Saudi Riyal Casinos
The Saudi riyal predates the country of Saudi Arabia itself. Initially launched during the Ottoman Empire period, the Hejaz riyal was converted into the Saudi riyal. Since its inception, the SAR has undergone several changes, including debasement in 1935, the introduction of new denominations and more. The most recent changes were made in 2016.
The Saudi riyal has been both pegged and unpegged to the US dollar in recent years. Today, a single US dollar will get you 3.75 SAR, and that has been relatively stable for just shy of fifteen years. Given its fixed rate, this makes the Saudi riyal a competitive currency for many players across the Middle East to use, even if online gambling is forbidden in many of those countries.
Casino List with SAR Currency
About Saudi Riyal in Gambling
Online gambling is off-limits in Saudi Arabia, so you might assume that you have got no chance of using the riyal to bet online? That is not technically true, though. The riyal can be traded and obtained internationally, which many Middle Eastern bettors opt to do, as their own currencies are usually excluded from betting sites.
Saudi Arabia may be the only country to use the SAR, but players in those other countries do have access to it. Officially, Saudi Arabia is a member of the Cooperation Council for the Arabs States of the Gulf, who initially planned a single monetary union to begin in 2010. Naturally, this has not happened, and the riyal remains in use. It is widely seen as the de facto and most popular currency across the region anyway.
Online Gambling in Saudi Arabia
Like many Middle Eastern Muslim states, Saudi Arabia uses the Islamic Sharia law as the basis for its laws. This means that gambling is forbidden – Moreover, those who engage in it can face considerably harsh punishments – these range from fines to prison sentences.
Naturally, Saudi Arabia has not legalised online gambling and does not license online casinos. There has been talk of opening the market for tourists, but this is yet to materialise. You can find illegal online enterprises in Saudi Arabia, but clever filters and technology see the country shut out access to most sites. Over 400,000 gambling sites are currently blocked.
If you do manage to find an offshore casino (and you can use our list for that), it is possible to wager with SAR at these casinos. However, you do run a risk of being prosecuted if you get caught.
Popular Banking Methods with SAR
Saudis need to think about security and anonymity when betting online unless they have no fear of the repercussions of being caught. For that reason, it is best to avoid bank transfers or options such as VISA and MasterCard, where riyal transactions can be easily traced. Instead, the following payment options may be advised, not just for Saudis but for any player in the neighbourhood who wishes to deposit at SAR online casinos.
- E-wallets (options such as Neteller and Skrill both permit deposits, but you can have difficulty setting up accounts in Saudi Arabia)
- Cryptocurrencies (offer excellent anonymity, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum)
- Money transfer (WebMoney is used by Saudi players to deposit in USDs instead of the riyal, and could be worth a look)
