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🇱🇧For operators · Tax, marketing & compliance
Lebanon gambling market for operators: state monopoly
Lebanon operates a strict state-monopoly model. Casino du Liban holds the exclusive land-based and online (via its BetArabia brand) concessions for casino and sports betting, while La Loterie Libanaise runs the lottery. All offshore sites are illegal and actively blocked.
OverviewOverview built from public sources. An in-depth review of Lebanon is available on request. Request it
Product by product
| Product | Status |
|---|---|
| Online betting · Online casino | Limited |
| Online poker | Banned |
| Lottery | Licensed |
Regulator and player protection in Lebanon
Regulator
Application authority and enforcement body
Self-exclusion scheme
Casino du Liban Voluntary Self-Exclusion
How players exclude themselves; what it covers is in the player guide
Mandatory RG controls
No limit imposed on players
Deposit limits or reality checks the law requires operators to offer
Advertising stance
Limited
Whether you can run TV / sponsorship / paid-social campaigns
Heads-up for operators
2 items · last change 8 Oct 2026
The 30-year exclusive concession of Casino du Liban, on which the legal gambling market rests, expires in 2026. No decision to renew or restructure it is recorded.
Exclusive Casino Concession Expires
Casino du Liban's 30-year exclusive concession is set to expire. The government must decide whether to renew the monopoly, restructure it, or potentially open the market.
Source: 1
Not yet in force: drafts, laws adopted without a start date, and sections of the law still to be commenced. An item moves to the timeline below on the day it takes effect.
Licence Types in Lebanon
3 licence types are listed for Lebanon; each says who issues it and what it covers.
| Licence | Regulator | Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casino Concession (Casino du Liban) | Ministry of Finance | 30 years (renewable) | Single concession, expires 2026. |
| Lottery Concession (La Libanaise des Jeux) | Ministry of Finance | Statutory | Monopoly operator of the Lebanese National Lottery. |
| Online Casino & Sports Betting Concession (BetArabia) | Ministry of Finance | Contingent on Casino du Liban concession | Single concession granted to the land-based monopoly holder. |
Licensing model
Lebanon operates a state-monopoly-only framework with no open application process. The sole online licence was granted to BetArabia as a direct 'piggyback' extension of the exclusive land-based concession held by Casino du Liban, which makes the online operation contingent on the land-based agreement.
Gambling tax: 50% of GGR
Detail
The concession agreement for Casino du Liban mandates a progressive revenue share paid to the state. For the period beginning in 2016, this rate is set at 50% of Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR).
Year-1 cost: Not Applicable
Lebanon operates a state-monopoly model, and there is no open licensing process or commercial licence available for prospective operators. The 'cost' of compliance is defined by the exclusive concession agreement between the state and its chosen operators.
| Line item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Online Casino & Sports Betting Licence | State monopoly Source2 | No commercial licences are issued. The sole licence is held by BetArabia as an extension of the Casino du Liban concession. |
| Land-Based Casino Licence | State monopoly Source3 | No commercial licences are issued. A single, exclusive concession is held by Casino du Liban. |
| Lottery Licence | State monopoly | No commercial licences are issued. The national lottery is operated by La Libanaise des Jeux under a monopoly. |
| Operator GGR Tax (Casino) | 50% of GGR Source4 | The primary financial obligation for the monopoly casino operator is a 50% revenue share of Gross Gaming Revenue paid to the state. |
| Application & Other Fees | Not applicable | As there is no open application process, there is no public schedule of application, certification, or annual licence fees. |
Year 1 estimate
Not Applicable
Market entry for new commercial operators is not possible under the current state-monopoly framework.
Which foreign licences Lebanon accepts
Lebanon recognises none of these 8 foreign licences.
Banned
The state monopoly framework does not recognise any foreign licenses.
Malta (MGA) · United Kingdom (UKGC) · Curaçao
Operators are subject to systematic ISP blocking.
Gibraltar (GRA) · Isle of Man (GSC) · Kahnawake (KGC) · Anjouan (AGB) · Alderney (AGCC)
Bonus rules: welcome bonuses allowed
Inducement ads: Allowed
The regulatory framework for bonuses is not explicitly detailed in public law. Instead, it is governed by the terms and conditions set by the sole licensed operator, BetArabia, in conjunction with general consumer protection laws.
