Two teenagers were detained in Bulgaria's Black Sea city of Varna after attempting to collect the Sports Totalizator BGN 5M jackpot using a fake slip.
The two 19-year-olds tried to hack the Totalizator's database in order to manipulate the numbers, Bulgarian National Radio reports.
One of them was arrested after trying to collect part of the jackpot in an office of the Sports Totalizator in Varna. The second 'hacker' was also detained shortly after that.
The jackpot of June 26th draw came up to BGN 5 026 320.
The teenagers were charged with attempted fraud. They were detained for 72 hours.
August 12, 2014
August 11, 2014
Brentford Football Club agree deal with Matchbook.com to be Official Betting Partner
Matchbook.com is delighted to announce a new partnership agreement with newly promoted Championship side Brentford FC. Matchbook has now become the Official Betting Partner of Brentford FC.
As part of the agreement the Matchbook.com logo will be prominently displayed on Brentford’s home and away kit for the upcoming 2014/15 campaign.
In addition, there will be extensive Matchbook.com advertising at Griffin Park including the branding of the stadium roofs with their logo. Griffin Park is clearly visible on the Heathrow Airport landing route so Matchbook will be leveraging one of the largest advertising platforms in the UK.
Mark Brosnan, Matchbook CEO said, “We are delighted to be partnering up with such an ambitious, progressive club as Brentford. The vision on show at Griffin Park certainly resonates with the ideals and values present at Matchbook. They exhibit a similar drive for long term success and we can certainly identify with having a loyal, passionate following, as they do. We are excited about what the new season has in store for both us and Brentford.”
Mark Devlin, Brentford FC Chief Executive, said; “We are delighted to welcome Matchbook as an official partner of Brentford Football Club. “Matchbook is a young, innovative and successful company and the partnership is a very good fit for us. “With the first match in The Championship for more than 20 years just days away, they join us at an exciting times for the Club. “We look forward to working closely with everyone at Matchbook on what I’m sure will be a mutually beneficial partnership.”
As part of the agreement the Matchbook.com logo will be prominently displayed on Brentford’s home and away kit for the upcoming 2014/15 campaign.
In addition, there will be extensive Matchbook.com advertising at Griffin Park including the branding of the stadium roofs with their logo. Griffin Park is clearly visible on the Heathrow Airport landing route so Matchbook will be leveraging one of the largest advertising platforms in the UK.
Mark Brosnan, Matchbook CEO said, “We are delighted to be partnering up with such an ambitious, progressive club as Brentford. The vision on show at Griffin Park certainly resonates with the ideals and values present at Matchbook. They exhibit a similar drive for long term success and we can certainly identify with having a loyal, passionate following, as they do. We are excited about what the new season has in store for both us and Brentford.”
Mark Devlin, Brentford FC Chief Executive, said; “We are delighted to welcome Matchbook as an official partner of Brentford Football Club. “Matchbook is a young, innovative and successful company and the partnership is a very good fit for us. “With the first match in The Championship for more than 20 years just days away, they join us at an exciting times for the Club. “We look forward to working closely with everyone at Matchbook on what I’m sure will be a mutually beneficial partnership.”
August 08, 2014
Perform Group investigating ‘phantom’ football match as bookies make amends
UK-based digital sports media firm Perform Group is wearing egg on its face after a subsidiary provided data to UK bookmakers on a football match that never existed. RunningBall, a Swiss-based firm Perform acquired in 2012, released a statement earlier this week saying it was “aware of irregularities” involving an Aug. 4 exhibition match between Spanish second division football squad Ponferradina and Portugal’s Freamunde. Those irregularities include the fact that Freamunde was actually playing a Portuguese League Cup match against a different opponent.
The cockup has left some UK bookies scrambling to make amends with bettors who placed wagers on the outcome of the ‘phantom’ match. Exchange betting specialists Betfair have voided all bets on the match, saying the RunningBall scout who relayed the ‘live’ match info had failed to realize Freamunde was playing a different team. Gala Coral has announced it will honor all ‘winning’ bets and refund ‘losing’ bets to ensure no punter is negatively affected. A Coral rep told Bloomberg the company was “awaiting more information on how and why this occurred.”
RunningBall claims to employ 1,000 such scouts in over 70 countries to supply it with real-time match data. The company’s investigation into the brouhaha is ongoing, but it says it has yet to find evidence that the unidentified scout in question had engaged in any impropriety.
Freamunde’s own website reportedly displayed the result of the exhibition match as 2-1 to Ponferradina and also listed two bogus future matches against different Spanish teams. Freamunde issued a statement calling the incident “regrettable” while denying any involvement. The suggestion has been made that the website may have been hacked. The Spanish league has asked the police to investigate the “ghost game.”
