Ethiopia's prohibition on sports betting remains firmly established, as reaffirmed by the Ethiopian Lottery Service (ELS), which has noted that currently, no operator possesses a valid license to operate in the country. The regulatory body took to its official Telegram channel to warn consumers against engaging with unlicensed betting platforms, social media promotions, or alternative payment methods, emphasizing that illegal operators pose significant risks to personal data and financial security.
In its post from last week, ELS 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."
This warning follows a vigorous enforcement campaign by the government that took place in late 2025. In November, the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) apprehended 24 individuals linked to several sports betting companies on charges of extensive tax evasion and illicit financial dealings. Subsequently, ELS acted by suspending 22 betting licenses and, by December, effectively shuttered the legal betting market by withdrawing all licenses.
While authorities have cited concerns over the potential for illegal transactions and national security vulnerabilities, it remains unclear if the revocation of licenses is directly related to the recent arrests. Despite the existing ban, officials have indicated that the possibility of reinstating a licensed betting market may be evaluated in the future.