What the player can claim
- Welcome bonus
- Allowed
- Loyalty schemes
- Allowed
- Cashback
- Allowed
- Casino welcome bonus funds can only be wagered on slot games.
Welcome bonuses are actively promoted by the sole operator. For example, the casino welcome bonus has a 30x wagering requirement on the deposit and bonus amount, set by the operator.
What the operator can advertise
- Messages ads may not give
- Risk-Free
- Guaranteed Win
- Mandatory disclaimer
Attention! Gambling can be addictive. It is gambling advertising. Gambling is not suitable for solving financial problems. Please read Terms and Conditions and play responsibly.
- Penalties
Fines for misleading advertising range from 10,000,000 to 50,000,000 LBP, with potential imprisonment, under the general Consumer Protection Law.
The lack of public enforcement actions is a key feature of the market, likely due to its state-monopoly structure where compliance is handled directly between the Ministry of Finance and the licensee.
Advertising: limited
Lebanon operates a strict state monopoly on gambling, with online casino and sports betting exclusively managed by state-sanctioned entities like Casino du Liban and BetArabia. While these monopoly operators may advertise, all other online gambling promotion is strictly banned, creating a highly restricted advertising landscape. This results in a split where platforms like Google generally ban all online gambling ads, but Apple and Meta allow restricted advertising for the state monopoly.
| Channel | Status | Vertical & Platform Split (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Google Search Ads | Banned | As of March 23, 2026, Google Ads policy prohibits online gambling advertising in countries not explicitly listed for country-specific certification, and Lebanon is not on this list. Furthermore, Lebanon is explicitly among countries where advertising for “offline” gambling is prohibited as of November 19, 2025.101112 |
| App Store Publishing | Banned | Google Play generally permits real-money gambling apps only in the UK, Ireland, and France, which indicates a ban for Lebanon. Apple App Review Guideline 5.3.4 mandates licensing and geo-restriction and allows state-sanctioned apps like Casino du Liban and BetArabia to be published on the Apple App Store.13141516 |
| Google/Apple App Store Ads | Banned | Google Play generally bans publishing of real-money gambling apps in Lebanon, so advertising for such apps is prohibited. For Apple, advertising for state-monopoly apps like Casino du Liban and BetArabia is permitted, subject to Apple’s general advertising policies and age restrictions.131516 |
| Meta (FB/IG) | Restricted | Meta's global advertising policy, updated July 9, 2025, requires prior authorization and evidence of legal licensing for gambling advertisers. BetArabia, as the sole licensed online sports betting and casino operator in Lebanon, can obtain Meta's authorization, which allows restricted advertising for the state monopoly while others are banned.171819 |
| TV & Radio | Restricted | Law No 1 of 1961 prohibits advertising most games involving a monetary bet, but explicitly permits lottery advertisements. Casino du Liban and Loterie Libanaise may advertise, with LLDJ’s draw games broadcast live on national television, restricting this channel to state-sanctioned entities.202122 |
| Sponsorships | Restricted | No specific gambling sponsorship legislation was found, but the state monopoly creates a highly restrictive environment. Sponsorships are limited to state-sanctioned entities like Casino du Liban and BetArabia and require government approval, while all other gambling sponsorships are banned.2023 |
| Digital OOH | Restricted | All commercial advertisements in Lebanon require pre-approval from the Ministry of Economy and Trade five days prior to running. Digital OOH advertising for gambling is restricted to state-sanctioned entities like Casino du Liban and BetArabia for their authorized operations, with all other gambling promotion banned.2022 |
Channel rules for Lebanon reflect each platform's published policy and the sources numbered in each row (listed under Methodology & sources). Verify with the local regulator and your ad-platform account manager before launching.
How Lebanon enforces against unlicensed operators
Lebanese authorities demonstrate a high level of enforcement intensity focused on protecting the state's monopoly. Enforcement is not merely administrative but extends to criminal prosecutions. This indicates a low tolerance for any activity outside the strict confines of the state concession.
- Systematic ISP Blocking: Since at least 2013, the government has mandated that internet service providers block access to all unlicensed offshore gambling websites.
- Criminal Prosecutions: Authorities have shown a willingness to pursue criminal charges, including money laundering and fraud, against illegal gambling networks.
- Monopoly Protection: The 2022 decision to grant an exclusive online licence to the existing land-based monopoly holder, rather than open the market, shows the state's commitment to a closed, tightly controlled system.
