Countries Where You Cannot Legally Play at a Casino
As the United States expands gambling across the country, there are still many locations across the globe where the activity is not only frowned upon but is still legal. It seems kind of silly in this modern age that there are areas of the globe where a person cannot go out for the evening to play their favorite table game or throw some coins into a slot machine, but that is the reality. Many countries still ban these activities.
The List Is Bigger Than You Think
What may even be more surprising to you is that there are a number of countries where gambling is not legal. This still includes several parts of the United States and even a couple of European nations.
What is fascinating about the countries where gambling is illegal is that there are a variety of reasons for doing so which differ from nation to nation. When looking at this list, you will find that some ban the practice because of religious beliefs. Others do so out of concern for the mental health of those who can become addicted to these games. Then there are those who simply see it as a danger to society.
It Is Expanding
What makes the banning even more peculiar is the fact that the world is changing in so many ways. People no longer need to go to a physical casino to play casino style games. Now they can use online casinos which provide users a number of safety features that make using the sites easy while also protecting users and their account information.
These online casinos have expanded to the point that they can offer their website to customers in countries where gambling is not permissible. This happens in the Philippines, where their online casinos are accessible to those in China where gambling is illegal. People are still able to play even if they are not able to do so lawfully.
This is why banning the practice seems rather odd. The technology has reached a point where it is virtually impossible to deny someone the ability to play these games, no matter how hard they may try. Yet, there are still a number of countries that still ban gambling. Here are a few examples for you.
United Arab Emirates
One of the first things you will notice about this list is that there are several primarily Muslim nations that ban gambling. The reason behind this is obvious. Gambling is considered to be a serious sin in Islam; therefore, the vast majority of Islamic countries ban the practice.
Now, the reality is that many still play in these countries. Technology allows for customers to be able to play the games over the Internet by accessing online casinos in close proximity to their nations. Law enforcement officials normally look the other way about these activities, but they are still legal. If a person is caught it still can result in severe punishment.
Brunei
In the United Arab Emirates, most officials look the other way when it comes to gambling, but that is not the case in Brunei. This Islamic country has strict anti-gambling laws, and they enforce them in accordance with the Common Gaming House Act. A person who is caught accessing one of these online sites will likely face severe public punishment for their transgressions.
Japan
This one may be a bit of a surprise to you as the country has been working to offer resort-casinos as part of a new infrastructure plan. This was approved by the federal legislature a few years back, but has been bogged down due to a myriad of problems, including accusations of corruption.
While the government still sorts out the process of finally offering licenses to a select group of cities, most gambling activities are still legal in the country. Things have changed since 2016 according to the Integrated Resort Programme Law, which has now allowed for some land-based casino games and off-track betting facilities, but most activities are still banned.
China
This is a rather odd one considering that gambling is legal in Macau and Hong Kong, both owned by China. However, on the mainland, gambling is not permissible. As mentioned before, many Chinese citizens on the mainland are able to access online casinos from surrounding countries and do so largely unmolested by the government.
Singapore
Public lotteries are permissible in Singapore, but land-based sports betting is illegal. The recent Betting Act granted a limited amount of gambling operators to set up shop, but these are few and far between.
Lebanon
Lebanon is an interesting country, as it is 50% Christian and 50% Muslim. It appears that both sides are not in favor of gambling in the country, as the government has used its authority to even block online casinos from operating within the borders. There is some limited access to these online vendors, but that usually occurs aboard casino ships in international waters.
Cypress
It is kind of surprising that they are on this list, considering that Cyprus is a financial haven for governments and businesses across the globe. You would think of financial capital like this would offer gambling as a recreational activity, but that is not the case.
As you can see, there are a number of countries that still hold gambling as a taboo activity. In fact, many states in America still do not allow the practice. There are many countries throughout South and Central America, Africa, and Asia that still ban the activity.
These games can become a serious problem for some. Maybe these countries should be lauded for their willingness to help protect their citizens.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.