Is online gambling legal in Bhutan?

Online gambling is not legal here. Playing on offshore sites can get you into legal trouble.

Online sports betting is banned in Bhutan. Online casino is banned in Bhutan. Online poker is banned in Bhutan. The lottery is legal on sites licensed in Bhutan.

Using a VPN to reach gambling sites from Bhutan: Legal.

Gambling with crypto: Restricted.

You must be 18 to gamble online in Bhutan.

Under the Income Tax (Amendment) Act of 2020, lottery prizes equal to or exceeding Nu. 5,000 are taxed at 20%. The tax is deducted at the source by Bhutan Lottery Limited.

There are approximately 1 licensed operators in Bhutan as of 18 Jun 2026.

No national licence for online gambling exists here, so a site taking deposits from players in Bhutan is not licensed locally, whatever licence it shows from elsewhere.

Department of Law and Order (Enforcement); Ministry of Finance (Lottery Oversight)'s website

Prominent operators in Bhutan

• ✓
  Only play the official state lottery

  Bhutan Lottery Limited (BLL) is the only legal gambling operator. Any other website, app, or agent offering casino games, sports betting, or other lotteries is operating illegally.

• ✓
  Beware of social media gambling groups

  Illegal gambling rings for dice games and Teer operate on platforms like Telegram and WeChat. Authorities actively monitor and crack down on these groups, freezing the bank accounts of participants.

• ✓
  Verify lottery ticket retailers

  Purchase physical lottery tickets only from authorized BLL agents. Check for official branding and be wary of counterfeit tickets.

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  Understand that winnings over Nu. 5,000 are taxed

  A 20% tax is automatically deducted from any lottery prize of Nu. 5,000 or more. Be suspicious of any operator claiming winnings are tax-free.

What the rules mean for bonus offers you see in Bhutan. The rules operators must follow are on the operator page.

We have no record of a national self-exclusion scheme or problem-gambling helpline in Bhutan. The law does not require licensed sites to offer deposit limits. Reality checks (reminders of how long you have played) are not required.

1. 1

   1. For prizes under Nu. 10,000

   Prizes up to Nu. 10,000 can be claimed from any authorized BLL agent or retailer across the country upon presentation of the winning ticket.

2. 2

   2. For prizes over Nu. 10,000

   Prizes exceeding Nu. 10,000 must be claimed directly from the Bhutan Lottery Limited Head Office in Phuentsholing. Claimants must submit the original ticket and a valid identity document.

   Bhutan Lottery Limited Head Office
3. 3

   3. For disputes with illegal operators

   There is no legal recourse for disputes with illegal online operators. Engaging with them is a criminal offense, and players risk financial loss and legal penalties.

• Myth

  All gambling is illegal in Bhutan.
  Reality

  Mostly true, but there is one exception. The state-owned Bhutan Lottery Limited is a legal and government-authorized operator. All other forms of gambling, including online casinos and sports betting, are criminal offenses.

• Myth

  My lottery winnings are tax-free.
  Reality

  This is false. Under the Income Tax (Amendment) Act of 2020, any lottery prize of Nu. 5,000 or more is subject to a 20% tax, which is deducted at the source by Bhutan Lottery Limited before payout.

• Myth

  Using a VPN makes it safe to gamble on foreign websites.
  Reality

  While VPN use is legal, it does not make illegal gambling safe. The act of gambling on offshore sites is still a criminal offense. Authorities can and do freeze bank accounts of individuals involved in these transactions, regardless of VPN use.