A decree orders the blocking of online betting platforms and the lifting of the ban on IMDb.
A decree orders the blocking of online betting platforms and the lifting of the ban on IMDb.
2026-07-13
Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Monday, Iraqi Minister of Communications Mustafa Sanad announced that the ministry had directed the banning of all electronic betting and gambling platforms in Iraq, stressing that the decision was made for reasons related to the public interest.
In a statement, Sand said the ban aims to reduce economic risks, digital addiction algorithms, and targeted financial drain that threaten societal stability.
He added that he also directed that the ban on the IMDb website, which specializes in rating films, be lifted.
Former Minister of Communications, Hayam Al-Yassiri, announced in December 2024 that the IMDb website had been blocked after its content was “examined by Al-Salam General Company,” the government agency responsible for monitoring and blocking websites.
Al-Yassiri indicated at the time that the site contained content that she considered offensive to societal values and traditions, and included films and pages that she described as “immoral,” stressing that the decision to block it was taken after continuous monitoring and observation and was not a random action.
IMDb (Internet Movie Database) is a global platform specializing in displaying information and ratings of movies, series and television programs, and is used by millions to view details of artistic works and user opinions about them.
Minister Mustafa Sand had directed yesterday, Sunday, that the ban on the game “Roblox” be lifted during the summer vacation, starting from tomorrow morning, Monday, provided that the game is subject to strict monitoring and the use of the chat feature for children is prohibited.
shafaq.com
