Iraq is a country in southwest Asia and northeastern Arabian Peninsula region of the world. It is surrounded by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, Syria and Jordan to the west, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to the south and the Persian Gulf to the southeast. Concerning gambling in general, including Iraq bookmakers and sports betting, this area is highly controlled and mainly prohibited. bookmakers legislation, regulating authorities, licensing, taxation, banned and allowed types of bets.
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Table of Contents
Summary of Key Events
The Legal Framework of Gambling in Iraq
Historical Context
- 1958: It is worth to notice that gambling has never been legal in Iraq since the formation of the country.
- 1969: The Penal Code of Iraq clearly banned all forms of gambling (maisir) based on the Islamic (Shari’ah) law, to which Iraq owes much in legal terms even if it is technically a secular state.
Key Legal Provisions
According to the 1969 Penal Code:
- Gambling Operations: It specifies that operators can be fined up to 100 dinars and imprisoned for up to one year.
- Individual Gamblers: The laws can be severe; local web gamblers can be fined up to 50 dinars or jailed for up to a month but such cases are not often prosecuted.
Recent Enforcement Actions
- April 2023: Iraqi police have arrested 198 people during police operations on the gambling and alcohol serving establishments during the fasting month of Ramadan. The operations were carried out in four places in Baghdad and led to the detention of 159 Iraqis and 32 foreigners.
Regulatory and Licensing of Iraq Bookmakers
Regulatory Bodies
Unfortunately, Iraq does not have a special commission for the regulation of gambling as all types of gambling are prohibited in this country.
Licensing
- Gambling Licenses: N/A as there are no gambling licenses in Iraq.
Taxation on Gambling
- Gambling Taxation: As for the taxes on gambling, N/A, there is no special gambling tax in Iraq.
- Taxation on Winnings: N/A, not officially established because gambling is prohibited in many countries.
Prohibited and Allowed Bets
- Prohibited Bets: Gambling in general and online gambling in particular are prohibited in all the countries.
- Allowed Bets: There are no statistics because the law does not allow any form of gambling activity.
Sports Betting in Iraq
Popular Sports
Despite the stringent gambling laws, Iraq has a thriving sports culture, particularly in football:
- Football: Football being the most widely followed sport with many Iraqis following the Iraqi Premier League (Dawri Al-Nokhba).
- Basketball, Kickboxing, and Wrestling: Also are popular to a great extent.
Notable Achievements
2007: Iraq was crowned the champion of the AFC Asian Cup after they beat Saudi Arabia.
- 2006: Won the silver in the Asian Games that was held in Qatar.
- 1950: This year Iraq joined the FIFA.
- Olympic Participation: Iraq joined the Olympic Movement in 1948, and then resumed participation in 1960 and entered the weightlifting arena to win the first Olympic medal.
Prominent Athletes
- Ahmed Al-Samarrai: He was a 1960 Rome Olympics gold medalist in the 400 meters hurdle race.
- Riyadh Al-Azzawi: A kickboxer with an undefeated record who has won all his fights for him total of 34.
- Younis Mahmoud: I would like to nominate Ahmed Abdul Qadir Hussain who is the captain of the Iraqi national football team that triumphed in the 2007 Asian Cup competition.
Conclusion
The legal status of gambling, bookmakers, and sports betting in Iraq is highly unfavorable and mostly prohibited due to both the Islamic influence and the stringent legislation. Despite the fact that a sports culture is well developed in the country, there are no legal possibilities for betting and gambling. Those who wish to study sports and betting in Iraq will have to go through numerous legal provisions that focus on prohibition and regulation.
FAQ of Iraq Bookmakers
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