Ethiopia Reasserts Betting Ban Amid Scammer Activity
HighlightsÂ
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Ethiopia confirms sports betting ban as scammers are confusing the masses.Â
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Adis Insight reports that 24 people were arrested and have been bailed out in January 2026.
The Ethiopian Lottery Service (ELS) has issued a public notice reaffirming that the country’s sports betting ban remains in effect, seven months after regulators cancelled all operating licences in the sector.
The notice, shared on ELS’s official Telegram channel last week, comes as scammers seek to exploit public confusion over the shutdown to target consumers in Ethiopia.
This ELS warning comes as a development to sports betting platform services being promoted through social media and other communication channels.
The regulator said consumers who use unlicensed operators risk losing money and exposing personal information, and warned that losses may be difficult to recover because the companies are not legally licensed.
ELS urged the public to report unauthorised sports betting activities through the short code 9695. The authority said it would continue working with relevant government institutions to protect the public interest, financial integrity, and law enforcement.
There was a crackdown in November 2025 by Ethiopia’s National Intelligence Service (NISS), which joined with the Security Service (NISS) to take 24 people into custody believed to be owners and accomplices of sports betting companies.
NISS accuses these individuals of concealing more than ETB100 billion ($620.5 million) in government revenue.
Following the investigation on 4 December 2025, ELS acted promptly by suspending the licences of 22 sports betting operators, citing information from the National Intelligence and Security Service and the related arrests.
Rather than referring directly to the arrests, the 24 suspects, or the ETB100 billion figure, the regulator’s directive pointed to a nationwide review of the betting and financial sectors and concerns over illegal financial transfers that could threaten national security.
As per the latest report from Addis Insight, all 24 convicted persons were released in late January 2026. No statement from officials regarding the case.Â
For more information, Refer Here!
The notice, shared on ELS’s official Telegram channel last week, comes as scammers seek to exploit public confusion over the shutdown to target consumers in Ethiopia.
This ELS warning comes as a development to sports betting platform services being promoted through social media and other communication channels.
The regulator said consumers who use unlicensed operators risk losing money and exposing personal information, and warned that losses may be difficult to recover because the companies are not legally licensed.
ELS urged the public to report unauthorised sports betting activities through the short code 9695. The authority said it would continue working with relevant government institutions to protect the public interest, financial integrity, and law enforcement.
There was a crackdown in November 2025 by Ethiopia’s National Intelligence Service (NISS), which joined with the Security Service (NISS) to take 24 people into custody believed to be owners and accomplices of sports betting companies.
NISS accuses these individuals of concealing more than ETB100 billion ($620.5 million) in government revenue.
Following the investigation on 4 December 2025, ELS acted promptly by suspending the licences of 22 sports betting operators, citing information from the National Intelligence and Security Service and the related arrests.
Rather than referring directly to the arrests, the 24 suspects, or the ETB100 billion figure, the regulator’s directive pointed to a nationwide review of the betting and financial sectors and concerns over illegal financial transfers that could threaten national security.
As per the latest report from Addis Insight, all 24 convicted persons were released in late January 2026. No statement from officials regarding the case.Â
For more information, Refer Here!
