TLDR
- Egypt is amending its Cybercrime Law to explicitly criminalise online betting apps for the first time
- Life sentences are possible in cases involving organised crime or large-scale fraud
- Authorities previously tried to block around 80% of betting apps, targeting platforms like 1xBet and MelBet
- The law would target not just operators but also payment facilitators and local agents
- VPN usage and user-level penalties remain unresolved in the draft legislation
Egypt is moving toward one of the strictest online gambling crackdowns in the Middle East. Lawmakers are drafting amendments to the country’s Cybercrime Law that would, for the first time, directly target online betting apps.
The penalties being discussed are severe. In cases linked to organised crime or large-scale fraud, life imprisonment is on the table.
Why Now?
Gambling has long been illegal for Egyptian citizens, but the existing laws were written for physical gambling venues. That left a gap that digital platforms quickly filled.
Foreign sportsbooks, accessed through VPNs and overseas payment systems, have remained widely available despite the official ban. Lawmakers say the old framework simply wasn’t built to handle mobile apps and offshore operators.
Earlier this year, parliament revealed efforts to block around 80% of online betting apps accessible in Egypt. That effort involved cooperation between telecom regulators, media authorities, and the parliament’s communications committee.
High-profile targets have already felt the pressure. Russian-licensed bookmaker 1xBet was removed from both the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store in Egypt in 2024. It had built visibility through influencer marketing and social media. MelBet was later identified as another enforcement target.
But officials now say app blocking isn’t enough. Operators have shown they can return through new domains and platforms.
What the Law Would Cover
A draft bill introduced in early 2025 by parliamentarian Martha Mahrous gave an early look at the direction lawmakers are heading.
That proposal went beyond just operators. Local agents acting on behalf of bettors could face multi-year prison terms and heavy fines. Payment processors who facilitate transactions would face criminal liability too. Those running or promoting betting platforms would be exposed to the largest penalties.
The government is writing its own version of the legislation rather than adopting the Mahrous bill directly. Both versions point toward the same goal: a legal framework that targets the full chain — operators, financial middlemen, and local partners.
Key Questions Remain
Several important details are still unresolved. Lawmakers have not explained how they plan to handle VPN use, which remains an easy workaround for blocked websites.
The role of banks and payment processors is also unclear. Determining whether a transaction is knowingly linked to betting activity is a practical challenge.
There are indications that users themselves could face financial penalties for accessing banned platforms. No official draft has confirmed this yet.
Parliament has not scheduled a debate or vote on the amendments. Officials had suggested a proposal would appear after Eid al-Adha in June, but nothing had been placed on the parliamentary agenda by late June 2026.
