Israel has a rich and varied history of gambling, spanning many different sports and casino games. Because of the country's tight gambling restrictions, online casinos were slow to emerge.
Despite these limitations, technical developments and growing interest in online betting have led to significant growth in Israel's online casino industry over the past several years.
Online Gambling Law in Israel
It's not easy to find clear answers about the legality of online gaming in Israel. Gaming and internet gaming are regulated by the Israeli Penal Law (Amendment No. 34) 5765-2005 and the Israeli Penal Law (Amendment No. 737) from 1977.
Many Israelis choose to ignore the online casino laws and gamble at offshore online casinos anyway. Players in Israel need to be informed of the potential legal repercussions of participating in online gambling games due to the Israeli Penal Law 5737 of 1977.
The Israeli Penal Law 5737 of 1977
Gambling in Israel is primarily governed by the Israeli Penal Law 5737 of 1977. With a few exclusions, it outlaws gaming in its entirety. State-run lotteries and sportsbooks run by licensed operators like Mifal Hapayis and the Council for Sports Gambling are legal under the new legislation.
Israeli Penal Law (Amendment No. 34) 5765-2005
Online gaming is prohibited by Amendment No. 34 to the Israeli Penal Law, 5765-2005. Since this rule went into effect, it has been against the law for Israeli citizens to engage in any kind of internet gambling. The government now has the legal right to restrict access to offshore online casino sites thanks to this change.