Residents of the United Arab Emirates resort to online sports betting sites for gambling. It may come as a surprise that gambling and certain forms of sports betting are illegal in the UAE, especially with Dubai hosting the prestigious horse race, the Dubai World Cup night. Reservations from all over the world are bets on different sports but UAE residents cannot actually enjoy them.
It’s not as simple as traditionally placing a bet, as we know. The prize can only be paid to the winner who wins the contest through his own efforts and skills. Paying the prize to a third party (someone not participating in the contest) would be outside of what is allowed, thus falling into the category of illegal gambling.
But online sports betting sites in the UAE offer this possibility while betting incognito with the help of a VPN. Read on to find out more about the best sports betting sites in the UAE for 2023 and how to bet online.
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The United Arab Emirates is home to the world’s richest racehorse race, the night of the World Cup in Dubai, which snatched over $20 million in just 6 competitions. So it is surprising to know that gambling is forbidden in Arab countries, but during our research in Asia, we discovered again that some legitimate websites accept customers from the United Arab Emirates.
The United Arab Emirates takes the prohibition of online gambling very seriously, to the point of establishing an authority to regulate telecommunications and programming it to produce an Internet access management policy, which removes categories of Internet content that is prohibited from Internet providers. The items include the following:
Only recently has the United Arab Emirates tightened its laws when the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheik Khalifa, issued a decree that is considered the most widely understood law of piracy in the Arab world. A 2012 decision by Sheikh Khalifa, which builds on a 2006 ruling, made it illegal to use the Internet to transmit, publish or promote the contents of prostitution, gambling activities, and the business of third parties.
The interesting thing is that gambling appears to be the least offensive in terms of blacklisting websites. Here in the Communications Regulatory Authority, it appears that the UAE does not ban any online gambling websites.
There are reports that gamblers in the UAE have found a way to defraud the RCA’s Internet access management policy by using a proxy for Internet networks. There are thousands of free internet proxies, but those responsible for the RCA have found and blocked most of them. Other methods, including a virtual private window or computer-to-computer connection to a Microsoft Windows computer outside the UAE, have also been used, but they are not always successful. Also, circumventing the Internet Access Administration policy does not change the fact that online gambling is an illegal activity.
Article 414 of the UAE Penal Code states that anyone who gambles is liable to imprisonment for a maximum of two years or a fine not exceeding 20,000 dirhams. A fine or seizure must be paid if the crime appears in a public place, a place open to the public, or in a place or house equipped for gambling. Article 415 stipulates that the penalty of imprisonment for a maximum period of 10 years must be taken against anyone who opens or runs a place for gambling or prepares a place like it, as well as for anyone who organizes gambling games in public or in a place or house equipped for this purpose.
The UAE has a law against gambling that thinks it’s absurd to think the environment will change. Few countries are more prone to ban gambling than Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain. Gambling in the UAE cannot be overlooked, but then again, it is always online with reference to the reports.
Online gambling is, obviously, at your own risk, and you should take into consideration the laws of your country before doing it. But with the help of a VPN (a virtual private network), it is still possible to gamble and place bets on sports online. Naturally, the VPN provider must be reliable and paid, otherwise it’s just a waste of time. Betting on sports in UAE via the VPN offers the widest range of sports, including in-game betting options, where you can bet in the middle of a football game as an example.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in UAE?
Generally, all forms of gambling are illegal in the UAE. But with the introduction of online gambling and private and safe networks, it is possible to place sports bets online in the UAE.
A lot of precautions should take place but it is manageable nevertheless. All betting sites will, naturally, be foreign, therefore bettors from the UAE should look for those that are suitable for Emirati bettors.
At the beginning of the emergence of sports betting sites on the Internet, there were a small number of them, especially in the UAE, and these sites found a great welcome and great demand from sports betting lovers from different countries of the world. As a result, these sites achieved huge profits that exceeded millions, and this has tempted many companies to launch new sites.
There are now an infinite amount of online sports betting sites, but not every one of them is equally efficient, secure, and credible, as there are fraudulent sites circling around. Therefore, finding the services with good security and characteristics is of utmost importance when looking for good betting sites in the UAE.
