Hulu Sport Remains Suspended Despite Federal High Court of Ethiopia Overturning NLA Decision
The Federal High Court of Ethiopia has overturned the National Lottery Administration’s (NLA) decision to suspend Hulu Sport.
The Federal High Court is the second-level federal judicial organ, operating below the Federal Supreme Court of Ethiopia and above the Federal First Instance Court.
Hulu Sport, secured a legal victory when the court overturned the NLA’s suspension of its operations, ruling that the decision was ‘legally flawed’ and lacked the necessary procedural due process.
However, this victory proved to be purely symbolic for the time being. Immediately following the ruling, the NLA filed an appeal and secured a 15-day stay of execution. This legal maneuver effectively pauses the court’s judgment, ensuring that Hulu Sport’s retail shops and online platforms remain closed while the appellate court reviews the case.
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This development comes after the Ethiopian government, on December 15, 2025, enacted a nationwide shutdown of the entire sports betting sector. The move involved the blanket revocation of all existing operating licenses, affecting every retail shop, agent, and online platform in the country. The justification for this action was rooted in a comprehensive investigation by the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), which allegedly uncovered massive systemic fraud, tax evasion, and money laundering, ultimately triggering the industry shutdown.
While some operators have interpreted recent court successes as a green light to resume operations, the Ethiopian Lottery Service (ELS) had issued a stern public warning to the contrary. On July 23, 2026, the ELS confirmed that no sports betting operator is currently licensed to operate in Ethiopia.
For Hulu Sport, the future depends entirely on the upcoming appellate ruling.
The outcome of this case is expected to set a major precedent for judicial oversight of government regulators in Ethiopia. Until then, betting shops remain closed, and the industry’s stakeholders, from investors to customers, remain in a state of watchful waiting.
Source: addisfortune
