Egypt Parliament Prepares Cybercrime Law Amendments to Criminalise Online Betting

Egypt’s parliament is drafting amendments to the Cybercrime Law that will explicitly criminalise online betting applications. The proposed legislation introduces penalties that may reach life imprisonment for operators involved in large-scale fraud or organised criminal networks.

Regulatory Actions and Platform Blocks

Regulatory action against digital betting services began in September 2024, when the Russian-licensed platform 1xBet was removed from Google Play and the App Store following parliamentary recommendations. In January 2025, deputy committee chair Martha Mahrous introduced a separate bill targeting electronic betting operations, noting that current legislation relies on a single Penal Code provision she considers insufficient. By February 2026, Ahmed Badawi reported that the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and the Supreme Council for Media Regulation were implementing technical measures to block approximately eighty percent of online betting applications. Early 2026 actions included a similar takedown of MelBet.

Legislative Framework and Penalty Measures

In May 2026, Badawi confirmed that the government would submit the Cybercrime Law amendments to formally criminalise these platforms. Committee officials stated that removed applications will not be reinstated and that the legislative draft aims to close regulatory gaps rather than restrict digital technology broadly. The proposed measures also emphasise public health considerations, with officials citing the need to address gambling addiction through structured legal intervention. Source: House Communications and Information Technology Committee statements.