A ban in the criminal code, not a licensing regime
Most countries on this site regulate gambling. Israel criminalises it. The prohibition sits in the Penal Law 5737-1977, which makes it a question of criminal liability rather than of who holds a licence, and that is why there is no gambling regulator to name.
Three exceptions were carved out and nothing has been added since. Mifal HaPayis has run the national lottery since 1951, with scratch cards, a subscription draw and other raffles. The Israel Sports Betting Board has held the exclusive right to organise sports betting since 1967. And gambling that is purely social, the game among friends, is exempt within narrow limits. Everything else, including online casinos and poker, is illegal.
The practical consequence for a visitor is simple: there is nowhere to play. Ships docked at Haifa and Ashdod carry casinos, and they stay shut until the vessel is out in international waters.
The industry that left
The interesting part is what the ban did not stop. Several of the largest companies in online gambling were founded by Israelis, and they were founded elsewhere. Playtech was started by Teddy Sagi in Estonia in 1999 and is headquartered on the Isle of Man. 888 was based in Antigua and then Gibraltar, with its research, development and marketing subsidiary in Tel Aviv.
So the technology gets built in a country where using it is a crime, and the company that owns it is incorporated somewhere it is not. It is the cleanest illustration on this site of the gap between where gambling is played and where it is made.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are there casinos in Israel?
- No. Land-based casinos are illegal and none has ever operated legally. Cruise ship casinos open only in international waters.
- Is online gambling legal in Israel?
- No. Online casinos and online poker are prohibited under the Penal Law 5737-1977.
- What is legal, then?
- Mifal HaPayis, the national lottery running since 1951; sports betting through the Israel Sports Betting Board, exclusive since 1967; and purely social gambling within narrow limits.
Legal age, regulator and the tax treatment of player winnings on this page were checked against the regulator's own material or a reputable legal summary in August 2026. Gambling law moves; confirm anything consequential with the regulator before relying on it. Where sources disagreed, this site leaves the figure out rather than guessing.