Iranian Rial Casinos
The Iranian rial is hardly a currency many gamblers will flock to, and there are a few good reasons why that is the case. Firstly, gambling (in all forms) is prohibited and strictly punished in Iran. If that didn’t inspire confidence, then consider this – the Iranian rial is the second weakest currency globally, with only the Venezuelan bolívar worse off. For instance, a single US dollar currently gets you 41,205 IRR, although this is largely down to Iran being subject to multiple sanctions.
Iran has proposed dropping the currency by four zeros and calling it the toman to get around the currency issue. For instance, a single toman would be worth 10,000 rials. However, while this change has been agreed upon, it is yet to take place.
Given the currency issues, it would be understandable if you didn’t want to bet at IRR online casinos. However, if you fancy giving it a shot, we’ve put together a handful of the few betting sites that accept the currency. Below, you will find our top recommendations for Iranian rial casinos.
Casino List with IRR Currency
About the Iranian Rial in Gambling
The rial is one of the oldest currently circulating currencies, having made its debut in 1798. However, it has undergone several changes since then, including being replaced by the qiran from 1825 to 1932. The rial’s value was initially pegged to the British pound sterling, like so many other currencies at the time. It then switched over to the US dollar in 1945. This was abandoned in 1975.
A difference between official and unofficial exchange rates (of over 20% in some cases) has seen the rial lose much of its value, as much as 50% of late. Since 2018, record inflation, sanctions, and a government that insists on printing money have seen the rial virtually collapse in value. As a result, few online casinos (and international payment providers) are prepared to go out on a limb and accept it, leaving gamblers short-changed and forced to use alternative currencies if they are brave enough to bet online in the first place.
Which Countries Use the Iranian Rial?
Iran is the only official user of the rial. However, there are other countries where the IRR is used to a degree, if unofficially. For instance, the currency is accepted in some parts of Afghanistan and Iraq. Syria also accepts the Iranian rial, while the currency is also accepted in parts of Saudi Arabia during the Hajj. Few online bettors in these countries (and Iran itself) are prepared to use rials to gamble, instead opting for US dollars where possible.
Online Gambling in Iran
You can all but forget about gambling online (or elsewhere) in Iran. The country’s strict interpretation of Sharia law prevents all forms of gambling. As gambling is deemed to be an evil that causes people to forget their social responsibilities, punishments include up to six months in prison or seven four lashes. This doesn’t just apply to local gambling, but all forms of gambling, including online gambling if caught.
Popular Deposit and Withdrawal Methods with IRR
You’re going to be hard-pressed to find payment methods that you can use to deposit with IRR at online casinos. Conventional options, such as Iranian bank transfers, VISA, or MasterCard deposits, are easily traceable and would likely result in your gambling habits being discovered. Given the punishment that awaits, we wouldn’t advocate this. Of course, players outside of Iran may use these options, assuming that gambling is legal in the country they reside in.
There aren’t many other options open to players, but these have been tried and tested:
- E-wallets (such as Neteller have been known to accept IRR)
- Paysafecard (prepaid vouchers can be used to deposit, but not withdraw)
- Cryptocurrencies (arguably the safest way to gamble with Iranian rials online)