Among the most important points of good services that we should look at are the following:
Almost all betting sites for Emirati players online are characterized by complete credibility and complete security, follow the highest standards of efficiency and quality, hold legal licenses from the existing countries, and are among the most famous authorities that grant licenses to practice the profession of providing sports betting online, such as Gibraltar and the UK Gambling Authority. These sites are known to offer fair and fraud-free betting and are well-known for their fairness and justice in the distribution of profits by the certifications of monitoring organizations such as ECOGRA. If you find a licensed betting site that has a follow-up certificate from ECOGRA, you are on a completely safe and reliable site.
Online betting sites that accept Emirati players, unfortunately, do not accept the local currency of the UAE, so their currency is converted from the dirham to one of the currencies accepted on the site such as the dollar or the euro before the player starts betting with real money. The player can use any method mentioned In the list of financial transactions on the cashier page, among which you will find credit cards of all kinds such as Visa Card, Master Card, American Express, etc., and most electronic wallets such as Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, EntroPay, and many others, and certainly direct bank transfers.
Some online betting sites that welcome Emirati players offer a free-to-play service, in which the player can find the required fun and entertainment while gaining experience and learning betting skills, and then they can switch to betting with real money. The player will then find all his dreams of various sports such as football, basketball, tennis, horse racing, motorbike racing, wrestling, car racing, cricket, hockey, golf, boxing, American football, eSports, and many more.
There are many safe and reliable online sports betting sites in the UAE that provide a variety of well-known and modern sports and offer players a lot of bonuses, promotions, and free gifts that add to the game’s fun. Among the most important types of these bonuses that are on offer to welcome new players are called free bet bonuses, and it is usually a kind of bonus that helps the player to gain experience, skill, learn how to play, and place a bet. Not only that but there are a lot of promotions for regular players and bonuses for newcomers.
Find sports betting sites in the UAE that provide customer service at the highest level of experience and courteousness, including a team of experts and professional workers in responding to customers and finding solutions to any obstacle they may encounter while playing. This service is supported in Arabic for ease of dealing with Arab players. It is also available 24 hours a day, every day of the week, and members of this service can be contacted with non-urgent questions by calling the international phone number, through email, or through the live chat service integrated on the site. As for the most urgent questions, a solution can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions section, which includes a large number of the most important and most popular questions that are frequently asked by players.
Inevitably, you will need to register and create an account with a bookmaker in the UAE to place bets. There are a plethora of amazing welcome bonus deals at the bottom of the page, so head over there and find the deal that interests you the most before choosing the betting site. When you have chosen the preferred sports betting site in the UAE, follow the next steps:
Before placing bets, you will need to complete the registration process. To do this, you will need to head over to the sports betting site homepage, click on the “Register” or “Sign up” button, and fill in the necessary information. Fill in the account details, including name, mobile, and email address. Once you have read the full terms and conditions, click on confirm to complete the registration.
Once you reach the deposit section, you will be able to choose the deposit method, as well as set a deposit limit. You are notified of all available payment methods, so all you have to do is choose the one that suits your needs the best. Usually, the choice is down to bank transfers, credit cards, e-wallets, and similar online payment methods.
Once you have deposited funds into your account, you will be able to reap your welcome bonus. These often have certain terms and conditions so be sure to read them before claiming the bonuses. Sometimes the requirements are hard to achieve and you may not benefit from those bonuses at all.
And that’s it, you’re eligible to bet on sports in the UAE. Remember to use VPN while betting online.
It is not just the desktop version of betting where Emirati bettors can place bets. Bets will be available to everyone whether it is via desktop or mobile. Many mobile apps provide certain betting bonuses. You will be hard-pressed to find a mobile betting app that does not offer free bets, but that is usually customized for individual bettors. While the free betting offers may differ between desktop and mobile, the rewards are not very different.
Sports betting sites are interested in covering a large number of sports. This is in order to fulfill the wishes of all Emirati players. Whatever sport you prefer, you will find it available on betting sites in the United Arab Emirates. Let’s take a quick look at the most important types of sports you can bet on:
Horse racing lovers can enjoy this sport easily on many sports betting sites. This sport in particular is very popular among players in the UAE. They enjoy thrilling scenes of the horses rushing to the top of the podium. There are different types of horse racing bets such as bets on the winning horse, bets on the podium, and more.
