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For religious reasons, Kuwait doesn’t legalize sports gambling. However, the law primarily dictates what happens within the country and has no control over international sportsbooks. So, a good number of bettors still visit offshore sports betting sites in Kuwait. If you’re a local and want to use international sportsbooks, we’re here to help you select the best ones.
Based on our expertise, it’s vital to use only licensed and legitimate sportsbooks if you want to take a punt. Since gambling isn’t regulated locally, you’ll want to make sure you sign up with a safe site. To assist, we’ve researched the most trusted betting platforms that accept users in Kuwait. Check them out on this page.
Here is a list of betting sites in Kuwait, including foreign and local ones. Note that not every wagering company in the country is on this list. It is because known betting sites are endless, and it would be impractical to mention every single one.
To stay competitive and continually attract customers, the best betting sites in Kuwait introduce lots of bonuses and promotional offers that boost players' wagering balances and increase their chances of recording winnings.
Companies that offer sports betting in Kuwait think that bettors should not be limited to funds they deposit for wagering and should be able to access more. As a solution, they provide deposit bonuses that form a percentage of whatever amount wagerers deposit. Locally accepted betting sites offer this most popular bonus type to punters.
Some sportsbooks have promotional offers that reward traders with extra credits when they make these deposits. Some bookmakers give these bonuses to new players on their first deposits, making it a welcome reward. Then, after the first deposits, wagerers need to subsequently put funds into their accounts.
It operates as a type of free bet that punters get when they make a qualifying wager. In essence, bettors need to place a stake that meets already stated conditions (usually, they give you the minimum value of the bet you need to set). Then, the sportsbook provides them with free credits to make wagers.
If the bets made on the free credits turn out as winnings, bettors should be able to convert them to cash.
Popular bookies that offer it include BetItOn, which requires punters to bet €15 to get €10, and FansBet, where bettors get €40 when they make bets of €20.
Other bonuses and promos exist, with varying terms and conditions. Here, we will discuss the most popular ones:
To give new bettors on their platforms a seamless and more enjoyable first-time wagering experience, betting companies in Kuwait offer a sign-up bonus. Some sportsbooks refer to it as the Welcome Bonus.
Online betting sites here require that bettors fulfil varying conditions to enjoy these bonuses. Some sportsbooks will issue bettors a welcome bonus simply for registering a new account. Others may require that wagerers undergo KYC verification, where they submit key ID documents before accessing the sign-up bonus. Nonetheless, the deposit bonus is the most common, where players must commit some funding to their betting accounts. The bookmaker then provides a reward, often a percentage of the amount deposited. Our reviews reveal that bonuses can go as high as 100% or even more.
Sportsbooks often give the free bet generously without requiring any deposits, and punters only need to make bets with the provided credit. If the bets turn out as wins, the bettor should be able to withdraw it as cash. Wagerers prefer it to other bonus types since it typically doesn't require fulfilling any stringent conditions; hence, it is called a “free bet.”
The free bet can be a welcome bonus for new punters or issued to existing bettors as a reward.
Beyond the structured bonus offerings, Kuwait betting site operators often announce special promos that reward existing customers, often targeted at boosting their capital. There are also promos where players participate in draws and competitions to win big prizes.
⚖️ Is betting legal: | Yes |
📅 Sports Betting Legal Since: | N/A |
🏢 Regulatory Body: | Government of Kuwait |
🧾 Taxation: | No |
⚽ Popular Sports to Bet on: | Football, basketball, cricket, rugby |
🏅 Widespread Tournaments\Competitions to Bet on: | Kuwaiti Division I Basketball League, Emir Cup |
🎰 Other Popular Gambling Markets: | Casinos |
⭐ Most Popular Sportsbooks: | LVBET, 22Bet, Ivibet |
💲 Currency: | Dinar (KWD) |
💳 Most popular payment methods: | MasterCard, VISA, Skrill, Neteller |
From football to basketball and cricket, people here are sports lovers, and ardent followers of games and tournaments played at home and abroad. Sports betting companies allow them to wager on their beloved sporting types and events.
Locals are fans of the most popular games and events played globally. Back home, they also have a strong sports industry, with national teams that have recorded successes in sports like basketball. Sports lovers also specialise in niche sports like Formula 1, with a dedicated “Motor Town” to host motor racing events.
With all these interests, it is only practical that locals are able to bet on these tournaments and events, and they do so using platforms like 22Bet and Bet365.
Like in most countries globally, football is the most popular sport in the country. While it has not made a name on the international football scene, the sport still thrives.
It has the vibrant Premier League (aka STC Premier League) consisting of 10 teams, with the top sides being Kuwait SC, Al-Arabia SC, and Al-Qadsia SC. As part of its role in growing football, the league has led to the discovery of football superstars like Ali Al-Kandari, Fahad Al-Enezi, and Yousef Nasser.
With lots of activity happening on the local scene, local betting sites are making it possible to wager on the outcomes of these events.
