Online sport betting is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. In 2022, the global online betting sites market size will reach $83.65 billion and the industry is expected to grow by 10.3% in the next year. So, hardly anyone can resist the temptation to engage in online betting – you’ll find online sport betting ads everywhere, in stadiums, on your favorite team’s jerseys, and in ad breaks.
Top Bookmakers For Online Sports Betting
If you are looking for the best betting sites in the Arab Gulf countries? You don’t have to search any further, you have come to the right place! In this guide, we will give you all the information you need to know about online sport betting to be able to bet successfully and get the highest possible winnings. Here we will compare for you all the online betting sites available in the GCC countries, thus, it will be easier for you to pick the best online betting website!
What Features Should Online Betting Sites Have?
Although online sport betting is primarily a fun activity it requires you to use your focus, skills and potential in order to be able to place a successful bet.
The first step on your journey into the world of online sport betting is choosing the right online betting bookmaker. Fortunately, we are here to make the process easy for you and guide you directly to the best online betting sites that accept GCC players and provide them with excellent service. However, if you want to depend on yourself to choose the best online sport betting site, you should keep the following criteria in mind:
- Online sport betting site licensing – Although the Arab Gulf countries do not have licensing committees that monitor and verify online betting sites, there are many legal committees in European countries and the Caribbean islands that monitor virtual gambling companies for compliance with legal standards and licensing requirements, such as the British Gambling Commission, the Curaçao Gaming Control Board, and the Malta Gaming Authority, and many others.
- Offer plenty of bonuses and promotional incentives – Sports bettors need a new bonus every betting session and cannot imagine their betting experience without a good bonus. These offers reduce the cost of betting, minimize the loss risk, and give them an opportunity to bet for a longer period and get higher winnings.
- Customer Service – The online sport betting site must have adequate support service available around the clock and customers are able to get support in Arabic, if not available then English language must be available.
- Comprehensive coverage of sports – It is important that online betting sites cover a wide range of sports and provide many types of betting options with competitive odds to be attractive to Arab punters.
What Are the Most Popular Sports for Arab Bettors?
On average, online betting sites support 30 sports. You can discover the online sport betting options available at any bookmaker through the main menu on the home page.
In terms of popularity, the five most preferred sports in the Arab Gulf countries are:
Football
Football is the most popular sport among all bettors around the world, and it has the highest viewership and the largest crowd attendance. Among the most prominent football tournaments from which you can make huge profits are the World Cup, European Nations, and African Nations. Thus, football has the lion’s share of coverage, depth, betting markets, and bonuses at all online sport betting sites.
Horse Racing
Horse racing is one of the most famous and popular sports among Arab players and players from all over the world in general. This sport provides a lot of excitement and profit for all punters, even the novice. Online sport betting sites also offer many great features for horse racing enthusiasts such as free live streaming for races and the live betting feature.
WWE
Many sports analysts do not consider wrestling a real sport and put it in the category of “exhibition games” or even a “fake sport”, since it does not depend on real competition, but it depends on plots, stories, showy blows, and dazzling displays. However, WWE has many viewers and followers around the world.
Formula 1
Formula 1 is the most important and prominent car race in the world at present. Many Formula races are held in Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco. These races are very popular with fans from all over the world as they include the best, latest, and fastest types of cars and the most skilled drivers in the world.
Boxing
Boxing is the most famous and popular combat sport all over the world. It combines concentration, quick strikes, and maintaining a defensive position at all times to avoid getting hit. Many believe that the boxer who always wins is the strongest boxer, but this is not true. The smartest boxer who can control his emotions is the one who always wins.
Online Sport Betting Basics
Online sport betting sites support a wide range of betting options which can reach hundreds in some of the big matches, but in the beginning, we advise you to focus on these 9 bets only:
Moneyline
The moneyline bet is the most favorite online sport betting option for beginner punters because it is very simple and straightforward. In this bet, you only determine the winner of the match, and you are not required to determine anything else.
Point Spread Bet
In Spread Point bets, online sport betting sites determine the “favourite” and “underdog” team in each match. After that, the site calculates a margin of points called (Spread), and it is intended to balance the difference between the two opponents.