The "white sport" has gained notable popularity in Colombia thanks to the victories of Farah and Cabal in the great international open. The best bookmakers have odds for the ATP, WTA, and ITF tournaments.
Cycling has always been a popular sport in Colombia, although it has recently come to the fore thanks to the triumphs of great athletes such as Nairo Quintana and Egan Bernal. In sports betting houses, Colombian bettors look for markets for the Grand Tours, the Classics, and national competitions such as the Tour of Colombia and the RCN Classic.
Betting sites in the UAE offer other types of racing besides horse racing, such as motorcycle racing, which is characterized by enthusiasm, fun, and extreme adventure, in addition to car racing such as Formula One, which is very popular due to its enthusiasm and high risk.
Football is the number one sport in the UAE in particular. The national football team is encouraged by all fans of this sport. Millions of football enthusiasts are looking for sports betting sites that offer excellent services in terms of football betting and the tournaments they cover, both in terms of betting offers and in terms of live broadcasts.
In this regard, all the sports betting sites in the UAE provide betting on many tournaments and competitions related to the game of football, especially the most famous leagues in the world such as the English Premier League, the Spanish League, and many other world-famous leagues. It also covers the events of many other tournaments, which enjoy a high rate of viewership among Emirati players and other nationalities, such as the European Champions League, European League, Olympic tournaments, and others.
Basketball is also one of the games that are available on all sports betting sites in the UAE. It enjoys a large number of bettors in order to make good profits, in addition to the amount of enthusiasm and fun in it, and you can find a large number of world-famous tournaments and competitions.
Online sports betting sites in the UAE are filled with other types of sports. In addition to the previous types of sports, you can bet on boxing, golf, tennis, handball, and much more. Whatever sport you are looking for, you will find it available on the site perfectly in order to meet the requirements of all players.
The types of markets, league offers, matches, and games of bookmakers in the UAE are another very important factor that decides which bookmaker to register in and pay your money. The purpose of a huge number of markets is to give the user as much freedom as possible when it comes to placing bets and get the feeling that he has as many choices as possible.
The best bookmakers also have the largest number of markets available that they can provide for a sport individually. The most popular types of bets in the UAE are:
In addition to all that, there are various additional markets that some bookmakers offer and some do not, which are advantageous for some Emirati players. For example:
To win at horse racing betting, players need enough information about horses. It is extremely important that the horse-racing players are betting on is in good shape, agile, and rested. Players also need to get acquainted with the experience of the jockey because the outcome largely depends on him and his abilities.
Bearing that in mind, players in the UAE can bet in other ways besides which horse will win the race. Online Emirati bookmakers provide other opportunities to help players win even more and these lucrative offers are quite appealing to Emirati bettors. Below we will see the different betting options that you will find most at sports betting sites in the UAE.
You can see many options that bettors can take advantage of. The more complex types of bets, the higher the odds. And those that are good at predicting horse races can make a lot of money.
When it comes to deciding where to bet, little is above potential payouts and the strength of the odds for the game. Experienced Emirati bettors who have been cruising various online bookmakers for a long time and playing on a large number of sites will be able to easily spot and distinguish where it is better to play. Basically, every bookmaker has a pronounced advantage and disadvantage.
Successful and well-known bookmakers have not succeeded by risking and setting odds “just like that”. A lot of thinking has been invested in setting odds on certain sporting events, so we have a situation where they don’t really care which team wins because they make a profit anyway.
Emirati bookmakers first determine the margin they want to set, let’s say it is 5% (in the text we will explain later what exactly margins are). Based on various information and statistics, the bookmaker then calculates the probability of a certain outcome and subtracts the margin from it. If, for example, the probability or odds of an event are estimated at 3.00, the bookmaker subtracts a margin of 5% from that odds and we get a final odds of 2.85.
