Poker is illegal in both online and land-based forms in Israel under the country's restrictive gambling laws (1). The Israeli Penal Law 5737-1977 establishes a comprehensive ban on all gambling activities, including poker, lotteries, betting and games of chance. Although poker is not specifically defined in Israeli legislation, courts have consistently ruled that poker constitutes a "prohibited game" under the Penal Law (1).
Israel's conservative stance on gambling stems from an intersection of religious and socialist values that have shaped the nation's approach for decades (2). The Penal Law prohibits organizing or conducting prohibited games, with violators facing up to three years imprisonment or significant fines. Participants who play prohibited games can face one year imprisonment or fines (1). Only two exceptions exist to the blanket gambling ban: the state-owned National Lottery and the Israel Sports Betting Board, which offer limited authorized gambling services (2).
"Israeli law places a blanket ban over all forms of lotteries, betting and games of chance, with only three exceptions: the National Lottery, certain betting activities organised by the ISBB and a limited scope of social gaming."
Despite the strict prohibition, there have been some developments regarding poker's legal classification. In a 2018 Supreme Court case involving poker tournament winnings taxation, the court's majority opinion suggested poker might not be a game of chance for experienced players generating consistent revenues (2). However, this view was stated in obiter dictum and is not legally binding on other courts. Israeli authorities actively enforce gambling prohibitions through website blocking, prosecution and property forfeiture measures (1).
Source:
https://iclg.com/practice-areas/gambling-laws-and-regulations/israel
https://practiceguides.chambers.com/practice-guides/gaming-law-2024/israel
Last updated: 04-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
