Egyptian authorities have begun blocking access to online sports betting websites as part of a wider push to regulate digital activity and clamp down on unlicensed gambling.
The move was announced by MP Ahmed Badawy, head of Parliament’s Communications and Information Technology Committee, who said the crackdown targets major offshore operators. Badawy added that legislators are preparing new laws that would permanently shut down electronic betting applications that fail to comply with domestic regulations.
Officials cited rising concerns over gambling addiction, financial losses, and weak consumer protection as key reasons for the proposed legislation. Foreign companies currently dominate Egypt’s online betting market, exploiting gaps in existing regulations, according to officials.
Under the draft framework, penalties would be introduced for users who access banned platforms, while legal loopholes that previously allowed offshore operators to function with limited oversight would be closed. Lawmakers said new platforms would be required to obtain accreditation through locally registered legal representatives to ensure accountability and regulatory compliance.
Gambling is heavily restricted in Egypt under both Islamic principles and secular law. Articles 271 and 352 of the Penal Code criminalise most forms of wagering based on uncertain outcomes.
Land-based casinos are permitted only for non-Egyptians and must operate exclusively in foreign currency, while online gambling for residents is generally considered prohibited, though it has long existed in a legal grey area. Horse racing and lotteries also occupy ambiguous regulatory territory, with the state-run National Lottery operating legally.
Across the region, Egypt’s move contrasts with shifting policies elsewhere. The United Arab Emirates, which traditionally prohibited gambling, has begun establishing oversight through its General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority, covering lotteries, internet gaming, and sports wagering, although full implementation is still underway.
Saudi Arabia continues to strictly outlaw gambling under Sharia law, with penalties including fines, imprisonment, and asset confiscation, and shows no indication of imminent reform. Morocco allows casinos, lotteries, and sports betting but leaves online gambling largely unregulated, enabling offshore platforms to flourish, though authorities have recently imposed taxes on foreign winnings.
Economically, Egypt is estimated to be losing significant potential tax and licensing revenue to foreign operators. Market research firm 6Wresearch projects that the country’s overall gambling sector, including betting, casinos, and lotteries, could grow to $1.1 billion by 2031, at a compound annual growth rate of 4%.
Sports betting represents the largest segment, valued at $1.53 billion in 2024 and forecast to nearly double to $2.93 billion by 2032, according to Data Bridge Market Research, with growth approaching 12% annually.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/02/09/117502-egypt-to-block-online-betting-sites-as-part-of-unlicensed-gambling-crackdown
