The Criminal Nature of Online Lottery in Iranian Law: From Electronic Gambling to Modern Fraud
Keywords:
online lottery, electronic gambling, modern fraud, cybercrimeAbstract
The growth of modern communication technologies and the expansion of the internet have created the conditions for new forms of lottery and gambling, among which “online lottery” is one of the most prominent. This phenomenon, due to its dual nature, lies at the intersection of electronic gambling and modern fraud and has caused serious challenges in Iran’s criminal law system. On one hand, many instances of online lottery can be interpreted as gambling offenses, which have been explicitly criminalized under Iranian penal provisions; on the other hand, the advertising structure and deceptive methods used to lure participants make it similar to internet fraud. In this article, the concept and dimensions of the online lottery are first explained, followed by an examination of its legal status under Iranian law. Additionally, through a comparative study of the criminal policies of other countries and an analysis of existing legislative gaps, the research attempts to provide a clear framework for determining the criminal nature of this phenomenon. The primary aim of the study is to answer whether the current criminal law of Iran can effectively identify and address online lotteries or if there is a need for reform and new legislation. The research method is descriptive-analytical, relying on library resources and both domestic and international legislative documents.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Peyman Rostami, Mohammad Jafar Saed, Mohsen Rahami (Author)
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