Online poker is illegal in Lebanon under Decree 6919, enacted on June 29, 1995, which grants Casino du Liban monopoly over all gambling activities to protect public morals (1). The Lebanese government blocks access to international online gambling sites including PokerStars and other poker platforms at the internet service provider level. Despite enforcement efforts, online gambling remains technically illegal but thousands of Lebanese citizens participate through offshore sites (2).
Casino du Liban, Lebanon's only legal casino located in Maameltein, holds exclusive gaming rights across Lebanese territory (1). The Telecommunications Minister confirmed in 2013 that blocking online gambling sites was legally authorized by the highest judge to comply with existing monopoly laws. A draft decree proposed in 2012 would have given the Finance Ministry jurisdiction over online gambling, but it remains unaddressed due to political gridlock (2).
"Under decree 6919 of June 29 1995, Casino du Liban was given monopoly over all gambling activities to protect public morals."
The Finance Ministry estimates millions of dollars in gambling revenue do not reach the state treasury due to illegal operations and lack of regulatory enforcement (2). Land-based poker is available exclusively at Casino du Liban, which operates legally under government oversight. Players attempting to transfer online gambling winnings into Lebanese bank accounts face restrictions, with financial institutions blocking transactions from unauthorized gambling websites.
Source:
https://globalvoices.org/2013/07/19/online-gambling-no-longer-accessible-from-lebanon/
https://www.albawaba.com/business/illegal-gambling-results-loss-millions-lebanon-1159394
Last updated: 04-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
