All sports betting companies licensed in Ethiopia have had their licenses revoked, effective today, December 15, 2025, according to a press release issued by the Ethiopian Lottery Service (ELS).
The ELS stated that the decision followed a “nationwide, in-depth assessment of betting and the financial sector.”
The service further noted it had “identified illegal practices, violations of licensing agreements, and illegal money transfers assessed as posing risks to national security.”
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Banks and other payment service providers have been directed to block betting-related transactions. Enforcement will be carried out in coordination with relevant government institutions, “with legal consequences for non-compliance”.
The ELS called for the immediate cessation of all sports betting activities, both online and physical, noting that betting companies are prohibited from accepting new bets or deposits, and payment gateways linked to betting operations must cease services.
Operators have been instructed to preserve all server data, financial records, and user information, with criminal liability attached to the destruction, alteration, or concealment of evidence.
