Egypt Moves to Tighten Online Gambling Laws with Proposed Cybercrime Amendments
Egyptian lawmakers are preparing significant amendments to the country’s Cybercrime Law that would explicitly criminalise online betting activities, marking one of the most comprehensive efforts yet to address the growing use of digital gambling platforms within the country.
The proposed reforms are intended to close legal gaps that have emerged as online betting continues to expand despite existing restrictions on gambling. While gambling by Egyptian citizens has long been prohibited under national law, current regulations were primarily designed to govern physical gambling establishments and do not specifically address the operation or use of online betting applications.
In May 2026, Ahmed Badawi, Chairman of the House Communications and Information Technology Committee, announced that the government is expected to submit amendments that would formally classify online betting activities as cybercrime offences. The proposed legislation would introduce tougher penalties for individuals and entities involved in electronic gambling operations, with the most severe sanctions reserved for cases linked to organised criminal activity, large-scale fraud, money laundering, and other serious offences associated with illegal online betting networks.
Under Egypt’s current legal framework, gambling contracts are considered void and unenforceable, gambling activities remain criminal offences, and licensed casino operations are restricted exclusively to foreign passport holders. However, the rise of digital gambling platforms has presented new enforcement challenges for authorities.
Lawmakers have expressed concern over the increasing accessibility of offshore betting platforms targeting Egyptian users through Arabic-language websites, mobile applications, and digital marketing campaigns. Authorities also acknowledge that many users are reportedly accessing foreign gambling services through virtual private networks (VPNs) and alternative payment channels that operate outside the country’s traditional regulatory oversight mechanisms.
The planned amendments reflect a broader effort by Egyptian authorities to strengthen oversight of digital activities and address emerging cyber-related risks. If enacted, the reforms could significantly increase legal and enforcement pressure on operators seeking to reach Egyptian consumers from offshore jurisdictions.
The development is likely to attract attention from international betting operators and compliance professionals, as Egypt joins a growing number of jurisdictions seeking to adapt existing legal frameworks to the realities of online gambling and cross-border digital gaming services.
