Lottery tickets are strictly illegal in Oman under the country's Penal Code, which prohibits all forms of gambling including lotteries, casinos, and online betting. The Omani Penal Code issued by Royal Decree No. 7 of 2018 establishes comprehensive regulations governing criminal offenses in the Sultanate, including prohibitions on gambling activities (1). All forms of gambling, whether land-based or online, are considered illegal under Omani law, reflecting the country's adherence to Islamic principles that forbid games of chance.
The law on gambling is found in Book II, Chapter VII of The Omani Penal Code and defines gambling as games where chance wins over any skill or wit (2). The penalty for playing, operating, managing, or having any other involvement in such games is imprisonment for one to three years and a fine up to 500 Omani rials, with one year in prison being the minimum mandated sentence. A 1997 amendment to the Penal Code added the stipulation that all money and tools used in gambling shall be seized in full.
"The penalty for playing, operating, managing, or having any other involvement, in such games is 1-3 years in prison AND a fine up to 500 rial. This is not an either or situation. 1 year in prison is the minimum mandated sentence."
Royal Decree No 12/2011, which issues the Cyber Crime Law, makes it clear that internet gambling falls under the same law covered in the Penal Code (2). The decree also makes it a crime to publish any information on the internet that is related to gambling, with penalties including both a fine up to 100 rials and a prison sentence not less than one month and not more than three years. Despite strict laws, promotional lotteries conducted by shopping malls, banks, car manufacturers, and soft drink companies are legal in Oman as they are considered promotional rewards rather than gambling.
Source:
https://oman.om/docs/default-source/default-document-library/omani-penal-law.pdf?sfvrsn=64250c36_2
https://arabianbetting.com/en/country/gambling-in-oman/
Last updated: 16-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
