A monopoly written as a concession
Most countries that restrict gambling do it by banning it and licensing exceptions. Lebanon did it by granting one operator a monopoly and then leaving it there. Casino du Liban opened in December 1959 under a presidential decree, and for more than sixty years it has been the only institution in the country permitted to host gambling at all. Law 417 of 1995 confirmed the monopoly and prohibited any other land-based gambling establishment.
The ownership is the part that makes it unusual. The casino is 52% held by Intra Investment Company, which the central bank came to own part of after Intra's collapse, so the state has an indirect stake in the operator it also regulates. Half the profits go to the Ministry of Finance. It is closer to a state revenue instrument than to a licensed private business.
The date that matters
The original grant ran 25 years. The 1995 extension carried it to 2026, so the legal term reaches its end in the year this page was written. What replaces it is a live question rather than a formality, and the reporting around the renewal points at online gambling as the main thing to settle: the 1959 concession was written for a building, and it does not describe the internet.
For a visitor, none of that changes what is on the floor today. Casino du Liban operates north of Beirut at Maameltein and has kept operating through war and financial collapse, which is most of what there is to say about it.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many casinos are there in Lebanon?
- One. Casino du Liban has held a legal monopoly on gambling since 1959, confirmed by Law 417 of 1995.
- Is online gambling legal in Lebanon?
- The monopoly concession was written in 1959 for a physical casino and does not address online play. The 2026 renewal is expected to.
- Who owns Casino du Liban?
- It is 52% owned by Intra Investment Company, part-owned in turn by the central bank, and it pays half its profits to the Ministry of Finance.
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.