Ethiopia security and regulatory authorities have raised alarms about illegal sports betting and lottery operations conducted by an unlicensed organization. These activities pose risks to government revenue, public interest, and national security.
An official document was sent to national security and regulatory bodies, requesting action against an organization operating outside the legal framework for sports betting and lottery activities in Ethiopia.
The National Lottery Administration, empowered by Article 6, Sub-Article 4 of Law No. 160/2001, holds exclusive authority to issue, regulate, and revoke sports betting lottery licenses.
Licensed organizations must remit commissions to the government and comply with regulatory standards. Currently, only organizations meeting these requirements are permitted to conduct betting activities through approved branches and financial institutions, including online platforms.
Authorities reported that a company named BetPawa did not obtain a sports betting lottery license from the National Lottery Administration. This company, previously unknown to the service, allegedly attempted to operate sports betting services using the domain name betPawa.com.
The document states that these actions are illegal and may jeopardize government revenue, public welfare, and national security interests. In response, the issuing authority formally requested that the relevant office take appropriate action against the organization.
Supporting documents were included to validate the claims of illegal operations. Copies of the communication were distributed to several government bodies, including the Financial Security Services of Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Information Network Security Agency, the Directorate of Audit and Inspection, the Directorate for Ethics and Anti-Corruption, the Legal Services Group, and the Directorate for Licensing and Supervision of the Ethiopian Lottery Service.
This situation highlights Ethiopia’s strict regulatory approach to sports betting and its commitment to enforcing licensing laws to protect national and public interests.
