Like all Gulf countries, the UAE prohibits gambling in public and private places. However, UAE law does not prohibit or criminalise online gambling, sports betting sites, bingo and poker networks. In fact, there are fundamental differences between physical gambling and online gambling land based casinos and sports betting booth betting are subject to legal compliance in order not to be a smokescreen for money laundering, bribery, political corruption, or theft, yet virtual gambling site licensing commissions It solved this problem by setting caps on financial transactions in online gambling facilities.

If you go on any UAE sports betting site you will find that the max deposit/ withdrawal is €5000 per month. Therefore, there is no possibility that these sites will be a cover for money laundering operations, especially as they require all users to send documents to verify the source of the deposited funds.

Legally, there is no provision in UAE law that criminalises online gambling, and neither the UAE nor any other country has the technical mechanisms that would enable it to monitor users’ online activities. Banks also cannot detect your transactions at online bookmakers because what will appear on your account statement is the name of the company operating the site you are playing on and not the name of the site itself. 

For the highest level of protection, you can use one of the VPN services. This tech works by redirecting your Internet connection through a proxy server located elsewhere in the world. Thus, it hides the real location and IP address of your device. We always recommend NordVPN or CyberGhost to our readers, which are easy to use and affordable options that are effective in protecting your data and preserving your privacy as well.

How to Choose the Best Sports Betting Sites in the UAE?

There are no legal restrictions on gambling at UAE gambling sites. So, you can choose the right one for you from the shortlist we mentioned at the beginning of this page. Furthermore, you can also choose the right place for you by yourself based on the following standards and tips:

• Check the terms and conditions page and make sure that the site accepts players from the United Arab Emirates. Note that if the terms and conditions document says “gambling is prohibited in a country whose laws prohibit virtual gambling” you must contact customer service to ensure that you can sign up for the site.
• Find out if the site accepts the currency of the UAE dirham or if it only accepts international currencies (US dollar, euro or pound sterling). If the bookmaker does not accept your local currency then the conversion between your local and international currency will be done smoothly and without any fees.
• It is also important to see the payment methods available to make sure that there are methods that you are happy to use. In addition, you must ensure that there are minimum deposit amounts and that they are within your budget.
• If your English is not very strong, make sure the site supports Arabic. All the sites we recommended support both Arabic and English languages.
• If you have special preferences it is important to make sure that the betting markets you want to use are actually available.
• Even if you are not a bounty hunter, it is important to make sure that the site offers its players solid offers that you can take advantage of to get real profits.

Sports Markets Available on UAE Bookmakers

UAE sports betting sites strive to accept players with different requirements and tastes. So, they offer thousands of betting options daily. The sports betting site is split up to make it easier for players to get the option they want without wasting time. Typically, you will find in the list of sports betting sites more than 30 sports. In the centre, you will find a display of the latest sports matches scheduled to take place soon. On the right side, you will find a bet slip that reminds you of the bets you have placed and other bets that you have not yet confirmed.

If you do not find any match that you would like to bet on, you can use the search feature. Popular sports vary from country to country, so let's take a look at the top options available to Emirati players:

Football

As in many parts of the world, football is the most popular sport in the UAE. This is true not only for actually watching and playing but also for online betting! Fortunately, football accounts for the lion's share of the odds and rewards that any sports betting site ever offers. UAE sports betting sites cover local, Asian and global tournaments. In other words, you have the chance to bet on the UAE League along with the English Premier League, Champions League and Euro.

Although the Arab countries’ sportive championships are less well known globally, online bookmakers cover them in depth. However, there are some leagues that have low scouts sports betting sites and this allows bettors to quickly find out the best winning odds.

There are two main types of football bets which are ante bets and live bets. Both types offer the main and sub markets for each match including:

• Match Result Bet
• Total
• 1×2
• Specials

The most important advice that football bettors have to apply is to diversify their bets to get the highest chances of winning.

Cricket

Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the UAE although it does not enjoy similar popularity in other Arab countries. Fortunately, there are many other people who share their passion for cricket in the UAE, such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and India. Therefore, sports betting sites offer excellent coverage of local, regional and international cricket competitions. Among the biggest tournaments that you can bet on are IPL, Big Bash, English County Championship and other tournaments. You can bet on the outcome of a match, place a long bet on a competition, or even bet on an in-match variable.