Federbet, a Brussels-based non-profit watchdog group with a mission to expose betting chicanery, was first to report the discrepancy between RunningBall’s report and reality. Federbet was roundly criticized earlier this year after submitting a report to the European Parliament that claimed widespread fixing was taking place in European football matches without providing much evidence to support their allegations.
The cockup has left some UK bookies scrambling to make amends with bettors who placed wagers on the outcome of the ‘phantom’ match. Exchange betting specialists Betfair have voided all bets on the match, saying the RunningBall scout who relayed the ‘live’ match info had failed to realize Freamunde was playing a different team. Gala Coral has announced it will honor all ‘winning’ bets and refund ‘losing’ bets to ensure no punter is negatively affected. A Coral rep told Bloomberg the company was “awaiting more information on how and why this occurred.”
RunningBall claims to employ 1,000 such scouts in over 70 countries to supply it with real-time match data. The company’s investigation into the brouhaha is ongoing, but it says it has yet to find evidence that the unidentified scout in question had engaged in any impropriety.
Freamunde’s own website reportedly displayed the result of the exhibition match as 2-1 to Ponferradina and also listed two bogus future matches against different Spanish teams. Freamunde issued a statement calling the incident “regrettable” while denying any involvement. The suggestion has been made that the website may have been hacked. The Spanish league has asked the police to investigate the “ghost game.”
Federbet, a Brussels-based non-profit watchdog group with a mission to expose betting chicanery, was first to report the discrepancy between RunningBall’s report and reality. Federbet was roundly criticized earlier this year after submitting a report to the European Parliament that claimed widespread fixing was taking place in European football matches without providing much evidence to support their allegations.
August 07, 2014
“Significant new all-time high” activity during World Cup boosts Unibet profit
Online gambling operator Unibet enjoyed a serious boost in Q2 profits as the 2014 FIFA World Cup pushed sports betting revenue up 40%. Unibet’s figures for the three months ending June 30 are complicated, given the spinoff of its Kambi Sports Solution B2B offering into a separate unit, which was completed on May 31 and added a non-cash net gain of £35.3m. An additional £2.2m in deferred consideration from Unibet’s 2012 acquisition of Australian operator Betchoice was recorded as a non-recurring contribution, as Unibet no longer considers the payment necessary.
Stripping aside the impact from those one-off items, Unibet’s Q2 earnings rose 38% to £16.7m as revenue rose 24% to £77.1m. (Including those one-off gains, Unibet’s Q2 profit topped £53.7m.) Active customer ranks swelled more than a third from Q1 to over 610k, producing what CEO Henrik Tjärnstöm called “a significant new all time high in customer activity.”
The World Cup contributed £16m of Unibet’s £31.9m in overall Q2 sports betting revenue. Mobile wagering accounted for 47% of sportsbook revenue while live betting generated 64.6% of turnover and 43.2% of revenue. More than half (£16.2m) of total sports betting revenue came via Western European markets, which nearly doubled year-on-year. Unibet’s Nordic markets rose 22% to £12.2m, while central, eastern and southern European markets fell 21% to £2.6m and other markets fell 25% to £0.9m.
Casino, poker and other games revenue grew 15% to £45.2m. Nordic markets rose 6% to £24.8m, western Europe rose 30% to £14.4m, with the rest of Europe gaining 17% to £4.1m and other markets rising 58% to £1.9m. Casino & Games revenue grew 19% to £37.5m and other revenue rose 28% to £6m, leaving poker as the only vertical to post a year-on-year decline, falling 45% to £1.7m. However, the company says it’s seeing positive trends as it adjusts to its new life as a standalone network-independent recreational poker model.
In the month-plus since June 30, Unibet says average daily revenue is up 7% over the Q2 average, although the company noted that an extremely fortunate punter won a €5.8m pooled jackpot on July 4 playing the Mega Fortune slot.
Meanwhile, Unibet’s former in-house sportsbook Kambi also enjoyed starting its independent life in a World Cup quarter, recording a 97% revenue gain to £9.5m. Profits were a modest £0.4m as H1 expenses increased by £2.3m, mostly based on a swelling payroll that now covers over 340 names across four countries. Kambi clients include 888 Holdings and recent signings 32Red and IveriaBet, the online offering of Georgian land-based Casino Iveria.
Stripping aside the impact from those one-off items, Unibet’s Q2 earnings rose 38% to £16.7m as revenue rose 24% to £77.1m. (Including those one-off gains, Unibet’s Q2 profit topped £53.7m.) Active customer ranks swelled more than a third from Q1 to over 610k, producing what CEO Henrik Tjärnstöm called “a significant new all time high in customer activity.”
