Best Betting sites in Egypt
The table below provides a quick overview of the Egyptian top bookmakers. Find out more about each of them in the article.
Top Bookmakers in Egypt Ranked
- #1 🥇 888sport – Best Overall Bookmaker
- #2 🥈 Melbet – Best Mobile App
- #3 🥉 Sportaza – Top Payment Solutions
- #4 🎯 Betwinner – Best In-play Betting Site
- #5 🎯 Pinnacle – Best Betting Odds
Introduction
Egypt is a Middle Eastern country that shares its borders with Sudan, Libya, Israel, the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. Like other Muslim countries, Egyptian gambling laws has resulted in an increase in online betting sites.
In this best betting site in Egypt article, you will find out if betting is legal in the country. Moreso, we provide a list of top betting sites in Egypt, discuss betting features, and leading sports in Egypt. This is in addition to providing accepted payment methods for betting in Egypt.
Interesting facts about betting in Egypt
The country of Egypt is known for its pyramids and tombs that date back to the time of Pharaohs. Naturally, as a country that is the birthplace of Judaism, it has compiled many interesting facts about betting in its history. Here are a few we felt were interesting:
- While Egyptians are prevented from legally betting, nationals can gamble in over 20 land-based casinos.
- The cost of operating a casino in Egypt requires operators to pay 20% on income and 42% tax on corporate profits. The income generated from land-based casinos is used evenly between the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Tourism.
- Egypt is one of the few countries that have yet to introduce online gambling legislation, thereby making online betting legal.
- Archaeologists in Egypt have uncovered gambling artefacts that date back to 3000 BC.
- The most popular sport for betting in Egypt is football, while badminton is a close second.
- To enter a land-based casino in Egypt, foreign nationals must be verified and over 18.
Gambling Legislation and Laws in EgyptGambling legislation and laws in Egypt are a double edge sword. On the one hand, its laws make gambling illegal for residents of the country. On the other, they have a flourishing land-based industry that is legal for foreign nationals. Moreover, the Egyptian government has yet to introduce any formal gambling legislation. The only legislation that concerns gambling is bill nr 1/1973, but this is about hotels and is regulated by the Ministry of Tourism. This bill allows hotels located in key tourist regions to operate a land-based casino. Effectively, the lack of legislation essentially makes online betting legal as there is nothing that states it is illegal. Unfortunately, this also means the industry is unregulated. The good news for Egyptians is offshore operators such as those in our top 5 betting sites in Egypt are regulated. Therefore, they provide a safe gaming environment, openly accept Egyptian players and provide access to sports, casino, and other forms of online betting. |
What are the Top 5 Online Betting Sites in Egypt?
As a Middle Eastern country without online gambling legislation, Egyptians are free to punt at online sportsbooks. However, to ensure they punt safely, we have compiled a list of Egypt’s top five betting sites. All have established history as bookmakers and are trusted and reliable betting partners.
- Pros
- Generous sports-themed promotions
- Coverage of more than 25 sports markets
- Access to the 888Sport Betfeed and Blog
- Cons
- Does not offer Arabic language options
- Pros
- Live streaming and in-play betting
- Toto, poker and other games are available
- Access to results and statistics
- Cons
- Limited betting resources
- Pros
- Excellent coverage of international sports league
- Superior odds for live betting
- Offers Egyptian-friendly payment methods
- Cons
- No live streaming
- Pros
- An excellent betting platform for sports betting
- Superior betting options for live betting
- Mobile and crypto-friendly
- Cons
- May limit your betting account
- Pros
- Features over 1,000 sports events monthly
- An excellent live streaming platform for esports
- Multiple mobile-friendly betting products
- Cons
- A limited number of promotions
Competition between Operators
As Egypt does not allow its citizens to access its land-based casinos, competition between operators is focused on tourism traffic. Currently, over twenty casinos are operating legally in Egypt, with the largest concentration being in Kair, Taba, and Alexandria.
Due to the restrictive laws preventing locals from entering casinos, casinos are located in holiday resorts. This limits competition to promotional incentives and resort services to generate traffic and removes monopolies. Resultantly, the competition between operators extends to the resort trade and offshore operators offering services online.
Bonuses from Egyptian Betting WebsitesBonuses from Egyptian bookmakers take a familiar path seen by bookmakers operating in other jurisdictions. As the nature of bookmaking is centred around sports, most bookmakers design their bonuses to appeal to sports punters. As such, beyond welcome bonuses, bonuses from Egyptian bookmakers include free bets, and odds boosts, to name a few. |
Betting Features and Options in the Egyptian Bookmakers
Egyptian bookmakers offer various betting features and options to complement their sports betting platforms as a standard offering. Betting features have a substantial impact on the value bettors receive while punting but also improve overall usability. While bookies try to offer features that set them apart, most features are similar and differ slightly. Therefore, we have provided summaries below for those most commonly offered.
Cash Out | |
Live Betting | |
Live Streaming | |
Bet Builder |
What are the available Payment Methods in Egypt?
