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The Best Dubai Online Casinos for 2024

Dubai

As the largest city of the United Arab Emirates (or UAE), Dubai has become well-known throughout the world as one of the most important places of business in the Middle East. To many, the city and the UAE are almost synonymous, and while that’s not quite accurate, it’s an understandable misconception: along with Abu Dhabi, it is one of only two of the seven emirates that make up the nation that have veto power over legislation due to their importance.

When it comes to matters of gaming, however, Dubai follows essentially the same rules as the rest of the country. That means you’ll see virtually no gambling here – the strict Islamic government leaves no wiggle room in its laws for betting activity to flourish. That has led many would-be gamblers in the country to seek greener pastures on the internet, where there are many foreign online casinos that accept players from Dubai and the rest of the UAE.

Top Online Dubai Casino Sites in 2024

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UAE Laws for Online Gambling in Dubai

Given the UAE’s strong ethical stance against all forms of gaming, it would be shocking to find out that they condoned online gambling – and, of course, they do not. The prohibitions in place extend to the Internet, and strong cyber-security laws have been passed to ensure that there are specific rules against running online gambling sites in the country.

But even those laws have one little to deter online casinos based in other countries from targeting residents here. Also, unlike some other Middle Easter nations, there has been little done to block players from accessing these sites. That means that, in practice, many firms view Dubai as just another grey market, and players have been able to freely wager real money on a variety of casino games and other gambling enterprises on these offshore sites.

It's also important to note that when you play at any online casino and wish to use real money, you cannot bet with the local currency. All bets and wagering should be done in US dollars to be on the safe side.


Payment Methods at Dubai Online Casinos

For those players who still wish to try gambling online at some of the best online casinos, there are numerous banking methods you can choose from. Have a look at our list below and see which one works best for you:

  • E-wallets – depositing money through an e-wallet gives you extra security. As well as being inexpensive and easy to set up, you can choose between three of the major e-wallet providers; Skrill, Neteller and PayPal to get you started.
  • Credit and Debit Cards – these two cards are probably the two most frequently used payment methods. You can both deposit and withdraw your winning straight into your debit card, or use your credit card to fund your account and play.
  • Direct Transfer – transferring money from your bank to a casino is also a popular option to fund an online casino account. You can choose between online banking transfer, instant transfer or even writing a cheque.
  • Prepaid Cards – this is are fairly new method. You can buy a card or subscribe to a virtual card and deposit money from any card whenever you wish to play. Visa prepaid, Paysafecard, and EcoPayz are a few of the leading options on the market.
  • Cryptocurrencies – cryptocurrencies allow for anonymous, instant deposits to be made to any online casino. For now, only Bitcoin and Ethereum are accepted at Dubai casino sites, but with this currency growing in popularity, there’s a chance more will be added to the list soon.

All these payment methods come with different fees and waiting times, so always read the banking agreements at any online casino. We also always recommend that you should play at online casinos in Dubai for real money only in the privacy of your own home or through a VPN, just to be safe. We also advise sticking to more discreet payment methods, such as e-wallets, prepaid cards, or cryptocurrencies.


Dubai Online Casino Software Developers

Not all of the world’s biggest gaming firms offer their games in Dubai: some of the largest companies are wary of venturing into markets where there is no way to earn a license or otherwise get governmental approval, as that could threaten their efforts in regulated markets. But there are still plenty of reputable software developers who license out their games to dozens of trustworthy online casinos in Dubai, making it easy to find a safe place to play. Just a few of the top providers that power online gambling sites in Dubai include:

  • Microgaming – they are one of the oldest and most well-known game developers with a huge selection of games including baccarat and blackjack.
  • Playtech – their slots cover several themes and high sophistication in design which goes from basic games to ones that incorporate sound and images to create a unique gaming experience.
  • Betsoft – this company specializes in 3D cinematographic games and mobile games that started with slot3games for the iOS platform, but are quickly expanding.
  • Play’n GO – with a catalogue of progressive jackpot slots and a good number of online slots for both Android and iOS, Play’n Go are quickly making a name in the iGaming industry.
  • NetEnt – this Swedish company has slowly become one of the most popular software developers,offering anything from slots to live dealer casino games on both desktop and mobile.

