Saudi Arabia is an Asian country, a typical country that is ruled under Islamic law. With such a staunch leadership, all forms of gambling in the country are illegal, apart from horse racing betting. Despite the theocratic view on gambling, the punters in the country aren’t much disadvantaged when it comes to gambling as they can do so online. The operation of numerous foreign bookmakers in the country helps players gamble without fear or reservations online.
TOP Betting Sites in Saudi Arabia
This review will focus on the list of online betting sites in Saudi Arabia. Alongside this, we shall check into the basics of the country betting structure, the sports to bet in, the bonuses for Saudi Arabian players, and other aspects. Wondering where to bet in Saudi Arabia? That shouldn’t be a bothersome question anymore as we got you covered with top betting sites in the country. Have a look at each as you select the best for your betting adventure:
1xbet
The brand 1xbet is one of the significant bookmakers that welcomes bettors from Saudi Arabia. It has been recognized to deliver superior services to its customers for over 10+ years. Saudi Arabia punters should note that it accepts Saudi Arabia’s currency, and this simplifies transactions.1xbet works under multiple licenses received from Curacao, the UK, and many others.
Its broad library of games offers various selections of betting markets. It delivers over 2000+ sports events and 45+ sports daily. Its odds are at par with the standards of the industry, and Saudi Arabia punters have made 1xbet one of their top choice.
- Pros
- Offers huge welcome bonuses to Saudi Arabia players
- Accepts Saudi Arabia currency
- Its odds are relatively high, especially for football
- Has a native app
- Cons
- Its website lags, especially on slow networks
Betfinal
Betfinal comes as a top choice for Saudi Arabian bettors. The bookmaker started in 2013, and so far, it has proved to surpass many bookmakers in its quality services. The most thrilling part is that it accepts cryptocurrencies.
Betfinal offers sections for sportsbooks, e-sports, casinos, and live casino. To create a fantastic betting experience, Betfinal can’t forget to give unending promotions and bonuses while giving Saudi Arabian bettors a wide range of betting options. When it comes to its sports library, Betfinal has a comprehensive list of sports games ranging from basketball, football, cricket, and many others.
- Pros
- A wide library of sports games
- Offers several bonuses and promotional offers to new and existing Saudi bettors
- Its website is mobile-friendly
- Its sports odd are great
- Cons
- Doesn’t offer 24/7 customer support
Melbet
It’s now 10 years since Melbet entered the market. The bookmaker holds a license from Curacao and accepts registration from bettors in Saudi Arabia. With its growing popularity, the bookmaker has penetrated many markets globally, and Saudi Arabia has been on the list for a long time. Tutkia Ltd owns Melbet, and its headquarters are located in Cyprus.
It comes with an intuitive web design featuring a sportsbook, casino, lottery, e-sports, etc. Without making everything plain, Melbet ensures Saudi punters get a satisfactory betting experience by giving fantastic features. These include cash out, multi-live streaming, high odds, and many others. Its acceptance of Saudi Arabian Riyal through various payment options is an advantage.
- Pros
- Accepts Saudi riyal
- Offers fast transactions
- Provides Saudi bettors with a wide range of betting options
- Has a dedicated app
- Cons
- Popular e-wallets like PayPal are not supported
10Bet
Leaving out 10Bet would be an injustice to Saudi Arabian punters. There is a growing demand for 10bet services among most punters. Ocean Star Limited founded 10bet in Malta in 2003, and now the bookmaker holds licenses from Malta and UK. Drafting, who won the Sportsbook of the Year award in SBC Awards North America in 2021, powers the 10bet sportsbook.
As you would expect from this renowned bookmaker, Saudi players can access its sportsbook, casino and virtual sports sections. The sportsbook odds are competitive, especially in major football leagues. Saudi punters can browse through 2000+ sports events in 30+ different sports daily.
- Pros
- Unique features such as edit my bet, cash out, and quick view are available
- Has a mobile app
- Offers a wide range of betting options
- Its customer support runs 24/7
- Cons
- Live streaming is not available
Betway
Betway is one of the big players in the online gambling industry. Having struggled in the starting years, BetWay is now known as a good bookie that gives attention to detail of what bettors want. Having started in the UK, there is more expected from its offering, and undoubtedly, it meets these expectations and surpasses them. It is also Westham football club’s official partner.
