Written into tourism law, not gambling law
Egypt has no gambling act. The permission sits inside Law 8 of 2022 on Hotel and Tourism Entities, which says gambling may not be played in these facilities except by non-Egyptians, on conditions set by ministerial decision. Licensing is therefore a tourism matter and the regulator is the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
That placement explains the shape of the market. Around 30 licensed operators run, almost all of them inside hotels in Cairo, and the door policy is a nationality check: a foreign passport gets you in and an Egyptian identity card does not. It is the same arrangement Nepal uses and, for a while longer, Vietnam, but Egypt has run it at scale for decades.
Online, moving the other way
While the land-based position has been stable, the online one is hardening. Since February 2026 the government has actively blocked offshore gambling sites, and parliament has moved towards criminalising online betting, with draft law that would penalise residents who access it rather than only the operators.
That is a different instinct from Kenya, which taxed the payment rail to reach offshore operators, and from Peru, which licensed them. Egypt is choosing prohibition and blocking, and the notable part is that the penalty is aimed at the player.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can Egyptians gamble in Egypt's casinos?
- No. Law 8 of 2022 permits gambling in licensed facilities only for non-Egyptians, and venues check passports at entry.
- How many casinos are there in Egypt?
- Around 30 licensed operators as of June 2026, mostly inside Cairo hotels.
- Is online gambling legal in Egypt?
- No. Offshore sites have been blocked since February 2026 and parliament has moved to criminalise online betting, including for the player.
Legal age, regulator and the tax treatment of player winnings on this page were checked against the regulator's own material or a reputable legal summary in August 2026. Gambling law moves; confirm anything consequential with the regulator before relying on it. Where sources disagreed, this site leaves the figure out rather than guessing.