If you place a Spread Point bet, the strong team must outperform its opponent by the number of points or goals specified.
Handicap
Handicap bets work very similar to Point Spread bets. The only difference between them is that the Point Spread bet targets a limited difference between the strong and the underdog team, while the Handicap bet targets a wide difference between them.
Totals or Over/Under
Totals or over/under betting is one of the most popular types of online sport betting. In this bet you do not determine the winner of the match, but rather you set a specific target total and predict that the score will be higher or lower than that total. You can place an over/under bet on the total score of the match, a specific team, a group of players, or even a single player!
Popular payment methods in the Arab world
Nowadays, there are a lot of payment methods available which Arab players use to make their money transactions quickly and easily at reliable and licensed sports betting sites. In the following section, we will give a quick overview of the most prominent financial means that you can use in Arab sports betting sites:
Bank cards
Bank cards are the most widely used and easiest payment method in the world. You can rely on bank cards to carry out your transactions in all the reliable sports betting sites that we recommend to you. There are many forms of bank cards, including prepaid cards, credit cards, and direct debit cards.
e-wallets
E-wallets give you a higher level of security, and better speed in processing financial transactions, as well as they are easy to use and come with applications that you can download on your smartphone or tablet easily.
Cryptocurrencies
You can make your transactions in many sports betting sites using Bitcoin or altcoin such as Tether, Ethereum, Litecoin, and many other cryptocurrencies.
Best Online Betting Sites for GCC Punters
Currently, there are more than 10,000 online sport betting sites on the scene, and these sites compete to satisfy players by covering both high-profile and less-known sports, offering the largest possible number of features, and giving players many generous incentives. However, you will not have enough time to get acquainted with all the available sites, so in the next part, we will give you a quick rundown of the best online sport betting sites that you can play at. Also, you can take a look at our detailed comparisons to get more info about the best online sport betting sites available for GCC punters.
YYY Sports – Overall Best Online Sport Betting Site!
About the Site
It is a comprehensive online sport betting site that offers both casino games and online sport betting options and has a wide range of great features that it is very rare to find all available in one portal. YYY Sports supports a wide range of sports including football, basketball, handball, and eSports. The site also fully supports the Arabic language, where you can browse the site in your native language and communicate with customer service also in Arabic. The customer service available here is excellent and is available 24/7, and you can communicate with the support team via live chat, email, and phone calls as well.
Advantages
- Lots of betting markets
- Excellent diversification of payment methods
- Fully Arabized platform
- Available to play on smartphones and tablets
- A special welcome bonus
- Lots of loyalty offers
Applications
Although YYY Sports does not offer apps available for download on smartphones and tablets, players can rely on the web-based platform to easily place their bets.
Payment Methods
Bank cards, bank wallets, cryptocurrencies, and bank transfer
Betfinal – The best Arabic Online Sport Betting Site
About the Site
Betfinal is a site owned by Final Enterprises based in Curaçao, this company was founded in 2013 and launched Betfinal in the same year and holds a Curaçao license and is now seeking Gibraltar and Malta licenses, this company has a small team but has great skills and passion towards technology and online gambling.
The strategy of this company is to expand in markets that are usually neglected by online sport betting sites, such as the Middle East market and the Arab Gulf countries such as Kuwait and Qatar. Betfinal has already achieved great success in these markets, as the proportion of Kuwaiti players on the site has reached 42%, while the percentage of Turkish players is 11.7%.
Advantages
- Supports the Arabic language
- Flexible and easy-to-use platform
- +30 sports games available
- Customer service working around the clock
Applications
Although Betfinal has been on the scene for over a decade they haven’t developed an app available for download yet. However, you can easily access its platform using Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or any other browser you prefer to use.
Payment Methods
Bank cards, e-wallets, bank transfers, and cryptocurrencies
Rabona – The best Basketball Betting Site
About the site
Although Rabona isn’t the absolute best online sport betting site for Arab bettors, it has plenty of features that punch well above its weight – especially if you’re looking for a basketball online sport betting site. This site offers excellent MLS coverage, but that’s not all as you will also find plenty of leagues to bet on from all over the world. In addition, you will find plenty of live betting options even on smaller tournaments around the world.