The more information and data available, the more likely it is that the bookmaker will set odds that are adequate with the actual probability. If it is a sporting event that will be held for the first time, bookmakers will have to be especially careful and their odds will be less than the real probability of an outcome. For example, football odds tend to have good value because there is a huge amount of data and statistics. On the other hand, the odds on some events such as special bets, say the Olympic game-winner country will be much lower and have a higher margin, and ultimately allow the bookmaker to make more money.
The profit margin is used by bookmakers to ensure long-term profits. It is difficult to find on the internet what exact margin on average each bookmaker works because there are differences from sports to sports, from games to games with every Emirati bookmaker. These are extremely complex data and very detailed and advanced statistics would have to be done.
Probably the most important thing is what margins bookmakers give on those basic sports and games such as the final winner and the number of goals or points, as well as Asian handicaps. Simply put, if one bookmaker works at 111% and the other at 106%, it is normal that you will bet with the other one. That means a lot for long-term profit. Finding a better bookmaker according to this criterion can be one of your tasks.
Emirates betting sites are very generous. They offer many different types of bonuses and promotions for new and existing players alike. This comes from every site’s desire to help players learn about sports betting, have fun and win more money. Online betting sites’ offers start from the first moment you fund your account on the betting site and continue throughout your stay on the site.
You can use the bonuses of these sports betting sites to learn how to place a winning sports bet in the UAE. You can earn real money from this bonus money and ask the site to withdraw it. There are many types of rewards waiting for you to take the first step of signing up and making a cash deposit. Among the most popular bonuses on the Emirates online betting site are:
The first bonus you get from a sports betting site in the United Arab Emirates is the welcome bonus. As you understand this bonus, is intended to welcome you as a new player on the site and you are entitled to receive it only once. This bonus requires you to make a certain minimum cash deposit. A code may also be required prior to this cash deposit. You can get this information by reading the bonus terms and conditions. However, sports betting sites do not stop at the welcome bonus for new players but also offer a range of online betting offers.
The value of the welcome bonus is in most cases 100% of the value of the first deposit. For example, you get a 100 dirham bonus if you deposit 100 dirhams and your balance will be 200 dirhams instantly.
If the welcome bonus is not enough for you, there are more rewarding sports betting offers waiting for you. An example of this is refinancing or a deposit bonus. When you fund your account again, you will get a reward in the form of cash as well.
Getting a bonus from an Emirati bookmaker without making a deposit is possible. Due to the great competition between bookmakers in the sports betting market, some companies have decided to grant their new clients a credit just for opening an account on their page. In this way, you will be able to learn more about the bookmaker without having any risk of losing your money and thus be able to familiarize yourself with the betting offers.
In addition to the traditional first reload bonus, free bets have become the second type of welcome bonus in the UAE. However, one must be careful with the term ‘free bet’ in relation to sports betting. If we are talking about free bets in the case of a welcome bonus, you will usually have to make a deposit. This may – but does not necessarily – affect the amount of your free bet.
Because in most cases your free bet will depend on the first bet you make after opening your account. This free bet can be used in all sports areas of the bookmaker and is generally subject to the terms and conditions of the bonuses; for example, your first bet will also have to meet the minimum odds in order to be valid.
In addition to this, it is common that the free bet can only be fully used. In other words, it will not be possible to use the free bet amount on different bets. If you win a bet with your free bet, you will only receive the net winnings, the bet amount will be retained by the bookmaker. Net winnings from free bets can be paid out in real money by Emirati bookmakers without further bonus release requirements.
These promotions are not only available to new customers, but also to existing ones. In many cases, these free bets are awarded for special games or events. These free bet promotions may vary with respect to amounts and conditions.
The outcome of any sports bet is well known and it is either a win or a loss. If you win, you get your returns. In the event of a loss, there is another thing that will compensate you for these losses in the match betting sites. This is through a cashback bonus. When you lose a lot of sports bets in a row, you can get back some of the money you lost. A certain percentage that you can recover from the value of the losses is determined, this may be on a weekly or monthly basis, as stipulated in the terms and conditions of the bonus.
In general, the value of the bonuses varies from one betting site in the UAE to another, as well as the conditions for obtaining them. It is recommended to read the terms and conditions before choosing to participate in any bonus to know how to get it well.
