The Ethiopian Lottery Service (ELS) has accused betPawa of conducting illegal sports betting operations in Ethiopia. The regulator claims the operator offered betting services and registered Ethiopian customers without holding a valid local license. According to the regulator, betPawa’s activities violated national laws governing investment, service provision, and licensing requirements.
An internal ELS report indicates that betPawa began advertising its services in Ethiopia before its anticipated launch. The operator did this despite lacking the necessary regulatory approval. The report says such promotional activity breached Ethiopia’s legal framework and raised serious concerns about compliance, oversight, and consumer safety. ELS emphasized that operating without a license exposes both users and the country to multiple risks.
Key risks highlighted include the absence of customer protection mechanisms, increased exposure to money laundering, and potential threats to national information security. ELS has notified security and judicial authorities. It also confirmed that it will continue enforcement actions as part of a broader regulatory crackdown.
The allegations against betPawa come amid Ethiopia’s intensified efforts to regulate the sports betting sector. In November this year, ELS suspended the licenses of 22 operators. They were accused of concealing more than 100 billion birr (approximately €1.59 billion) in revenue. ELS framed these actions as necessary to address systemic compliance failures and financial irregularities.
On December 15, ELS revoked all remaining sports betting licenses nationwide. The move followed government directives and investigations that reportedly uncovered widespread illegal financial transfers and national security concerns. ELS ordered licensed operators to immediately stop accepting bets through all channels. It also instructed banks and payment providers to block all betting-related transactions.
ELS continues to warn the public against using unauthorized platforms. It stresses that all sports betting activity in Ethiopia is now strictly prohibited. Despite this, betPawa still holds licenses in countries such as Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, Cameroon, Malawi, and Benin. Its legality in Ethiopia, however, remains in question.
