Ludo mobile game tagged new ‘threat’ to Iraqi families as ministry orders ban

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s communications minister on Monday ordered what officials describe as a nationwide “ban” on the Ludo game in order to “protect the Iraqi family” from the game’s alleged “risks” towards “moral collapse”, after the ministry linked the mobile game to everything from online blackmail to marital disputes.

In a statement, the Ministry of Communications said Minister Hiyam al-Yasiri issued the decision “to protect the Iraqi family from electronic blackmail and moral collapse.” It said the move came “according to the powers granted to her and in implementation of Federal Supreme Court decisions,” arguing that the game “began causing disputes inside many families between husbands and wives as a result of the betting system that drives dangerous and unacceptable actions.”

The ministry said its decision followed what it described as continuous monitoring of violations and problems it attributes to Ludo-style games, “some of them through private chat rooms that allow direct communication in an environment prepared for sexual exploitation and electronic blackmail,” in addition to the spread of “immoral and deviant content that threatens family and social stability.”

Ludo King is a popular mobile adaptation of the classic Ludo board game that allows users to play with friends or strangers through online matchmaking and in-game chat. The app includes virtual currency mechanics, private rooms and interactive communication tools.

The latest move adds Ludo to a growing list of digital platforms restricted or blocked on “moral” and security grounds. In October 2025, the Communications Ministry moved against the Roblox game after a Federal Supreme Court ruling, saying the step was taken “in the interest of protecting community security and preserving the moral and educational values of families and children,” and citing risks tied to open chat features, exploitation and digital addiction.

The ministry did not clarify how the new Ludo decision will be enforced nationwide, how long the ban is expected to last or whether it will apply equally to physical versions of the game and similar apps.