Esports

In recent years, esports has gained an immense popularity, especially in the Middle East. The UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia organise many million dollars competitions for esports. Nowadays, you can not only play or watch esports easily, but you can also bet on it. Esports is divided into two types. The first type is games that simulate real sports such as football, basketball, and handball. The second type are games such as Fortnite, Dota 2, and LOL. We can say that Counter Strike: Global Offensive is the most represented game in UAE bookmakers. This game in particular has excellent coverage, starting with casual games and extending to the biggest EU competitions and world championships. Fortunately, most sports betting sites offer free live streaming of esports games. You'll find pre-match betting markets, live betting, and other options.

Other sports

In addition to the three sections mentioned above, there is a wide range of other sports that Emirati bettors can try betting on, this usually includes the following:

• Horse racing
• Formula 1
• Handball
• Boxing
• Wrestling
• Tennis

Of course, there are some sports that are popular in the UAE but don't have many fans elsewhere, with camel racing a prime example. Unfortunately, since we're talking about global bookmakers which you can reach from the UAE, it is almost impossible to find gambling markets for these non widely popular sports. However, you see, even with these omissions, you still have plenty of bets to keep you entertained!

Where Can You Find the Best Betting Odds?

You should look for the bookmaker that offers you the highest betting odds to get the highest winning odds. If you choose a bookmaker with lower odds, then you will get low profits even though you have already won your bets!

If you want to get more chances of winning, we urge you to register with more than one site. This strategy can serve multiple purposes. By subscribing to multiple sites, you can get more rewards, bet on more events and sports, and find more advantages. Furthermore, you can apply the matched betting strategy.

This strategy requires the player to sign up for more than one sports betting site to get the rewards, especially the free bet. The player then places a bet at the first site on the home team. In the second bookmaker, the player can place a bet on the away team. In this way, the player is guaranteed a certain win, regardless of the game’s result!

If you want to search for bookmakers yourself and check their offers all you have to do is select a group of popular markets. Then, determine the average winning rates and compare the new site with this average. If you find a site that offers you the same odds that is fine, if they are much worse, you should consider another bookie!

If you prefer to bet on the go it is important to make sure that the site you subscribe to offers compatible apps for smartphones and tablets or at least has a good web-based platform.

Golden Tips for Sports Betting in the UAE

Sports betting differs from casino games in that it is based on skill and strategy, not sheer luck. Thus, sports bettors can make consistent profits from betting on their favourite sports. In other words, a large part of the odds of winning and making a profit is in your hand! By gambling in a smart and thoughtful way, you can get big profits, or at least, increase your chances of making money. Here are the top tips that you can apply to boost your odds of UAE sports betting.

Do Your Research

There are two types of sports betting which are the ante bets and the live bet. If you prefer placing bets in advance, you will have to gather info and data about sports matches and tournaments to choose the best bet. If you go with the second type you don't need to spend weekend nights reading match reports and technical analysis; All you have to do is follow the match while holding your phone to catch the right bet at the right time. In general, we recommend getting as much help as possible! You can get this help from sports sites or through the blogs of UAE sports betting sites.

We have noticed on YouTube and Twitter a lot of influencers praising the uses of AI in sports betting. However, so far, this technique has not been fully proven to be effective. Alternatively, you can rely on neutral statistical analysis to place a wise bet.

Know How to Test the Bookmaker

We advise all bettors to check out our in-depth reviews of sports betting sites. However, if you decide to go it alone we advise you to apply the following tips:

• Before creating an account on the betting site, try the PC version and mobile platform to discover how easy it is to use it.
• If your sports betting site offers an app, be sure to download and try it out.
• Make sure the site has the special features you need such as a calculator, bet builder, and bet builder.
• Test the quality of customer service in terms of speed and effectiveness.
• Test the available betting odds to make sure they are fair and competitive.

Register With Multiple UAE Sportsbooks

As we mentioned, this strategy can serve more than one goal and it does not involve any kind of risk. When you sign up for multiple UAE sports betting sites, you will get a wide range of offers and rewards. In addition, you will have the chance to compare prices in any market you monitor and simply place a bet using your account on any bookmaker that offers the best odds.

