Egypt is moving to decisively shut down online betting in the country, with authorities preparing a nationwide block on gambling applications and drafting new legislation to harden penalties against companies that promote betting services.
The planned measures are aimed squarely at illegal digital platforms that have gained popularity despite gambling being prohibited under Egyptian law. Once blocked, officials say, these apps will not be allowed to return in any form.
Government targets digital gambling platforms
According to local reporting, the crackdown will include well-known offshore betting platforms such as 1xBet, alongside similar services that operate without authorisation. Authorities argue that the rapid spread of betting apps has exposed gaps in enforcement that existing laws were not designed to address.
Ahmed Badawy, head of the Communications and Information Technology Committee in the Egyptian House of Representatives, said the objective is to permanently remove gambling apps from Egypt’s digital ecosystem.
Once shut down, he said, the platforms would have no path to reinstatement, signalling a zero-tolerance approach rather than temporary enforcement action.
New law to close loopholes
Alongside the technical blocking of apps, the government is preparing new legislation to introduce clearer liability and tougher penalties for companies involved in promoting gambling.
Badawy said the draft law is designed to close loopholes that have allowed betting platforms and their affiliates to operate with minimal consequences. Under the proposed framework, entities that advertise or facilitate gambling could face deterrent sanctions, backed by expanded powers for regulators to act quickly against violations.
A central feature of the proposal is a requirement that all electronic platforms operating in Egypt appoint an accredited local legal representative. This individual or entity would be held directly accountable for regulatory breaches, giving authorities a clear enforcement target within the country.
Balancing digital growth and social control
Officials have been keen to frame the move as a governance measure rather than an attack on technology. Badawy stressed that the government is not seeking to slow Egypt’s digital transformation, but to ensure that innovation does not undermine social stability or public welfare.
From the government’s perspective, illegal online betting sits alongside other forms of unregulated digital activity that authorities believe require firmer oversight as internet use and mobile adoption continue to expand.
What it means
For offshore betting operators, Egypt’s position leaves little room for ambiguity. Unlike jurisdictions that pursue licensing or partial regulation, Egypt is signalling that online gambling has no legal future in the country.
For affiliates, influencers, and media outlets, the proposed law significantly raises risk. Promotion alone could trigger liability, particularly once local legal representatives become mandatory.
More broadly, the move reflects a growing trend across parts of the Middle East and North Africa toward tighter digital controls, where governments are combining technical blocking with legal accountability to police online activity.
If implemented as outlined, Egypt’s approach would represent one of the region’s most hardline stances on online betting – not merely restricting access, but attempting to remove gambling apps entirely from the national digital space.