Iran cracks down on illegal gambling activities

Lea Hogg March 12, 2024

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Iran cracks down on illegal gambling activities

Iran’s Intelligence Ministry announced last week that it had successfully identified and dismantled the largest organized online gambling and betting network targeting its citizens. The network, known as Nitro Bet or “Nitrobet,” was accused of operating with the tacit approval of the UK government.

The ministry claimed that the UK government had turned a blind eye to the London-based network in exchange for substantial taxes from fraudulent and illegal funds. However, Nitro Bet is not a known brand operating online gambling in the UK, raising questions about its alleged tax payments to the British government.

Despite the lack of clarity, Iran maintained that Britain had effectively facilitated criminal activities, including money laundering, by ignoring the operations of Nitro Bet.

Gambling has been prohibited in Iran since the 1979 revolution due to Islamic laws that categorize games of chance as grave sins. However, enforcing this ban has proven challenging due to the agility of overseas operators.

Dismantles major online gambling network

Taking down Nitro Bet was the culmination of 14 months of intricate intelligence research and surveillance. The network reportedly controlled around 35,000 domestic bank accounts and 1,200 payment gateways, likely so-called “farmer accounts” used by online gambling operators to move the proceeds of gambling out of the country.

Nitro Bet was also allegedly in the process of establishing a social media stream of influencers to undermine Islamic-Iranian values and normalize the culture of gambling in Iran’s Islamic society.

Five managers involved in the network were arrested inside Iran. They are accused of economic sabotage, operating online casinos, and receiving illegal profits. Under Article 705 of the Islamic Penal Code, the penalty for illegal gambling can range from one to six months’ imprisonment or up to 74 lashes, or both if the offense is committed publicly.

In 2021, a bill was presented to the Iranian legislature proposing the death penalty for illegal online gambling operators. However, the bill did not become law. This recent crackdown on Nitro Bet underscores Iran’s ongoing efforts to combat illegal gambling activities within its borders.