Are gambling, betting and the lottery halal?
Haram. Games of chance where you pay to win a prize (maysir) are prohibited in the Qur'an (5:90 to 91) by consensus. This includes the lottery, scratchcards, sports betting and paid-entry raffles.
Worth knowing
- Free-entry prize draws, where nobody pays to take part, are generally permitted.
- Matched betting is also avoided by most scholars because it relies on placing bets.
Quick answers
- Are gambling, betting and the lottery halal?
- Haram. Games of chance where you pay to win a prize (maysir) are prohibited in the Qur'an (5:90 to 91) by consensus. This includes the lottery, scratchcards, sports betting and paid-entry raffles.
Sources
- Halal or Not? rulebook topic “Gambling, betting and the lottery”, live answer (checked 28 September 2026)
Information, not a fatwa. Where scholars differ, this shows the main views so you can follow the one you already follow or ask a scholar you trust.
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