For those in Israel, gambling is allowed to take place although there are specific rules around it and many of those focus on casino gaming. Not all forms of gambling are legal in Israel, and unfortunately for casino fans, this is one of them.
There are online casinos which have a license from Israel, but do not accept Israeli players. This is another part of the gambling industry in Israel that is highly regulated by the Israeli government.
Can Israeli People Play Casino Games?
Casino gambling in Israel is illegal, so those looking to play on land in Israel are not able to play casino games. However, there is a way around this for those looking to play and that is by using the cruise ships that are available in the port cities of Israel.
These offer casino style games to those who board the ships, and because they are technically at sea, it is legal to play inside these. As for those who are on land, the only two forms of legal gambling are sports betting and playing on the lottery.
Sports betting is popular in Israel, just like it is almost everywhere around the world. The national lottery is also very popular, partly due to the fact that it is the only other legal alternative for those who are not interested in sport.
How Regulation in Israel Works
With both sports betting and lottery playing, the regulation for these comes from government organisations. The sports betting industry is regulated by the Israeli Commission for Sports Gambling, they put together and maintain everything related to betting on sport.
The National Lottery is run by Mifal Hapayis who ensures everything is above board and there are legal and regulated ways of playing the lottery for those who want to do that.
Despite the restraints that are in place, which includes making some types of gambling illegal, this is still very big business in the country. This also comes from the online sector of gambling too, which is available for those in Israel.
Local gambling companies are not allowed to have gambling operations in the country, Local residents are also not allowed to bet online on anything other than the government sponsored gambling events.
However, companies from other countries can offer their services to those in Israel, and they have been doing so. This is similar to what we have been seeing happen elsewhere in the world. An online gambling guide for India shows what is on offer for those in that country, showing that Israeli people are not the only ones to have constraints placed upon their gambling.
The future for gambling remains unclear in Israel, there may be a time when casino gaming on the mainland becomes legal. At the moment though, players have sports betting and the national lottery to play, as just like many other countries around the world, gambling laws and restrictions are in place for players.