Casino in Israel — What Exists, What Doesn't, and Where Israelis Travel

Proposals to build a casino in Eilat have come up repeatedly since the 1990s — as an engine for tourism and jobs — and have been rejected each time for social, political and religious reasons, and out of concern for addiction harm. As of today there is no law permitting casino operation in Israel, so there is no casino in Eilat and no casino in any other Israeli city.

Limassol hosts the largest integrated casino on the island, alongside satellite casinos in Ayia Napa, Paphos and Larnaca. The flight from Israel is short, making it the most popular destination. Full details — prices, entry age, dress code and games — on our Cyprus casinos page.

The San Remo Casino in Italy is one of the oldest in Europe — everything about it is on our San Remo page. Other nearby options: Batumi in Georgia, Greece, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Malta. A full "is there a casino in…" list lives on our casino destinations page.

In the past, ships sailed from Israeli ports into international waters and operated tables out at sea. This activity was stopped due to enforcement and regulation. Today, casino access for Israelis is mainly available on international cruises departing from ports abroad.

Only the national lottery (Mifal HaPayis) and the sports betting council are regulated. Full details on our gambling legality page. Social card games and virtual-currency play are a different category — for example free poker and the Israeli club on ClubGG, where you play against other players in a closed community with Hebrew support.

Dress code at European casinos is usually smart casual; a passport is required for entry; minimum age is 18 or 21 depending on the country; currency conversion and local withdrawal fees; and cash declaration limits at customs. It's worth setting a budget in advance — see responsible gambling and house edge.