Is it permissible to subscribe to a website monthly for 20 riyals to play tournaments on it and win a prize of 500 riyals for the winner, knowing that the subscription is only to identify serious participants?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It is not permissible to participate in competitions that require payment of fees, because that is forbidden gambling. The claim that participation is to distinguish serious contestants does not change the fact that it is gambling, for the participant is either a winner or a loser. Similarly, it is not permissible to take prizes in electronic games because of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, saying: "There is no prize except in a hoof, or an arrow, or a hoof," and these [games] are not among these three.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/155379
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 155379
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy