Is the lottery, betting or gambling haram?

The short answer

Yes. Gambling (maysir) in all its forms is forbidden by clear verses of the Quran. This includes lotteries, scratch cards, sports betting and casino games: any arrangement where people pay in and the winner takes others' money by chance. A free prize draw where no one pays to enter is different, and many scholars permit it.

Evidence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Explanation

The Quran addresses gambling directly. Allah calls intoxicants and gambling "defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful", and explains that Satan uses them to cause "animosity and hatred" between people and to turn them from the remembrance of Allah and prayer 1. An earlier verse had already said that in them "is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit" 2. That is a fair description of a lottery: a few winners, and many people who lose money they needed.

The commentary al-Mukhtasar describes the forbidden gambling as gambling "with a consideration from both sides": each side puts up something of value to be won from the other 3. That is the key test for modern cases:

  • Lotteries, scratch cards, betting apps, casinos: everyone pays, and the prize is funded by losers. Forbidden.
  • Paid raffles and "mystery box" purchases where you pay for a chance: they contain the same element, so many scholars forbid them.
  • A free prize draw or a competition with no entry fee: no one risks their money, so many scholars permit it.

Even inviting someone to gamble was treated as serious. The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever says to his companion, "Come along, let us gamble", must give charity as expiation 4. He also sharply condemned playing nardashir, a dice game 5, and forbade sales settled by chance, such as by throwing a stone 6.

Wealth is to be exchanged through fair "business by mutual consent" 7, not by luck. If you have gambling winnings, scholars generally advise giving them away, not keeping them. And if gambling has become a habit, treat it as an addiction: seek help, remove the apps, and turn back to Allah, who is ever forgiving to those who repent.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Quran Al-Maaida · 5:90–91

    Gambling is defilement from Satan, sowing enmity and diverting from prayer; avoid it.

    يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡخَمۡرُ وَٱلۡمَيۡسِرُ وَٱلۡأَنصَابُ وَٱلۡأَزۡلَٰمُ رِجۡسࣱ مِّنۡ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ فَٱجۡتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ ۝٩٠ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ أَن يُوقِعَ بَيۡنَكُمُ ٱلۡعَدَٰوَةَ وَٱلۡبَغۡضَآءَ فِي ٱلۡخَمۡرِ وَٱلۡمَيۡسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُمۡ عَن ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَعَنِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِۖ فَهَلۡ أَنتُم مُّنتَهُونَ ۝٩١

    90 O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful 91 Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not desist

  2. 2
    Quran Al-Baqara · 2:219

    In wine and gambling is great sin, greater than their benefit.

    ۞يَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلۡخَمۡرِ وَٱلۡمَيۡسِرِۖ قُلۡ فِيهِمَآ إِثۡمࣱ كَبِيرࣱ وَمَنَٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثۡمُهُمَآ أَكۡبَرُ مِن نَّفۡعِهِمَاۗ وَيَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَۖ قُلِ ٱلۡعَفۡوَۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأٓيَٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ ۝٢١٩

    They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, "In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit." And they ask you what they should spend. Say, "The excess [beyond needs]." Thus Allah makes clear to you the verses [of revelation] that you might give thought

  3. 3
    Tafsir Al-Mukhtasar fi Tafsir al-Quran · 5:90

    Defines the forbidden gambling as gambling with a stake from both sides.

    O you who have faith in Allah and follow His Messenger, intoxicants that affect the mind, gambling with a consideration from both sides, stone alters on which the idolaters offer sacrifices or which they erect for worship, and arrows by which they used to draw lots – these are all acts of sin that Satan has made attractive. Avoid such acts, so that you successfully achieve the Paradise that you desire and are saved from the Fire that you fear.

  4. 4
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 4860
    Sahih Bukhari

    Whoever invites his companion to gamble must give charity as expiation.

    Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Whomever takes an oath in which he mentions Lat and `Uzza (forgetfully), should say: None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and whoever says to his companion. 'Come along, let us gamble' must give alms (as an expiation)

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ حُمَيْدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَنْ حَلَفَ فَقَالَ فِي حَلِفِهِ وَاللاَّتِ وَالْعُزَّى‏.‏ فَلْيَقُلْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ‏.‏ وَمَنْ قَالَ لِصَاحِبِهِ تَعَالَ أُقَامِرْكَ‏.‏ فَلْيَتَصَدَّقْ ‏"‏‏.‏

  5. 5
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 2260
    Sahih Muslim

    Playing nardashir (a dice game) is likened to dyeing one's hand in swine's flesh and blood.

    Buraida reported on the authority of his father that Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said:He who played Nardashir (a game similar to backgammon) is like one who dyed his hand with the flesh and blood of swine

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ، مَرْثَدٍ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ مَنْ لَعِبَ بِالنَّرْدَشِيرِ فَكَأَنَّمَا صَبَغَ يَدَهُ فِي لَحْمِ خِنْزِيرٍ وَدَمِهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  6. 6
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 1513
    Sahih Muslim

    The Prophet ﷺ forbade sales settled by throwing stones, and those involving uncertainty.

    Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade a transaction determined by throwing stones, and the type which involves some uncertainty

    العربية

    وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ، وَيَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَأَبُو أُسَامَةَ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، ح وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ بَيْعِ الْحَصَاةِ وَعَنْ بَيْعِ الْغَرَرِ ‏.‏

  7. 7
    Quran An-Nisaa · 4:29

    Wealth is exchanged through trade by mutual consent, not consumed unjustly.

    يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَأۡكُلُوٓاْ أَمۡوَٰلَكُم بَيۡنَكُم بِٱلۡبَٰطِلِ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَ تِجَٰرَةً عَن تَرَاضࣲ مِّنكُمۡۚ وَلَا تَقۡتُلُوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمۡ رَحِيمࣰ ا ۝٢٩

    O you who have believed, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves [or one another]. Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

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