Best Pakistan Betting Sites

Pakistan is one of the largest countries in the world, located in South Asia. The regulation of all gambling activities falls under the Prevention of Gambling Act of 1977. In Pakistan, sports betting is prohibited, based on the initial - English-era - Public Gambling Act of 1867, except for horse racing tote betting, which was deemed legal in 1979. This exception's initial intention was to comfort the wealthy elite’s need for entertainment.

At the same time, racehorse owners, usually politicians, had the opportunity to get a piece of the action. This led to fixing results to their benefit, along with local bookmakers. The underground cricket bookmaking scene emerged shortly after. Online betting is illegal. Nonetheless, there's no specific mention in the law. Locals have always been passionate bettors and are constantly trying to find ways to bet at international betting sites in Pakistan, like 888sport or 1xBet.

Best Betting Sites in Pakistan

Locals can access many bookmakers, having a particular emphasis on the best cricket betting sites. Without delay, we present to you the ones that come with great promotions on a daily basis, a wide variety of betting markets and competitive odds.

Betting in Pakistan - 5 Things to Know

• 1
  Only horse race tote betting is legal
• 2
  There is no specific law on online betting
• 3
  No bookmaker holds a license in Pakistan
• 4
  Players can face prosecution if caught gambling
• 5
  Hundreds of illegal gambling shops exist

General info

⏩Population: 212.000.000

⏩Active players: 18.000.000

⏩Currency: Pakistani Rupee (PKR)

⏩Regulated gambling products: No form of gambling is allowed

⏩Operator types: Unlicensed online bookmakers and casinos

⏩Designated Authority: No designated gambling authority

⏩Status: Unregulated

Online Betting in Pakistan: The Legal Framework

The first gambling law in the country was the Public Gambling Act of 1867. Then the Prevention of Gambling Act followed, in 1977. Such an old law doesn’t specifically refer to online gambling. Yet, all forms of gambling are considered prohibited, as is commonly met in Islamic states, including sports betting in Pakistan.

Tote betting on horses is the only exception, initially deemed legal back in 1979. There are race tracks in major cities like Lahore and Karachi. There, organisers gather tote bets and draw prize bonds for the players. Keep in mind that such winnings are subject to a 10% tax by the state.

There are no restricted betting sites and no authority is assigned to enforce the law or regulate gambling in Pakistan. However, the police raid from time to time illegal betting shops and prosecute players.

Those who bet online have no specific measures targeting them, although they must always remember that it is not legal to place your wagers online either. Moreover, there is no tax model available for operators and, apparently, no licensees at all.

Essential Information for Pakistani Bettors

As you can probably imagine, with gambling being prohibited, winnings deriving from online bookmakers are not taxed. You get to keep what you win since there is no authority to impose such a tax specifically. No measures are in place regarding online betting.

Surveillance is not very strict on behalf of the state, but you better always be cautious. If the police catch you gambling in an illegal bookmaker shop you may face up to Rs 5000 fine and 1-year imprisonment. These figures increase for repeat offenders. Therefore, keep your betting online and always try to keep your anonymity (use a VPN and an e-wallet).

Bet Pakistan: How to Deposit at Online Bookies

Debit and credit cards are very popular in the country, along with bank transfer. However, since online gambling in Pakistan is banned, you must play it safe. Not much state surveillance has been reported, but you still realize that all online payments can be easily tracked.

Therefore, the use of e-wallets is strongly recommended for your transactions. Skrill and Neteller are available in Pakistan; you will also find a number of Payeer and WebMoney bookmakers. You may come across quite a few sites that offer how-to guides for utilizing payments that are basically illegal in Pakistan (i.e. PayPal), by using some ‘tricks’. Avoid them because you never know if you will end up having trouble with your transactions. Just stick to the ones that officially operate in the country.

List of Betting Sites Accepting Pakistan Rupee

We present you a list of the bookmakers that offer betting in Pakistan Rupee (PKR).

Gambling Framework in Other Countries

Looking into the guidelines set by neighbouring regions helps you better understand the operational structures of online betting. Below, you can see some examples:

⏩ India: In some states, like Sikkim, online betting is perfectly legal. In others, the market is grey, without clear legislation overseeing player activities. Besides the stigma from religious entities, users are generally free to register at Indian bookmakers without the fear of being prosecuted. 

⏩ Iraq: While some selected horse and camel races are still open, gambling in the country is considered illegal under the Penal Code. There have also been incidents where people faced up to one month in prison when they were caught playing on betting sites in Iraq. 

The Future of Online Gambling in Pakistan

Pakistan is one of the biggest markets for online bookmakers, considering its population. However, there is no possibility of obtaining a license and there is no governing body either. As a strictly Muslim country, there aren’t many chances of significant changes in the near future.

If at some point, the state realises that it could benefit from taxes on bookmakers by having a regulated gambling sector, things could take a turn for the better. In conclusion, legalising Pakistan betting or getting the market regulated any time soon, does not look like a possibility, based on the country’s culture and history.