BetWay, like most brands, provides a sportsbook, casino, poker, bingo, and many more. Its sports odds are competitive and ensure that existing Saudi Arabian players get lucrative bonus deals. Live betting at BetWay is quick and easy featuring over 20+ sports events. It provides a comprehensive sports market to Saudi Arabia with over 1500+ sports events daily across 45+ sports.
- Pros
- Offers a comprehensive library of sport games
- Supports most e-wallets payments
- Has provided mobile apps
- Bet builder, Cash out, request a bet and live streaming feature available
- Cons
- Limited Asian bet markets
888Sport
For Saudi Arabian punters, 888Sport is one of the top bookmakers and a number one consideration. 888Sport started in the late 1990s in the UK, and to most punters globally, it is one of their best choices. The brand holds licenses from Gibraltar and UK. Apart from being legit, the bookmaker has won numerous awards-BetXpert Bookmaker and Gaming Intelligence Award being the notable ones.
888Sport presents a wonderful betting experience to Saudi players with various features. These features include accepting Saudi riyal, a vast library of games, several bonus offers, and many more. Its products include casino, sportsbooks, and poker. The betting platform features in-house games with a high winning limit.
- Pros
- Has a mobile app
- Accepts Saudi riyal
- Bet Builder and Live streaming are available
- Runs several bonuses
- Cons
- Cryptocurrency is not supported
Why Choose Online Betting in Saudi Arabia
Despite being illegal to bet in Saudi Arabia, punters have the chance to enjoy playing their favourite games. But, this is happening online as many online gambling sites are operating in the country. Playing on these top online bookmakers gives you a chance to reserve all your winnings as there is no taxation.
Online betting sites in Saudi Arabia offer players a lot of options ranging from a casino, sports, bingo, scratch cards, and many others that you don’t want to miss out on.
Is Online Betting Legal in Saudi Arabia?
No, online gambling is illegal in Saudi Arabia. Consequently, getting caught practising any type of online gambling in the country is tantamount to a punishable offence under the law.
Although the police in the country are ever on the hunt, they rarely target online bettors. Instead, they are ever targeting the local gambling establishments, and the consequences are downright scary once caught gambling.
Trivia/Did you know that…
- Saudi Arabia doesn’t allow any form of gambling in the country
- There are no state-licensed gambling establishments in Saudi Arabia
- In addition to imprisonment as a punishment for gambling, canning is also possible
- There is a lot of clandestine gambling in Saudi Arabia, especially online gambling
- There is nobody to control gambling in the country as it shouldn’t be happening at all.
Are there restrictions on Saudi Arabian players by some bookmakers?
No, there are no restrictions on the Saudi Arabian players by bookmakers. But gambling is an illegal practice in the country. Players mostly use VPN services to enjoy betting online.
Gambling Facts at a Glance
Below are the facts to have at your fingertips every time you think about gambling in Saudi Arabia.
- Currency
The currency of Saudi Arabia is Saudi Arabia Riyal, abbreviated as SAR - Population
According to the World Bank statistics, Saudi Arabia is a country of 34.81 million people. - Active players
Tentatively, 5.2 million people engage in online gambling in the country. - Regulatory authority
There is no regulatory authority that controls gambling in Saudi Arabia. - Licensed gambling products
There are no licensed gambling products in the country. All forms of gambling are strictly prohibited. - Types of operators
Offshore bookmakers consist of illegal sportsbooks and casinos.
How to Choose the Right Online Betting Site
With the vast list of online betting sites in Saudi Arabia, finding the best online gambling site for your needs isn’t a walk in the park. You need more than meets the eye, which calls for a careful evaluation. Therefore, we suggest that you ask yourself the below questions before you make the decision:
- Does the betting site offer a cash-out service?
- Does the bookmaker offer the in-play betting option?
- Will I enjoy the live streaming gaming option?
- What payment methods are available for punters?
- Any special features like the bet builder?
While the above questions present the essential checkpoints, there is more than meets the eye. You should evaluate the website design, customer support, payment methods, and the legality of the platform.
Having these in mind gives you an upper hand in choosing a reliable online betting platform in Saudi Arabia.
Bonuses for Players from Saudi Arabia
To attract and retain customers, there are numerous bonuses for Saudi Arabia customers on the country’s gambling sites. The bonuses differ from each other, but they can be generally categorized into the following:
- Betting sites bonus for new players
- Bonuses for the existing players
- Betting Sites Bonus for New Players
The top bookmakers in Saudi Arabia offer their punters new player bonuses. These are the kinds of offers that are given out to all new accounts. While some come as deposit-based bonuses, some are offered as no deposit bonuses. Moreover, they can come as free spins.