Use Promos & Bonuses

If the terms and conditions of the bonus, then the promotions and bonuses will offer you endless benefits. UAE sports betting sites tend to be more generous with new players. However, existing players can reap the rewards of loyalty consistently and receive weekly offers. Some of these bonuses will increase your bankroll such as the welcome bonus and reload offers, while others will reduce your losses significantly, like cashback and ACCA bets rewards. In any case, the bonuses can be exciting, provided that the wagering requirements on them are mild.

Try the Additional Features

Although the excitement of the match will limit your experience to choosing one type of bet, trying out the extra features will always be a great idea. For example, you can use the cashout feature to control your bet even after you have placed it. This feature can be great for bettors in almost every scenario. If you feel that your bet is about to lose, using this feature will refund your bet after deducting administration fees. In addition, you can use our free betting calculator, watch free live streams, and view sports match stats.

Know When to Stop

If you happen to have a streak of bad luck or lose several bets in a row, there is no need to place more bets. You have to stop no matter how strong the temptation. If you feel that your power will slip you can use the self exclusion tools of sports betting sites to help players stop playing. Among the available options are freezing the account, setting a timer for the betting session, and setting a limit on deposits/ withdrawals.

Emirates Online Casino Games

The sports betting sites services are not only limited to sports betting, but also casino games and live casino games. In the next part of this guide, we have provided you with an overview of the most important casino games that you can find on sports betting sites and UAE casinos.

In recent years, the quality of online casino games has improved significantly and has become very diverse. Thus, players with different tastes can find games that suit their preferences. At the UAE online casino, you will find a great selection of classic slot games, in addition to modern games inspired by international films and series. There are also plenty of games to try for free before betting on them with real money.

Online Slots

Slot machine games are the most popular and preferred among players around the world. Online casinos offer you all kinds of slots ranging from classic games, 3D slots, to jackpots that offer prizes up to a million dollars. These games give you a realistic gaming experience due to the high quality of graphics and cinematic soundtracks.

Online Roulette

If you want to get something more strategic from slot machine games, you should try out roulette online! Which comes in 3 main forms American, European, and French variants.

Online Blackjack

The basic rule of blackjack is to get 21 points or the nearest number to it without exceeding it. Online UAE bookmakers offer several formats of blackjack, including:

• Classic blackjack
• European blackjack
• Atlantic City blackjack
• Vegas strip blackjack
• Spanish 21

Video Poker

Video poker games contain the poker rules and the gameplay of slots. They offer the players great winnings, and it depends only on luck.

Baccarat

The goal in baccarat is to predict the best hand, and the player can bet on his own hand, the banker's hand, or a bet on a tie.

Craps

Craps is one of the oldest dice games that is still popular until the present era. In this game, the dealer throws two dice and the player has to predict their value and if he succeeds in predicting the correct outcome, he wins.

The Most Common Payment Methods at UAE Bookmakers

There are many banking options that you can use to make deposits and withdrawals at online bookmakers. Each method has its own pros and cons. You’re free to choose the most suitable payment method to make your transactions at online bookies, but we advise you to accurately define your needs so that you can choose the best method for your preferences.

Online bookies accept deposits in major global currencies such as USD, GBP, EUR, and AED, as well as cryptos as well. Many bookmakers usually allow players to choose the currency in which they want to make deposits and withdrawals. It is worth noting that most of the UAE betting sites do not charge fees over your transactions.

Visa/ MasterCard cards

You can use a Visa or MasterCard debit or credit card to make deposits and withdrawals. However, if you face any difficulties when using banking cards you can issue a prepaid Visa card so that you can use it freely in all UAE online gambling sites.

But there is a slight drawback with bank cards which is that it takes a long time to process your withdrawals.

MoneyGo

MoneyGo is an amazing and innovative web wallet that you can register within just 2 minutes. After that, you can charge your balance on it using a phone wallet (such as an Etisalat wallet). Then, you can make a deposit on the betting site. This method supports deposits and withdrawals, and you can use it like other web wallets.

