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.
| Regulatory Authority | There is no regulatory body for online gambling. |
| Key legislation | There is no dedicated legislation for online gambling. Existing civil and criminal laws prohibit gambling for Egyptian residents. |
| Allowed activities | None. Online gambling is prohibited for Egyptian residents. |
| Prohibited activities | Among others:
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| Taxation and fees | No taxation framework exists for online gambling, as no local licensing is possible. |
| Licence validity/duration | Not applicable. |
| SOFTSWISS products compliant | No products available at the moment |
| Key legislation | Regulations of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (covering the licensing of foreign-only casinos) |
| Allowed activities | Among others:
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| Prohibited activities | Among others:
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| Taxation | Tourist casinos are subject to heavy taxation, estimated at around 50% of gross revenue, though exact rates vary. |