Enforcement cases in Lebanon: 4 recent
Material regulator actions, court rulings, and high-profile fines from 2016–2026 against operators serving Lebanon. Each entry includes the technical failure and a one-line read-across for other operators in the market.
- April 2026
Unnamed Illegal Gambling Network
Grey-MarketArrest of network managerAs part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal online gambling, security forces arrested the manager of a significant illegal betting network.
Read-across: This shows a continued focus by Lebanese authorities on enforcing the state monopoly and taking criminal action against unregulated online and land-based operations.
- April 2026
BetArabia (Casino du Liban)
Money LaunderingJudicial investigation reopenedLebanon's judiciary resumed investigations into alleged financial irregularities and illegal gambling operations connected to Casino du Liban's online platform, BetArabia.
Read-across: The renewed investigation into the state-licensed online operator for serious financial crimes indicates heightened scrutiny on AML and operational integrity for the sole legal online entity.
- September 2025
Casino du Liban / Onlive Support Services (OSS)
OtherIndictment for embezzlementThe former CEO of Casino du Liban and the CEO of its online platform operator, OSS, were accused of embezzling public funds by illegally opening numerous physical gambling halls.
Read-across: The case shows the legal and financial risks for B2B service providers partnered with the state monopoly, especially concerning the interpretation of exclusivity and licensing agreements.
- July 2025
Casino du Liban
Grey-MarketCEO arrestedThe CEO was arrested as part of an investigation into illegal online gambling, money laundering, and tax fraud.
Read-across: This high-profile arrest of the monopoly operator's CEO signals a significant risk for any entity associated with unregulated gambling activities in Lebanon.
Market size: 0.09B USD (2025)
Gross gaming revenue in Lebanon is approximately 90 million USD annually. The most popular form of gambling is Casino. Online gambling represents 0% of total GGR. A culturally distinctive product in this market is Casino du Liban, Loterie Libanaise, BetArabia.
Market breakdown by vertical
- Land-based0.027B USD30.0%
- Sports betting0.0315B USD35.0%
- Casino0.0225B USD25.0%
- Lottery0.009B USD10.0%
Source: Research & Markets Gambling Report 2026. Splits: online-casino 25.0%, sports 35.0%, land-based 30.0%, lottery 10.0%.
GGR figure26
Licensed operators: ~3
As of 8 Oct 2026, approximately 3 operators hold an active licence in Lebanon. Size your entry against this base before committing capital.
Notable licensed operators
- Visit site
Casino du Liban
La Libanaise des Jeux
Traps operators hit in Lebanon
Specific operational risks that have caught new entrants in this market. Each item is country-specific. Generic gambling-ops issues (KYC, RG tools) are not included unless they have a local twist.
Misinterpreting the Monopoly's Scope
The exclusive concession for Casino du Liban is narrowly defined. Any expansion of activity, even by partners of the monopoly, can be deemed illegal. B2B providers must ensure their services do not facilitate any activities that could be construed as operating outside the core concession agreement.
Sources27
Underestimating Criminal Enforcement
Operating in Lebanon's grey market is not a low-risk administrative infraction. Authorities have repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to pursue criminal charges against unlicensed operators. The market is considered 'black' for any operator other than the state monopoly.
Sources24
Assuming Foreign Licences Offer Protection
A licence from Malta, Curaçao, or any other jurisdiction provides zero legal protection in Lebanon. The government's policy is to actively block such sites, and their operators are considered to be running illegal networks, subject to criminal investigation.
Sources28
Timeline: rules in force
- November 2022
Online Monopoly Formally Extended
The Ministry of Finance grants an exclusive online gambling and sports betting licence to BetArabia, the online arm of Casino du Liban.
Source: 2
- 2016
Operator Tax Rate Increases to Final Tier
Under the terms of the concession agreement, the state's share of Casino du Liban's Gross Gaming Revenue increases to 50%.
Source: 4
- c. 2013
First Major ISP Blocking Wave Begins
The government begins actively directing ISPs to block offshore online gambling and poker sites to enforce the Casino du Liban monopoly.
Source: 29
- 1995
Foundational Monopoly Law Enacted
Decree 6919 grants Casino du Liban an exclusive 30-year monopoly over all gambling activities. It forms the basis of the modern framework.
