JESUS ECA via Unsplash
Morocco’s beautiful, diverse nation is situated on the northeast coast of Africa, with 34 million people. Despite having an annual per capita PPP GDP of around $7,600, Morocco has made significant progress in development and quality of life; recently ranking first among African countries for quality of life and currently holding fourth place overall.
Despite Morocco’s Islamic majority and the political transformation that took place during the ‘Arab Spring’ in which their government embraced Islamism more firmly, this country continues to boom as far as its gambling scene goes. Their poker hand culture stands out amongst other Muslim-majority countries for being unique.
When considering gambling and Morocco, it’s hard not to think of the iconic 1942 movie Casablanca starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Set in a remarkable nightclub casino located in the port city of Casablanca, this renowned film illustrates that despite its majority Muslim population (99%) condemning “maisir” or gambling via Islamic texts, there are no legal limitations whatsoever for either land-based or online gaming.
Consequently, Morocco is an iconic gambling spot in Africa that European tourists flock to yearly. The most popular casino stands at the Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort in El Jadida. Amongst these hotspots for gamblers, Agadir holds a record with its three casinos!
Famous Moroccan Poker Players
William Kokan, hailing from Casablanca, Morrocco, and now residing in Florida, has earned himself an impressive $1.045 million on Hendon’s all-time Moroccan money list for live tournament winnings. His most notable success was his gold bracelet victory at the 2015 WSOP $1,500 Limit Hold’em event, which netted him a whopping $196,055–the largest single cash prize of his career!
In second place is Anas Tadini, who has earned a total of $764,659 in his career. His biggest live tourney win was an impressive sum–$105,954–obtained at the Mazagan Resort in December 2011. Additionally, two players playing under the aliases “bibichov1989” and “CasablancAA” have achieved remarkable success on virtual felt tables. They’ve gathered around them respective sums of approximately $318K and 385K from online MTT tournaments hosted by various poker odds sites located within Morocco’s borders.
Live Poker Legislation in Morocco
Unfortunately, authorities in Morocco have yet to implement any laws or regulations controlling gambling within the country. As a result, no governing body one can turn to for licensing needs. Without much oversight and enforcement of rules, it has become more like a “free-for-all” situation when discussing gambling activities in Morocco.
Live Poker Venues in Morocco
The Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort in El Jadida has a casino room specified on their website. To exemplify this point, the €11,000 Mazagan10 High Roller NLHE event was held in September 2016! But when it comes to notable straight-flush events, Casino de Marrakech is undoubtedly at the top of Morocco’s pile.
Twice in 2019 and once early this year, Casino de Marrakech was honored to be chosen as the home of the World Series of Poker International Circuit. With buy-ins ranging from AED2,000 (~$550) to a staggering AED30,000 ($8,250) for the high roller event plus additional WPT Deepstack events held with equivalent entry fees, there is something for everyone at this world-renowned casino!
Ready for continuous, year-round straight poker action? Look no further than Casino Atlantic in Agadir! This renowned casino offers daily No Limit Hold ’em and Omaha tournaments from MAD250 ($27.50) to a whopping MAD2,200 ($240). They also provide an exciting weekly PLO tourney with a low buy-in of only MAD150 ($16.50)! Each tournament includes a rebuy and add-on option at just MAD200 ($22). Take advantage of this unbeatable offer!
They host tournaments and maintain a cash game room open 24/7, offering NLHE and PLO tables with stakes as low as MAD10/20 ($1.10/$2.20) to the highest of MAD100/$200 ($11/$22).
Is Online Poker Legal in Morocco?
As online poker card expands its reach, individuals from all corners of the globe can partake in this growing industry. But with such rapid growth, a pressing query arises: is it even legal? The answer depends on where you live, and Morocco is no exception. Gambling digitally is permitted here; however, some provisions must be followed: one must be at least 18 years old and can only use cash funds already deposited into their account.
If you are considering playing online poker in Morocco, rest assured that the authorities have created stringent regulations to ensure a fair and secure game for all players. So don’t wait any longer! Follow these rules and join the fray–earning some money never felt so safe.
Wrapping Up
Traditional poker hierarchy games are popular in Morocco and have been around for centuries. The game has evolved and is now enjoyed by people of all backgrounds. If you’re looking to try your hand at poker, GGPoker is the perfect place to start. With a wide variety of games on offer, there’s something for everyone. And with their friendly 24/7 customer support team to answer any questions, you’ll surely enjoy your experience with them. So what are you waiting for? Sign up today!
