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Your Guide to Online Betting in Saudi Arabia

Like all other forms of gambling, online betting is explicitly illegal in Saudi Arabia. This is hardly surprising considering how the Middle Eastern kingdom is one of the world’s most conservative countries.

However, with the use of a secure virtual private network (VPN) and anonymous payment methods, you can safely bet on your favourite sports at international betting sites.

Best Betting Sites in Saudi Arabia – November 2024

4.5/5
Rated by 413 users
Claimed by 645 people this week
Up To $1000 Welcome Bonus
Terms and conditions: The bonus code is only valid for a new customer's first deposit and must be redeemed immediately after the deposit and before a wager has been placed. The sum of the deposit and the bonus are subject to rollover requirements of 8x at min. odds of -200 (1.5) before a new bonus can be redeemed or a withdrawal can be made. Max. $1000 of each bet count towards the rollover requirements. Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
Show More Details Show Less Details

Payment Options

VISA
MasterCard
Bank Transfer
Neteller
Paysafecard
Skrill
Bitcoin
+5

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • AUD
  • CAD
  • USD
  • Competitive sign-up and promotional offers
  • Excellent statistics section to aid customers
  • Pain-free deposit options
  • Accepts both high and low limit bettors
  • Lengthy and expensive withdrawal procedure
4.5/5
Rated by 321 users
Claimed by 555 people this week
150% Welcome Bonus
Terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
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Payment Options

Neteller
Skrill
Paypal

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • CAD
  • AUD
  • USD
  • Claim an array of generous bonuses
  • Climb the VIP program for extra perks
  • Instantly withdraw cash via crypto
  • Bet on niche markets like X-Factor
  • Visit the statistics center for insights
4.5/5
Rated by 267 users
Claimed by 445 people this week
125% up to $3,125
Terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
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Payment Options

VISA
MasterCard
Bitcoin
American Express
Moneygram
Ethereum
Litecoin

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • BTC
  • LTC
  • ETH
  • Premier destination for US bettors
  • Racebook covering daily races
  • Esports and virtual sports markets
  • In-depth sports stats and tips
  • Intuitive live betting markets
  • Limited withdrawal options
4.6/5
Rated by 504 users
Claimed by 484 people this week
Get 125% Deposit Boost to bet on sports up to $1250
Terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
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Payment Options

VISA
MasterCard
Paypal
Bitcoin
Litecoin
Dogecoin
Ripple
+4

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • BTC
  • LTC
  • XRP
  • Deposit and bet using BTC
  • Choose from 25,000+ markets
  • Bet in-play on a huge range of sports
  • Get paid quickly with no fuss
  • Friendly customer support agents
4.57/5
Rated by 413 users
Claimed by 374 people this week
100% Up To $1000
Terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
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Payment Options

Bitcoin
BitcoinCash
MasterCard
Person to Person
VISA

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • LTC
  • USD
  • Generous bonuses and promotions
  • Great range of betting markets
  • Extensive racebook
  • Very good customer service
  • Only a few withdrawal options
  • Fees for withdrawing funds
4.62/5
Rated by 413 users
Claimed by 252 people this week
100% Up to $1000 + $25 casino chip
Terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
Show More Details Show Less Details

Payment Options

VISA
MasterCard
Bitcoin

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • BTC
  • Trusted by publications such as ESPN
  • Access a dedicated racing section
  • Crypto-friendly sportsbook
  • Adjust odds format and time zone
  • Support options include call back
  • Quite low sportsbook limits
4.5/5
Rated by 413 users
Claimed by 232 people this week
50% Up To $1000
Terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
Show More Details Show Less Details

Payment Options

Bank Wire
Bitcoin
Cheque
Discover
MasterCard
Neteller
Skrill
+1

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • USD
  • Accepts players from all over the world
  • Known for their live betting offers
  • Lots of secure banking options
  • Great bonuses and promotions
  • High fees for some deposit options
  • Support agents are often slow to reply
4.5/5
Rated by 313 users
Claimed by 329 people this week
50% Up to $250
Terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
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Payment Options

Amex
Bitcoin
MasterCard
Rapidtransfer
VISA

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • BTC
  • Top-rated US online sportsbook
  • Mobile site for iOS and Android users
  • Diverse range of betting markets
  • Excellent customer support options
  • Lines come out very late in the day
  • Odds not as favorable as other books
4.5/5
Rated by 232 users
Claimed by 200 people this week
15% up to $600
Terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions apply. – Terms apply
Show More Details Show Less Details

Payment Options

Amex
Bank Wire
Bitcoin
Cheque
MasterCard
Neteller
VISA

Average Payout Speed

0 – 24 Hours

Currencies

  • BPS
  • CAD
  • EUR
  • Popular book that accepts large max bets
  • Huge focus on football and basketball
  • High-spec live in-play platform available
  • Downloadable client for Windows & Mac
  • Odds are not amazing on non-US sports
  • User interface could be improved
Flag of Saudi Arabia

The Legality of Gambling in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi government is a unitary, Islamic monarchy, which was formed in 1932 when the four regions united into a single state. It is one of the few absolute monarchies left in the world.

