Ethiopia Archives

Ethiopia is preparing new regulations for sports betting and digital lotteries, although operators remain unable to resume business following the nationwide cancellation of betting licences in December 2025. Good to Know No sports betting operator currently holds a valid licence in Ethiopia, and regulators have not announced a reopening date. A draft audit identified approximately Br27.5 billion in outstanding payments involving betting and lottery operators. Authorities plan to introduce a digital monitoring system before allowing licensed gambling operations to resume. Court Ruling and New Sports Law Shape Betting Regulation The Ethiopian Lottery Service (ELS) faces a legal challenge over its enforcement procedures after operator Hulu Sport successfully contested its licence cancellation. The Federal High Court ruled that the regulator had failed to give Hulu Sport an opportunity to respond to allegations. However, the decision did not settle the underlying financial claims. ELS subsequently appealed, securing a temporary stay while the Court of Cassation reviewed the case. Meanwhile, Ethiopia has settled a separate disagreement over which government body should regulate sports betting. The Federal Sport Development and Management Proclamation No. 1413/2026, published in July, excluded a proposed provision that would have given the Ministry of Culture and Sports a role in betting oversight. ELS chief executive Beza Girma had opposed the proposal, arguing that the Ministry of Revenues held the relevant licensing authority. The legislation instead established a Federal Sports Development Fund without specifically allocating gambling revenue to it. Ethiopia Targets Unpaid Betting Revenue The proposed sports betting relaunch follows a draft audit covering Br199 billion in transactions processed by gambling operators. According to figures reported by Fana Media Corporation, operators paid just Br3.6 billion against approximately Br30 billion in assessed state commissions. The reported Br27.5 billion shortfall also includes penalties and other fees, although the audit remains unfinished and some published figures do not fully reconcile. One operator reportedly accounted for Br8.64 billion in outstanding obligations, while ten others accounted for approximately Br19 billion. Girma said ELS intends to pursue unpaid liabilities through legal channels once the audit concludes. Authorities are also developing a unified digital system to track betting transactions and operator obligations, replacing weaknesses in existing financial monitoring arrangements. The regulatory changes follow an enforcement campaign that began with the suspension of 22 operators on December 4, 2025. ELS cancelled all sports betting licences on December 15. By August 2026, government authorities had reported action against 38 betting businesses over alleged tax evasion, concealed revenue and financial misconduct. Officials also reported arrests and frozen bank accounts, although they did not disclose the identities of all affected businesses or the outcomes of proceedings. Despite preparations for a new regulatory framework, ELS has not published revised licensing conditions or an application timetable.

Ethiopia

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