Ethiopia has revoked all licences for sports betting companies across the country. The move took effect on December 15, 2025. The Ethiopian Lottery Service, or ELS, made the announcement after a big investigation into the sector.
Officials say the probe found serious problems. These include breaches of licence rules, illegal money transfers, large-scale money laundering, and risks to national security. The ELS directed all betting operators to stop taking new bets right away. That covers online sites, agents, and any other channels.
Banks and payment services got orders too. They must block all transactions linked to betting companies. There will be no more deposits or payouts through regular channels. Operators have to keep their server data, financial records, and customer info safe. Anyone caught tampering with evidence faces criminal charges.
This shutdown comes after earlier steps. In November, the ELS suspended licences for 22 betting firms. That followed arrests of owners and others accused of hiding over 100 billion birr in revenue. Some reports tie the hidden money to tax evasion and worse activities.
The betting market in Ethiopia grew fast recently. Mobile access helped a lot. Young people made up much of the customer base. Physical shops closed a few years back, pushing everything online. Now, even licensed online betting is off.
People in Addis Ababa and other cities used these sites often. Popular teams in football drew big interest. But concerns grew about addiction and money leaving the country illegally.
The government sees these developments as part of protecting the financial system. The government also accused some fintech companies of aiding in the concealment of transactions.
No word yet on if or when betting might return. The ELS says it will watch closely to make sure the rules stick. Any company or person ignoring the ban could face legal action.
The move affects jobs in the industry. Agents and staff at betting firms now look for new work. Customers with unsettled bets should still get paid, according to the directive.
Earlier in 2025, Addis Ababa banned physical betting shops. Officials there discussed social harm, like crime linked to gambling losses. The national move goes further, hitting the whole licensed sector.
Ethiopia runs its own national lottery through the ELS. That continues as usual. But sports betting, which brought in fees and taxes, stops for now.
Reactions vary. Some support the crackdown for cleaning up illegal flows. Others worry about driving betting underground to unlicensed sites.
The story developed quickly this week. Investigations involved security services and police. More details might come as cases move forward.
For now, sports fans in Ethiopia have fewer legal ways to bet on matches. The focus shifts to enforcement and what comes next for regulation.
This decision marks a big change for an industry that expanded rapidly. Authorities put security and rules first. Residents watch to see the long-term effects.