Advantages
- Large selection of betting options
- Lots of payment methods
- Supports the Arabic language
- A special section for virtual sports
- Great live betting platform
Applications
Unlike YYY Sports and Betfinal, Rabona offers apps available for download on both Android and iOS devices. In addition, you can access the platform also using a browser.
Payment Methods
Bank cards, e-wallets, bank transfer, and cryptocurrencies
Zodiacbet – In-depth Coverage of World Football
About the Site
Although Zodiacbet is a completely new online sport betting site on the scene, it is a popular choice for sports bettors from the Arab Gulf countries. This site is especially popular among football fans due to its exceptional football coverage. Here you will be able to bet on all the world, regional and local football tournaments. All leagues and cups are covered in depth. Besides football, you will be able to bet on basketball, handball, swimming, boxing, wrestling, and even politics and the weather. Here you will also find a special section for betting on esports and virtual sports.
Advantages
- Supports a wide range of sports
- Top notch rewards
- Platform compatible with mobile devices and smartphones
- Lots of great rewards
- Flexible layout
Applications
Unfortunately, ZodiacBet does not offer apps available for download, but they do offer a lite browser-based app.
payment methods
Bank cards, e-wallets, bank transfer, and cryptocurrencies
1xbet – the Favorite Online Sport Betting Site for Arab Bettors
About the site
1xbet is highly reliable as it is licensed by the Curaçao Commission and is secured and protected by NetNanny and Cyber Patrol software. It also fully supports the Arabic language and its players can communicate with customer service representatives in Arabic.
The site supports more than 50 international sports, in addition to providing live stream for all local and international matches.
1xbet also reaches the quality of the gaming experience to the highest levels of quality by providing an excellent customer service team, and suitable financial options for players in all countries of the world.
This site also supports a wide range of payment methods that you can use to conduct your financial transactions, including bank cards, e-wallets, and cryptocurrencies.
Advantages
- +50 sports games available
- Supports a lot of payment methods
- Great rewards
- Available for use on both smartphones and tablets
- Easy-to-use platform
- Licensed by the Curaçao Gaming Control Board
Applications
Unfortunately, ZodiacBet does not offer apps available for download, but they do offer a lite browser-based app.
payment methods
Bank cards, e-wallets, bank transfers, and cryptocurrencies
Betwinner – Online Sport Betting Site Suitable for All Arab Bettors
About the site
Betwinner is one of the largest online sport betting sites in the world. It offers all the lucrative entertainment options from online sport betting, online casino games, and live casino games, right down to lotteries and scratch cards. Betwinner has unparalleled customer service. The rewards it offers are great, balanced and suit the tastes and tendencies of all players, so you will always be able to find rewards and offers that suit your way and style of play! BetWinner gives you the ability to make your deposits and withdrawals using a wide range of payment methods available in Arab countries, like bank cards, e-wallets, and cryptocurrency.
Betwinner is licensed by the Curaçao Gaming Control Board which is one of the largest licensing bodies and committees that monitor online casinos and online betting sites, and the presence of its seal on any site indicates the high reliability of this site. Betwinner also protects its clients’ financial data using SSL-256 encryption, which is the strongest encryption in the industry for securing online financial transactions.
Advantages
- Offers an abundance of online sport betting options
- Supports the Arabic language
- Customer service available around the clock
- Protected by SSL protocol
Applications
Although Betwinner does not offer downloadable applications, casino players will be able to access its platform using any browser without the need to download any additional application.
Payment Methods
Bank cards, e-wallets, bank transfers, and cryptocurrencies
Shangri La – Best Online Sport Betting Site in Terms of Promotions
About the Site
There are a few hallmarks of a good betting site and we think Shangri La captures most of them. This site supports a wide range of sports including football, basketball, baseball, tennis, badminton, and many others sports. Players participating in this bookmaker can conduct their transactions using a wide range of payment methods including bank cards and e-wallets. Like most of the Arabic online betting sites available on this list, you can make your deposits and withdrawals using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as well.
