By Daybi Sh. Ahmed

Introduction

Gambling involves betting money or valuables on uncertain outcomes, such as casinos, sports betting, or lotteries. While some see it as entertainment, others recognize its dangers, including addiction and financial ruin. Globally, attitudes vary—some nations embrace it, while others impose strict regulations. In Somali society, gambling is strictly prohibited due to cultural and religious beliefs.

In America, gambling addiction is a growing crisis, leading to financial ruin, emotional distress, and broken families. Many gamblers fall into debt, lose jobs, or resort to crime. The addiction fuels depression and isolation, with workplaces also suffering. Tragically, gambling-related suicide is a global issue, with studies estimating around 20 million people worldwide take their own lives each year due to financial and psychological despair. for instance

As we all know, every Muslim has a religious obligation, as stated in the Noble Qur’an:

“You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah.” (Surah Anal-Imran, 110)

Allah (SWT) declares in His Noble Qur’an:

كنتم خير أمة أخرجت للناس تامرون بالمعروف وتنهون عن المنكر وتؤمنون بالله سورة ءال عمران

“You are the best nation brought forth for mankind. You enjoin good, forbid evil, and believe in Allah!”

Therefore, it is our duty to warn our community about the dangers of gambling, which is causing harm and corruption among our people.

We urge our people to recognize the harms and evils that threaten them in order to build a better society. This responsibility falls upon scholars, intellectuals, and Somali leaders—both at home and abroad. Gambling is a widely recognized vice with severe consequences, including economic, moral, religious, and psychological harm. 1XBET is a platform specifically designed for gambling, offering various types of games. In the Somali youths, it is primarily used in three main ways:

Lottery, where an individual bet on the outcome of an event.
Sports betting, where a person places bets on the results of sports matches.

Aircraft betting, where a person places a bet on a plane they are tracking; if the plane crashes, the money they bet is lost. 1XBET is skillfully designed with an algorithm that predicts the losses of gamblers, causing them to lose their wealth. Furthermore, the company collects and stores user data to easily estimate how they can make users lose money, while the program learns the behavior of each gambler and how they play.

Considering the above points, the core question of the discussion is: What does 1XBET have to do with our religion? Is it halal or haram? The Islamic religion clearly opposes gambling, as stated in the Noble Qur’an in two verses.

يسألونك عن الخمر والميسر قل فيهما إثم كبير ومنافع للناس واثمهما أكبر من نفعهما سورة البقرة 21

Allah (SWT) says in His Qur’an, addressing the Prophet (peace be upon him): “They ask you  about Alcohol and gambling. Say, ‘In both of them is great sin is forbidden'” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 21)

اايها الذين ءامنوا إنما الخمر والميسر والانصاب والزلام رجس من عمل الشيطان فاجتنبوه لعلكم تفلحون سورة المائدة 9

Allah (SWT) says in His Noble Qur’an: “O you who have believed, indeed, alcohol, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.” (Surah Al-Ma’idah, 9)

Allah (SWT) says in His Noble Qur’an: “O you who believe! Alcohol and gambling are abominations of Satan’s handiwork. So, avoid them so that you may prosper…!”

Therefore, it is certain that 1XBET is contrary to the path prescribed by our Islamic religion and is haram (forbidden). 1XBET has led Somali youth into economic, social, and moral crises. Many have lost their wealth, leading them to engage in criminal activities such as theft, fraud, and even kidnapping to obtain money for gambling. Numerous people have shared with me distressing stories about the destruction caused by 1XBET.

One shocking case involved a telecommunications company employee who became addicted to gambling. After losing all his money, he noticed that one of the customers’ accounts had funds. In desperation, he accessed the account, withdrew the money, and used it to gamble, intending to return it later. When the company discovered this, he was fired. He protested, arguing that he had already returned the money, failing to realize that his actions were still a serious breach of trust. Another tragic incident involved a man whose mother-in-law entrusted him with money to buy livestock for her business. Instead of fulfilling her request, he gambled the money away, hoping to win more, but ended up losing everything. As a result, his marriage fell apart—his wife left him, and their children suffered the consequences of a broken home.

There are many other heartbreaking stories of individuals who have been trapped by 1XBET. Some young men, after losing their salaries or small businesses to gambling, resorted to borrowing money from friends and family, only to fall into deep debt and social humiliation. Others have stolen from their own households, selling valuable possessions just to have one more chance at winning. Some have even taken extreme measures, such as faking emergencies to deceive relatives into sending them money, which they then use for gambling. Tragically, there are also cases of individuals who, after losing everything, fell into severe depression, with some attempting suicide out of despair. These stories are just a glimpse of the countless tragedies caused by 1XBET. This platform exploits vulnerable individuals, dragging them into financial ruin and moral decline. If left unchecked, it will continue to destroy families and communities, driving more people into desperation and crime.

 The Rule of Somali Telecommunications Companies.

The available information shows that Somali telecommunications companies, such as Hormuud, Golis, Somtel, Telesom and others, are secretly benefiting from the spread of gambling, as its use requires internet access. These companies not only provide the internet services that facilitate gambling but also own the digital money transfer platforms—EVC Plus (Hormuud), Sahal (Golis), and (Telesom) Zaad (Somtel)Edahab—which have become the primary financial channels through which massive amounts of money are funneled into gambling, completely unregulated.

