Caution: 17 August Competitions May Contain Elements of Gambling

Competitions are a tradition almost always present during the Republic of Indonesia’s Independence Day celebrations every 17 August. However, behind the excitement of the games and the prizes at stake, a question arises among Muslims: can 17 August competitions be categorised as gambling? Ustaz Luky Nugroho Lc explained that the answer is not always the same. A competition can be considered gambling, but it can also not be, depending on the mechanism and the source of the prizes used. Through a video on the Rumah Fiqih page, Ustaz Luky said whether a 17 August competition is gambling or not generally depends; it could be classified as gambling, but it could also not be. “Actually, the measure of whether a game, competition, or the like falls into the category of gambling or not can be easily distinguished,” said Ustaz Luky on the Rumah Fiqih page. At the very least, if four elements are present in a 17 August competition, it can be categorised as an act of gambling. First, there must be at least two parties placing a bet, either directly or indirectly. For example, if we play football and place a bet, but we are also playing in the match or are part of the football team, that is called betting directly. That can be considered an act of gambling. Regarding indirect betting, an example is two football teams competing, and we choose one team and bet against our opponent. If the chosen team wins, we gain the wagered assets; conversely, if the chosen team loses, we lose the wagered assets. Second, there is something at stake in the form of assets. These assets can vary, including money, services, vehicles, and so forth. For instance, betting on services: if the English Premier League team I support wins and yours loses, you must clean my house for a week. Conversely, if the team I support loses, I will clean your house for a week. That is also considered gambling. Third, there is a concept or system, be it a game, a draw, or a shuffle, to determine who wins and who loses. This system can also be like a competition or a game. In this case, the problematic point is not the draw or the element of chance, but rather the existence of a winner and a losing party.