Basketball here shares some popularity similar to that of football. The local Basketball Association has been in charge of the game in the country for more than 6 decades, overseeing the national men's and football teams. Top teams include Al Kuwait SC, Al Arabi and Al Qadsia, with leading players containing Mashari Abu Dhom, Mohammad Adnan, and Hussain Alkhabbaz. There is also a strong local basketball scene, with the Division I Basketball League providing an avenue to watch the game played locally.
Punters follow the D1 League and various betting sites offer them access to wagering on each game.
Handball is the third most popular sport, largely because the country has recorded success with handball. At the national team level, the country has won the Asian Championships at least 4 times and remains one of the teams to watch at every continental tournament.
Locally, there is the Handball Premier League, but coverage for this among betting sites is very limited. You will hardly find any top Kuwait betting site offering it.
Nonetheless, punters still have access to the most watched handball leagues globally.
Following the popularity of tennis globally, people are also passionate followers of the sport. From the Wimbledon tourney to the French and US Open, betting on tennis is popular.
However, the game doesn't seem to have gained ground locally, as no popular tennis competitions are held locally. The country used to be a leading table tennis hub by organizing the Kuwait Open, but the tournament has stopped.
Nonetheless, there remain ample international betting opportunities in tennis.
From Abdulla Al Bousheiri to Mohammad Alaqraa, Sulaiman AlMudhyan, and Abdulrahman “Tyson” Alenezi, the country has produced fine martial art stars across the lightweight, featherweight, welterweight and middleweight categories.
Nonetheless, the sport is still growing in the country, and people can wager on both games played in the country and internationally, using bookies with MMA.
We can't say that Rugby union betting is popular since the game itself has not found a foothold in the country yet. The government has only one rugby club, the Scorpions, which participates in Asia Rugby and other rugby competitions in the Persian Gulf region.
Nonetheless, it doesn't stop game lovers from betting on top competitions through the top Rugby union bookmakers.
Many locals are from India, so there is a natural love for cricket. Unfortunately, while the game has grown locally in the country, it is still in its early stages. The country is a member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and routinely participates in international and continental competitions.
However, beyond this, there is no strong local cricket league, but lovers of the game can register on the best sportsbooks to wager on top tournaments worldwide.
The best betting sites in Kuwait work hard to provide seamless access to the top competitions and tournaments across various sporting types. For one, some sportsbooks enable betting in local football, basketball and cricket leagues. Unfortunately, coverage of other local leagues is minimal.
However, bettors are spoilt for choice regarding international tournaments in any sport. Wagerers have access to pregame and live bets alongside attractive odds to bet on events from the top football leagues in Europe to world cups in each sport. Several companies that provide betting online also have the cash-out option, enabling players to claim their winnings early.
Choosing the best bookmakers in Kuwait can be difficult. There is a long list of available sportsbooks which can confuse punters. Nonetheless, based on our experience in this space, we outline the top criteria you should look out for when selecting a betting site.
The most important consideration is the licensing and regulation status of the betting company. Laws set by the licensing organization bind regulated bookmakers, and they can have their licenses withdrawn whenever they violate these laws. In essence, bettors are assured of sufficient protection.
Gambling is generally outlawed in Kuwait, so you can't have any betting company licensed by the government.
However, that doesn't stop you from registering with top sportsbooks globally. They're not breaking the law since they're not based in the country. Nonetheless, ensure that the international betting companies you choose should have licenses from top gambling regulatory organizations like Malta Gaming Authority, Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, the UK Gambling Commission, etc.
If you're a wagerer, chances are you have multiple sporting interests and will like to follow your interests across these sports. As such, it is important that you only choose a bookie that has a wide array of sporting options and tournaments. In each sporting type, you should be able to wager on popular and less-known events locally and elsewhere.
For instance, at the minimum, the sportsbook must offer the local Premier League and Super Cup.
It is no longer special for sportsbooks to offer bonuses. It is now customary. The best sportsbooks provide generous bonuses that boost bettors' balances and their ability to make more profits. Thus, failure to offer rewards and promos is not good enough.
However, giving mouth-watering bonuses is not the only consideration, as some bookmakers may offer juicy promos with impossible conditions to fulfil them. So, check the terms as well.
Finally, bonuses shouldn't be the most important factor, as even less credible bookies have attractive promotional offers.
As a wagerer, you will always have complaints that you need your sportsbook to fix for you. It makes having access to top-notch customer service important. For one, sufficient customer service channels should give bettors enough options. Then, the support channels should be available for most of the day, if not 24/7.
Having multiple languages (preferably including Arabic) would also be a great addition.
The sportsbook's reputation can be as important as all the other factors outlined here. What do people who have used the bookie's services say about it? Check betting forums and app stores online to know how current users rate each bookmaker.
Having competitive and rewarding odds consistently ranks among the most important factors to look out for in any sportsbook. Providing wagerers with high odds allows them to get sufficient rewards whenever they record a winning bet.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to state which bookmaker has the best odds for various reasons. First, betting companies regularly change the odds and the systems for setting the odds. As such, a bookie may have relatively unattractive odds currently. However, their odds can improve significantly after switching the system to put the odds.