The World Cup contributed £16m of Unibet’s £31.9m in overall Q2 sports betting revenue. Mobile wagering accounted for 47% of sportsbook revenue while live betting generated 64.6% of turnover and 43.2% of revenue. More than half (£16.2m) of total sports betting revenue came via Western European markets, which nearly doubled year-on-year. Unibet’s Nordic markets rose 22% to £12.2m, while central, eastern and southern European markets fell 21% to £2.6m and other markets fell 25% to £0.9m.
Casino, poker and other games revenue grew 15% to £45.2m. Nordic markets rose 6% to £24.8m, western Europe rose 30% to £14.4m, with the rest of Europe gaining 17% to £4.1m and other markets rising 58% to £1.9m. Casino & Games revenue grew 19% to £37.5m and other revenue rose 28% to £6m, leaving poker as the only vertical to post a year-on-year decline, falling 45% to £1.7m. However, the company says it’s seeing positive trends as it adjusts to its new life as a standalone network-independent recreational poker model.
In the month-plus since June 30, Unibet says average daily revenue is up 7% over the Q2 average, although the company noted that an extremely fortunate punter won a €5.8m pooled jackpot on July 4 playing the Mega Fortune slot.
Meanwhile, Unibet’s former in-house sportsbook Kambi also enjoyed starting its independent life in a World Cup quarter, recording a 97% revenue gain to £9.5m. Profits were a modest £0.4m as H1 expenses increased by £2.3m, mostly based on a swelling payroll that now covers over 340 names across four countries. Kambi clients include 888 Holdings and recent signings 32Red and IveriaBet, the online offering of Georgian land-based Casino Iveria.
August 04, 2014
Investigation reveals Nigerians spend N1.8bn on sports betting daily
About 60 million Nigerians between 18 and 40 years of age may be spending up to N1.8 billion on sports betting daily, investigation by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reveals.
The investigation showed that they commit on the average N3,000 on sports betting daily.
Dotun Ajekigbe, a sport betting analyst, said that sport betting, though risky was also rewarding.
Ajekigbe said that about 60 million Nigerians place bets on different matches daily across the country.
He said that most unemployed youths have taken to online and other forms of sports betting to make a living.
According to him, from findings, this group of people stake an average of N3,000 daily.
”Sport betting is gambling, not investing in bank shares.
”But almost everything in life is a gamble, more so with money matters. With gambling comes risks because it not 100 per cent guaranteed.
”However, you can dramatically reduce your risks by taking calculated risks only.
”When you take calculated risks, you base your decisions on sound research and evidence, not intuition.
”Sport betting is by chance. The better informed the player is, the better the chance he/she has of making money,” he said.
Mr Ambrose Obialor, who runs Yobo Viewing Centre, Lagos, says that some people bet between N2, 000, N10, 000 and above, depending on the individual.
He said that some people denied themselves of food after spending all they had on a bet.
Mr Afeez Adigun, an agent for 1960 Bet Company, Lagos, said that between 200 and 300 people visit his office to place bets on match days during football seasons. while about 150 people bet at off-seasons.
According to him, a betting company can generate up to N20 million monthly and use between N5 million and N7 million to meet winners obligations in terms of payment.
He also described sports’ betting as very risky but highly rewarding business.
A representative of another betting company, Betting World, who did not want his name mentioned, said that sport betting companies have employed about 50 youths in Lagos.
He said that betting outlets were always filled with countless young people between ages 18 and 40 who come to place their bets.
The representative said that most people borrow as much as 10,000 for their daily stakes, stressing that some of them win, while others lose but returned for the next day’s betting.
He said that most people did not like to place bets on Nigerian matches because they were highly predictable.
Mr Lanre Gbajabiamila, Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Lottery Board, said the lottery industry was very risky but also lucrative.
Gbajabiamila said that the board generated about N1 million in 2013 from about 11 sport betting companies in the state.
He added that more revenue could be generated with more investment to develop the industry.
”The state government has been making efforts to provide an enabling environment for the lottery industry but only 40 per cent of the industry had been tapped into.
”We urge the Federal Government to create a more enabling environment for operators in the industry to increase revenue and create jobs for youths.
”The major needs of the operators are improved electricity and internet provision to boost the business,” he said.
He restated the commitment of the board to rid the state of illegal lottery operators.
The investigation showed that they commit on the average N3,000 on sports betting daily.
Dotun Ajekigbe, a sport betting analyst, said that sport betting, though risky was also rewarding.
Ajekigbe said that about 60 million Nigerians place bets on different matches daily across the country.
He said that most unemployed youths have taken to online and other forms of sports betting to make a living.
According to him, from findings, this group of people stake an average of N3,000 daily.
”Sport betting is gambling, not investing in bank shares.
