Are Lottery Tickets and Arcade Games Haram in Islam?
We’re surrounded by activities that may seem harmless – buying a lottery ticket or playing arcade games to win prizes. These may appear to be just fun and games, but how should a Muslim approach these forms of entertainment?
Gambling is clearly prohibited in Islam
Allah ﷻ says in the Qur’an:
“O you who believe! Intoxicants, gambling, sacrificing to stones, and divination with arrows are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork. So avoid them that you may be successful.”
Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:90)
The word used for gambling is maysir, which refers to games of chance in which one person’s gain comes at another’s loss. This includes activities where money is risked for the chance of a prize with no guarantee of return. These are not only discouraged; they are called filthy acts from Shayṭan and something believers must avoid altogether.
Why gambling is harmful to society
Gambling in any form causes harm, especially to the most vulnerable in society.
- Addiction: Gambling is highly addictive. People become attached to the hope of winning, chasing losses, and spending money they cannot afford.
- Exploitation of the poor: Studies consistently show that gambling targets and affects low-income communities the most. Those with the least often spend the most, hoping for a financial miracle.
- Undermines hard work: Islam teaches us to earn through honest means. Gambling encourages a mindset of quick gain without effort, which weakens personal discipline and productivity.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“A time will come upon the people when they will not care about how they get their money, whether it is halal or haram.”
(Bukhari)
Buying lottery tickets
The cost of lottery addiction goes far beyond the price of a ticket. While each ticket may seem inexpensive, the cumulative financial impact can be devastating, especially for those from low-income households who are most drawn to the hope of a life-changing win. Studies have shown that habitual lottery players can spend hundreds, even thousands, of pounds or dollars each year, often at the expense of essentials like food, bills, or savings. This financial strain frequently leads to anxiety, debt, and broken families. Moreover, lottery addiction fosters a dangerous illusion of success without effort, discouraging personal development, work ethic, and long-term planning. It traps people in a cycle of false hope, draining both their wealth and their well-being.
What about arcade games and hoop toss?
Arcade machines and carnival-style games are widely popular, but their permissibility depends on the type of game and the underlying structure.
- If the game is purely skill-based (like racing or football simulators), does not involve money or prizes, and is played for entertainment, then it is generally permissible, provided it does not distract from obligations or lead to wastefulness.
- However, when money is paid to play a game of chance (e.g., claw machines, spin-the-wheel, hoop toss for prizes), it resembles gambling:
- The outcome is uncertain.
- The prize is not guaranteed.
- The payment is made for the hope of gain.
Even hoop toss games, if they involve paying money for a chance at a prize are considered a form of gambling unless the outcome is fairly based on skill, and the game is not exploitative or designed to make most people lose. Many carnival games are subtly rigged, blurring the line between skill and deception. In such cases, it becomes best to avoid them.
As with all doubtful matters, the Prophet ﷺ advised:
“Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt.”
(Tirmidhi)
What starts off looking like fun and games can in fact be sinful, though it is disguised as entertainment.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“What is lawful is clear, and what is unlawful is clear, but between them are matters that are doubtful, which many people do not know. Whoever avoids the doubtful has protected his religion and his honour.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
The wise believer seeks to protect themselves even from the grey areas.
Lotteries, and most prize-based arcade games fall under the category of gambling, and are therefore haram in Islam. Even if society normalises these practices, the believer is called to a higher standard, one that protects their wealth, their soul, and their society.
Is it permissible to take lottery funding for charitable projects?
There is a minority scholarly opinion that permits accepting lottery funding for charitable causes, with strict conditions. This view is based on the distinction between earning haram wealth versus benefiting from haram wealth that was not personally acquired through sin.
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The sin lies with the one who participates in the lottery, not the one who receives the funds
There is an opinion that once the money is separated from the gambler, is no longer in their ownership, and its sinful acquisition is not transferred to the recipient. A charitable organisation or project did not commit the sin of gambling and is not encouraging it directly. -
It’s similar to wealth left behind by a deceased person who earned haram income
Some classical scholars allowed such wealth to be used in public benefit projects (e.g. fixing roads or building public restrooms), because the taint of sin is not on the item itself, but on how it was obtained. -
Public lottery funding is often state-distributed
In many countries, lottery proceeds are collected by a government body and then allocated to a wide range of social and community programmes, including schools, libraries, and charities. The recipient does not usually apply to or deal directly with a gambling company. Rather, it is state-controlled funding from a general pool of resources.
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The money must not come with strings attached that promote or advertise gambling.
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The charity must not apply in a way that encourages gambling or normalises it within the community.
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Transparency must be maintained with donors and the community.
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It is preferable that such funds are used for public services (e.g. roads, sanitation, shelters) rather than acts of worship like building a masjid.
Even though this is not the ideal source of funding, and it should not become a regular or preferred method. Accepting such funds may affect the reputation of a charity in the eyes of its supporters.
Shaykh Haytham Tamim 4th June 2025