The monarchy controls a country of more than 33 million people and governs under a form of Islamic law. The Koran, the central religious text of Islam, does not take a favourable stance on gambling. As a matter of fact, gambling is called “maisir” in Arabic, roughly translated as “abhorrence, the work of Satan.”

As it is a strict Islamic country, Saudi Arabia has strict anti-gambling laws. There are no state-licensed casinos, bookmakers or poker rooms. In fact, all forms of gambling are illegal in the Saudi Kingdom.

The ancient sport of camel racing and horse racing attracts spectators to modern racetracks like the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, although betting on the outcome of races is prohibited.

It is also important to realise that most of the population agrees with the state prohibition on gambling. Saudi Arabia is full of devoted Muslims, and while some may break the rules, the vast majority of the country do not. Most of the populace frowns upon activities like gambling, alcohol and drug use.

What Are the Penalties for Violating Gambling Laws?

While police don’t seem to be targeting online gamblers and instead are going after local, underground betting operations, the draconian penalties for all forms of gambling are downright scary.

These penalties can include a six-month imprisonment, or longer, and potentially caning as an additional punishment. Further offenses may be met with harsher penalties. Those who run their own gambling operations inside the country can be subject to even more severe punishments.

However, we couldn’t find even one reported case online in relation to a Saudi citizen being prosecuted for placing bets with foreign platforms from the safety of their home.

VPN icon on laptop screen

How to Safely Bet on Sports in Saudi Arabia

If you’re caught gambling by a Saudi citizen, it’s quite likely that he or she will report you to the police. Even if you’re betting online, it is best to keep it to yourself, and as crazy as it sounds, close your windows and shield your computer screen from public view. Don’t even consider betting online in a public place, like a coffee shop, or an Internet cafe.

As the penalties for violating gambling laws in Saudi Arabia are so severe, discretion is advised. In addition to accessing sports betting sites from the comfort of your own home, here are a few extra steps you should take to protect yourself from the powers that be.

Use a VPN to Access Sports Betting Sites

Use a VPN to Access Sports Betting Sites

Like other countries with authoritarian regimes, such as China and North Korea, the Saudi government does its best to block sites that go against fundamentalist Islamic teachings. The Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC), Saudi Arabia’s communication authority, has confirmed that more than 5.5 million “undesirable websites” have been blocked in the country since 2008.

As Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) blocks so many sports betting sites, we strongly recommend using a virtual private network (VPN). In addition to bypassing blocks, VPNs protect your online activity from prying eyes. Just make sure you are prepared for a Know Your Customer (KYC) request when you request a withdrawal from sports betting sites as a Saudi Arabian.

Choose Anonymous Payment Methods

Choose Anonymous Payment Methods

Due to the country’s strict anti-gambling laws, it wouldn’t be wise to try to deposit with debit or credit cards issued by local banks in Saudi Arabia. As a matter of fact, any attempt to deposit would likely be declined and your attempt to complete such a transaction would be reported to the authorities.

Instead, you should choose a payment method that offers anonymity. By anonymity, we mean completing a financial transaction without having to share your banking information directly with sports betting sites. This avoids gambling transactions appearing on your bank account statement.

While CASHU, NETELLER, PayPal, Skrill and several other online payment processors do accept Saudi customers, they aren’t an option either because they block transactions to gambling sites. Despite the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) labelling Bitcoin as illegal, it remains the most popular payment method amongst the country’s online gamblers.

Bitcoin can also be used as a withdrawal option. Some sports betting sites may offer cheques or even wires to Saudi bank accounts. However, these options provide zero anonymity. If your bank flagged a gambling transaction, you would likely have to answer to the justice system. It’s not worth the risk.

Only Bet at SBO-Approved Betting Sites

Only Bet at SBO-Approved Betting Sites

We aren’t exaggerating when we say we’ve reviewed every online bookmaker that accepts Saudi Arabians. Not all sports betting sites accept Saudi Arabians, and not all of those that do are worth joining. To help you avoid sites with a reputation for terrible odds, slow payments and dreadful customer support, we’ve tested every betting site and provided a list of your best options.

At SBO.net, we only give our seal of approval to online betting sites that tick a long list of criteria. We consider many factors, including how competitive the odds are and how quickly payments are processed. Some of our recommended sites have even have an Arabic version of their website, which shows how serious they are about accommodating sports betting fans from Saudi Arabia.

Cryptocurrency coins

The Most Popular Sports in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabians enjoy a mix of traditional and modern sports. While you won’t be able to bet on traditional sports like camel racing and falconry at Saudi betting sites, you will find competitive odds on the country’s top football league and much more.

Football

Footbal

Football is by far the most popular sport in Saudi Arabia, and the country has enjoyed plenty of success on the international stage. The Green Falcons have won the prestigious Asian Cup on three occasions (1984, 1988 and 1996). Saudi Arabia made its debut at the FIFA World Cup finals in 1994, reaching the Round of 16. That remains the team’s best finish to date, despite qualifying on four other occasions.

