Egypt’s parliament is preparing to introduce stricter legislation that would explicitly criminalise online betting platforms, marking a significant escalation in the country’s efforts to curb unlicensed gambling activity.
Ahmed Badawy, chairman of the House of Representatives’ Communications and Information Technology Committee, said the government is expected to submit amendments to Egypt’s Cybercrime Law that directly target online betting applications. The proposals follow growing concerns over fraud cases linked to digital gambling platforms and offshore operators serving Egyptian customers.
According to Badawy, existing legislation already allows authorities to prosecute illegal electronic applications used in cybercrime, but online betting is not specifically addressed. The planned amendments would close that gap by introducing dedicated provisions for electronic betting and imposing tougher sanctions on offenders. In the most serious cases involving organised criminal networks and large-scale fraud, penalties could reportedly extend to life imprisonment.
The move comes after Egyptian authorities launched a broader crackdown on online gambling earlier this year, blocking access to a number of betting platforms and targeting offshore operators accused of exploiting regulatory loopholes. Lawmakers have argued that unlicensed operators operate without oversight, consumer safeguards or accountability, while also contributing to gambling-related harm and financial losses among users.
Badawy said the upcoming legal reforms are part of a wider effort to modernise Egypt’s cybercrime framework in response to the rapid evolution of digital technologies. Alongside online betting, the amendments are expected to strengthen provisions covering cyber extortion and the spread of harmful online content and misinformation.
Gambling remains heavily restricted in Egypt. Land-based casinos are permitted only for foreign visitors, while online gambling has largely operated in a legal grey area despite being broadly prohibited for residents. The proposed legislation would give authorities clearer powers to pursue betting operators and individuals involved in unlawful online gambling activities.