Lottomatica's decision to integrate Cirsa, announced on September 2, marks a significant move in the gaming industry, as it incorporates four casinos in Morocco into one of Europe’s largest listed gambling entities. Cirsa's operations in Morocco contribute approximately 2% of its revenue and 4% of its earnings.
Despite this strategic merger, neither Lottomatica nor Cirsa has disclosed intentions to pursue online betting licenses in North Africa, further emphasizing the existing disparities in Morocco’s gambling landscape.
While land-based gambling can draw international investments—illustrated by Cirsa's expansion in Marrakech last November—the online betting sector lacks a similar licensing pathway.
Cirsa’s IPO prospectus clearly outlines the challenges, stating, "Online gaming only exists for betting, which is operated by a state agency," and confirming that "online casino games are not allowed" in Morocco.
Similar restrictions apply in Tunisia and Egypt, where governments prioritize prohibition over establishing private online markets.
In Morocco, sports betting, including online options, is exclusively controlled by the state-owned Marocaine des Jeux et des Sports (MDJS), which is 90% owned by the Treasury and led by the sports minister. Reports indicate that MDJS’s exclusivity extends until 2036 under an undisclosed 2016 convention with the state. Crucially, the operation is managed through a contractual tender rather than a standard license, with unauthorized gaming constituting a criminal offense under articles 282 to 285 of the penal code.
Recently, MDJS has sought judicial measures to restrict offshore betting. On January 12, the Casablanca commercial court ordered Maroc Telecom, Orange Maroc, and Inwi to block access to 19 unauthorized betting sites along with related local payment intermediaries, with daily penalties of MAD10,000 for non-compliance. However, this ruling was short-lived; on January 26, an appellate court stayed the order, which was subsequently annulled, resulting in the lifting of daily fines against MDJS. MDJS retains the option to appeal the court's decision.
The actions taken by MDJS come in light of these high-stakes gambling impacts, with director general Younes El Mechrafi linking illegal sports betting to approximately MAD3.5bn in stakes for 2024 and estimating a loss of MAD700m to the state, affecting national sports development funding and the Treasury.
In Tunisia, the regulatory framework for gambling is grounded in Decree-Law 74-20 from October 1974, which stipulates that sports betting can only occur through the state-run Promosport. Meanwhile, horse race betting is overseen by the Agence Tunisienne de Solidarité. Currently, the Tunisian Parliament is evaluating two conflicting approaches to online gambling, although neither has established a licensing process.
One proposal, a private members’ bill labeled 2026/009, was introduced on January 20 by 23 deputies and sent to the General Legislation Committee for consideration on January 29. This bill seeks to amend the 1974 decree to outlaw all forms of online gambling and enforce blocking obligations on internet service and payment providers.
MP Yasser Gourari, an advocate for this bill, characterized online gambling as a "social scourge," citing severe consequences stemming from financial losses, with individuals at times driven to thoughts of suicide.
As of now, legislative advancement has stalled following a single review of the bill on February 3.
In parallel, the government is drafting a new gambling and sports betting bill, shared for consultation with 26 public institutions, including the central bank and financial regulatory bodies. In November 2025, the sports minister confirmed that the draft had undergone revisions to align with international standards concerning sports betting integrity and anti-money laundering measures. However, details on whether the legislation would permit private licenses or simply modernize the existing Promosport monopoly remain unclear.
The landscape in Egypt is similarly restrictive, with Law 8 of 2022 dictating that "gambling games may not be practiced in establishments except by non-Egyptians." As with its neighbors, no licensing framework for online betting is in place.
In October 2024, the prosecutor-general ordered the suspension of e-wallets and mobile lines associated with betting agents. As of this year, officials disclosed plans to collaborate with telecom authorities to block about 80% of betting applications by month-end. In May, Ahmed Badawi, the chair of the House communications committee, suggested amending the anti-cybercrime law to explicitly include online betting, with severe penalties under consideration.
A distinct private bill introduced by MP Martha Mahrous in January 2025 aims to impose prison sentences of two to five years and substantial fines on promoters of online betting, but this initiative also stalled.
As of July 22, the House finished its session without addressing 162 laws, including any relating to betting. Reports from Al-Watan stated that electronic betting was still pending discussion and slated for consideration when the House reconvenes on October 1.
Despite the push for legislation, efforts to create a licensing route for online betting in Egypt have been overshadowed by a focus on punitive enforcement.
Overall, North Africa finds itself in a lagging situation regarding online betting licenses. Morocco remains entrenched in legal battles over market exclusivity, while Tunisia's legislative attempts face stagnation. Egypt has leaned heavily into enforcement strategies. Across all three nations, the absence of a licensing path for private online betting leaves governments stymied, battling offshore demand through prohibition rather than fostering regulated markets. The contrast with the established frameworks for land-based gambling highlights the considerable unregulated market still prevalent, with MDJS estimating illegal stakes at about MAD3.5bn, and no comprehensive figures available for Tunisia or Egypt. The limited avenues for regulation complicate the ability to measure, tax, or oversee these substantial illicit gambling operations.