”But almost everything in life is a gamble, more so with money matters. With gambling comes risks because it not 100 per cent guaranteed.
”However, you can dramatically reduce your risks by taking calculated risks only.
”When you take calculated risks, you base your decisions on sound research and evidence, not intuition.
”Sport betting is by chance. The better informed the player is, the better the chance he/she has of making money,” he said.
Mr Ambrose Obialor, who runs Yobo Viewing Centre, Lagos, says that some people bet between N2, 000, N10, 000 and above, depending on the individual.
He said that some people denied themselves of food after spending all they had on a bet.
Mr Afeez Adigun, an agent for 1960 Bet Company, Lagos, said that between 200 and 300 people visit his office to place bets on match days during football seasons. while about 150 people bet at off-seasons.
According to him, a betting company can generate up to N20 million monthly and use between N5 million and N7 million to meet winners obligations in terms of payment.
He also described sports’ betting as very risky but highly rewarding business.
A representative of another betting company, Betting World, who did not want his name mentioned, said that sport betting companies have employed about 50 youths in Lagos.
He said that betting outlets were always filled with countless young people between ages 18 and 40 who come to place their bets.
The representative said that most people borrow as much as 10,000 for their daily stakes, stressing that some of them win, while others lose but returned for the next day’s betting.
He said that most people did not like to place bets on Nigerian matches because they were highly predictable.
Mr Lanre Gbajabiamila, Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Lottery Board, said the lottery industry was very risky but also lucrative.
Gbajabiamila said that the board generated about N1 million in 2013 from about 11 sport betting companies in the state.
He added that more revenue could be generated with more investment to develop the industry.
”The state government has been making efforts to provide an enabling environment for the lottery industry but only 40 per cent of the industry had been tapped into.
”We urge the Federal Government to create a more enabling environment for operators in the industry to increase revenue and create jobs for youths.
”The major needs of the operators are improved electricity and internet provision to boost the business,” he said.
He restated the commitment of the board to rid the state of illegal lottery operators.
August 01, 2014
Football betting: FA ban on players & coaches takes effect
New rules which prevent players and coaches from betting on any worldwide footballing activity will help in the fight against match-fixing, says Football Association general secretary Alex Horne.
Players from the top eight tiers of the English game are banned from betting on the sport under new rules which came into force on Friday.
"We are really proud of the integrity of the game in this country and it is really important people trust... what is happening on the pitch," said Horne.
"We want to keep our message as simple as possible - and it cannot be more simple that as a player you cannot bet at all on football."
The new betting rules in summary:
The FA's betting rule change applies to the top eight tiers of English football
Players, managers, club employees and match officials are prohibited from betting on any football matter worldwide
Bets on results, goalscorers, in-game play, player transfers, manager changes or promotions and relegations are banned
The FA is undertaking pre-season club visits to talk players and staff through the new rules
Club employees and match officials are also restricted by the new rules, which prevent gambling on any football-related matters, including results, goalscorers, in-game play, player transfers, manager changes or promotions and relegations.
The Football Association will visit all clubs to talk about the fresh regulations and have produced a number of educational videos.
Players and stakeholders from clubs in the Premier League down to the Northern and Southern and Isthmian Leagues are affected.
The rules apply to bets made in person, online, on the telephone or with friends. Participants are also not allowed to instruct any third party to place any bet on their behalf.
Previously, participants were prohibited from betting on a match or competition in which they were involved or could influence.
Tottenham's Andros Townsend, Cameron Jerome - on loan at Crystal Palace from Stoke last season - and Dan Gosling, who has joined Bournemouth this summer, are among those who have breached current betting regulations.
Winger Townsend was fined £18,000 by the FA in June 2013, striker Jerome £50,000 last August and midfielder Gosling £30,000 in March.
Players from the top eight tiers of the English game are banned from betting on the sport under new rules which came into force on Friday.
"We are really proud of the integrity of the game in this country and it is really important people trust... what is happening on the pitch," said Horne.
"We want to keep our message as simple as possible - and it cannot be more simple that as a player you cannot bet at all on football."
The new betting rules in summary:
The FA's betting rule change applies to the top eight tiers of English football
Players, managers, club employees and match officials are prohibited from betting on any football matter worldwide
Bets on results, goalscorers, in-game play, player transfers, manager changes or promotions and relegations are banned
The FA is undertaking pre-season club visits to talk players and staff through the new rules
Club employees and match officials are also restricted by the new rules, which prevent gambling on any football-related matters, including results, goalscorers, in-game play, player transfers, manager changes or promotions and relegations.
The Football Association will visit all clubs to talk about the fresh regulations and have produced a number of educational videos.
Players and stakeholders from clubs in the Premier League down to the Northern and Southern and Isthmian Leagues are affected.
