Egypt Plans Explicit Ban on Online Gambling Apps

Egypt Prepares Explicit Ban on Online Gambling Apps – Proposed Cybercrime Amendments Would Introduce Clear Criminal Penalties

Key Takeaways

• Egypt is preparing amendments to its Cybercrime Law to explicitly criminalise online gambling applications.
• Current Egyptian law bans gambling for citizens but does not specifically address online betting platforms.
• Authorities report efforts to block around 80% of online betting applications through technical measures.
• Draft proposals outline prison sentences and substantial fines for operators, intermediaries, and payment facilitators.
• The government’s amendments have not yet been formally scheduled for parliamentary debate.

Existing Gambling Laws Leave Online Sector Unspecified

Egyptian law already prohibits gambling for citizens under several legal frameworks. The Civil Code renders gambling contracts void, and the Penal Code criminalises gambling activity. In addition, casino regulations restrict gambling in licensed hotels to foreign passport holders.

However, these provisions primarily address physical gambling venues and do not explicitly regulate online betting. This has created what lawmakers describe as a regulatory gap. While gambling itself is prohibited, online platforms are not directly named in existing statutes.

Despite the formal ban, enforcement has been limited. Some users in Egypt continue to access offshore betting sites by using virtual private networks and foreign payment methods. Lawmakers have also pointed to Arabic language gambling platforms that operate under overseas licences while targeting Egyptian users.

Government Plans Amendments to the Cybercrime Law

Ahmed Badawi, Chair of the House Communications and Information Technology Committee, stated in May that the government is preparing amendments to the Cybercrime Law. According to Badawi, the revised text is expected to explicitly include electronic gambling applications.

The proposed amendments would directly name online betting and introduce stronger penalties. In serious cases involving organised crime or large scale fraud, sentences could reach life imprisonment. The objective, according to public statements by Badawi, is to remove what authorities consider harmful services rather than impose broader internet censorship.

As of late June, the draft amendments have not been formally scheduled for parliamentary debate. Earlier indications suggested that a government text could be submitted after the Islamic holiday of Eid al Adha, but no official timetable has been confirmed.

Enforcement Measures Already Underway

Parallel to the legislative process, Egyptian authorities have expanded technical enforcement efforts. In February, Badawi stated that the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and the Supreme Council for Media Regulation were working to block approximately 80% of online betting applications.

These actions are reportedly based on technical assessments prepared with parliamentary input. According to Badawi, platforms that are blocked under the current approach would not be permitted to return under future legislation.

Key enforcement questions remain unresolved. Lawmakers have discussed how to address the use of virtual private networks that allow users to bypass geo blocking measures. Another open issue concerns the legal responsibility of banks and digital payment providers that may process gambling related transactions. No official government text has yet clarified how these aspects would be regulated.

Parliamentary Draft Bill Proposes Tiered Penalties

In addition to the forthcoming government amendments, a separate draft bill provides insight into possible penalty structures. In January 2025, Martha Mahrous, a member of the same parliamentary committee, introduced a proposal that would criminalise electronic betting.

In public comments, Mahrous described online gambling as a growing social risk, particularly for young users, and argued that existing laws are insufficient. Her draft outlines a tiered system of penalties targeting different actors within the online gambling ecosystem.

Under the proposal, agents and intermediaries could face prison sentences ranging from two to five years, along with fines between EGP 1 million and EGP 5 million, equivalent to approximately USD 20,100. Payment facilitators could face up to six months in prison and smaller fines. Platform operators or sponsors could face two to five years in prison and fines of up to EGP 10 million, or about USD 202,000.

Badawi has stated that the government is preparing its own version of amendments rather than directly adopting Mahrous’ draft. Nevertheless, both initiatives are viewed as part of a coordinated policy direction aimed at closing the regulatory gap around online betting.

Some draft discussions have also raised the possibility of penalties for users who access banned platforms. However, no official government proposal has confirmed whether individual users would be subject to criminal sanctions.

Implications for Offshore Operators and Payment Channels

If enacted in line with current proposals, the new framework would mark a shift from loosely enforced prohibitions to a structured legal regime that directly targets online gambling activity. Operators based abroad but offering Arabic language services to Egyptian users could face heightened scrutiny.

Financial intermediaries may also be affected if the amendments clarify liability for processing gambling related payments. The combination of technical blocking measures and explicit criminal provisions would expand the legal tools available to authorities.

For users, the potential introduction of explicit penalties, combined with stronger enforcement against platforms and payment channels, would change the current risk landscape surrounding access to offshore betting services.

Our Assessment

Egypt is moving toward explicitly criminalising online gambling through amendments to its Cybercrime Law. Existing legislation already bans gambling for citizens but does not directly address online platforms. Proposed changes would introduce defined penalties for operators, intermediaries, and possibly payment facilitators, while enforcement efforts to block betting applications are already underway. The amendments have not yet entered formal parliamentary debate, and details regarding user liability and payment provider responsibility remain unresolved in official texts.