After using the welcome bonus, players at some gambling sites are consumed by the dry spell of lack of bonuses. But most of the Saudi Arabian gambling sites offer their players’ plenty of offers. These offers include cashback bonuses, reload offers, weekly prizes, referral bonuses, and several others.
After knowing where to bet in Saudi Arabia, you should frequent the promotions section to understand what offers are available for grab.
Most Popular Sports to Bet on in Saudi Arabia
Despite being conducted in deep secrecy, gambling in Saudi Arabia is a growing industry gaining huge traction day in day out. Different players prefer gambling in certain sports while they ignore others. Going by this choosy selection, we bring you a list of the most popular sports to bet in in Saudi Arabia:
- Cricket
- Basketball
- Camel Racing
- Falconry
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Badminton
- Water Polo
- Motor Racing
- Horse Racing
- American Football
- Rugby Union
- Golf
- Volleyball
Mobile Betting in Saudi Arabia
Both the new and the veteran betting sites in Saudi Arabia have adopted mobile gambling at high rates. Almost all the betting sites we have reviewed above offer a dedicated mobile app for convenient gaming. The alternative to such an app is the mobile website version.
Both the mobile website version and the mobile application offer punters a similar convenience. You will access the different gambling products offered by the bookies, walk with your betting account wherever you may want to, and enjoy fast payments.
The high mobile penetration in Saudi Arabia has contributed to the adoption of mobile gambling in the country.
Are Online Casinos Popular in Saudi Arabia?
Sure, online casinos are popular in Saudi Arabia. The top bookmakers in the country offer different verticals, the most essential being the sportsbook and the casino. The fact that bookies provide casinos alongside sportsbooks means that the casinos are an alternative to a vast population of bettors who love table games, slots, scratch cards, and other casino games.
Supported Payment Methods
The methods of payment supported in Saudi Arabia include the following:
- Credit cards
- Bank transfer methods
- Electronic wallets
- Cryptocurrencies
To avoid tracking payments from gambling, players prefer payments through cryptocurrencies and e-wallets for their strong security.
As expected, the time taken to process a transaction depends on the method of payment and the amount involved.
No, there is no taxation on winnings. Gambling in Saudi Arabia is unlawful, and thus, its winnings are not recognized under any law.
Therefore you take home all your wins no matter the size.
FAQs
Are winnings in Saudi Arabia taxable?
No, winnings in the Saudi Arabia gambling scene are not taxed.
Do bookmakers restrict players from Saudi Arabia?
Online gambling is the only alternative form of gambling for the people of Saudi Arabia. Therefore, online bookmakers don’t deny the players a chance to gamble online.
Which are the best online casinos to play at in Saudi Arabia?
The best online casinos to play at include 1xbet, Betfinal, Melbet, 10Bet, Betway, and 888Casino.
What are the consequences of betting in Saudi Arabia?
Since all forms of gambling in Saudi Arabia are banned, it is a punishable offense that attracts up to six months in jail and canning in public.
What are some of the bonuses for Saudi Arabia customers?
Some of the bonuses for Saudi Arabia customers that you can quickly get at the platform include the welcome package, cashback, reload offers, and many others.
What payment methods do I use to pay when gambling in Saudi Arabia?
When gambling at the top bookmakers in Saudi Arabia, you can use e-wallets, credit cards, cryptocurrencies, or the bank transfer method to facilitate payments.
Are there physical betting shops in Saudi Arabia?
No, there are no physical betting shops in Saudi Arabia. Police are always on patrol to deal with such kind of lawbreaking.
Can I play at new betting sites in Saudi Arabia?
Sure, you can play at new betting sites in Saudi Arabia. Despite prohibiting gambling, there are many bookmakers that are illegally entering the market.
Final Comments
Online gambling is illegal on paper in Saudi Arabia, but things are totally different on the actual ground. There are tens of online gambling sites accepting punters from the country without any issues. But, there are strictly no betting shops as police are ever manning such establishments.
Despite the prohibition, there are many online betting sites in Saudi Arabia. But, the sharia laws crush any hopes of legalizing gambling any time soon in the country.