The rules apply to bets made in person, online, on the telephone or with friends. Participants are also not allowed to instruct any third party to place any bet on their behalf.
Previously, participants were prohibited from betting on a match or competition in which they were involved or could influence.
Tottenham's Andros Townsend, Cameron Jerome - on loan at Crystal Palace from Stoke last season - and Dan Gosling, who has joined Bournemouth this summer, are among those who have breached current betting regulations.
Winger Townsend was fined £18,000 by the FA in June 2013, striker Jerome £50,000 last August and midfielder Gosling £30,000 in March.
July 31, 2014
Bad Beat on Pocket Aces Costs Poker Player His $1M Buy-in
The World Series of Poker may be known to the masses for its $10,000 buy-in main event, in which thousands of entrants compete for the $10 million prize, but that's actually not the competition with the highest stakes involved.
That title belongs to "The Big One for One Drop," featuring a whopping $1 million buy-in. There were 42 people who competed this year, with the winner pocketing over $15 million.
Things weren't so sweet for Connor Drinan, however, whose seven-figure buy-in was lost to an exceptionally bad beat. Drinan's pocket aces had a 2 percent chance of losing the hand pre-flop. Spoiler: That didn't work out so well for him.
The winner of the hand, Cary Katz, finished the tournament in eighth and claimed a $1.3 million prize.
July 30, 2014
Maqasid Shari'ah: The Prohibition of Gambling, Punishment and Justification
Gambling or al-maisir from Islamic perspective is defined to mean a game of haphazard in all matters particularly a game of chance by means of divinatory arrows. Maisir is of various categories. Some of these types of maisir are seeking omen or fortune by divinatory arrows, back gammons, chess, lottery and many others.
The word maisir is derived from the root ‘yasara’, means to become gentle, to draw lots by arrows or ‘yasaar’, means affluence because maisir brings about profit or yusr, that is convenience, ease because it is an earning without toil and exertion or yasr, means dividing a thing into a number of shares and distributing them among themselves. Gambling is called maisir because those who partake in the games of chance divide the meat of sacrificial animal among themselves. [1]
All the above connotations are vividly found in the word maisir. According to Imam Malik gambling is of two categories that are; a game of chance that is partaken in with a view of sport (fun) and the game of chance which involves gambling. To make it clearer, gambling means all dealings in which people are require making a bet and every dealing which involves some aspects of gambling is maisir.
PROHIBITION OF GAMBLING IN THE QURAN
There are verses from the Qur’an which highlighted the prohibition of gambling and the wisdom behind its prohibition. Allah says:
“‘They asked the Prophet (S.A.W) about khamr (intoxicants) and games of chance (gambling). Say, in both of them there is great harm although there is some advantage as well in them for men, but their harm is much greater than their advantages. [2]
In another verse, Allah mentions:
“O ‘ you who believe, verily wine and game of chance, ungodly shrines, and divining devices are abomination of Satan’s work. Avoid them, that your may prosper. Only would Satan sow hatred and strife among you, by wine and games of chance, and turn you aside from, the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. Will you not, therefore abstaifi from them?” [3]
From the above verses, it is obvious that maisir entail great sins and promises petty benefits and that maisir is an abominable act of Satan. It is therefore imperative to avoid gambling in order to achieve success and happiness in our lives. Satan sows in our hearts the seeds of enmity and hatred against one another and turns us aside from the remembrance of Allah and other obligation particularly prayer by means of games of chance. Although it entails some benefits as mentioned in the verse, we have to bear in mind that its harmful effects outweigh d benefits to individual as well as people at large.
In fact, the gradual prohibition in the first verse (2219) has been totally declared unlawful in the second verse (5: 90,91) leaving no room for relaxation.
PROHIBITION OF GAMBLING IN THE SUNNAH
The Prophet (S.A. W) said:
“Whoever says to his companion, come let us play a game of haphazard should give alms (as an atonement). [4]
It connotes that a mere invitation to gambling is such a serious sin as to warrant atonement thereof by charity. What is more the position of a man who is indulges in gambling. The Prophet (S.A.W) further said:
“Whoever plays backgammon as if he dyes his hands with the flesh of swine and its blood.” [5]
1bn Abi Al Dunya has reported Yahya b. Kathir as saying:
‘Allah’s Messenger passed by people playing backgammon. He said, “their heart are preoccupied in sport, their hands are ill and their tongues make absurd utterances. Every game which involves gambling or mischief, is a game of chance (maisir).”
