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Syria’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has blocked access to several gambling and betting websites targeting users in the country as part of efforts to enhance digital safety.
In a statement posted on Telegram, the ministry said it had taken the necessary measures to suspend access to the websites following complaints from users and as part of its commitment to maintaining a secure online environment.
The ministry said the restriction is a precautionary measure that will remain in place until a specialized committee completes an investigation into the websites’ activities. Authorities noted that gambling and betting operations violate applicable laws and pose financial and social risks to individuals and families.
The ministry also said that it has formally contacted social media platforms, requesting the removal of advertisements promoting the blocked websites to users in Syria.
The action forms part of broader government efforts to combat the spread of online gambling and betting activities, protect users from associated harms, and prevent the misuse of digital platforms for unlawful purposes.
In a report by Enab Baladi, social specialist Bushra Marwa attributed the rise of online gambling to a combination of psychological, social, and economic factors that make young people more vulnerable to such platforms.
Among the key factors identified are rising economic pressures and unemployment, the search for quick financial solutions to improve living conditions, limited awareness of the risks of digital addiction, and the ease of access to gambling applications via smartphones.
Unemployment in Syria exceeds 60%, according to statements by Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry Nidal al-Shaar in August 2025.
A February 20, 2025 report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) also highlighted the scale of the crisis, noting that poverty has surged from 33% before the war to 90%, while extreme poverty has reached 66%.
Marwa further cautioned that the “absence of oversight and early psychological support” can lead some individuals to transition from experimentation to full addiction without recognizing the severity of their condition.
Legal expert Rami Hani al-Khayeer previously told Enab Baladi that electronic betting is considered a form of prohibited gambling under Syrian law. He noted that legal action often targets local intermediaries, while larger operating networks remain largely out of reach.
Under the Syrian Penal Code, gambling is criminalized in Articles 618, 619, and 620. The law distinguishes between operating gambling establishments and individual participation, with harsher penalties imposed on those who run gambling venues.
Article 619 defines games of chance as those in which luck predominates over skill or intelligence. Prohibited games include roulette, baccarat, Faro, petits chevaux, and poker variants, as well as any similar or derivative games.