The Syrian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology announced today, Sunday, June 14, that it had blocked access to electronic gambling and betting websites targeting citizens in Syria.

The ministry added that the decision came “to protect users in Syria and enhance the safety of the digital space,” based on complaints submitted to the ministry.

It said the measure is a precautionary step pending the completion of work by a committee formed by the ministry to verify the activity of these websites.

The Ministry of Communications said gambling and betting activities violate current legal provisions and involve deception as well as financial and social risks affecting individuals and families.

The ministry said it had officially contacted social media platforms to take the necessary measures to stop advertisements linked to these websites that target users in Syria.

It confirmed that it would continue following up on complaints submitted to it, monitoring violations within the digital space, and taking the necessary measures under the relevant legal frameworks.

The ministry noted that the measures it has taken aim to “strengthen a safe and reliable digital environment and protect society from unlawful activities.”

Causes and Effects of the Phenomenon

Amid the spread of online gambling games among Syrian youth, Enab Baladi previously contacted social and legal specialists in a report to discuss the dimensions of the phenomenon and its social and legal effects.

Social specialist Bushra Marwa explained at the time that the reasons for the spread include a set of psychological, social, and economic factors that make broad groups more vulnerable to being drawn into them. These include:

•  Economic pressures and unemployment.
• Searching for quick solutions to improve living conditions.
• Weak awareness of the risks of digital addiction.
• Easy access to these applications through smartphones.

The unemployment rate in Syria exceeds 60%, according to a statement by the Syrian government’s Minister of Economy and Industry, Nidal al-Shaar, in August 2025.

According to a report by the United Nations Development Program on February 20, 2025, the poverty rate in Syria rose from 33% before the war to 90%, while extreme poverty reached 66%.

As for the effects, the social specialist said online gambling is not limited to financial losses, but also extends to:

•  Psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression.
• The breakdown of family relationships.
• Rapid accumulation of debt.
• A sense of helplessness and loss of control.

Marwa warned that “the absence of oversight and early psychological support” causes some cases to shift from experimentation to addiction, without realizing the seriousness of the path they are taking.

Electronic Betting Under the Law

In a previous interview with Enab Baladi, lawyer Rami Hani al-Khayeer said electronic betting is a form of legally prohibited gambling, and that prosecutions often target local intermediaries, while the operating networks remain beyond actual reach.

The Syrian Penal Code punishes the crime of gambling under Articles 618, 619, and 620. It distinguishes between opening a gambling house and gambling by individuals. While it considers both acts unlawful, the law imposes a harsher penalty on those who open a gambling house.

Article 619 states that games of chance are any games in which luck is the dominant factor over skill or intelligence.

Prohibited games of chance include “roulette, baccarat, Faro, petits chevaux, and open poker,” in addition to any similar or derivative games.