Lottery tickets are illegal to purchase in Somalia, where all forms of gambling are strictly prohibited under national law and Islamic principles. The Federal Government of Somalia established in 2012 reaffirmed the prohibition of gambling in alignment with Islamic law and national values. Somalia operates under Sharia law, which considers gambling activities as "haram" (forbidden), making all forms of betting, lotteries, and games of chance completely illegal throughout the country (1).
The National Anti-Money Laundering & Countering Terrorist Financing Commission (NAMLC) formally announced a nationwide ban on all gambling activities on November 16, 2023, including online betting services. The Federal Government of Somalia enforced this comprehensive ban on November 22-23, 2023, making it clear that neither Somalis nor foreigners are permitted to gamble within the country or access international gambling sites while in Somalia (2).
"The Federal Government of Somalia has banned all gambling activities in the country. Specifically, the government announced that it would not allow Somalis or anyone else in the country to gamble."
No regulatory framework, licensing system, or legal gambling market exists in Somalia. There is no governmental body responsible for regulating gambling activities since all such practices are considered illegal. Transitional governments have consistently upheld the prohibition of gambling based on Islamic principles since the 1990s, with no formalized modern gambling regulation ever established in the country (1).
Source:
https://legalpilot.com/country/somalia/
https://www.ftlsomalia.com/somali-government-bans-all-gambling-activities-in-the-country/
Last updated: 16-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
