Unrest in Egypt Threatens Casinos Operation

The year 2011 has brought much unrest to the Arab world. One of the main countries affected, by what is now being referred to as the Arab Spring, was Egypt.

The uprising in Egypt started in January 2011 and still continuing to this day, although the ruling regime has been toppled and an end was put to Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year rule.

Now the Egyptians are battling to form a new government as currently the country is under military rule. One of the potential presidential candidates is Hazem Salah Abu Ismail who started his work in public life as a member of the Muslim Brotherhood but has since split from the group in order to run for president.

Abu Ismail has many views regarding the future of Egypt and pledges to abolish gambling in the most populated African country.

Egypt currently has 26 land casinos and 1 casino cruise ship that caters mainly to tourists and foreign workers. The casinos are spread throughout Egypt’s biggest cities. In the city of Cairo there are 20 casinos, in Alexandria there is one casino and Sharm El Sheikh has five casinos.

If Abu Ismail is elected in the upcoming election he promises to close all the casinos in the country even though none of them cater to the Muslim population in the country.

Only time will tell if religious extremists like Abu Ismail will rise to power and affect many of the western customs that are prevalent in the country.