Ethiopia Confirms Sports Betting Ban Remains in Force

The Ethiopian Lottery Service (ELS) has reaffirmed that sports betting remains prohibited in the country, confirming that no operator currently holds a valid licence despite recent legal developments and industry speculation.

In a statement published on its official Telegram channel, the regulator warned the public against using unlicensed betting platforms, websites, social media pages or other payment channels, citing potential risks to users' financial security and personal data.

The notice stated:

"At present, there is no sports betting organisation operating in Ethiopia with a legal licence. We strongly caution citizens not to engage in betting or deposit money through illegally operating sports betting services, websites, social media pages or any other money-collection channels."

Warning Follows Previous Enforcement Action

The announcement follows a major enforcement campaign carried out in late 2025. In November, Ethiopia’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) arrested 24 individuals linked to several sports betting businesses over allegations involving tax evasion and unlawful financial transactions.

Soon afterwards, the Ethiopian Lottery Service suspended 22 betting licences before revoking all remaining licences in December, effectively bringing the country's regulated sports betting market to a halt.

While authorities previously pointed to concerns surrounding illegal financial activities and national security, they have not confirmed whether the licence cancellations were directly connected to the arrests.

Possibility of Future Regulation

Although the nationwide ban remains in place, officials have indicated that a regulated and licensed sports betting market could be considered in the future.

For now, however, the Ethiopian Lottery Service has reiterated that no sports betting operator is legally authorised to provide services within the country and has urged consumers to avoid all unlicensed betting platforms.