Is it risky to gamble online in Pakistan?

Whilst the chances of a player getting caught betting at a live casino is rare, it doesn't mean that it is without risk. With the strict regulation of the gambling scene in Pakistan anyone should consider the consequences they will face should they be caught using a live casino.

How do players in Pakistan access live casinos if they are banned?

The most popular way is to use a VPN to disguise the IP address and location of the player.

Can Pakistani Rupees be used at a live casino?

The Pakistani Rupee (PKR) is an accepted currency at many live casinos, particularly those based in Asia and targeting the region.

Are all kinds of gambling illegal in Pakistan?

There are several physical casinos in the country, however, they are restricted only to foreign players. The only other form of gambling that is legal is horse racing, on which it has been legal to bet since 1979.

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Live casinos in Pakistan

Home to 225 million people, Pakistan is the fifth biggest country in the world by population and the 33rd largest by area. Religion plays a strong role in daily life in Pakistan and any kind of gambling, including playing at live casinos, is prohibited in this Muslim country, but that isn't to say it doesn't happen.

With such a large population there is naturally a strong demand for online gaming of many kinds and playing live casinos, whilst still illegal, presents a far lesser risk than taking part in illegal gambling in public places.

History of gambling in Pakistan

Gambling laws in the country date back to 1947 but it is the Gambling Prevention Act of 1977 that is the central piece of relevant legislation in the country.

The long and the short of this piece of law, and the provincial versions of the act that came into effect in the following year, is that gambling is illegal anywhere in Pakistan.

Whilst the Act was introduced long before the birth of online gambling it is considered general enough to cover all varieties of gambling, including live online casinos.

The penalties for anyone breaking the law are severe. Anyone who operates a gambling facility runs the risk of a fine of up to 1,000 rupees or a year in prison, whilst anyone who takes part in gambling at "common gaming houses" can be fined up to 5,000 rupees and also face a year in prison.

There are also separate rules for gambling in public and private places, with fines varying from 500 to 1,000 rupees and jail terms of up to two years.

Gambling nowadays in Pakistan

Pakistan only gained independence from the UK relatively recently in 1947 before becoming a republic in 1956 and the laws around gambling have not changed since the aforementioned Gambling Prevention Act in 1977. The Act still controls all aspects of the gambling industry in the country, online and otherwise.

The future of online casinos in Pakistan

Over the past few decades, Pakistan has made great strides when it comes to political and economic stability. It is now officially ranked as one of the world's emerging and growth-leading economies and has a multi-party parliamentary system and a democratically imposed government.

Whilst these events point towards a country moving towards a more moderate society, there has been little sign from the Government of any move to relax gambling laws in the country.

What is for certain is there is the potential and market for live casinos as the country is estimated to have more than 80million Internet users, putting it in the top ten countries in the world for internet usage.

Are casinos legal in Pakistan?

In one word, no. The only exception to the law is for 'tourist complexes', controlled by provincial governments and only open to foreigners. Any form of gambling is currently illegal to any Pakistani national.

There is still an appetite for live casinos in the country though, with many players' desire for online gambling proving stronger than the fear of the punishment they know they might face if they are caught.

Pakistani players' favorite live games

Officially all forms of live gambling are illegal in Pakistan, this includes:

Online bingo
Poker
Lottery
Sports betting

The one exception is horse racing, on which it has been legal to bet since 1979. Of course, as previously mentioned whilst both running and betting at live casinos might be illegal, that doesn't mean it doesn't happen...

With gambling being outlawed in the country it is hard to say with certainty what the favorite games are of those who do go under the radar and play live casinos that are licensed in other countries.

However, it is known cricket is hugely popular in Pakistan, and that live sports betting is a favorite with those that take the risk and use live casinos. Live table games such as roulette, blackjack and baccarat are also popular choices.

Top bonuses in Pakistan

The preferred live casino bonuses for players in Pakistan don't vary hugely from the bonuses that are popular with players around the globe.

Welcome bonuses in the form of matched deposits are always a strong draw and with the popularity of cricket making live sports betting a favorite in the country, sportsbook bonuses such as free bets and weekly rebates are high on the list too.

Payment methods in Pakistan

There are several e-wallets and online payment gateways that are used extensively in Pakistan, most notably Easypaisa, HBL Konnect, Jazz Cash, and Keenu Wallet.

Due to the strict regulations around gambling in the country, eWallets have become the way for Pakistani players to fund their live casino activities as the more traditional methods are blocked from depositing at gambling sites like:

Visa
Mastercard
Bank transfers

Another popular choice, in the absence of PayPal, which is not available in the country, is Payoneer, a global payment service that can be linked with:

VISA
MasterCard
American Express

These can be used at many live casinos.

Top Live Casinos in Pakistan