Getting money from a sports betting site in the UAE is not as simple as it used to be. As gambling is still illegal in the Emirates, some sports betting sites will not allow certain banking methods, most often bank transfers and credit cards.
However, the news is not all bad, as there are many ways you can make deposits and withdrawals through your online sports betting account in the UAE. Below you will find a list of the most popular ones available in the largest number of online bookmakers.
✅ Boku – Although the internet started via desktop computers, the majority of internet traffic in 2020 ended up (or traveled via) phones and tablets. Since 2010 there has been something of a mobile internet revolution, extending to both established and newer betting sites.
Boku is a popular way to use your phone account to make payments at the best betting sites in the UAE. You choose Boku as your payment service, then enter your mobile phone number and your deposit amount. You will receive an SMS indicating how you can confirm the transfer. If you are successful, your deposit will appear on your next mobile phone bill.
Despite being very convenient, Boku comes with some drawbacks. The fees are high (up to 15 percent) and limited to $30 in deposits. Some carriers only allow Boku payments and you cannot withdraw via Boku.
✅ Visa Debit Card – If you have a bank account in the Arab countries, you will likely have a Visa debit card. Visa has become the most used medium for payment in the Arab countries, and you are free to use the Visa debit card or any other brand of debit card at most of the bookmakers in the Arab countries.
When it’s time to deposit with your card at online betting sites, you enter the card number, expiration date, CVV number on the back, and deposit amount. Debit card deposits are usually instant, but withdrawals can take three to five days to process. You are not likely to be charged for a debit card deposit, but withdrawals may charge fees in some sportsbooks.
✅ PayPal – PayPal has not always been available as a payment method even on top betting sites, but since 2018, an increasing number of sports betting sites in the UAE have started accepting PayPal deposits and withdrawals. Payments in an online sportsbook via PayPal are similar to payments made online elsewhere. Enter your PayPal account name and the amount you wish to deposit. The familiar PayPal applet will appear, asking you to confirm the payment there and then, or via two-step verification if you’ve set it up.
PayPal payments are usually processed within seconds, and withdrawals at Paypal betting sites can be just as fast, although some sites may take a little longer to get your money. If you are in the Arab countries, you will not incur any fees for using PayPal.
Please note that most online bookmakers in the UAE will not give bonuses for deposits you make using PayPal.
✅ Skrill – Skrill (formerly MoneyBookers) has become the leading e-wallet used by online sports bettors around the world who do not wish to use a debit card to fund their sports betting accounts (which is recommended in the UAE). Skrill works in exactly the same way as any other leading e-wallet, such as PayPal. You fund your Skrill account from your bank account or other suitable financial accounts, and then use the cash in your Skrill account to deposit into your chosen sportsbook.
Depositing is a simple process of heading to the sports cashier, choosing Skrill as your payment method, then entering your Skrill account name (usually your email) and the amount you want to deposit. You will be connected to Skrill so you can confirm the transaction. Withdrawals are basically the same, except of course the funds go in the opposite direction.
Emirati online sportsbooks are unlikely to charge you for Skrill deposits and withdrawals, but Skrill will charge you for using their services.
✅ Neteller – Neteller offers a service almost identical to Skrill, and indeed both Skrill and Neteller are owned by the same company – Paysafe. Neteller emerged as a payment services provider on the back of the online poker boom in the early 2000s and escaped the blow when online poker in the United States became “illegal” in 2011.
To open a Neteller account, you only need a valid email address. You can then transfer the funds to your Neteller account via any convenient payment method, including linking your bank account. To then transfer the money to your sportsbook account, you need to head to the cashier on the site and choose Neteller as the payment method in addition to the amount you want to deposit. You will only need to approve the transfer to transfer your funds.
On the top sites, Neteller withdrawals are as fast as deposits, but some sites may add 24 to 48 hours of “processing time”. You should not be charged by your sportsbook for Neteller transactions although you will have to pay a fee to Neteller.
