Ethiopia's ban on sports betting remains firmly in place, as the Ethiopian Lottery Service (ELS) reiterated that there are currently no licensed operators in the country. This comes amid some recent court developments and industry speculation regarding the status of legal betting.
In a statement shared on its official Telegram channel, ELS warned the public against using unauthorized betting platforms, including unlicensed websites and social media pages, cautioning that such illegal operators pose risks to users' personal data and financial security. The agency's statement, released last week, emphasized:
"At present, there is no sports betting organization 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."
This warning follows the government's intensified enforcement actions in late 2025. In November, 24 individuals linked to various sports betting enterprises were arrested by Ethiopia's National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) on charges of tax evasion and illegal financial activities. Shortly thereafter, ELS suspended 22 betting licenses, ultimately revoking all licenses in December, effectively shuttering the legal market.
While authorities attributed these actions to concerns over illegal financial transactions and potential threats to national security, it remains unclear whether the license revocation was directly related to the recent arrests. Nevertheless, officials have hinted that a licensed sports betting market might be considered in the future.
