Halal Sportsbook Founder Wants to Add MMA & Esports Markets

Zaid Abu Soud, former MMA organizer and founder of a Halal sportsbook is looking to expand his app to include many new sports. The innovative app currently allows fans to predict the outcomes of soccer games without violating Shariah but Abu Soud wants to take it higher.

Betting But Not with Money

Hajem Sports is a unique prediction app that seeks to emulate the excitement of betting on sports with none of the actual betting. Available to consumers in the UAE, the app doesn’t involve monetary bets and therefore does not really constitute sports betting. However, it still brings fans closer to the action, allowing them to bolster their engagement in the sport and test their sports knowledge by making predictions.

The app is very similar to sportsbooks Western audiences would be familiar with. However, with no money involved, players can safely play without violating Shariah.

We wanted to give the Arab or Muslim user a skin in the game without committing a vice.

Zaid Abu Soud

For reference, Hajem Sports provides users with five credits every day, allowing them to place predictions on their favorite soccer games. Correct guesses are awarded in-game points, which users can accumulate.

Depending on how many points they earn, users can move up and down a leaderboard and show their friends that they are the better sports pundits.

Excitement Is More Important Than Monetary Rewards

Abu Saud originally sought to emulate the excitement of wagering without making players feel guilty for violating Shariah. He explained that Hajem Sports allows them to scratch their itch for betting with none of the vice associated with real-money games.

Instead of aiming to win money, Hajem players seek to compete with their loved ones and show them that they understand sports better and can make better predictions.

Abu Soud explained that many casual bettors do not wager huge sums. Instead of seeking monetary rewards, most of the Western bettors use the apps for some extra fun and excitement. He therefore understood that taking the real-money element out could still result in some great user experiences.

So how does he make money to support the app? Instead of wagers, Hajem Sports offers a variety of purchasable features, such as skins and avatars allowing players to personalize their gaming experience. This way players can still support the app without gambling.

Abu Soud weighed in on the future of Hajem Sports, expressing excitement about the addition of new markets. As a former MMA organizer, he was thrilled about the possibility to add mixed martial arts, although his team has advised him to first push for basketball instead. In addition to that, Hajem’s team is likely to add esports, which have been growing in popularity in the region.