These corporations are directly enabling the destructive impact of 1XBET and other gambling platforms, profiting at the expense of the Somali people, especially the vulnerable youth. By allowing their networks to be used for such exploitative activities, they are complicit in the financial ruin, increased crime, and moral corruption spreading through the country. Their silence and inaction suggest either negligence or, worse, a deliberate effort to protect their profits at the cost of societal destruction. Given their influence and control over Somalia’s digital infrastructure, Hormuud, Golis, Somtel, Telesom and their subsidiaries must take immediate action to ban 1XBET and similar gambling platforms. If they fail to do so, they should be held accountable for the economic and social devastation caused by gambling addiction in Somalia. The Somali government must enforce strict regulations preventing these companies from facilitating gambling, and the public must demand that these corporations act responsibly. The time for excuses is over-1XBET and all forms of online gambling must be banned, and those enabling it must be stopped before they cause irreversible damage to the nation.    

The Role of Government at the Federal and State Level

Every government in the world has a fundamental duty to protect the lives, dignity, and financial well-being of its citizens. Governments are entrusted with the responsibility of enacting and enforcing laws that prevent economic exploitation, preserve social order, and uphold the public interest. It is not merely a moral obligation but a legal and constitutional mandate. Another-hand Citizens have an inherent right to expect their government to safeguard them from financial ruin, criminal exploitation, and predatory industries that thrive on societal vulnerabilities. However, the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the Federal Member States (FMS) have utterly failed in this regard. Despite the undeniable evidence of the devastation caused by 1XBET and other gambling platforms, there has been no meaningful legislative action, enforcement mechanism, or regulatory oversight to curb this growing menace. This inaction raises serious concerns about the integrity and priorities of Somali leadership.

The absence of clear laws banning and prosecuting online gambling operators suggests a glaring sign of weak governance, institutional dysfunction, and a lack of commitment to public welfare. The FGS and FMS have repeatedly demonstrated their inability to enact and enforce policies that protect the economic interests of Somali citizens, eroding public trust and undermining the legitimacy of government institutions. Furthermore, the continued presence of 1XBET and similar platforms suggests that some government officials, either within the FGS, FMS, or key regulatory bodies, are benefitting financially from this illicit industry. Whether through direct financial gains, indirect benefits, or political patronage, it is evident that certain actors within the government are complicit in enabling this destructive enterprise. Their failure to act decisively against online gambling raises the question: Are Somalia’s leaders prioritizing private financial interests over public welfare?

To prevent the imminent collapse of Somalia’s social and economic fabric due to unchecked gambling, decisive measures must be taken immediately. The Somali Parliament must pass a comprehensive law that explicitly bans online gambling platforms like 1XBET, criminalizes their operations, and holds telecommunication and financial service providers accountable for facilitating such transactions. The ministries Communications federal and member states level and the Central Bank of Somalia must implement strict oversight mechanisms, compelling Hormuud, Golis, Somtel, Telsom and their financial subsidiaries (EVC Plus, Sahal, and Zaad, Edahab) to immediately block all gambling transactions and platforms.

Furthermore, any public official found to be aiding, abetting, or financially benefiting from online gambling should face legal consequences, including removal from office and prosecution under anti-corruption laws. The government must also launch nationwide awareness campaigns in collaboration with religious scholars, civil society, and law enforcement agencies to expose the dangers of gambling and deter public participation. Somali courts must issue binding rulings against gambling operations, ensuring that violators—whether individuals, companies, or state actors—are prosecuted under national laws. The FGS and FMS must recognize that failure to act will have dire consequences. If the

 Government continues to turn a blind eye to this issue, it risks inciting public outrage, worsening economic instability, and fostering criminal networks that exploit the lack of regulation. If immediate steps are not taken, the consequences will be uncontrollable social unrest, economic devastation, and a further collapse of public trust in government institutions. The time for complacency is over. Somalia does not need gambling; it needs responsible governance, economic stability, and ethical leadership.

Conclusion

1XBET is not a financial opportunity; it is a dangerous trap strategically designed to exploit vulnerable communities, particularly young people. If left unchecked, it will lead to widespread economic collapse, pushing many into extreme poverty. The financial losses incurred through gambling will drive individuals into desperation, resulting in an increase in crimes such as theft, fraud, and even kidnapping. Moreover, families will face immense strain due to financial ruin, leading to marital conflict, domestic instability, and a breakdown of social structures.

To prevent these catastrophic consequences, society must unite in rejecting 1XBET and similar gambling platforms. The government and telecommunications companies have a legal and moral obligation to take decisive action by implementing strict regulations and banning all forms of online gambling. Digital financial service providers must also be held accountable for facilitating gambling transactions and must be compelled to block all links to these platforms. Failure to act now will only allow this problem to grow beyond control, making it nearly impossible to eradicate in the future.

Somalia does not need gambling; it needs a society that upholds cultural values, economic stability, and good governance. Protecting the well-being of the people should be the highest priority of both government institutions and private sector stakeholders. The future of Somalia depends on strong leadership, ethical business practices, and a commitment to shielding the next generation from financial exploitation. It is time for action before it is too late.

Dayib Ahmed
Email: Dayib0658@gmail.com
Dayib is writer, political analyst and WardheerNews contributor.

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Somali version:
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