There is no difference of opinion among the jurists that every sort of gambling is harmful, except betting for horse race and archery which have been declared lawful for persuading for horsemanship archery and preparation for Jihad. This is in line with the Qur’anic verse where Allah says:
“Make ready for them all you can of armed force and horses tethered that thereby you may dismay the enemy of Allah and your enemy.” [6]
Therefore, it is clear that the prohibition of gambling is not only mentioned in the Qur’an but also supported by the tradition of the Prophet
GAMBLING AS AN OFFENCE PUNISHABLE BY TA’ZIR
Looking to great emphasis and its root of prohibition in the Qur’an and Sunnah, it is no doubt to say that gambling is an offence. However it is not an offence punishable by hadd because it does not fall under any category of hadd crimes. It is in fact an offence punishable by ta’zir.
As it is understood, ta’zir are crimes which punishments have not been fixed by the Qur’an and the Sunnah. However, it is as a whole can be divided into two types:
1. The actions and omissions in which any divine provision (Shariah text) or any principle thereof is violated (ma’siya).
2. The violation of rules regulations and orders of the rules acting as sub-legislative authority; provided that such rules and regulations must not be arbitrary and must be based on the larger interest of the society (maslaha ‘amma). In fact, these rules and regulations should not contravene any Divine provisions.
As far as the offence of gambling is concerned, it falls under the first category which is called ma’siya. Ma’siya is defined as the commission of prohibited acts and the omission of obligatory acts which are mentioned in the Shari’ah text. Thus, any violation of a legal order or prohibition which is not punishable either by a hadd punishment or atonement is considered a ta’zir crime and should be punished by a ta’zir punishment.
JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PROHIBITION
Every society reacts against the behaviour of individuals which infringes upon public interest and it is universally believed that acts which provoke social relations must be punished.
One may ask, Why Islam prohibit gambling? Why gambling is liable under ta’zir punishment? Is the punishment justified?
To answer these questions, a careful study and attention must be given to the nature of gambling itself and effects entail from the act.
Gambling brings about religious, social, moral and economic harm. From the Qura’nic verses that have been discussed before it is clear that gambling entails following evil effects.
First, gambling distracts those who partake the game from the remembrance of Allah and Prayer. When a gambler sits continuously for hours together, he is so absorbed in it that he forgets everything around him; rather he becomes unconscious of his own self. He forgets his household and family’s responsibilities. How then, can be take care of his prayer?
Second, it sows the seeds of disputes and quarrels among the gamblers which ultimately assume the shape of enmity and hatred among them. This point is made clear in the following verse:
“Only Satan sow hatred and strife among you, by wine and games of chance and turn you aside from the remembrance of Allah and from Prayer; Will you not, therefore abstain from them?
Third, the sin of gambling is greater than its benefit. The verse 2: 219 enunciated two invaluable principles namely:
1. Dispelling mischiefs is precedent to acquiring benefits and,
2. The commission of lesser evil is obligatory when the commission of either of the two evils is necessarily essential.
Fourth, it corrupts morals making people sluggish in waiting for providence by whimsical means and giving up activities essential for making earnings viz agriculture, industry, business which are the foundation stone of social living and human prosperity and happiness in this mundane life.
Fifth, it enslaves the gambler who becomes a mute slave in the hands of gambling and seldom succeeds in abandoning it. When he earns some benefit, his greed for gambling increases and when he losses the game, even then his interest in the games of chance increase to make good the loss. In this way, he remains awfully engaged in gambling till he becomes a destitute.
Sixth, it brings about a sudden havoc in the countries due to sheer waste of wealth by losing the game. Finally, it usurps the wealth of towns and transfers it to the band of the mischief mongers within and outside the country. Thus, gambling is a root cause of innumerable economic evils reducing many rich people to destitution and ultimately forcing them to commit suicide.
From the wording of the Qura’nic verse (2219), Allah has mentioned that there exist benefit (manfa’a) in gambling and wine drinking (khamr). However, the mundane benefits of gambling as compared with its great harm and ruinous complexities are mere whimsical benefits. Some of petty benefits of gambling are:
1. It gives some transitory pleasure to the winning gambler, for this pleasure is followed by grief as a reaction, when he suffers loss’ by gambling.
2. It promises munificence to the poor just as people winning lottery, a form of gambling build asylums and hospitals and do other good works. But the fact is that the wealth acquired by unlawful means and spent on good works have no reward because Allah is Pure and He accepts only pure things. The same thing is true about gambling or lottery for it brings about a benefit to a very small group of people and causes a crushing loss to the majority of them.
3. It makes a destitute a rich man all of a sudden without any toil and in the next moment reduces a rich man to a destitute.
In short, all the benefits of gambling enumerated above are imaginary and whimsical whereas its harms are real. When the gambler spends his wealth for a fancied profit and when a person wastes his hard earned money for the fancied things having no existence, he corrupts his thinking and weakens his reason. Gambling has forced a large number of gamblers to commit suicide and made them content with living a life of humiliation and abjection.