Skrill

Skrill is an ideal payment method to make your payments at both online casinos and sports betting sites. It is a secure and confidential wallet that is easy to use and available to all Emiratis without exception. Skrill has fast transaction processing times and transaction limits that are right for everyone without exception. In addition, Skrill is widely accepted on sports betting sites and online casinos. However, the only drawback of this wallet is that it is excluded from a lot of offers and bonuses offered by sports betting sites. Also, you can also issue a prepaid Skrill card, for only €10, to withdraw your winnings instantly from ATMs.

ecoPayz

ecoPayz is very similar to Skrill and gives players the ability to make their money transactions at online casinos instantly and at very low fees. It also gives you the chance to get a virtual card or a real one as well.

Astropay 

Astropay has a lot of great features that all online casino players are looking for! It supports responsible gambling, it does not charge fees for your withdrawals in the casino and the deposit fee is €1 for every €500 you deposit in the casino. Also, it gives you the maximum level of protection.

What Are the Bonuses of Sports Betting in UAE?

UAE online bookmakers offer their players many great bonuses to welcome new players and retain old ones. These bonuses have a huge impact on the overall gaming experience. These rewards differ in the amounts, rules and methods of claiming them. Among the most prominent bonuses that you can get from UAE bookmakers:

The Welcome Bonus

Most of the time the welcome offer will be matching the value of your first deposit. Don't expect to get multiple welcome bonuses on your first three or five deposits. The maximum value of the welcome offer ranges from 10 euros to 100 euros.

No Deposit Bonuses

These are some of the rarest casino games out there. However, they are great because they are completely risk free and give you a great chance to play and win real money!

Free Bets

You can get free bets on multiple occasions. This bonus gives you the opportunity to bet without any risks. Also, you can use it to apply the Matching Betting strategy.

Cashback Bonuses

Sports betting sites can be so generous that they reward you for your losses over a specific period.

Gambling Law in the UAE

In fact, the concept of responsible gambling does not exist in the UAE! Since the Islamic Sharia considers gambling activity, in general, as an activity that is fundamentally irresponsible and forbidden, although the Qur’anic text explained that gambling has “some benefits,” but its harms are greater because it causes addiction and causes heavy losses to players, as it distracts the mind from being preoccupied with work and obedience to God, and may cause conflicts between players. This Islamic view of gambling is influenced by the long war of the “Dahs and Al-Ghabra” in which the Arab groups fought in the pre-Islamic period and lasted for 40 years. This bloody war was sparked by cheating in a horse race that the two groups were betting on!

The UAE Penal Code stipulates that those who gamble in public places or in private facilities shall be punished with imprisonment for two years and/ or a fine of 20,000 dirhams. Those who run a place where gambling activities are practised are liable to 10 years in prison.

Traditional gambling in the UAE is strictly prohibited for religious and legal reasons. The United Arab Emirates is committed to implementing the provisions of Islamic Sharia. Thus, Emiratis cannot traditionally gamble on casino games or sports even if they have free and unhindered access to them. People have also been arrested for gambling. That is why we strongly advise you to stay away from traditional gambling and play online.

The History of Gambling in the UAE

The history of online gambling in the UAE goes back further than we thought. Before the establishment of traditional casinos, Arabs had a different type of entertainment and gambling that still exists today, betting on camel races. This sport was limited only to the popular circles until 1970 when Sheikh Zayed showed great interest in it and invested a lot of money in constructing race tracks, training camels and preparing them to compete in these races and broadcasting them on television to viewers around the world.

Horse racing also gained parallel attention, which produced the “Dubai World Cup”, which is the largest and largest horse race in the world. However, these sports can only be bet online.

Lotto in the United Arab Emirates

Although gambling/lotto is prohibited in the UAE, Emiratis can still participate in the “Multi Millionaire” lotto. Tickets are usually sold in duty-free shops in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The grand prize is up to one million dollars. There are also many other great raffles in which players can win great rewards such as luxury cars and motorbikes.

Best Betting Sites in UAE – Final Thoughts

Although the UAE prohibits all forms of traditional gambling, UAE law has not prohibited online gambling. If you're still sceptical, you can use a VPN to hide your location and keep your ID secret. Also, you can make your deposits and withdrawals using cryptos or at least an e-wallet. At the beginning of this page, we recommended the 4 best sports betting sites.