MP Elias Hankach said on Thursday that the state now has the ability, as well as growing public trust, to confront the country’s widespread illegal gambling networks, including powerful online platforms he described as operating beyond the reach of the law.

"People have hope today and trust in state institutions that can strike with an iron fist," Hankach told Voice of Lebanon radio. "That wasn’t possible in the past, when favoritism was rife and violations went unpunished."

Hankach said illegal gambling has grown into a sprawling industry, with online platforms giving virtually anyone access. He noted that Casino du Liban has maintained strict entry standards, barring unauthorized individuals, but stressed that unregulated digital operators pose a much larger threat.

"Serious problems and social ills are spreading because of illegal gambling," he said, citing addiction, financial ruin, and concerns about money laundering.

He recalled that the Parliamentary Information Technology Committee had raised the alarm over this issue a year ago, hearing from stakeholders across the sector.

"We saw just how vast the problem really is," he said.

Hankach called for a balanced approach to regulation, one that respects personal freedoms while curbing abuse.

"People’s dire financial situations are being exploited," he warned. "Some have mortgaged their homes and sold their dignity just to keep playing."

He added that some criminal groups are using gambling platforms to launder money.

"There is a real fear of money laundering and other crimes behind it," he said.

On Wednesday night, security forces conducted a raid on Casino du Liban, an operation Hankach described as "neither routine nor ordinary." He declined to provide details but noted that more information would be released soon and that further enforcement actions are being planned.

Hankach warned that illegal gambling networks now thrive on the dark web, calling on the government to equip Lebanon’s cybercrime units with the necessary tools to trace and shut down suspicious websites and applications.

"We now have the ability to close any website or app that raises suspicion or channels illicit money under the guise of gambling," he said.

With economic hardship pushing more Lebanese toward online betting in hopes of quick financial relief, Hankach warned that the social toll is rising rapidly. He believes Lebanon is at a turning point and must act before the situation deteriorates further.

"Our problem is illegal online gambling that has infiltrated every household and every region," he said. "The citizen can barely cover basic expenses, yet is lured into debt and despair. It’s time the state intervened decisively."