Gambling laws in Libya
- Is there a Gambling Act (or equivalent) in place?
- Is online gambling a regulated activity?
- Who are the regulators?
- Do laws set out a clear licensing framework for gambling (including licensing process, criteria, submission requirements, licensing conditions and ongoing compliance requirements)
- Is gambling regulation specific to:
- Are there Data Protection laws in place?
- Is there a Data Protection Regulator?
- Are there any exchange controls restricting the transfer of cash out of and into the country?
- Are there any tax implications of transferring cash in/out of the country?
- Are there any tax implications of offering trading activities remotely into the country?
jurisdiction
This chapter was kindly submitted by Tumi Law Firm.
1. Is there a Gambling Act (or equivalent) in place?
No. Gambling is strictly prohibited under Articles 492-495 of the Libyan Penal Code. According to these articles, those caught engaging in illegal gambling can face fines between LYD10 to 50 and a month to six months in jail.
2. Is online gambling a regulated activity?
Yes. Recently the online gambling is explicitly prohibited under article 31 of the law no. 5 of 2022 on cybercrimes. According to this Article, anyone who owns or manages online gambling activities shall be punished by imprisonment for a period of no less than 2 years and a fine of no less than 10,000 LYD and no more than 20,000 LYD.
3. Who are the regulators?
The National Authority for Information Security and Safety established pursuant to Cabinet Resolution No. 28 of 2013.
4. Do laws set out a clear licensing framework for gambling (including licensing process, criteria, submission requirements, licensing conditions and ongoing compliance requirements)
Libyan Law does not prevent the granting of licenses to companies operating in the field of entertainment. Nevertheless, Libyan Law does not regulate licensing for gambling and games of luck, or betting activity given that such activities are illegal and constitute a criminal offense in the country.
5. Is gambling regulation specific to:
5.1 Betting?
No.
5.2 Sports?
No.
5.3 Skill games?
No.
5.4 Card games?
No.
5.5 Casinos?
No.
5.6 Lotteries?
No.
5.7 Arcades?
No.
6. Are there Data Protection laws in place?
No.
6.1 If yes, do they apply extra territorially?
No.
7. Is there a Data Protection Regulator?
No.
8. Are there any exchange controls restricting the transfer of cash out of and into the country?
Yes.
9. Are there any tax implications of transferring cash in/out of the country?
Yes.
10. Are there any tax implications of offering trading activities remotely into the country?
Yes.