Then, sportsbooks never have fixed odds for the different services they provide. For instance, their odds may vary across the several sporting options offered on their platforms. Thus, it is common to find one bookie that has one of the highest odds for basketball but provides less remarkable odds for tennis. Similarly, different betting types attract varying odds. A good example is a pregame bet having significantly more attractive odds than a live bet.
Bookmakers have adopted multiple payment systems and methods to enable wagerers to seamlessly deposit and withdraw from their sportsbook accounts, offering bettors sufficient options.
Across the several payment channels, we can categorize them into:
It entails moving the funds directly from your bank account to the betting account. However, although it works, we don't recommend this option if you're using a local bank.
First, you must avoid making it obvious that you're gambling. Currently, the authorities don't have issues with it, but it's always best to stay anonymous.
Then, since your bookmaker is based in another country, it would be an international bank transfer or deposit. Cross-border banking transactions are always time-consuming and attract high fees.
Credit and debit card transactions powered by Visa and MasterCard are much faster than banking options. However, they don't guarantee the anonymity you need for gambling in Kuwait. So, you may want to consider other options.
E-wallets provide exactly the anonymity you need when making gambling transactions. In essence, you move funds from your bank to your E-wallet, making deposits and receiving winnings from your betting company.
In addition to anonymity, these E-wallets are generally cheap and mostly fast. Popular ones include Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz, etc.
Cryptos take anonymity to another level, as they mostly obscure the transaction. If you're familiar with them, you can search for sportsbooks that offer them. Moreover, they are also fast and don't charge any fees.
Using prepaid vouchers for Paysafe betting is also great, as you only need to obtain the card and enter the 16-digit PIN. They are also fast, anonymous and mostly charge-free. Paysafe isn't directly available here, but you can find it in many retail outlets in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Bettors generally use their smartphones for several basic day-to-day activities. As such, it is only practical that betting sites in Kuwait make their services available on mobile channels.
The most popular platform bookies provide on mobile is the mobile website. These websites are often intuitive and easy to navigate, so all the icons and segments are accessible from the small screen.
However, other Kuwaiti betting sites take the mobile experience to another level by providing Android and iOS apps. Often, there are no restrictions on downloading these apps. Check if your chosen bookmaker has a mobile app and go to the app store to download it.
The window of opportunity for betting on a game often closes a few hours before the kickoff time. Before, whenever bettors needed to make wagers, they were limited to setting their positions hours before their desired game started. However, this has ended with live betting. Wagerers can go to their betting accounts and place wagers on ongoing competitions, sometimes even in the second half.
With live betting now a reality, several international companies offering sports betting in Kuwait have introduced live streaming. With this service, wagerers watch games unfold from their betting platform – website or app. It saves them the costs of subscribing to several sports channels.
The steps to follow when registering for a betting account are straightforward. They include:
Steps | Instructions |
---|---|
✅ Step 1: Select the betting provider of your choice | Take a look at the list we provided below, and then consider all the factors in “How to Choose the Best Bookmakers in Kuwait” to make your choice. |
🖱️ Step 2: Visit their betting platform | Go to their primary betting channel online, which often is their website. You can also sign up from there if they have a mobile app. |
👨💻 Step 3: Register | Click the “Join” or “Sign up” button on their platform and undergo the registration process. Typically, you'll need to fill out a form requesting your most important details like name, email and others. |
👤 Step 4: Undergo verification | Most international sportsbooks need to verify the details of new sign-ups to ensure safety and prevent fraud. So, you may need to submit government-issued ID documents. |
💸 Step 5: Deposit funds and make your first bet | Go to the Account segment in the bookmaker's platform to make deposits into your new betting account using the payment channel of your choice. When the fund reflects in the account, you can go on to make your first bet. |
Generally, the government has outlawed gambling of all forms. Article 205 of the country's penal code clearly states that running a land-based betting company will attract a fine or months of imprisonment, or in some cases, both.
However, and fortunately so, this law only applies to people operating betting companies on the ground in the country. The law doesn't stop you from registering with an international sportsbook and making bets all online.
So, in summary, online betting with an offshore sportsbook is not outlawed. However, we advise that you take extra precautions when gambling online such as using anonymous payment channels (like E-wallets, prepaid vouchers and crypto).
Below there are some international companies and organizations that can help you in case you are struggling against gambling problems.
Local people are ardent sports lovers and are interested in tournaments and events held globally. Although it is a Muslim-majority country, its people apply that interest to bet on sporting competitions held locally and abroad. The law partially outlaws gambling, but that doesn't prevent people from registering and betting with top international bookies. From football to martial arts, the country has been making strides, with the government directly supporting the growth of sports in the country and elsewhere.
A few interesting things about the country and its sporting scene by our experts of the betting world:
Being a Muslim country, one would expect locals not to be predisposed to online betting, but that is not the case. Although the government frowns against it, that doesn't stop bettors from following their most loved sports and making bets.
The most popular offshore betting companies in Kuwait understand the country's opportunity and have opened their services to wagerers, introducing remarkable offers to attract them.