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