Egypt maintains strict prohibitions on gambling for its citizens, a framework originally designed for physical establishments rather than the emerging realm of online betting. The Civil Code nullifies gambling contracts, while the Penal Code criminalizes gambling activities. Limited exceptions exist for foreign passport holders in licensed casinos, but online gambling remains illegal for Egyptians. Enforcement of these laws has been inconsistent, allowing many locals to access offshore sportsbooks using VPNs and foreign payment methods. This loophole has prompted years of complaints from parliament regarding Arabic-language platforms operating under foreign licenses.
On May 2026, Ahmed Badawi, chair of the House Communications and Information Technology Committee, announced that the government would propose amendments to the Cybercrime Law. These amendments aim to explicitly criminalize online betting applications. They would introduce severe penalties, with maximum sentences potentially reaching life imprisonment for serious offenses involving organized crime and large fraud cases.
In February 2026, Badawi noted that the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and the Supreme Council for Media Regulation were prepared to block approximately 80% of online betting applications, based on assessments conducted in collaboration with his committee. In September 2024, Russian-licensed 1xBet, which had heavily advertised in Egypt, faced removal from Google Play and the App Store after receiving numerous complaints and recommendations from parliament’s communications committee. In early 2026, Badawi indicated that similar bans would be enforced against MelBet as part of the wider crackdown on online betting applications.
Badawi asserted that the goal is not to hinder technological advancement, but to eliminate harmful services. He emphasized that once blocking occurs, banned betting apps would not be permitted to return, and that new legislation is being drafted to enforce stricter penalties to close existing loopholes.
Further clarity on potential penalties is provided by a separate initiative from the same committee. In January 2025, MP Martha Mahrous, deputy chair, introduced her own bill to criminalize electronic betting. She expressed concern about the dangers posed by online betting, arguing that the current legal framework is insufficient to address this issue, beyond one inadequate article in the Penal Code related to gambling. Mahrous claimed, "We are facing a kind of addiction, and scientifically we treat the young person as addicted to these practices."
Her draft bill presents a structured approach to penalties: agents and managers facilitating bets could face two to five years of imprisonment along with fines ranging from EGP1 million ($20,099) to EGP5 million; payment facilitators could incur up to six months of jail time and fines between EGP50,000 and EGP200,000; and those operating, sponsoring, or managing such platforms could face two to five years behind bars and fines ranging from EGP5 million to EGP10 million.
Badawi confirmed that the government is drafting its amendments, which will differ from Mahrous’ proposal. Although the two initiatives are not identical and Mahrous’ bill has not yet been presented for full House debate, they both indicate that the committee is pursuing multiple avenues to address online betting.
Ongoing concerns include how the forthcoming government text will tackle VPN access, which enables users to bypass blocked sites, and address the liability of payment intermediaries. While Mahrous’ draft sets knowledge-based criteria for facilitators, banks and electronic payment providers have not clarified how they would implement this in practice. Preliminary drafts also suggest imposing fines on users who continue to access banned apps, but official documents outlining user liability have not yet been released.
The House journal has yet to establish a timeline for discussing or voting on the government’s cybercrime amendments. Badawi previously mentioned that the text would be presented to parliament post-Eid al-Adha, which fell in June, but as of late June, no draft has been listed for debate.
If the government takes cues from Mahrous’ framework, Egypt could implement one of the strictest online betting regulations in the region. Operators, local agents, and payment facilitators could face years of prison time alongside substantial fines, compounded by the existing efforts to block access to such platforms. While Mahrous’ bill proposes a maximum of five years behind bars, Badawi's outline for executive amendments raises the possibility of life sentences for severe digital gambling violations. This change would signal a shift from sporadic enforcement of Egypt’s longstanding gambling ban to a focused digital strategy targeting online betting and its financial infrastructure.