Religious Opposition to Betting Results in Prohibition

You cannot gamble legally in Dubai, much as you cannot do so anywhere else in the UAE. Like Saudi Arabia, the culture and government of this country are severely against gambling, because they view games of chance and engaging in such play as one of the greater sins. Of course, this doesn’t mean that no Muslims gamble, or that scholars completely agree over what is banned and what is not. But betting with real money is disapproved of on religious grounds, so Islamic nations are fairly uniform in their bans on such activity.

That means that there are no casinos in Dubai, despite the fact that there is a significant amount of business travel and tourism coming into the area. You also won’t find any lotteries, legal sports betting opportunities, or card rooms here – all brick-and-mortar betting is strictly prohibited.

That being said, there are some activities that could easily be turned into betting enterprises if the government was interested in allowing it to happen. Most obviously, there is horse racing, which takes place at several tracks in the area. The Meydan Racecourse is perhaps the most famous arena, featuring both dirt and turf tracks in which local Arabian horses and Thoroughbreds from around the world compete – sometimes for huge cash prizes. The biggest race of the season is the Dubai World Cup, which has seen some of the world’s best horses compete for millions of dollars.

Alas, while bettors around the world are able and fond of wagering on this international race and other contests that take place in the city, there is no way to bet on these races while in the UAE – at least not legally. While it may seem tempting to find someone else to take your bet, we’d have to caution against that, given the very strict laws in the country against illegal gambling. Serious punishments, including long prison sentences, await those caught running illegal gaming establishments, and even those caught placing bets at these locations can face some jail time or hefty fines.


The Future of Legal Gambling in Dubai 

If you’re hoping to see more liberal gaming policy come to Dubai anytime soon, we’re sorry to disappoint you, but there is very little chance of this happening. Sure, the UAE may be one of the friendlier and more welcoming nations in the region, open for business for people around the world and maintaining a diverse population that includes a high number of expatriates. But at its core, it is still a religious nation with strongly-held beliefs that aren’t likely to change in the near future.

Due to Dubai’s strong finances, they won’t need to rely on legal gaming to bring in more visitors, as tourism is already a major part of the local economy.

Is it possible that this could change someday? Sure, and among the countries in its region, the UAE may be one of the more likely candidates for a casino somewhere down the road. But any such move is a very long way away, and there would need to be some rather drastic changes in its culture before this became a realistic possibility.

Dubai Online Casino FAQ

Gambling online in all the United Arab Emirates is technically illegal, however there’s no legislation regarding playing at offshore online casinos. Our recommendations are to always play in a safe space, and only use US dollars. To find out more check out our country-specific page for gambling in Dubai for all the tips you need.

Gambling at online casinos in Dubai can be very safe if done correctly. We recommend to always pick a reputable casino and make sure you read the terms and agreements carefully. Have a look at our online gambling page for advice and information on how to pick a safe gambling site and tips for making the most of the experience.

There are plenty of excellent Dubai casino sites that are available for all players in the region. Scroll through our list of reviewed and approved best online casinos to find the one that best suits your needs. Also, don’t forget! Make the most of the welcome bonuses and free spins bonuses available for an even more rewarding gaming experience.

Yes, you can! Most leading Dubai online casinos have lucrative no deposit bonuses as well as free spins that you can claim when creating an account. Some casinos will also have daily, weekly and special bonuses for frequent players as well as loyalty schemes. Wagering terms for bonuses may differ from one casino to another.

There are currently no land-based casinos in Dubai due to Islamic religious beliefs. Games of chance and gambling are seen as a capital sin and are prohibited in regions that uphold the religion. Although Dubai may seem to be the region where it might be the most likely for such drastic changes to happen, this won’t happen any time soon.

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