Online gambling in Pakistan

While online gambling is under heavy restrictions in Pakistan, millions of residents play real money casino games and sports gamble daily. These Pakistani gambling sites are based in overseas locations, but cater extensively to the Rupee, have suitable payment options, feature thousands of real money games, including slots and table games, and have high levels of player protection in place. Our guide to gambling online in Pakistan will run you through the various aspects, including latest laws, how to gamble, payments and more. 

Best Pakistani gambling sites

The top Pakistani gambling sites will feature thousands of real money casino games, with these including both online slots, table games, video poker and other electronic gaming machines; sports betting, on everything from cricket to politics and even lotteries and draw games. 

These gambling sites are based in offshore locations, but do have licensing from various regulators, with some of the most common accepting Pakistanis being Curacao eGaming and Malta Gaming Authority. While it would obviously be better if Pakistan gambling sites were regulated by local authorities, there is plenty of trustworthy operators that will provide a strong service, despite being based elsewhere. 

Accessing online gambling sites in Pakistan is a relatively straight-forward process, with it possible to do so via computer, mobile and basically any device with an updated web browser and decent internet connection. Some gambling sites even have apps available in Pakistan — but more on that in a minute. 

Pakistan residents have many of the top online slots providers available to them, although some like Playtech and Net Entertainment, do not allow their games to be played in this part of the world, because of the local laws, which they choose to abide by. Because of the lack of enforcement of these rules, and the lucrative nature of online gambling, other iGaming developers allow their games to be hosted by gambling sites and accessed by Pakistanis. 

Funding online gambling sites can be challenging from Pakistan, but if you have a bank account and bank card, it is easy, while other options include bank transfers and web wallets. Cryptocurrencies are also becoming increasingly popular as a way of depositing to gambling accounts.  

Online gambling in Pakistan

While Pakistan has floated the idea of “tourist casinos” which would only allow visitors to gamble, this has never come to fruition, and to this day all forms of gambling, known as “maisir” are banned under The Prevention of Gambling Act1 and the Penal Code of Pakistan. 

Despite online gambling sites not being hosted in Pakistan, thousands of real money online casinos, sports betting sites and various online poker rooms accept players from here, with these hosted in places like Curacao and the Philippines 

While the prevention of online gambling has been described by various local politicians as an “ongoing process”, it is estimated that around 22% (which seems low to us) of Pakistanis gamble online, and there is very little action taken to enforce the laws. 

The increase in smartphone and tablet use in Pakistan, and improved internet connections in major cities like Lahore and Karachi, has been a big factor in the proliferation of online gambling, with this trend mirrored in other sub-continent countries like India and Afghanistan. 

There is a more progressive faction in Pakistan that would love to see online gambling be regulated, and in turn create a new industry for the local economy, however the country is estimated to be close to 96% muslim, and under islamic beliefs gambling is not allowed 

Despite this, particularly among a younger crowd, online gambling is exceptionally popular and you will even see billboards through some cities advertising offshore gambling operators. 

Without a doubt the no.1 sports to bet on in Pakistan is cricket, however field hockey, bad minton, tennis and squash are all very popular. Kushti, which is a traditional wrestling discipline in Pakistan, is also bet upon, but this is usually done with bookmakers at the actual event, rather than online. 

Top gambling apps for Pakistan

The no.1 way people gamble online in Pakistan is via mobile — more specificially via Android smartphones and tablets. 

The good news? Online gambling companies cater extensively to the Android operating system, far more so than Apple, which only allows gambling apps to be downloaded in regulated iGaming markets.

This means many Pakistani wagering sites will have Android gambling apps available to customers. They can either be hosted independently, which will mean you need to turn on third-party apps and download it directly from the operator; or you can download it from the Google Play store (this is less likely but not impossible). 

Apple does have a strong presence in Pakistan and we have seen gambling apps hosted in the App Store in the past, so it is worth checking, but if you can’t download an app you will be able to wager via their mobile casinos or betting sites. 

Overall gambling apps are very accessible in Pakistan despite strict gambling laws, with the lack of enforcement meaning residents should be comfortable playing online. 

Gambling laws in Pakistan

The Prevention of Gambling Act, 1977 is the legislation that bans gambling in Pakistan, with it illegal to both operate or play at gambling sites, although there are a few notable exceptions to the rule. 

Applying across all states, The Prevention of Gambling Act, 1977 is a federal law the overrides regional laws enacted earlier, with these including Punjab, Sindh and West Pakistan. 

The legal exemptions when it comes to gambling in Pakistan include horse racing betting, which is run under tight control at authorised race tracks, with clubs such as Lahore and Karachi exceptionally popular. 

State-run lotto and prize bonds are also legal although they are a flashpoint with hardline islamists, who believe all forms of gambling should be outlawed, while there has been some movement towards legalising casinos, but only for tourists.

