Sports betting is strictly illegal in Iran under the Civil Code of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the country's Islamic Penal Code (1). All forms of gambling have been prohibited since the 1979 revolution due to Islamic laws that categorize games of chance as grave sins, with the government maintaining stringent enforcement measures against gambling activities.
The Iranian Constitution explicitly addresses wealth accumulated through gambling, stating that the government has responsibility for confiscating such assets along with other forms of illicitly obtained wealth (2). The country's legal framework provides severe penalties for engaging in gambling activities, including imprisonment ranging from 1-6 months or up to 74 lashes for offenders.
"The government has the responsibility of confiscating all wealth accumulated through usury, usurpation, bribery, embezzlement, theft, gambling, misuse of endowments."
Despite the comprehensive legal prohibitions, enforcement has proven challenging due to the rise of online gambling platforms and overseas operators. Iran maintains active cyber police units to block online gambling content and has conducted crackdowns on illegal gambling operations, including taking down international betting sites that serve Iranian customers. The attorney general has warned that betting on sports results is illegal regardless of the medium used, and using credit or debit cards for online gambling exposes participants to additional facilitating charges under Iranian law.
Source:
https://iranhrdc.org/islamic-penal-code-of-the-islamic-republic-of-iran-book-five/
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Iran_1989
Last updated: 15-09-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
