The Best Online Casinos in Qatar
TLike many countries in Western Asia, Qatar has strict gambling laws that outlaw all forms of gambling. However, like many other cultures in the region, Qataris have enjoyed sports like Camel racing for literally thousands of years. Betting on these races is illegal in Qatar, but many gamblers have historically avoided betting on the camel races because, until 2004, children as young as four, often trafficked from Sudan, were being forced to act as jockeys.
Regardless of the laws on the books, many Qataris still indulge in gambling, albeit illegally. But while the laws might not stop Qataris from indulging in a little bit of gambling amongst themselves, they are effective at preventing an organized gambling industry from forming.
As is always the case when something potentially profitable is prohibited, an illegal gambling market has emerged. That market is, inevitably, controlled by criminal gangs and is a major source of income for organized crime.
Gambling Online
A growing number of Qataris have therefore found that online casinos provide them with a valuable service. Online casinos enable Qataris to not only enjoy gambling in a safe, legal and regulated environment, but it also means they can be certain that they are not in any way responsible for funding criminal activities through their gambling.
There are a huge number of online casinos to choose from today. If this is a whole new world to you, it is worth taking some time to get an idea of what to expect when you start playing. Let’s take a look at the key features of an online casino, and we will then give you four of our favorite online casinos for Qataris.
The Games
It should go without saying that ensuring an online casino has the games that you want to play is one of the most important considerations when you are choosing one. Most online casinos offer the same game types - slot games (which account for the majority of online casino games), blackjack, poker, and video poker.
If you’re really new to all this and aren’t sure what those different games are, we suggest you do a bit of reading beforehand. Alternatively, have a look for some free versions of these games, or an online casino that offers a demo mode to try games out.
Terms & Conditions
No one enjoys reading terms and conditions, but in the case of an online casino, it’s worth at least skimming over them. The terms and conditions will set out the policies and procedures regarding the withdrawal of any winnings, which will be subjected to a brief (~48 hours) holding period before they are released. Make sure that you are happy with the terms and conditions before you even open an account.
Check Out the Welcome Bonuses
Online casinos use welcome bonuses as a way of drawing in new players, and they are very effective. No two casinos have the same welcome bonus, but they mostly take the same form. In general, your first half-dozen or so deposits will earn some kind of bonus. This can take the form of free spins that you can use to play certain games for free, or free credit that is added on to any deposits you make. Many players will start playing with the casino that offers them the best welcome bonus.
Check User Reviews
Reading the experiences of other users will give you a good idea of how reliable the casino is and what kind of experience you can expect to have if you start playing there. Try looking for reviews and user reports on sites like Reddit or an online casino related message board. These are good sources because you can also see how other users respond to and agree or disagree with the review.
The Best Online Casinos
The tips above will help you to assess whether a particular casino is right for you or not, but you need somewhere to start your search. Using Google will, of course, return a plethora of results for you to pore over. Here are four casinos that we think stand head and shoulders above the rest of the crowd.
Yukon Gold Casino
Yukon Gold is one of the most popular online casinos operating today, and for good reason. Their introductory offer is unlike any other we’ve seen - instead of the usual free credit and free spins, Yukon Gold gives new players 125 free chances to hit big jackpots for only $10.
Grand Mondial
The Grand Mondial casino features an impressively diverse and varied library of games, so it’s great for those who want to play different types of games instead of sticking with just one. Like the other casinos on this list, Grand Mondial uses games developed by Microgaming. Microgaming’s name has become a mark of quality; they deliver consistently high-quality titles and power the majority of major online casinos today.
Captain Cooks Casino
Captain Cooks opened way back in 1999, making it one of the longest-running online casinos out there. Over the last 20 years, Captain Cooks has refined their platform and continually improved their service. Today, Captain Cooks is one of the most trusted and reliable online casinos. Their introductory bonus includes 100 free entries into a weekly draw with a multimillion-dollar jackpot.
Zodiac Casino
Zodiac casino embraces an astrological theme, which effectively sets it apart from its rivals. The casino also offers players many more options for depositing and withdrawing money than other similar casinos do.
Their withdrawals are also lightning fast. They’re still legally obliged to hold your money for a short period before releasing it, but we’ve found Zodiac to be significantly faster than many of its competitors.
Qatari citizens aren’t able to gamble legally or safely at casinos within their own country. Online casinos offer Qatari players the opportunity to indulge in gambling in a safe and regulated environment. The range of payment processors that most online casinos offer ensures that you should be able to play online, in spite of local laws.