If debt is involved, speak with a qualified financial adviser where available. Keep records of payments and messages so you can explain your situation clearly if you seek help.
Use device-level tools to lower exposure to gambling content. Turn off notifications from related sites and apps. Remove saved cards and payment methods. Uninstall gambling apps and clear browser autofill. Set screen-time limits or content restrictions on your phone, tablet, and router. If others share your devices, enable profiles or parental controls. Do not follow workarounds or “mirror” links, and do not use tools that bypass local rules. If risk escalates or you feel unsafe, prioritize local emergency contacts. Keep this neutral and brand-agnostic. This page is for information only.
FAQs: Iran + online casinos (2025)
Is any form of casino licensing available in Iran?
No. There is no licensing route or recognized regulator for casino or betting operations within Iran. Offshore licensing elsewhere has no legal effect inside the country.
Are sites ever “legal for Iranians” if they accept Farsi?
No. Language support and sign-ups do not equal domestic legality. Offshore content appears and disappears due to filtering and enforcement.
What’s the policy on VPNs right now?
Unlicensed VPNs are restricted, and policy language points to domestically approved tools. Details and enforcement can change, so treat any tech workaround as risky.
Can local bank cards be used on offshore casino sites?
Shetab and Shaparak are domestic systems. Offshore casinos generally cannot integrate them. Sanctions and scheme rules add more barriers.
Some sites list Perfect Money or crypto-does that make play legal?
No. Those rails may appear in other sanctioned contexts. Availability changes, and none of this legalizes gambling in Iran.
Why do tables or apps work one day and vanish the next?
Filtering, DNS or IP blocks, provider geo-rules, CDN issues, and mirror rotation create volatility. Document pages with timestamps rather than treating them as stable access points.
What about skill games or social casino apps-are they different?
Labels vary, but if real money, prizes, or cash-like value are in play, the same concerns apply. Even “free” apps can later prompt deposits or redirect to paid mirrors.
Could an international license protect Iranian users?
No. A foreign license might regulate the operator in that country. It does not create rights under Iranian law or guarantee service quality in a filtered network.
