Most Popular eSports Bookies in Egypt

The advantages may range from excellent customer service, diverse payment options, and an extensive array of betting markets. Perhaps the only drawback of overseas bookmakers is the lack of Arabic language and transactions in the Egyptian pound. But these shouldn't be an issue since the best esports betting sites for Egypt tick both boxes.

More than any other form of gambling, esports betting in Egypt is popular on mobile platforms. Sportsbooks accepting Egyptians are fully optimized for mobile to accommodate the growing number of on-the-go gamers. Our recommended sites come with dedicated apps, downloadable on Android and iOS devices. Whether playing on flash mode or app version, bettors will find the same features and number of esports betting markets.

Esports betting in Egypt is highly accessible. The younger generation looks up to professional athletes and gamers, so they keep tabs on trending global events. Even though they cannot challenge superstars like Mohamed Salah, they have a chance to play with eSports pros over the internet. Africa competing against the rest of the world is a significant disadvantage, but Egypt has witnessed an exponential rise in pastime activities. Egyptians have shown a keen interest in online gaming. This is thanks to advancements in broadband speeds, increased availability of gaming consoles, and low data costs.

A recent event that led to rapid growth in esports betting was the popular Internet gaming event Insomnia hosted in Cairo in 2018. Its prize pool went slightly over EGP 500,000, featuring a series of mini-tournaments. An esports Summit was held the same year by the Gaming Lounge. Then the Power Lounge Gaming started hosting several Grand Slams every year. Over time, professional sports teams coordinators have become interested in investing in eSports to expand their business lines. The Pyramids FC, a famous local football club in Egypt, started organizing championships where players compete in FIFA for amazing prizes of up to E£1 million.

Future of esports betting in Egypt

As the industry continues to expand, more investors are showing their readiness to invest in esports. One of the biggest online communities in Egypt, GBarena, announced that an angel investor offers millions to support the group's endeavors. More than 60% of online gaming revenue comes from advertising and sponsorships. In recent years, media rights have also gained considerable importance, and this is expected to continue in the near future. While Egypt's esports industry is yet to reach its full potential, it might be heading in a better direction with the investments mentioned above.

There is a great deal of interest, and the sky is the limit for young people in the country. A proper environment and fair and open competition with international players are all they need.

Online gaming is all about speed. Lagging can be a significant issue, especially when it comes to competing at the international level. Once the government and big companies implement efficient gaming servers, the Egyptians will be on an equal footing with more developed nations.

No legislation prohibits or regulates esports betting in Egypt at any level. The federal government doesn't appear to be regulating online gambling anytime soon. As such, players don't need to worry about online esports betting. It is unclear whether any domestic sportsbooks will be licensed in the next few years. There are many accusations of Internet censorship and monitoring in Egypt at the moment. If government officials have to deal with internet-related issues, they likely feel there is a bigger fish to fry. In a hypothetical future scenario in which a licensing process is established, there is no way to know how it would be implemented.

Due to the lack of proper eSports legislation in Egypt, the government doesn't offer protection to citizens who indulge in online esports betting. Similarly, there are no specific options for processing esports betting payments in the country. For this matter, Egyptian punters use internationally recognized methods like Visa, MasterCard, and e-wallets. Many have al embraced esports betting sites with cryptocurrencies.

Betting acts in Egypt

In Egypt, gambling laws are primarily based on Sharia, which considers gambling illegal. The prescription was incorporated into the Criminal Code of Egypt in 1937 and subsequently amended in 1992. The 1937 Penal Code stipulates that any gambling operator can face detention and a monetary fine of up to 1,000 EGP. The same decree prohibits lottery games and ticket sales of the same. However, the interdiction excludes state-regulated casinos in Cairo and other cities.

According to the Criminal Code Book 3 Article 352-353, Egyptian citizens are not allowed to play games of chance within the country. Only tourists can bet in designated spots, but they must provide valid passports and meet the minimum legal age to access those places.

The Ministry of Tourism is in charge of monitoring land-based betting. It is the custodian of law number 1 of 1973 regarding touristic hotel activities. The law allows licensing of casinos that are based in 5 and 4-star resorts.

Online esports betting is not legal as of November 2018 as per the Islamic Sharia. So, no online betting sites are on offer. Even though the ban is clear-cut, many European sportsbooks have penetrated the country to provide betting services. Esports betting is among the few types of gambling available to the residents.

The kind of payment method available for esports betting in Egypt is a critical aspect of quality betting. It may directly affect the amount to deposit or withdraw at a particular site. Bettors also want to know the transaction time frames and potential charges before placing a real-money wager. Provided below are the most preferred banking methods at Egyptian-focused sportsbooks and possible charges.

• MasterCard: Zero fees
• Visa: Zero fees
• Wire transfer: Depends on the specific bank
• Neteller: 1.5% per transaction
• Skrill: 1%
• PayPal: 5% for international transfers with a minimum of $0.99 and a maximum of $4.99
• Cryptocurrency: Nearly zero fees

PayPal started working in Egypt in 2015 and serves a population of over 2 million. Numerous Egyptian banks support PayPal. Players can also incorporate their cards, e.g., AMEX, with this e-wallet. The best thing about sportsbooks targeted at Egyptians is that they accept the Egyptian pound to help players avoid extra transaction costs.