ETHIOPIA – Ethiopia is preparing to relaunch sports betting and digital lottery services under a new regulatory framework following the revocation of all sports-betting licences in December 2025. The Ethiopian Lottery Service (ELS) is also developing a unified digital monitoring system designed to strengthen oversight of betting transactions and operators’ financial obligations.
The planned relaunch comes after a draft audit uncovered significant financial and compliance issues linked to the country’s previous betting regime. The audit, covering the period from July 2023, when betting operators were first licensed, to December 2025, found that betting companies processed approximately Birr199 billion (US$1.21 billion) in transactions.
According to the findings, operators were expected to pay about Birr30 billion (US$182 million) in commissions but reportedly paid only Birr3.6 billion (US$21.8 million). This left approximately Birr27.5 billion (US$167 million) outstanding, including unpaid commissions, penalties, licence renewal fees and registration charges.
ELS Chief Executive Officer Beza Girma confirmed the accuracy of the draft audit, stating that the investigation was conducted to provide evidence-based insights to guide structural reforms in the sector. The authority is expected to work with relevant government agencies to pursue legal measures aimed at recovering outstanding funds. The figures, however, remain subject to the completion of the audit and any subsequent recovery process.
On December 4, the ELS suspended 22 sports-betting companies before revoking all sports-betting licences nationwide on December 15. The authority cited alleged illegal practices, breaches of licensing agreements and illicit financial flows among the issues identified during its investigation.
Following the shutdown, banks and payment service providers were instructed to block betting-related transactions, while operators were directed to preserve financial, server and customer records. In July 2026, the ELS reiterated that no sports-betting operator held a valid licence to operate in Ethiopia.
Despite the suspension of the licensed market, illegal betting activity has reportedly continued. An investigation cited by Fana Media Corporation estimated that approximately Birr20 billion (US$121 million) was transacted through unlicensed betting platforms in September 2026 alone.
As part of its plans for the sector’s potential return, the ELS is developing a unified digital monitoring system that will allow authorities to track betting transactions and monitor operators’ financial obligations. The system is expected to provide regulators with greater visibility over market activity and strengthen compliance monitoring.
For now, no sports-betting operator is licensed to operate in Ethiopia, and the government has not announced a specific date for the market’s reopening.
