In July 2024 the Communications Authority of Maldives (CAM) began blocking online betting websites on orders from the police. CAM's chief executive confirmed the action but did not say how many sites were affected; a senior police officer said three to four had been identified and blocked. Local reporting said betting sites were widely promoted through Telegram and social media.
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The Communications Authority of Maldives (CAM) has started blocking online betting websites, The Edition reported on 10 July 20241.
What happened
CAM Chief Executive Ilyas Ahmed confirmed that the authority was blocking online betting sites on orders from the police. He did not disclose how many sites had been blocked1.
Maldives Voice reported that, according to an Assistant Commissioner of Police, three to four sites had been identified and blocked2.
Sun Online quoted the police as saying they had asked CAM to block three to four sites at that stage3.
Why the police acted
Reports described online betting as a growing trend. The Edition said betting had become increasingly prevalent in the Maldives, with sites promoted through Telegram and social media1.
Sun Online reported that betting and gambling had become increasingly common among young people, with links shared on social media and Telegram. It also noted that Islamic principles prohibit games involving wagers and gambling3.
A familiar approach
The blocking follows CAM's earlier move to restrict access to pornographic websites, which began in late 20231. Maldives Voice described both steps as part of a broader effort to regulate online content2.
What followed
Blocking was the first step. In coverage published on 31 October 2024, Attorney General Ahmed Usham said the government would amend the law to ban online gambling4, and in December 2025 the government submitted a bill to make gambling a criminal offence5.
Banks have taken their own measures too. Bank of Maldives had said in 2020 that it was disabling its cards on gambling, online trading and cryptocurrency websites6.
Blocking restricts access to specific websites; it does not itself set out an offence or penalties. For the legal detail, see Maldives casino laws. For the risks of offshore gambling sites, see online casinos and the Maldives.
Sources
This information is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Laws, enforcement practice and platform availability change. Verify the current position with official Maldivian sources before relying on anything you read here.