Advantages
- Supports a wide range of sports
- Customer service available around the clock
- Multiple payment methods
- Compatible with smart devices
Applications
ShangriLa offers an easy-to-use app that is available for download on Android devices, but it does not offer a similar app for iOS devices.
Payment Methods
Unlike other online betting sites available on this list, Shangri La only supports Bitcoin. Other most popular payment methods include credit/debit cards, and e-wallets such as Neteller and Skrill.
Mega Pari – An excellent site for all Arab bettors
About the Site
Megapari is a relatively new online sport betting site on the scene, however, this site has a lot of great features as it offers more than 60,000 events that you can bet on, and this platform covers more than 45 sports games and dozens of leagues and leagues from all over the world. This site has a valid license from the Curaçao Gaming Control Board.
Advantages
- Supports more than 30 sports games
- Customer service is always available
- Accepts a wide range of payment methods
- Easy to use
- Flexible and intuitive platform
Applications
Fans of playing games via smartphones can enjoy access to the MegaPari platform with three options, namely downloading the iOS application, downloading the Android application, or accessing the site directly using the browser.
Payment Methods
Megapari is an excellent site for all cryptocurrency users as the transaction processing fee here is 0%. Moreover, the site covers network fees for all currencies and supports a huge range of cryptocurrencies as well.
MelBet – an Excellent Site for All Arab bettors
Although MelBet is a relatively new online sport betting site on the scene, it already has a lot of great features that any Arabic bettor would be looking for. This site supports a wide range of sports, including football, basketball, handball, and cricket. The site also offers a section
Except for the excellent sportsbook, Melbet also provides a rich casino section that features slot games and live dealer games from different providers. Each game has a demo version so you can try it out before you start placing real money bets on the site.
Advantages
- Supports more than 30 sports games
- Applications are available for download
- Lots of great rewards
- Lots of great betting features
Applications
MelBet fans can access the platform through the iOS or Android application, or by entering the website platform directly through a browser.
Payment Methods
Melbet supports a wide range of payment methods, including bank cards, e-wallets, and cryptocurrencies. All transactions are done here without any fees and in a very fast time.
888Sport – Bookmaker Operated by the Largest Gambling Company in the World
888Sport is a huge name in the world of online gambling. This site belongs to a well-known company, 888, which owns 888 Casino, 777 Casino, and the well-known 888 poker network as well. Although this site does not support the Arabic language, it is very easy to use and you can access it using any browser you prefer to use. 888Sport covers more than 30 sports including Football, Handball, Tennis, Horse Racing, Formula 1, and many more.
Advantages
- Operated by a globally known gambling company
- Supports a wide range of sports
- Supports fiat and cryptocurrencies
- Easy to use platform
- Compatible with all smart devices
Applications
Although 888Sport does not have apps available for download, players can access the browser-based platform using any browser with ease.
Payment Methods
888Sport customers can conduct their payment methods using both bank cards, e-wallets, and prepaid cards. However, the site does not support cryptocurrencies at this time.
Betway – A Great Platform for Virtual Sports Betting
Betway is a huge name in the online sport betting world as it was launched in the year 2006 and holds the licenses of many agencies and statutory commissions, on top of which is the British Gambling Commission.
Here you will find a wide range of sports that you can bet on which includes football, basketball, handball, and also eSports where you can bet on CS:GO and Volarant. Moreover, you can also enjoy betting on any of these available sports using the impressive live streaming feature.
Advantages
- Exceptional coverage of eSports and virtual sports
- Excellent platform for live betting
- Lots of sports available
- Easy-to-use platform
- Covers hundreds of betting markets
Applications
Betway players can enjoy access to the platform by downloading the application on their Android or iPhone devices, or by accessing the platform easily using any application they prefer to use.
Payment Methods
Bitway only supports bank cards, e-wallets, prepaid cards and bank transfer at the moment.
22Bet – Best for High Betting Odds
22Bet is an excellent gambling site for all gamblers in general as it not only supports online sport betting but also offers a great selection of casino games. Here you will find more than 30 sports that you can always bet on and they include football, basketball, handball, wrestling, and many more sports as well.
