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Algeria – Can You Gamble Online In This Muslim Country?

On the whole, most Muslim countries take a dim view of gambling. But because people will gamble over virtually any unknown outcome, the only way to reinforce this total ban is through the use of severe penalties. If you're tempted to gamble online in Algeria, it's probably best not to. For one thing, you could easily be caught out by going through your phone, and everything would be revealed. But you must also consider the customs, laws and culture of the country where you're the guest

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Gambling at Online Casinos in Algeria

When most people think of Algeria, they picture its beautiful setting on the Mediterranean sea. It’s actually the largest country in Africa by and mass, with a population of over 43 million people. The official language is Arabic, but you’ll also hear a lot of French and Berber spoken. If you happen to be in Algeria on holiday and looking for casinos then you’ve gone to the wrong place.

Gambling & Algeria

The first thing to note is that as a Muslim country Algeria is under Sharia law. As a matter of fact, Sunni Islam is the practising religion of over 99% of the population. When it comes to gambling and all games of chance for that matter, it’s an “abomination of Satan’s handiwork” and a “grave sin.” To that end, all gambling in Algeria, to gain any form of wealth, is illegal and a serious crime. All aspects of Sharia law a governed by the 1984 Algeria Family Code, Article 222.

With gambling being strictly forbidden, you could end up in prison for playing any games of chance. If for example, you’re working for an online casino in Algeria, then you’ll get between three and 12 months in prison, as well as a large fine. Having said that, we haven’t heard of any players being prosecuted. Because there are no licencing laws, then there is no minimum age for gambling either.

But There’s A State Lottery

What’s interesting is that in spite of the ban on gambling, the lottery is OK. The Pari Sportif Algeria (PAS) runs a few scratchcard lottery games. For example, the Loto Erriadi and the Loto Mohtaref, are 49/6 and 35/7 ball games respectively and are the best lotteries to play. There’s no online presence, so you need to buy tickets from the government office. Keep in mind, about your prize money, 40% goes to the government, and 20% to the lottery provider, leaving you with 40% of the prize money in total.

Another interesting fact is that horse racing betting is perfectly legal. The Société des Courses Hippiques et du Pari Mutuel organizers them. But you can only place wagers at the actual horse track itself. You’ll find a total of 9 race tracks, with both horse racing and trotting races on offer.

There’s a good chance you’ll start gambling using offshore casinos like 22Bet Casino, thinking you’ll get away without any serious repercussions. But what may catch you out are the Algerian tax laws. Obviously, any winning so going to have to go into your Algerian bank account. Meaning it’s more than likely the local tax authority will take an interest. This could leave you to being charged with tax evasion.

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Gambling Security in Algeria

In truth, you going to find that the majority of Algerians have a very negative outlook on every form of gambling due to their religion. We strongly suggest that if you happen to be using your phone to gamble in Algeria, you do so without drawing any attention to yourself. Keep in mind that just because there are no specific laws for players caught gambling, it doesn’t mean there aren’t some other statutes which could be used against you. As a matter of respect, you should never talk about gambling to any Algerian. This is not because of fear of legal consequences, but simply because, according to their religion, such talk is disrespectful and rude.

Popular Algerian Payment Methods

In spite of the strict laws against gambling, you will find that many online casinos are happy to accept Algerian players. So, if you are tempted to gamble, then the first thing we suggest is that you don’t use either your Visa or MasterCard, especially if they were issued by an Algerian bank. Yes, banking laws are, by design, there to keep your spending secret. But you may find that the banks raise an eyebrow on seeing the word “casino” in your bank statement.

To be honest, you’re much better sticking with anonymous methods like cryptocurrencies and eWallets. You should utilise one that’s easier to top it up using a service like Cashu or AstroPay. If you use Algerian Dinars to make your deposits, then they’ll be converted instantly. And if you managed to win anything, then you’ll receive Algerian Dinars directly into your eWallet

Keep in mind that when you sign up for an international casino, today’s new laws state that you need to complete a KYC or know your customer registration process. This will include uploading forms of personal documentation, identity cards, passports, as well as proof of address. But you shouldn’t worry too much about this. All online international casinos take the security of their customer’s personal security and banking information very seriously.

Money Exchanging

You may well find many offshore casinos are happy to accept Algerian players. Though having said that, few of them will accept the Algerian dinar (DZD). You should probably change them to more favourable currencies such as the Euro or the US dollar. These days, all eWallets support multi-currency accounts, meaning that the money changes are done automatically behind the scenes and there’s nothing for you to worry about.

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrencies haven’t made huge inroads into Algeria, even though they offer the best anonymity for Algerian players. You may find many crypto casinos where you can win the jackpot online. But we suggest you only stick with the top reputable casinos that have a proper gambling licence. For instance, those issued by the UK Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority.

About not everything is rosy in the gardener of crypto. For one thing, cryptocurrencies suffer from horrible volatility. Recently, many currencies have fallen over 70% compared to their all-time highs. Secondly, you need to really keep an eye on your wallet. Make sure that you guard your passwords and other security measures very well. That’s because, if you happen to fall for a scam, there’s no one to turn to. You’ll just have to accept the loss, as all monies are technically untraceable.

You also need to keep in mind that there’s no chance of making a chargeback or a reversal. If for example, you make a deposit into the wrong wallet address, there’s no way to retrieve your funds.

Summary of Online Gambling in Algeria

If you’re going on holiday to Algeria, then keep in mind that domestic online casinos to win the jackpot simply don’t exist. This means that you’re going to have to go to international gambling sites like 22Bet Casino. In some ways, this is good news. Essentially because all the top international sites would have to conform to stringent licensing conditions. This means that even if you’re on holiday in Algeria if there are any problems you’ll be able to sort them out when you get back home.

In truth, due to the religious laws and the possibility of punishment for gambling, we suggest that if you’re on holiday, you simply enjoy yourself and forget about playing jackpot games of chance online. This is because, such as the strength of feeling against gambling, you’re always at the mercy of the general population. They feel is their duty to report someone breaking their religious laws.