Prohibition of Gambling

Sharia law prohibits all forms of gambling, including online games that involve betting on outcomes like sports matches. Such gambling leads to financial loss and depression, and there is evidence of people committing suicide due to these losses. However, halal interest in business is allowed if it doesn’t negatively impact another person’s wealth.

Qur’anic Reference:

📖Quran 2:219
They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, “In them is great sin and [some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit.”…

This verse clearly shows that wine and gambling have some benefit—but that benefit is minor and misleading. Let’s break it down logically:

• Wine:
  ✔ Benefit: People feel relaxed or happy after drinking. Some even claim it helps them socialize.
  ✖ Harm: Medical science proves alcohol damages the liver, weakens the brain, increases violence, and destroys families. One night of drinking can lead to accidents, crime, or abuse. The short-term “happiness” is fake because it leads to long-term suffering.

• Gambling:
  ✔ Benefit: One person may win big money or prizes. It feels exciting.
  ✖ Harm: For every winner, there are many losers. People often fall into addiction, borrow money, lose homes, and break relationships. It causes mental stress, depression, and even suicide in extreme cases.

There is surface benefit, but Islam looks at the big picture:

• A drink that gives you 10 minutes of happiness but ruins your health, family, and peace is not a real benefit.
• A game that makes one person rich but pushes 100 others into misery is not a fair system.

That’s why Allah says: “Their sin is greater than their benefit.” The small benefit is like bait in a trap, it may look good, but in the end, it destroys.

• United Kingdom: Estimates suggest between 250 and 650 gambling-related suicides occur annually. A 2021 Public Health England report estimated approximately 409 such suicides each year in England alone.

Reference: Written evidence submitted by Gambling with Lives

Sweden: Individuals diagnosed with gambling disorder have a suicide mortality rate 15 times higher than the general population.

Reference: Gambling disorder and mortality study

Mental Health Impacts

• Suicidal Ideation and Attempts: Among individuals with gambling disorders, studies report that 22% to 81% have experienced suicidal thoughts, and 7% to 30% have attempted suicide. The Conversation

• Depression and Comorbidity: Gambling disorder often co-occurs with depression, mood disorders, and substance abuse, all of which heighten suicide risk. PubMed

Case Example from India

In January 2025, a 27-year-old man in Assam died by suicide after losing ₹12 lakh (approximately $14,400) due to online gambling. This tragic incident underscores the severe financial and emotional toll gambling can take. The Times of India | The Guardian

Additional Resources

• Gambling With Lives: A UK-based charity that supports families bereaved by gambling-related suicides and advocates for policy change. Committees – UK Parliament

• NHS Gambling Clinics: The UK’s National Health Service has expanded its network of gambling clinics to provide specialized support for those struggling with gambling addiction. Latest news & breaking headlines