The word maisir is derived from the root ‘yasara’, means to become gentle, to draw lots by arrows or ‘yasaar’, means affluence because maisir brings about profit or yusr, that is convenience, ease because it is an earning without toil and exertion or yasr, means dividing a thing into a number of shares and distributing them among themselves. Gambling is called maisir because those who partake in the games of chance divide the meat of sacrificial animal among themselves. [1]
All the above connotations are vividly found in the word maisir. According to Imam Malik gambling is of two categories that are; a game of chance that is partaken in with a view of sport (fun) and the game of chance which involves gambling. To make it clearer, gambling means all dealings in which people are require making a bet and every dealing which involves some aspects of gambling is maisir.
PROHIBITION OF GAMBLING IN THE QURAN
There are verses from the Qur’an which highlighted the prohibition of gambling and the wisdom behind its prohibition. Allah says:
“‘They asked the Prophet (S.A.W) about khamr (intoxicants) and games of chance (gambling). Say, in both of them there is great harm although there is some advantage as well in them for men, but their harm is much greater than their advantages. [2]
In another verse, Allah mentions:
“O ‘ you who believe, verily wine and game of chance, ungodly shrines, and divining devices are abomination of Satan’s work. Avoid them, that your may prosper. Only would Satan sow hatred and strife among you, by wine and games of chance, and turn you aside from, the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. Will you not, therefore abstaifi from them?” [3]
From the above verses, it is obvious that maisir entail great sins and promises petty benefits and that maisir is an abominable act of Satan. It is therefore imperative to avoid gambling in order to achieve success and happiness in our lives. Satan sows in our hearts the seeds of enmity and hatred against one another and turns us aside from the remembrance of Allah and other obligation particularly prayer by means of games of chance. Although it entails some benefits as mentioned in the verse, we have to bear in mind that its harmful effects outweigh d benefits to individual as well as people at large.
In fact, the gradual prohibition in the first verse (2219) has been totally declared unlawful in the second verse (5: 90,91) leaving no room for relaxation.
PROHIBITION OF GAMBLING IN THE SUNNAH
The Prophet (S.A. W) said:
“Whoever says to his companion, come let us play a game of haphazard should give alms (as an atonement). [4]
It connotes that a mere invitation to gambling is such a serious sin as to warrant atonement thereof by charity. What is more the position of a man who is indulges in gambling. The Prophet (S.A.W) further said:
“Whoever plays backgammon as if he dyes his hands with the flesh of swine and its blood.” [5]
1bn Abi Al Dunya has reported Yahya b. Kathir as saying:
‘Allah’s Messenger passed by people playing backgammon. He said, “their heart are preoccupied in sport, their hands are ill and their tongues make absurd utterances. Every game which involves gambling or mischief, is a game of chance (maisir).”
There is no difference of opinion among the jurists that every sort of gambling is harmful, except betting for horse race and archery which have been declared lawful for persuading for horsemanship archery and preparation for Jihad. This is in line with the Qur’anic verse where Allah says:
“Make ready for them all you can of armed force and horses tethered that thereby you may dismay the enemy of Allah and your enemy.” [6]
Therefore, it is clear that the prohibition of gambling is not only mentioned in the Qur’an but also supported by the tradition of the Prophet
GAMBLING AS AN OFFENCE PUNISHABLE BY TA’ZIR
Looking to great emphasis and its root of prohibition in the Qur’an and Sunnah, it is no doubt to say that gambling is an offence. However it is not an offence punishable by hadd because it does not fall under any category of hadd crimes. It is in fact an offence punishable by ta’zir.
As it is understood, ta’zir are crimes which punishments have not been fixed by the Qur’an and the Sunnah. However, it is as a whole can be divided into two types:
1. The actions and omissions in which any divine provision (Shariah text) or any principle thereof is violated (ma’siya).
2. The violation of rules regulations and orders of the rules acting as sub-legislative authority; provided that such rules and regulations must not be arbitrary and must be based on the larger interest of the society (maslaha ‘amma). In fact, these rules and regulations should not contravene any Divine provisions.
As far as the offence of gambling is concerned, it falls under the first category which is called ma’siya. Ma’siya is defined as the commission of prohibited acts and the omission of obligatory acts which are mentioned in the Shari’ah text. Thus, any violation of a legal order or prohibition which is not punishable either by a hadd punishment or atonement is considered a ta’zir crime and should be punished by a ta’zir punishment.
JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PROHIBITION
Every society reacts against the behaviour of individuals which infringes upon public interest and it is universally believed that acts which provoke social relations must be punished.
