The Ethiopia Lottery Service (ELS) is preparing to reintroduce sports betting and digital lottery services following a wide ranging audit and reform drive aimed at tightening regulation, improving transparency and strengthening oversight of the sector.

A draft audit covering the period from July 2023, when operators first received licenses, until their suspension in December 2025 found that betting companies processed transactions worth about Birr 199 billion.

ELS Chief Executive Officer Beza Girma said the audit was undertaken to generate evidence for structural reforms and that the institution, working with relevant government bodies, would pursue legal measures to recover unpaid public revenue.

According to the report, operators were expected to pay around Birr 30 billion in commissions but remitted only Birr 3.6 billion. The resulting revenue shortfall was estimated at Birr 27.5 billion. Dash Betting reportedly accounted for Birr 8.64 billion of the unpaid amount, while other operators were linked to about Birr 19 billion.

ELS suspended the licenses of 22 sports betting agencies on December 4, 2025, following investigations into alleged illegal financial flows and regulatory breaches. All sports betting licenses were subsequently revoked nationwide on December 15.

Authorities also instructed banks and payment providers to block betting-related transactions and ordered operators to preserve financial, server and customer records.

Despite the suspension, illegal betting activity has reportedly continued. Investigations cited by Fana Media Corporation indicate that around Birr 20 billion was transacted through unlicensed betting platforms in September 2026 alone.

ELS has reiterated that no sports betting operator is currently licensed in Ethiopia.

Source: Capital Ethiopia Newspaper