Online Casinos in Libya: What’s Legal, What’s Not & How Players Gamble Anyway

• Articles 492–495 of the Libyan Penal Code categorically ban gambling. Anyone caught can face jail time from 1 to 6 months and fines between LYD 10 and 50.
• On top of that, Law No. 5 of 2022 on Cybercrimes [in particular Article 31] explicitly forbids online gambling. Managing or owning such operations carries mandatory imprisonment of at least 2 years and fines between LYD 10,000-20,000.

The National Authority for Information Security and Safety (established under Cabinet Resolution No. 28 of 2013) manages digital content regulation. While they oversee cybersecurity more broadly, this authority is also responsible for identifying illegal online platforms, including gambling sites.

Libyan law does not acknowledge gambling as a legal activity. No licensing framework exists for casinos, sports betting, lotteries, or card games. Operators cannot legally apply for a license making all forms of gambling, whether offline or online, criminal acts. Notably, laws do not differentiate between types of gambling:

• Betting, sports, card games,
• Skill contests, lotteries, arcades: none are regulated nor permitted in any form.

In practice, authorities rarely pursue individual players for minor bets. Fines under the Penal Code remain nominal. However, larger or commercial operations (especially online) are targeted aggressively under cybercrime law. Reported cases rarely reach public scrutiny, but the law applies clearly and harshly.

• No semi-legal grey zones: all gambling is criminal.
• No licensing loophole: offshore platforms aren’t licensed for Libya; they operate from abroad.
• Foreign operators aren’t subject to Libyan regulations, but end users face consequences if traced.
• Data protection or privacy rights offer no shield – there is no data protection framework under Libyan law.

Let’s say Ahmed from Tripoli registers with an offshore casino. If detected, local authorities can prosecute him under Penal Code (small fine, short jail term) or under the Cybercrimes Law (years in prison, large fine). No appeals. No licensing defence. Platforms themselves are out of reach, but the user is not.