✅ Paysafecard – The Paysafecard (owned by the same company as Skrill and Neteller) is not another e-wallet as some think, but an e-voucher scheme. Paysafecard e-vouchers can be purchased from real-world sellers and used for online payments. The Paysafecard e-voucher is, in fact, a unique 16-digit number. If you buy a Paysafecard e-Voucher for $20 (plus a small fee) for example, you can use that $20 to make online purchases, including deposits into an online sportsbook in the UAE.
To do this, head to the cashier and choose Paysafecard as the payment method. You will be asked to enter the 16-digit code. Once confirmed, your funds will be transferred from your eVoucher to your sportsbook account.
Paysafecards cannot be topped up. Once you use the money in your eVoucher, the 16-digit code becomes redundant. Normally, you can only use Paysafecard e-vouchers for deposits and not for withdrawals.
✅ Apple Pay – You can use Apple Pay online as well, including online sportsbooks in Arab countries that accept Apple Pay payments. Simply head to the betting company’s cashier and select Apple Pay as your provider, and the amount to deposit. Enter your Apple ID when asked to confirm the transfer. Your money should be ready to bet immediately. Apple Pay can usually be used for withdrawals as well. Transaction speeds for deposits and withdrawals are usually very fast, although the best betting sites in the United Arab Emirates may delay withdrawals by about 24-48 hours.
✅ Bitcoin – Well, the “Bitcoin Revolution” has yet to happen and many people are still hesitant to use this highly volatile fiat currency, but in terms of anonymity and security, Bitcoin cannot be improved. Bitcoins are transferred between your Bitcoin wallet (which is usually stored in the cloud these days) and the merchant you are paying, without the involvement of any financial services provider. Transfers are largely (but not entirely) anonymous and secure.
It is the most popular cryptocurrency accepted by some online sports betting sites in the UAE, but there are others including Litecoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and Neo. Bitcoin transactions are usually instant and can be used for both deposits and withdrawals.
It is very difficult to find sportsbooks that accept bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies though.
What Is the Best Payment Option for Emirati Players?
Many who bet on sports betting sites believe that paying by e-wallets is the safest way, guaranteeing the money and the immediate speed of using it in financial dealings when playing from the United Arab Emirates because it gives players the guaranteed safety and control over the amount of money they want to play and bet with on the site.
In general, all forms of gambling are illegal in the UAE. Bearing that in mind, players can access foreign betting sites and try their luck over there. The use of a VPN is highly recommended.
All gambling houses that are licensed and certified by legal gambling authorities are safe to use. The only problem is that betting and gambling are illegal in the country therefore all forms of precaution must be taken.
Sports betting can be safe in the UAE when done with the help of a VPN and at legal and licensed sports betting sites.
As gambling is illegal, the state will not impose any limits whatsoever. On the other hand, bookmakers and/or banking services may set deposit limits on their behalf. Always read terms and conditions before joining a betting service.
One of the positive sides of gambling illegality is that players don’t have to (or rather must not) pay taxes and report winnings, as the gambling is being done in secrecy.
Processing times vary among the bookmakers and the banking methods. It can go from several minutes to several days. Bookmakers usually transfer the winnings to the account almost instantly when the betting slip is successfully predicted.
There is no best sports betting site as all of them offer different features and bettors’ needs differ as well. What’s important is that the betting house in question is licensed, and therefore safe to bet at. Other qualities include a good selection of sports, markets, good odds, low margins, good bonuses, etc.
As there are many foreign betting sites at their disposal, Emirati bettors can choose various sports to bet on, such as football, basketball, tennis, handball, motorsports, horse races, eSports, etc.
Football is the most popular sport to bet on in the UAE, followed by horse races and basketball.
The bookmaker will set the odds based on probabilities and such odds are usually presented in decimal numbers. All odds on one slip are multiplied, and the amount invested is multiplied by the total odds to generate the winnings.
Some sports betting sites offer free bets as part of bonuses and promotions.
To receive any bonuses, including the welcome bonus, a player must register or create an account. After making a betting account, the bookmaker will award the player with a certain bonus.
As gambling is illegal in the UAE, there are no big centers for people who are experiencing gambling addiction. Instead, visiting a local psychiatrist and asking for help is always recommended.
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