Lottery tickets are generally prohibited in Tunisia under Law-decree No. 74-20 of October 24, 1974, concerning betting, chance, and lottery games. Article 8 defines and prohibits lotteries, stating they are reputed as such and banned, including all operations offered to the public creating hope of gain acquired by chance. However, the government may approve lotteries if run by specific societies or public organizations with all proceeds going to charitable or societal goals (1).
Tunisia's gaming and lotteries act establishes prohibition as the legal rule and permission as the exception possible only through an act of law. The provisions do not apply to lotteries involving movables that aim solely to benefit philanthropic or collective projects or projects serving public welfare. The Ministries of Justice, Interior, Finance, and Development are responsible for enforcement, with licensing procedures established through Ordinance 130/1975 designating authorized licensing agencies based on total proceeds from lottery tickets (2).
"The first article of this law states that games in which the factor of luck prevails over skill and the exercise of the intellect are forms of betting and gambling. Their practice is therefore prohibited unless otherwise stated by law."
There is no operational national lottery in Tunisia, with lotteries permitted only for charitable purposes under strict government approval. The Ministry of Finance regulates overall gambling activities, including lottery operations where authorized. Promosport, a public enterprise, operates sports betting contests contributing to the National Fund for the Promotion of Sports and Youth, demonstrating practical application of lottery-style mechanisms. Online gambling remains strictly forbidden, and participation in foreign online lotteries is also prohibited (2).
Source:
https://cms.law/en/int/expert-guides/cms-expert-guide-to-gambling-laws-in-africa/tunisia
https://mawred.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Legal-economic-research-on-applying-lotteries-in-Tunisia-English.pdf
Last updated: 16-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