Source: 3
Operator myths vs reality in Lebanon
Common assumptions about gambling licensing that turn out to be wrong in practice.
- MythA Curaçao or MGA licence allows us to accept players from Lebanon.
- MythLebanon is a 'grey' market with no real enforcement.Reality
False. Lebanon is a 'black' market for all but the state monopoly. Enforcement is active and severe, including systematic ISP blocking and a willingness to pursue criminal charges against illegal gambling networks.
Sources29
- MythThe market will liberalize with multiple licences after the casino's concession expires in 2026.Reality
This is speculation. While the concession's expiry requires a government decision, a renewal of the monopoly in some form is a strong possibility. There has been no official indication that the government plans to move to an open, multi-licence framework.
Sources1
Markets that work like Lebanon
Compared on what our records hold for each country: whether online casino, betting, poker and lottery are licensed, state-run or banned, the licensing model, what the operator tax is levied on and its band, how most advertising channels are treated, and how foreign licences are treated. A point we hold for only one of the two countries counts for nothing.
- NigerAI overview
Online casino and betting limited; poker banned; lottery licensed; state monopoly; tax on GGR; most ad channels restricted.
- Hong KongAI overview
Betting limited; poker banned; state monopoly; GGR tax 40%+; most ad channels restricted; foreign licences mostly banned.
- TunisiaAI overview
Betting limited; poker banned; lottery licensed; state monopoly; tax on GGR; most ad channels restricted; foreign licences mostly banned.
- Côte d'IvoireAI overview
Online casino and betting limited; lottery licensed; state monopoly; tax on GGR; most ad channels restricted.
- IsraelChecked
Betting limited; poker banned; lottery licensed; state monopoly; most ad channels restricted; foreign licences mostly banned.
Methodology & sources
This page is a Quick AI overview: a summary of public information, not yet checked against the law or the regulator. Treat it as a starting point. It has not yet been through our Deep AI Scan.
How we researchAsk us to run the Deep AI Scan for Lebanon
Documents cited on this page
- 1Business News Lebanon
- 2Sigma World
- 3iGaming Today
- 4BLOMINVEST Bank
- 5BetArabia Casino Welcome Bonus
- 6BetArabia Sports Welcome Bonus
- 7BetArabia Monthly Cashback
- 8Consumer Protection Law
- 9Casino du Liban CEO Travel Ban
- 10Google Ads Help: Gambling and games certification eligibility update
- 11Google Ads Help: Gambling and games policy
- 12Search Engine Roundtable: Google Ads Prohibits Offline Gambling Ads In More Countries
- 13Apple App Store Review Guidelines (Guideline 5.3)
- 14App Store: Casino Du Liban App
- 15App Store: BetArabia
- 16Gummicube: How Casino Apps Stay Compliant
- 17Tribuna.com: Meta updates gambling ad policy, reinforces licensing and age restrictions
- 18Covers.com: Meta Moves to Restrict Gambling Ads on Facebook and Instagram
- 19SBC Americas: Meta updates ad rules for real money and social gaming
- 20SADER & Associates: Advertising Law in Lebanon
- 21La Libanaise Des Jeux: About - Our Business Principles
- 22Legal Pilot: Is Gambling Legal in Lebanon? Casino du Liban & Gaming Regulations
- 23SiGMA: Lebanon: BetArabia holds exclusive licence to operate
- 24Global Voices on ISP Blocking
- 25Sigma World on Exclusive Licence
- 26Research & Markets Gambling Report 2026
- 27iGaming Today - Regulation Overview
- 28Poker Industry Pro on ISP Shutdown
- 29Global Voices
- 30Poker Industry Pro
- Sigma World - BetArabia Granted Exclusive Licence
- iGaming Today - Gambling Regulation in Lebanon
- Global Voices - Online Gambling No Longer Accessible From Lebanon
- World Law Digest - Legal Gambling Age in Lebanon
- BLOMINVEST Bank - Casino du Liban Revenues
- Business News Lebanon - Casino du Liban Concession
Looking for the player guide?
For consumer-facing information about gambling in Lebanon (tax on winnings, where to play legally, self-exclusion options), see the Lebanon player guide.
Disclaimer. This page reflects the law as we understood it on 8 Oct 2026. Rules change: always check the current position with Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Interior and Municipalities. We are not a legal adviser.