Short answer
No. Gambling (maysir or qimar) is haram by the Quran in every form: casinos, sports betting, poker for money, online slots and betting apps. All four schools agree. Games played for fun, and contests where only one side or a sponsor puts up the prize, are not gambling.
Gambling is haram and a major sin. Qimar is any game or contest where each side puts up something of value and the winner takes the other's stake. Money won by gambling is unlawful: return it to the loser if you can, otherwise give it to the poor without the intention of reward.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Quran calls gambling "defilement from the work of Satan" and commands believers to avoid it (5:90). The next ayah gives the reason: Satan uses it to stir up hatred between people and to turn them away from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. Even inviting someone to gamble is a sin: the Prophet ﷺ said that whoever says to a friend, "Come, let me gamble with you," should give charity.
What counts as gambling:
- Casinos, slot machines and online casino apps.
- Sports betting and betting apps, including small bets between friends.
- Poker, cards or video games played for money.
- Fantasy sports and other contests where the prizes come from the players' entry fees.
- Lotteries and paid raffles. See Is the lottery haram? and Are raffles haram?
What is not gambling: games with no money at stake; a contest where only one player, or an outside sponsor, offers the prize; and a free competition. Many scholars also warn about paid loot boxes and mystery boxes with random rewards, which work on the same principle.
Gambling takes wealth without work, ruins families and becomes an addiction. If you are struggling to stop, get help, block the apps and turn to Allah in repentance. The four schools agree that gambling is haram.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Maaida 5:90
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْخَمْرُ وَٱلْمَيْسِرُ وَٱلْأَنصَابُ وَٱلْأَزْلَٰمُ رِجْسٌۭ مِّنْ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ فَٱجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٩٠﴾
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.
The direct command to avoid gambling.
Quran, Surah Al-Maaida 5:91
إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ أَن يُوقِعَ بَيْنَكُمُ ٱلْعَدَٰوَةَ وَٱلْبَغْضَآءَ فِى ٱلْخَمْرِ وَٱلْمَيْسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَعَنِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۖ فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّنتَهُونَ ﴿٩١﴾
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?
It explains the harm of gambling.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:219
۞ يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْخَمْرِ وَٱلْمَيْسِرِ ۖ قُلْ فِيهِمَآ إِثْمٌۭ كَبِيرٌۭ وَمَنَٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَآ أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا ۗ وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلِ ٱلْعَفْوَ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْءَايَٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ 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.
Its sin outweighs any benefit.
Sahih al-Bukhari 4860
Sahih... ومن قال لصاحبه تعال أقامرك فليتصدق ...
"Whoever says to his companion, Come, let me gamble with you, let him give something in charity."
Even the invitation to gamble needs expiation.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Hazr wa al-Ibaha, on qimar and contests. Defines qimar and when a prize in a contest is lawful.
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar, Kitab al-Hazr wa al-Ibaha, section on racing and contests. A prize from one side is lawful; mutual stakes are gambling.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.