Taliban leaders in Afghanistan have banned chess in the country over concerns the game is a source of gambling. Under the government’s morality law, all forms of gambling are illegal and chess is the latest pastime to come under scrutiny.
Sports directorate spokesperson Atal Mashwani announced that,
“Chess in sharia (Islamic law) is considered a means of gambling. There are religious considerations regarding the sport of chess. Until these considerations are addressed, the sport of chess is suspended in Afghanistan.”
The group has been in power since 2021 and is gradually implementing more stringent laws in line with strict religious beliefs.
Gambling in Afghanistan
Global gambling statistics indicate the Middle East has very limited betting compared to Europe, North America and East Asian countries. Under the Taliban rule, gambling on any sports, casinos, or lotteries is strictly prohibited in Afghanistan. Engaging in gambling activities can lead to severe penalties, such as fines, imprisonment and even flogging.
The Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice announced they had arrested 6 men on gambling charges in January this year, but the men were later released on bail.
According to Afghan Witness, a project that details abuses in the country, over 400 people a year receive forms of physical punishment for crimes including gambling. The most common form is flogging, but the country also approves stoning to death and limb amputation.
Other Tali-bans
The country has also banned cryptocurrencies for their association with gambling. In countries with strict bans on gambling, crypto sports betting sites offer users a way to avoid detection through increased anonymity.
However, only about 7% to 10% of Afghanistan’s population has access to the internet, so online betting in the country is highly limited. Bettors would be taking a massive gamble to incur the wrath of the Taliban just to put on a bet.
Prior to banning chess, authorities also prohibited free fighting such as mixed martial arts (MMA) in professional competition, saying it was too “violent” and “problematic with respect to sharia”. “It was found that the sport is problematic with respect to Sharia and it has many aspects which are contradictory to the teachings of Islam,” a Taliban spokesperson said last August.
Women have also been essentially banned from competing in sports altogether.
Ban on chess will hurt businesses
One cafe owner in Kabul, who has hosted informal chess competitions in recent years, said he would respect the decision but it would hurt his business.
“Young people don’t have a lot of activities these days, so many came here everyday,” Azizullah Gulzada said.
“They would have a cup of tea and challenge their friends to a game of chess.”
He also noted that chess is played in other Muslim-majority countries. A Taliban official on May 11 said a decision will be made on the possible resumption of chess under the country’s sports department, but no time frame was given.
Adam is an experienced writer with years of experience in the gambling industry. He has worked as a content writer and editor for five years on sites such as Oddschecker, CoinTelegraph and Gambling Industry News, bringing excellent knowledge of the world of sports betting and online gambling. Adam focuses on emerging stories in the ever changing landscape of betting in the US. Read the latest on prediction markets, changing legislation, and sweepstakes.
