Egypt stands apart from most African gambling markets with one of the region’s strictest approaches. The country, home to more than 100 million people, prohibits gambling for its citizens under both civil law and Islamic principles. Even so, around 15 casinos operate legally in Cairo and resort towns such as Sharm El Sheikh, but they are open only to foreign passport holders.
There is no regulated online market. Egyptians who gamble online rely on offshore websites, often using VPNs or alternative payment methods to play. The authorities sometimes block sites or target illegal betting rings, but controls are uneven.
Given religious and cultural opposition, no reforms are expected in the near future, leaving Egypt a ‘black market’ for iGaming despite its enormous demographic potential.