ELS Set to Revive Sports Betting and Digital Lottery Services in Ethiopia
The Ethiopian Lottery Service (ELS) is establishing strict regulatory conditions to relaunch sports betting and digital lotteries following nationwide license revocations and a major state audit.
The Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC) audit revealed that licensed wagering firms accumulated a Br27.5 billion shortfall in state revenue between July 2023 and December 2025. Despite processing Br199 billion in total transactions and generating an expected Br30 billion in state commissions, operators remitted only Br3.6 billion, prompting multi-agency law enforcement interventions and legal recovery proceedings.
A primary share of the unpaid debt is held by a single dominant market player. As highlighted by Capital Newspaper, Dash Betting alone is responsible for Br8.64 billion, representing 32%, of the uncollected total, with the remaining Br19 billion owed collectively by other licensed firms. ELS Chief Executive Officer Beza Girma confirmed the audit results, stating that the investigation provides evidence-based data to drive structural reforms and support legal recovery of outstanding funds.
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The financial disclosures follow earlier security enforcement measures against illicit capital flows. On 4 December 2025, the ELS suspended 22 sports betting agencies following intelligence probes linking them to unauthorized financial transactions.
On 15 December 2025, authorities revoked all betting licenses across the country, shut down physical and digital operations, and directed financial institutions to freeze associated accounts. The crackdown expanded in August 2026, targeting 38 betting enterprises under accusations of economic sabotage.
Despite total sector prohibitions, illicit gambling has expanded rapidly. Black market transaction volume surged to Br20 billion in September 2026 alone, a fourfold increase compared to baseline levels in 2023.
To ensure future compliance, regulators are deploying a unified digital monitoring system to track financial transactions in real time prior to granting new operating licenses.
