Fatwa

Working as software engineer in a betting company

Fatwa #1226 Category: Business & Trade Country: India Date: 24th October 2024
Fatwa #1226 Date: 24th October 2024
Category: Business & Trade
Country: India

Question

There is a software company which develops betting games like poker, casino etc. where people bet and win or lose.

a)Is it permissible to work as a software engineer in this company? I may be working in a team which develops one of these games. I will not be playing these games just developing these games

b)Is it permissible to work in other teams where core game development is not being done but development on other CRM marketing software is being done?.This marketing software also sends marketing messages on emails/sms related to the core gaming product which will encourage the customers to come and play their games by giving them some discounts/promos etc.

The main source of income for this company looks like it is coming from betting only i.e taking a commission when players bet. I am not aware of other sources of income if there are any.

One thing to mention here is players have the option to bet or just play with virtual coins. When these players play with these virtual coins no real money is involved in these scenarios. so these games can also be played without money if user wishes.

So i wanted to know if the income would be halal or makruh or haram in these scenarios?

 

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Your concern regarding your source of income is commendable and a sign of your Imaani conscious.

Gambling is explicitly prohibited in the Holy Quran. Almighty Allah says,

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَا أَكْبَرُ مِنْ نَفْعِهِمَا (البقرة: 219)

Translation: “They ask you regarding wine and gambling. Say (O Prophet), in it is great sin and some benefit for the people. And its sin is greater than its benefit.”

It is not permissible to assist others in committing sin. Due to this, it is neither permissible to work on the betting game itself nor on the marketing aspect of it.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Bilal Pandor

Concurred by
Mufti Muhammad Patel

Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia

www.daruliftaazambia.com