Egypt is taking a firm step against online sports betting. MP Ahmed Badawy, president of the Information Technology and Communications Committee of the Parliament, confirmed that authorities have blocked access to offshore platforms and that legislators are drafting a new law to permanently shut down e-betting applications that do not comply with local requirements.
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Authorities identify three main reasons behind the initiative: gambling addiction, users’ financial losses, and the absence of consumer protection mechanisms. The measure is not isolated; it is part of an international trend of tightening regulations on digital gambling.
The void that foreigners filled in Egypt
Until now, Egypt lacked a comprehensive legal framework for online betting. This void allowed foreign operators to capture a significant share of the local market, especially through mobile applications and web platforms, the fastest-growing channels in the sector globally.
The proposed legislation changes that equation. In addition to blocking unauthorized platforms, it introduces penalties for users of prohibited applications and requires new operators to have accredited legal representatives in the country, in order to ensure regulatory compliance and accountability to Egyptian authorities.
What Egypt’s online betting law permits and prohibits
Egypt’s legal framework on gambling combines Islamic principles and civil legislation. Articles 271 and 352 of the Penal Code criminalize most forms of gambling based on uncertain outcomes.
Even so, the country maintains exceptions. Physical casinos are legal, but only for foreign citizens and exclusively in foreign currency. Online gambling is considered a gray area, although in practice it is prohibited for residents. Horse racing, with a long tradition in the country, and the National Lottery, administered by the state, operate in an ambiguous but active legal space.
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How Egypt compares to its neighbors
The region shows different stances on digital gambling. Saudi Arabia strictly prohibits it under Sharia law, with penalties including fines, imprisonment, and confiscation of assets, with no signs of change in the short term. The United Arab Emirates, historically restrictive due to Islamic law, is moving forward with the creation of the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority, responsible for overseeing lotteries, online gambling, and sports betting, although its implementation is still ongoing.
Morocco presents partial regulation: it allows casinos, lotteries, and sports betting, but leaves online gambling unregulated. Offshore platforms operate smoothly, although the government recently introduced taxes on winnings from abroad.
A market that grows with or without regulation
Figures reveal why the regulatory debate matters. According to the firm 6Wresearch, the Egyptian gambling market—which includes betting, casinos, and lotteries—was projected at $950 million for 2025 and could reach $1.1 billion in 2031, with an annual growth of 4%. The sports betting segment is even more dynamic: it was valued at $1.53 billion in 2024 and is estimated to reach $2.93 billion in 2032, according to Data Bridge Market Research, with growth close to 12% annually.
These numbers explain the urgency: while offshore operators capture these revenues, the Egyptian state loses tax revenue and licensing royalties. The new law also aims to recover that ground.
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