Advantages
- Covers all sports
- Supports both popular and lesser-known sports
- User-friendly website
- Available to all sports bettors
- User-friendly website
Applications
Although the site does not offer applications available for download, it offers an easy-to-use platform that is compatible with all smartphones and tablets.
Payment Methods
This site supports both bank cards, prepaid cards, cryptocurrencies, and other payment methods as well.
Features of Online Betting Sites
Now that we have provided you with a list of the best online betting sites that are available for punters from Arab Gulf countries, it is time to discuss the most important features that these sites enjoy. In the next section, we will discuss the most important features of each online sport betting site separately, so that you can choose the one that fully suits your preferences:
Sports & Leagues Available
On average, online sport betting sites support a range of 30 to 50 sports. However, the number of sports and coverage should not be what you are looking for mainly, rather you should choose the site that supports your favorite sports.
For example, if you prefer to bet on Overwatch, you should look for a site that offers premium coverage of the game’s competitions and has a good selection of straight bets, accumulator bets, and other options. Fortunately, you can easily check out the available sports and leagues at an online sport betting site before signing up – all you have to do is go to the homepage and browse through the list of available sports. Then, click on the tab for your favorite sport and see which leagues and tournaments you can bet on.
Markets and types of bets available
Online betting sites must cover the most popular betting markets such as: (Single Bet, Double Bet, ACCA Bet, Asian Handicap, European Handicap, Money-Line Bets, Total-Line Bets, and Paraly Bets).
The single bet on the outcome is the easiest and also the most popular type of bet available. However, professional bettors look for the more complex bets as they give them higher payouts, especially when combined into one accumulator bet.
Additional features offered by online betting sites
Reliable online betting sites should offer additional features like early cashback, live bet, sell bet feature, bet builder, free live stream and many more as well.
Understand the Betting Odds in Online Sport Betting
One of the most important things you need to understand in order to win at online sport betting is how to read the odds for an event.
Online sport betting sites use 3 main ways to express odds (decimal, fractional, and American)
In American odds, the symbol (-) indicates that this bet has high odds, while the symbol (+) indicates that this bet has lower odds. The negative and positive numbers indicate the size of the bet you must place in order to win $100.
Decimal odds are the easiest way to find out your odds of winning without using a calculator.
As for fractional odds, they consist of two numbers. On the right is the number you should bet on, and on the left is the expected profit value.
How to Start Betting From the Arab Gulf Countries?
To start betting easily in the Arab Gulf countries, all you need is to choose one of the sites that we recommended to you on this page, after that you have to subscribe by creating a new account and making your first deposit to get your welcome bonus.
After completing this process, you will be able to bet on any of the available sports easily. In the beginning, you have to choose simple bets such as betting on the outcome of the match or betting on the final result.
What Makes You Bet on Sports, Even if You’re Still a Beginner?
Although beginners may not make as big profits as professional bettors, you will be able to multiply your winning potential thanks to the available bonuses, free bets, and many other bonuses as well. In addition, you can recover your losses thanks to the cashback bonuses offered by all the online sport betting sites we have recommended to you on this page.
Is It Legal to Bet From the Arab Gulf Countries?
Yes, you can bet from the Arab Gulf countries completely safely! However, for more security, you can use a VPN and choose a licensed site from the ones we have recommended for you here. In addition, you can conduct your transactions using one of the cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arabic Online Sport Betting Sites
Can I access online betting sites using my smartphone?
Yes, online sport betting sites have developed an HTML5 platform that works on smartphones and tablets without technical problems. Thus, you can access it from your phone’s browser and enjoy all its games or bet on different sports.
Can I choose a different withdrawal method than the one I used to deposit?
A player cannot withdraw his winnings using a different method than the one he used for the deposit.
Is there any cost to watch live sports streams?
There is no cost to watch sports live streams at online sport betting sites. However, it is required that the player has placed a bet within the last 24 hours, and only has a balance in his account.
What payment methods are available at online betting sites?
Online sport betting sites accept bank cards, debit cards, and cryptocurrencies as well.
How can I bet on sports?
All you have to do is select the match you want to bet on, then choose one of the betting markets, enter the bet amount and agree to the process!