Egypt’s most common available payment methods include cryptocurrencies, ewallets, debit, and credit cards. As most online operators do not accept the Egyptian pound, transactions will be converted into Euros. Unfortunately, Egyptian’s will have to contend with currency exchange rates when depositing and requesting withdrawals.
The minimum deposit limit with Egyptian bookmakers is on average €10 to €20. However, these will vary more depending on the bookies’ minimum transactional requirements. For withdrawals, the minimums are generally €20, but similar to deposits, these will vary between bookmakers.
While currency exchange costs are unavoidable, punting with our top betting sites in Egypt will avoid withdrawal fees. Reputable and licensed betting establishments also offer a secure platform for online transactions and include promotional incentives.
What are the Mobile Betting options in Egypt?
The mobile betting options in Egypt available for punters include apps and mobile websites. While many prefer apps over websites, bettors tend to lean towards mobile websites versus apps. Most of the reasons for this preference centre around the social stigma and laws associated with betting in Egypt.
Fortunately, both the apps and mobile websites offer high functionality and do not limit punter experiences. In addition to their high functionality, apps are free to download and include multiple security features to prevent unwanted access. However, mobile websites have the same features and the added benefit of deleting browser histories.
Whichever mobile option is chosen, the betting options include access to casino games and live and pre-match sports betting. Moreover, the mobile sites and apps are optimised for performance and include player-intuitive features such as banking and support.
Are Online Casinos available in Egypt?
While Egypt does not allow its citizens to enter its land-based casinos, online casinos are available in Egypt. The advantage to Egyptians is this allows them unrestricted access to a diverse range of casino games. Along with traditional games of chance like slots, this includes table games, poker, bingo and live dealer games.
However, while all of our top betting sites in Egypt feature an online casino, not all games may be accessible. This is tied to the licensing regulations that govern the geo-locations software providers can offer their games. While this may be less favourable than full access, the impact is minimal as game diversity and availability is substantial.
What are the Leading sports for betting in Egypt?
The leading sports for betting in Egypt are football, martial arts, badminton and golf. As sports play a significant part in Egyptians’ lives, preferences include other sports. However, as football, martial arts, badminton and golf are most popular, we have summarized the reasons behind their popularity.
- Football
As a leading sport for betting and national favourite, football rose to prominence in Egypt due to its National team. In addition to its national team, domestic leagues are prevalent throughout the country, as are local cup championships. - Martial Arts
Martial arts became a leading sport for betting in Egypt due to Tahtib, a traditional form of stick fighting. Adding to its position as a leading sport for betting is a large number of martial arts schools in the country. - Badminton
Egypt is home to several Badminton associations that play a part in it being a leading sport among Egyptian bettors. In addition to its national badminton team, popularity stems from the Egyptian international badminton championship. - Golf
Golf’s leading sport status comes from its 100+ golf course in Egypt and events held by the Egyptian Golf Federation. While domestic leagues do not exist, local tournaments are prevalent and share in the sport’s popularity.
The profile of an Egyptian Bettor
Resultant of Egyptian’s being unable to gamble legally, the profile of an Egyptian bettor is difficult to ascertain. Another contributing factor is the social stigma and religious implications of gambling within a Muslim country.
However, it is fair to presume that most betting online are males between 21 and 65. It is also fair to presume the majority favour sports betting over games of chance. While exact gambling data is unavailable, 71% of the population admit to “playing games” online. Based on those figures, one can assume that figure includes Egyptian bettors.
Unfortunately, until Egypt adopts more friendly gambling laws, the lack of information is unlikely to change. However, as Egypt is a Muslim country, that is unlikely to change.
FAQ about Online Betting in Egypt
Is online betting legal in Egypt?
No, online betting is not legal in Egypt.
Are there any taxes for Egyptian players on their winnings?
No, Egyptian’s are not legally allowed to gamble. Therefore taxation of winnings is not applicable.
Can I open an account and play in Egyptian pounds (EGP)?
No, most online bookmakers do not accept Egyptian pounds.
Are there any betting restrictions for Egyptian players?
Yes, Egyptian players will face restrictions when playing casino games, but this depends on the software provider and the licensed jurisdictions.
Do Egyptian bookmakers accept bitcoin?
Yes, many Egyptian bookmakers accept Bitcoin and multiple other cryptocurrencies.
Will my personal information be shared with Egyptian authorities?
No, bookmakers will not share your personal information with Egyptian authorities unless presented with a court order.
How can I verify if an Egyptian bookie is legitimate?
The best way to verify if an Egyptian bookie is legitimate is to confirm they are in receipt of a license from a respected regulatory body.
Our Verdict about betting in Egypt
Unfortunately, Egyptians hoping to legalise betting within their country are unlikely to ever see laws in their favour. However, this is a blessing in disguise as it has also resulted in the freedom to bet online. The reality is, without specific legislation, online betting is legal and widespread throughout the country.
Resultantly, Egyptians are faced with the tough decision on where to play, which is why we include a list of recommended bookies in Egypt. By selecting from our list, Egyptians can play in confidence that their information will be kept private. More importantly, they can be confident they access a full range of betting options without restrictions.