Ethiopia Plans Stricter Betting Regime After Br27.5B Audit Finding

Ethiopia is preparing to relaunch sports betting and digital lotteries under tighter controls after a draft audit identified a reported 27.5 billion birr ($180 million) shortfall in payments due to the state.

The Ethiopian Lottery Service said it is working on a new regulatory framework and a unified digital system to record and monitor operators’ financial and legal obligations. No new licensing process or reopening date has been announced, and operators still cannot legally offer betting services in the country.

The draft audit covers the period from the start of sports betting licenses in July 2023 until their suspension in December 2025. According to Fana Media Corporation's findings, operators processed around 199 billion birr in transactions. About 30 billion birr in commissions were due to the state, but operators paid only 3.6 billion birr. One operator accounted for 8.64 billion birr of the reported shortfall, while 10 companies collectively accounted for another 19 billion birr.

The figures remain provisional. The full audit has not been published, and the amounts reported for individual categories do not align precisely. ELS chief executive Beza Girma said the regulator would pursue legal measures to recover identified liabilities once the audit is complete.

The sector was shut down in December 2025 after ELS suspended 22 operators and later revoked all sports betting licenses. Authorities cited alleged regulatory and financial breaches, including illicit financial transactions. Enforcement continued in 2026, with the government reporting action against 38 betting enterprises in August.

The planned relaunch remains at the preparation stage. ELS has yet to publish licensing requirements, an application process, or a timetable for operators to return to the Ethiopian market.