One may ask, Why Islam prohibit gambling? Why gambling is liable under ta’zir punishment? Is the punishment justified?
To answer these questions, a careful study and attention must be given to the nature of gambling itself and effects entail from the act.
Gambling brings about religious, social, moral and economic harm. From the Qura’nic verses that have been discussed before it is clear that gambling entails following evil effects.
First, gambling distracts those who partake the game from the remembrance of Allah and Prayer. When a gambler sits continuously for hours together, he is so absorbed in it that he forgets everything around him; rather he becomes unconscious of his own self. He forgets his household and family’s responsibilities. How then, can be take care of his prayer?
Second, it sows the seeds of disputes and quarrels among the gamblers which ultimately assume the shape of enmity and hatred among them. This point is made clear in the following verse:
“Only Satan sow hatred and strife among you, by wine and games of chance and turn you aside from the remembrance of Allah and from Prayer; Will you not, therefore abstain from them?
Third, the sin of gambling is greater than its benefit. The verse 2: 219 enunciated two invaluable principles namely:
1. Dispelling mischiefs is precedent to acquiring benefits and,
2. The commission of lesser evil is obligatory when the commission of either of the two evils is necessarily essential.
Fourth, it corrupts morals making people sluggish in waiting for providence by whimsical means and giving up activities essential for making earnings viz agriculture, industry, business which are the foundation stone of social living and human prosperity and happiness in this mundane life.
Fifth, it enslaves the gambler who becomes a mute slave in the hands of gambling and seldom succeeds in abandoning it. When he earns some benefit, his greed for gambling increases and when he losses the game, even then his interest in the games of chance increase to make good the loss. In this way, he remains awfully engaged in gambling till he becomes a destitute.
Sixth, it brings about a sudden havoc in the countries due to sheer waste of wealth by losing the game. Finally, it usurps the wealth of towns and transfers it to the band of the mischief mongers within and outside the country. Thus, gambling is a root cause of innumerable economic evils reducing many rich people to destitution and ultimately forcing them to commit suicide.
From the wording of the Qura’nic verse (2219), Allah has mentioned that there exist benefit (manfa’a) in gambling and wine drinking (khamr). However, the mundane benefits of gambling as compared with its great harm and ruinous complexities are mere whimsical benefits. Some of petty benefits of gambling are:
1. It gives some transitory pleasure to the winning gambler, for this pleasure is followed by grief as a reaction, when he suffers loss’ by gambling.
2. It promises munificence to the poor just as people winning lottery, a form of gambling build asylums and hospitals and do other good works. But the fact is that the wealth acquired by unlawful means and spent on good works have no reward because Allah is Pure and He accepts only pure things. The same thing is true about gambling or lottery for it brings about a benefit to a very small group of people and causes a crushing loss to the majority of them.
3. It makes a destitute a rich man all of a sudden without any toil and in the next moment reduces a rich man to a destitute.
In short, all the benefits of gambling enumerated above are imaginary and whimsical whereas its harms are real. When the gambler spends his wealth for a fancied profit and when a person wastes his hard earned money for the fancied things having no existence, he corrupts his thinking and weakens his reason. Gambling has forced a large number of gamblers to commit suicide and made them content with living a life of humiliation and abjection.
July 28, 2014
Philippines introduces new online gambling regulations
A Philippine legislator has proposed to introduce a new bill in the country to strengthen the protection for minors accessing online gambling.
Samuel Pagdilao a former policeman and now party legislator in the Philippines has introduced Bill 4540 which seeks to monitor online gambling and protect minors from “the pernicious effects of gambling.” Said Pagdilao.
The introduction of the Internet has had a great impact on the ways people could participate in gambling, according to Pagdilao.
“People are no longer bound to physical locations and are able to face their bets from within their own homes,” Pagdilao said.
The Bill would seek to punish any licensed online gambling operator who fails to stop underage gambling on their site with a prison term of 5 to 10 years in prison and or a fine of $115,000 to $230,000.
There would also be a penalty for any adult enticing a minor to gamble online of 5 years to 10 years in prison and or a fine of $2,000.
Samuel Pagdilao a former policeman and now party legislator in the Philippines has introduced Bill 4540 which seeks to monitor online gambling and protect minors from “the pernicious effects of gambling.” Said Pagdilao.
The introduction of the Internet has had a great impact on the ways people could participate in gambling, according to Pagdilao.
“People are no longer bound to physical locations and are able to face their bets from within their own homes,” Pagdilao said.
The Bill would seek to punish any licensed online gambling operator who fails to stop underage gambling on their site with a prison term of 5 to 10 years in prison and or a fine of $115,000 to $230,000.
There would also be a penalty for any adult enticing a minor to gamble online of 5 years to 10 years in prison and or a fine of $2,000.
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