Egypt cracks down on sports betting amid rising controversy

The Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports said on Monday that they will take strong steps to stop the increasing problem of football betting in the country.

In a message posted on Facebook, the ministry explained that the rules for registering sports businesses clearly say that any company involved in betting, either directly or indirectly, is not allowed. "No approvals have ever been issued for companies operating in this field," the statement emphasized.

The ministry is coordinating with relevant authorities to block access to betting websites broadcasting from abroad and to launch investigations into promotional activities linked to such platforms. "These practices fall under prohibited and punishable acts as per Egyptian laws and regulations," it added.

This announcement comes after many people criticized former Egyptian soccer star Mohamed Zidan. He was in a video on Instagram promoting a betting company. His actions made people very upset because they broke the country's strong laws against gambling. This led the ministry to act quickly.

The ministry urged the public to verify information from official sources and refrain from spreading unconfirmed reports.