In Pakistan, if you are found to be running a gambling establishment it is a 1000PKR fine, one year in prison, or both; while if you are found to be gambling it is a 5000PKR fine , one year in prison or both. But having said this, these laws are vary rarely enacted. 

Online gambling is where it becomes murky in Pakistan, with the Prevention of Gambling Act pre-dating the internet, although local authorities say it does cover digital forms of wagering. And while there have been some efforts to stop digital wagering, including from the Pakistani Telecommunications Authority (PTA), which actively blocks offshore gambling sites, these efforts have been spasmodic and easily evaded with the use of VPNs and other services. 

While a VPN might be needed, Pakistan’s efforts at stopping online gambling have largely been negligible and offshore betting and casino sites are widely used, with poker, casino games and sports betting the no.1 pursuits. 

Overall, it’s very unlikely we see any meaningful change int he status of online gambling laws in Pakistan anytime soon, with their hardline stance on the practice largely stemming from the islamic culture. 

History of gambling in Pakistan

Gambling in Pakistan could be imagined as just wagering on the national cricket team, but it actually has deep historical roots, tracing back to the British colonial era when the first laws surrounding the practice were introduced. 

 In 1961, provincial laws were enacted to stop widespread gambling, but loopholes allowed betting houses and informal gaming dens to flourish, and this remains the case today. 

A turning point for gambling in Pakistan came in 1977, when the government passed the Prevention of Gambling Act, consolidating earlier ordinances into a single federal law. This act, framed under Islamic principles, imposed a near-total prohibition on gambling across the country. 

Exceptions were made for horse racing and state lotteries, considered less harmful or more culturally acceptable. Horse racing clubs in Lahore and Karachi retained regulated betting systems, while prize bonds and government lotteries became state-controlled alternatives to illegal gambling.

Despite these bans, gambling never disappeared. Underground betting networks expanded, particularly around cricket matches and local card games, while offshore online platforms later offered new avenues for Pakistani players. 

While gambling in Pakistan is worth billions of Pakistani Rupee every year, with much of it wagered with offshore gambling sites, the culture of the islamic religion means the hardliners will never waver in their strict beliefs. 

While online gambling in Pakistan is big business, traditionally they have also played games of chance, with Andar Bahar, a simple card game with bets on whether a chosen card will appear inside or outside the sequence. 

Teen Patti, which is often called Indian Poker in Pakistan, is played with three cards but is more fast-paced; and alongside Rummy, is often wagered on, for added excitement, by locals. 

PKR online gambling deposit options & currency exchange

Pakistani Rupees (PKR) are not as common as other currencies at online gambling sites, which is no surprise given this is a regional currency, and there are no local licensed operators. 

However if you dig deep enough, some gambling sites like MostBet will cater to the PKR, and even if you can’t wager in the local currency, you will be able to convert your payment into US Dollars, Euros or a currency of your choice. 

The majority of PKR payment options at online gambling sites are instant, with these including credit and debit cards like Visa, web wallets, SMS payments and even cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. 

Some real money gambling deposit options can take longer, with bank transfers, which are like to have to go offshore from Pakistan taking up to 72 hours to be processed in some cases. 

The quickest way to withdraw money from real money gambling sites in Pakistan is to use cryptocurrencies, however we have heard reports of some web wallet cash-outs being processed instantly. 

The full list of PKR payment methods at online gambling sites includes: 

Pakistani Muslims stance on gambling

“Gambling is haram,” Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Religious AffairsSardar Mahammad told a newspaper around 10 years ago, in the wake of Moin Khan visiting a casino in Brisbane, Australia, during the cricket World Cup.

The politician called for Khan, who was a selector at the time, to be punished and he ultimately apologised to the public, but he did face more backlash when he returned to Pakistan.

These attitudes towards gambling still percolate today in Pakistan, with 96% of the population Muslim, and many religious and political leaders  holding strong anti-gambling views. 

However attitudes to gambling have definitely softened in Pakistan, as a younger more tech savvy crowd, are lured into the world of sports betting and casino play. 

Reliable sources estimate around 22% of Pakistanis gamble regularly, while close to 50% have wagered at some point in their lives, and these figures are increasing year-on-year. 

This increase in Muslims gambling in Pakistan has been driven by the online wagering sector, with offshore sportsbooks and gambling apps estimated to be worth close to half a billion dollar annually by 2026. 

So in summary, the Qur’an condemns gambling (maisir) as a sinful practice that leads to exploitation and distracts believers from prayer and productive living. Reflecting this stance, Pakistan’s legal system— shaped by Islamic principles —imposes a near-total ban on gambling, reinforcing strong cultural opposition despite its underground popularity. 

Taking a more realistic approach, and acknowledging that their residents are using gambling sites online, will provide great protection to sports betting casino players, providing them with help if they are identified as problem gamblers. 

Commonly asked questions about PK gambling

Do you have a question about online gambling in Pakistan? Drop us a message in the box below or email us at contact@worldgamblinglist.com.