The best online betting sites for Saudi Arabians also offer odds on the Saudi Professional League. Al-Hilal have won a record 16 titles since the country’s top domestic league was founded in 1976. Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad have been the next most successful teams, with nine and eight title wins, respectively. Al-Nassr legend Majed Ahmed Abdullah holds the league’s top scorer record with 189 goals.

Horse Racing

Horse Racing

There is no better example of Saudi Arabia’s increased focus on sport than the Saudi Cup. The oil-rich country surprised the racing world by announcing that it would host the world’s richest horse race in Riyadh at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in 2020. The Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA) announced a total prize pool of $20m, which naturally drew interest from trainers and jockeys from all over the world.

The inaugural Saudi Cup was won by Maximum Security. The American horse finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Midnight Bisou to win the race. However, the JCSA has withheld $10m in prize money from connections of the winning horse due to an investigation into Maximum Security’s trainer, Jason Servis. He has been accused of administering performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) to horses in his care.

Camel Racing

Camel Racing

Yes, camel racing really is a thing. Just don’t expect to find any betting odds or live streams for races at online betting sites. Dating back to the pre-Islamic era, camel racing is a popular traditional sport in Saudi Arabia. It used to be a chaotic sport in which thousands of camels raced across the open desert. Nowadays, camel racing is enjoyed by thousands of spectators at locations like the Riyadh Stadium.

One of the highlights in Saudi Arabia’s camel racing calendar is the Crown Prince Camel Festival. This festival takes place at the camel racing field in Taif during August, with more than 10,000 camels competing in more than 400 rounds of competition. The festival attracts camel racing enthusiasts from all over the Arab world. Hardly surprising considering the prize pool is more than 50 million Saudi riyals.

Formula 1

Formula 1

The Bahrain Grand Prix made history in 2004 by becoming the first F1 race to be held in the Middle East. The Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir is just a few miles away from Saudi Arabia, so plenty of Saudis travel across the King Fahd Causeway to watch the race each year. However, it now looks like Saudi Arabia will host its very own event in the country’s second-biggest city of Jeddah beginning in 2021.

The inaugural Saudi Arabia Grand Prix will be a street race. A state-of-the-art circuit is also being constructed in Qiddiya, with plans to host Formula 1 races from 2023. In addition to these Formula 1 betting opportunities, Saudi Arabians have been treated to Formula E Championship racing since the 2018-19 season. The Diriyah ePrix now seems to an annual fixture of the Formula E racing calendar.

The Future of Gambling in Saudi Arabia

Don’t hold your breath on Saudi Arabia’s gambling laws changing anytime soon. In such a huge Muslim country, where the vast majority of people are staunchly against gambling, there’s no reason to allow it to surface. It will get easier over time to bet online and move money around, but the penalties imposed by Saudi law are as extreme as they come. Online does seem like a million times safer than gambling live, so people will continue to do so in the relative safety of their own home.

On the plus side, the government of Saudi Arabia has taken steps to improve its global image in recent years. Following the historic lifting of a driving ban, women have finally been allowed to attend sports events in stadiums. The country has also been embracing western sports since 2016, when Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced his Vision 2030 economic development program.

Saudi Arabia controversially hosted the first heavyweight boxing title fight to be staged in the Middle East in 2019, when Anthony Joshua beat Andy Ruiz in a rematch to reclaim his titles.

While critics claimed it was an exercise in ‘sports washing’, the Saudi government says its desire to hold major sporting events is simply a push towards social reform.

Who knows? Maybe a change in attitude towards the legality of gambling will follow in the future. Until then, you can bet on your favourite sports at our recommended sports betting sites for Saudi Arabians.

Saudi Arabia Betting FAQs

Is sports betting legal in Saudi Arabia?

No, all forms of gambling are illegal in the devoutly Islamic country. However, many of the country’s residents secretly bet on their favourite sports. Read our guide to online betting in Saudi Arabia to discover everything you need to know about the Middle Eastern country’s strict gambling laws.

Is it safe to gamble online in Saudi Arabia?

Despite gambling being illegal in Saudi Arabia, there are a few steps you can take to stay safe when betting online. You can bypass website blocks by subscribing to a premium VPN. We also recommend choosing an anonymous payment method like Bitcoin to keep transactions private.

Can I deposit in SAR when betting online?

No, unfortunately not. Even the best sports betting sites for Saudi Arabians don’t accept the country’s official currency. As Saudi riyal (SAR) won’t be an option, you will need to select an alternative currency during the registration process. Your best bet is to select US dollar or Euro and then convert your funds.
Q.

Are Saudi Arabians eligible for betting bonuses?

A.
Absolutely! The most generous betting sites roll out the red carpet for all new customers. You may receive a free bet, match bonus, or a combination of both. If your bonus requires a deposit, make sure you read the T&Cs because deposits via anonymous payment methods often aren’t eligible for bonuses.

About the author

Omar Barakat

Sports Consultant

Footballer turned sports consultant Omar lives and breathes the industry. With over eight years of experience organising football events, he expertly advises on anything related to domestic sports in the Middle East. In recent years, Omar has collaborated with the online gambling industry to create useful content for punters in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE.