Egypt Begins Blocking Offshore Betting Platforms

Egypt has started restricting access to online betting platforms, signaling a tougher stance on digital gambling activity that has operated for years with limited oversight. This is also the first time we have reported on movement in Egypt gambling whereas the lawmakers are stepping up. It has mostly been an industry not much considered, until now,

Good to Know

• Authorities began blocking offshore betting websites
• New laws would target unlicensed betting apps and users
• Gambling remains tightly restricted under Egyptian law

For years, online betting quietly expanded across Egypt without clear enforcement. That period now appears to be ending as authorities move to restrict access and rewrite the rules governing digital gambling.

The latest action focuses on blocking major offshore sports betting websites. According to Ahmed Badawy, the effort forms part of a broader campaign aimed at unlicensed electronic gambling platforms operating outside domestic regulation.

Badawy, who chairs the Communications and Information Technology Committee in Parliament, said lawmakers are preparing legislation designed to permanently shut down betting applications that fail to comply with Egyptian law. The approach targets platforms hosted abroad that serve Egyptian users without local approval.

Officials cited multiple factors behind the push. Rising addiction concerns, growing financial losses, and weak consumer safeguards were highlighted as risks tied to unregulated betting activity. Lawmakers also pointed to foreign companies dominating the market by exploiting gaps in existing digital regulations.

Under the proposed framework, users who access banned betting platforms could face penalties. Lawmakers also plan to close legal loopholes that allowed offshore operators to function with minimal scrutiny. New betting services would need accreditation through locally registered legal representatives, a move intended to establish accountability inside Egypt.

Gambling restrictions already sit deep within the legal system. Articles 271 and 352 of the Penal Code criminalise most wagering tied to uncertain outcomes. Both secular law and Islamic principles shape enforcement, leaving little room for legal expansion.

Land based casinos operate under strict conditions. Only non Egyptians may enter, and wagers must be placed exclusively in foreign currency. Online gambling for residents remains broadly prohibited, even though enforcement has historically been inconsistent.

Other betting related activities exist in uncertain territory. Horse racing and some lottery style products operate without a unified regulatory framework. The state run National Lottery continues to function legally, standing apart from private betting services.

Egypt approach diverges sharply from policy shifts elsewhere in the region. United Arab Emirates, long known for prohibiting gambling, has created the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority to oversee lotteries, internet gaming, and sports wagering. Full implementation remains ongoing.

In contrast, Saudi Arabia maintains a strict prohibition under Sharia law, enforcing penalties that include fines, imprisonment, and asset seizure. Authorities there have shown no signs of regulatory change.

Morocco allows casinos, lotteries, and sports betting while leaving online gambling largely unregulated. Offshore platforms continue to operate, though recent tax measures now apply to foreign gambling winnings.

Economic considerations sit beneath the legal debate. Officials estimate Egypt loses substantial tax and licensing revenue to offshore operators. Research firm 6Wresearch projects the overall gambling sector could reach $1.1 billion by 2031, growing at roughly 4 percent annually.

Sports betting represents the largest segment. Data Bridge Market Research values the segment at $1.53 billion in 2024, with projections reaching $2.93 billion by 2032 as annual growth approaches 12 percent.

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