The Best Iraq Online Casinos and Everything You Need To Know
Despite the country’s blanket ban on gambling, there is a growing trend of locals playing at online casinos in Iraq. Read on for all there is to know about online gambling there and the best gambling sites that accept Iraqi players.
The Best Online Casino Sites Available in Iraq in 2024
- Iraqi access to casino games & slots
- 30+ developers inc. Quickspin, BetSoft & NetEnt
- Huge slots tournaments and giveaways
- Accepts Iraqi players
- 1,000+ slots
- Accepts crypto + fiat
100% First Deposit Up To $2,200
- Players and deposits accepted from Iraq
- Spin the OJO Wheel for daily prizes
- Exclusive ‘A-Listers’ VIP Club
- Iraqi players welcome & Arabic language as standard
- 450+ casino games & slots
- Direct bank transfers available
- Iraqi players accepted
- 400+ safe slots and table games
- Daily deal giveaways & deposit bonuses
- Accepts Iraqi players and deposits
- 25+ progressive slots inc. Mega Moolah
- Excellent live casino from Evolution Gaming
Gambling & Iraq
Iraq’s gambling laws are enshrined in the 1969 Penal Code. This sets jail terms for anyone punished for operating gambling activities, as well as for gamblers themselves. Despite the strict laws, however, there is still a busy underground gambling culture in the country, with police having made raids on illegal casinos and gambling dens in Iraqi Kurdistan over the years.
Ironically, several commercial land-based casinos operate legally within the capital of Baghdad – the more famous ones being the Casino Al Iraq and the Casino El-Abbasi, which are limited to offering table games such as blackjack.
There are currently no specific laws against online casinos in Iraq, and many online casino sites accept players from there. Indeed, it’s possible to make deposits and play slots and table games from a PC, with some casinos also providing mobile apps which let you play games with your smartphone.
History of Gambling in Iraq
The history of casinos and gambling in Iraq closely follows that of the country’s politics, with casinos and racecourses having come and gone under successive regimes.
While horse and camel racing have always been popular, gambling on races has been outlawed since Saddam Hussein’s reign. A project to revamp the Baghdad Race Course is back underway following a decades-long pause.
1969 – Penal code introduced
Iraq brings in the 1969 Penal Code, which spells out punishments for illegal activities, including gambling.
2007 – Major casino opens in Sulaimaniya
A Russian businessman opens a casino on the Iran-Iraq border in the Kurdish region.
2013 – $2bn Kurdish casino resort announced
Emaar Properties announce plans to build a $2bn entertainment resort at Lake Dukan, including hotels and a casino.
2017 – Illegal gambling clubs opened
Reports emerge of illegal gambling clubs being opened by political officials in the Kurdistan region.
2018 – Crackdowns on illegal gaming continue
Kurdish police close casinos in Kurdistan as part of a major crackdown on underground gambling.
What Makes the Best Online Casinos That Accept Iraqi Players?
Local customers are accepted at plenty of online casinos in Iraq, licensed by overseas regulatory bodies in order to protect players at all times. At Top10-Casino Sites, we only rate and recommend the very best online casino sites in town, where you’ll also have access to a range of slots and top games to play for free or real cash.
Excellent Bonus Offers
Good online casinos in Iraq will offer bonuses and promotions to new customers and existing players. You’ll be able to claim a welcome bonus when you open your account and earn free spins to use on big-name slots. The best casinos will also match your first deposit with bonus funds.
But the top online casinos in Iraq are about more than just welcome bonuses. Online gambling websites should offer deals such as loyalty programmes, slots tournaments and weekly prize giveaways.
Great Games Selection
Top online casino sites will offer hundreds of the latest table games and slots, including a pick of the very best online slots from major developers such as NetEnt and Playtech.
Play for free and learn the rules or try games out with a few dollars. You can opt to play live casino games against a human dealer, and follow the action live via webcam, while placing bets using your computer or smartphone.
Varied Payment Options
You can play at the best online casinos in Iraq for real money, but how do you fund your account? Top gambling sites will accept payments in a range of currencies via debit card, e-wallet, or bank transfer. Funding your account using cryptocurrency may be possible, too.
Licensing From Reputable Authorities
We only recommend you play at licensed online casinos in Iraq. Gambling sites will be licensed by established authorities based overseas, including organisations like Curaçao eGaming, the Malta Gaming Authority, and the Kahnawake Gaming Commission in Canada.
Each jurisdiction has its own rules for issuing licences to online gambling sites. However, above all, players must be protected and funds segregated. Casinos will also be required to honour bonus payments and let players set deposit limits.
Furthermore, games and online slots must also be regularly audited by approved testing labs. Before slots and table games reach the casino lobby, they must be tested by external labs such as eCOGRA. A testing laboratory performs in-depth tests on every slot and table game to make sure it is random (and therefore, fair), and the payouts are accurate.
Some online casinos in Iraq will publish their audit certificates: look for them at the bottom of the game lobby.
Top-Notch Customer Support
Good customer support agents can assist with everything from slow payments to bonus problems and account issues.
Check your supportWhile 24/7 support isn’t strictly necessary, do check the operating times to make sure they’re suitable for your time zone.
Different Types of Bonuses at Iraq Online Casinos
Online casinos in Iraq offer a host of interesting promotions for players. Start off at a trusted casino with a welcome bonus, then follow up with regular giveaways and deals.
A welcome bonus is only offered to new sign-ups, so it’s a bit more generous in size compared to some other casino deals. Typically, you’ll receive a deposit match bonus plus free spins to use on selected slots.
The deposit match is a common bonus found at online casinos in Iraq, and requires you to make an initial deposit, which the casino will match with bonus funds. You will then have a time period within which to clear your bonus funds. Play eligible slots and table games and meet the wagering requirements before withdrawing any winnings and bonus money.
