The Ethiopia Lottery Service has suspended the licenses of 22 sports betting operators as part of a nationwide investigation into alleged large-scale financial misconduct. The suspension, which took effect on November 25, 2018, follows directives under Proclamation No. 535/1999 and Sports Betting Licensing Directive No. 172/2013.
Authorities say the affected companies are linked to a suspected embezzlement of over 100 billion birr in government revenue. Several individuals associated with the betting firms have already been arrested through a coordinated effort involving the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), the Financial Security Service, the Ethiopian Federal Police, and city security agencies in Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa.
The Lottery Service confirmed that the suspension will remain in place until the criminal investigation is completed.
The suspended operators include:
- Dash Bet Single Member PLC
- Xnet Solution PLC / Tu X House
- Black Pearl Trading PLC
- Jumbo House PLC
- ETL (Kuwait) Co., Ltd.
- Vamos Entertainment PLC
- Multi-Functional Online Solution Pvt. Ltd.
- All Gaming PLC Association
- Unique/Melia/Sport Betting PLC Association
- Kukulu Sports PLC Association
- House Nine Ninety-Four Public Relations Association
- Walia Sports Association
- HDM/Afro/Trading PLC / Yeg Maherber
- Iconic Sports Entertainment PLC
- Dababka Trading PLC
- Home Arada Sports and Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. Association
- Flash Sports Betting PLC
- Zemen Sports Betting PLC
- Addis Teleco Services S.C. / BTICA Sports Betting
- Toto Sports Solutions PLC
- Merky Betting PLC / Champion Association
- Harif Sports Association
More updates are expected as authorities advance the investigation.