You can also claim free spins as part of a welcome bonus. You’ll receive a number of free games to use on a nominated slot. Any winnings you make must be wagered on other games before you can withdraw them.
Top-up bonuses, or ‘reload bonuses’, are like mini deposit bonuses. The Iraqi online casino will offer a small reload bonus for anyone who’s already claimed a welcome bonus. You may receive 25% of your deposit in the form of bonus funds. Again, you will have to wager your bonus funds several times over before you can release any winnings.
Many of the best online casinos in Iraq offer occasional money-back deals, through which you’ll receive a portion of your gaming losses over a day or weekend. This is a good way of guaranteeing a refund in case you suffer a bad session of gaming.
Games Available at Online Casinos in Iraq
Good online casinos in Iraq will supply a range of casino games to play for free or real money. You can choose your own stakes and currency, and play through a standard web browser or on your phone.
Slots
Slots are a hallmark of all Iraqi online casino sites – you can take your pick of classic 3-reel games or modern 5-reel slots with bonus features. They’re also simple to learn and play: just select your stake and hit the ‘Spin’ button.
In order to win a prize, you will need to line up matching symbols. However, most modern online slots offer special payouts when bonus symbols appear, and you can also trigger bonus features such as free spins or a special jackpot.
Table Games
Classic table games such as roulette and blackjack are commonplace at good online casinos in Iraq. These are computerised versions of the sorts of table games you might find in a land-based casino.
In roulette, you must place bets on where the ball will land on the roulette wheel. Payouts are made for predicting the number, colour, or whether the number will be odd or even.
Card games like baccarat and blackjack are popular too. You’ll find at least one variant of blackjack – an easy card game played against the computer.
Live Games
Many online casinos in Iraq now also offer a live casino option. In a live casino game, you play on real-life tables with real-life cards and equipment. A human dealer is in charge of the action, but you place bets on your computer and watch via live stream. You can even talk to the dealer using the chat box.
Popular Iraq Payment Methods
If you’re going to play with real money, you're going to have to make deposits and withdrawals somehow.
Payment MethodsYou can make deposits at online casinos in Iraq using a range of banking options. Make a bank transfer into your casino account or use a local Mastercard to send cash via your debit card. Mobile e-wallets are now hugely popular too, and homegrown solutions like Taif cater specifically for Iraqis.
Money Exchanging
Even the best online casinos in Iraq won’t let you play with dinar. First, you will have to convert your dinar into USD or EUR, which may mean you incur fees at your Iraqi bank or credit card provider.
Qi Card
Qi Card is the biggest Mastercard provider across Iraq, and the country’s largest credit card. You can make online casino deposits anywhere you see the Mastercard symbol.
Cryptocurrency
Many of the best online casinos in Iraq now accept cryptocurrency deposits, making them crypto casinos.
Cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and ether are decentralised digital coins, meaning they aren’t under the control of central banks.
You can invest in cryptocurrencies at online exchanges like Coinbase. Buy crypto with dinar or USD and send it anonymously to betting sites in Iraq. The casino will provide you with a wallet address to transfer the cryptocurrency to.
Best of all, you can often play slots and table games using the cryptocurrency itself, so there’s no need to use a credit card or make a bank transfer.
While cryptocurrencies are known for their volatility, they are also known for their inherent security, which makes them especially suited to be a safe and secure payment method.
E-Wallets
E-wallets are online accounts where you can safely store funds from multiple sources, as well as make quick and cheap transfers from to your Iraqi online casino account.
The bad news is that the best online casinos in Iraq currently don’t allow transfers from PayPal, Skrill or NETELLER. Instead, you’ll find that some support the following Iraq-friendly e-wallets:
NassWallet is a digital banking method which lets you send and receive money across the web. You can transfer cash online or use your mobile phone to make payments. In addition, you can apply for a NassWallet Mastercard and make instant transfers to your favourite online casinos in Iraq.
FastPay is a popular mobile wallet known for hassle-free payments. The app makes cash-free transfers possible over the web. However, you will struggle to find many online casinos in Iraq that accept this form of mobile payment.
Dubbed “the best e-wallet in Iraq”, AlgoPay allows instant payments and transfers across the web, with no fees involved. AlgoPay now issues an Iraqi debit card for use online.
Taif is an Iraqi e-wallet that allows payments and transfers online, and can also be used to receive funds. It’s only a matter of time before Taif is accepted alongside more traditional e-wallets at online casinos in Iraq.
Summary of Online Gambling in Iraq
Although Iraq doesn’t have its own online casino gaming laws in 2022, this hasn’t kept gamblers from all over the country from accessing and playing their favourite online casinos. With our guide, we have unearthed some of the most trusted casinos available in the country today, so we hope you’re now more confident in your knowledge of the online gambling landscape in Iraq!
Online Casinos in Iraq FAQs
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No. Iraq’s gambling laws date back to the 1969 Penal Code, which imposes jail sentences on anyone operating gambling companies. However, it’s not clear whether the Penal Code is regularly enforced.
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Absolutely. Just open an online account and make a first deposit in order to claim a deposit match or free spins. You can also claim regular giveaways or join a VIP programme.
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Yes! The best online casinos in Iraq cater for mobile devices, with special slots and table games that work on smartphones.
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Casinos sometimes allow players to deposit in dinar, which is then converted to a currency like USD or GBP. The money can be converted back to dinar when it’s time to make a withdrawal.
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Gambling is illegal in Iraq, and online gambling is completely unregularised and unenforced within the country. Despite this, several internationally-licensed casinos accept players from Iraq.
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No. Most online casinos in Iraq will only accept deposits in major currencies like USD and EUR.