Betika among 22 firms suspended in Ethiopia’s gambling probe
According to the ELS, the suspensions will remain in place until the criminal investigation concludes and the full details have been revealed.
Ethiopia.- Kenyan sports betting operator Betika has seen its Ethiopian operations suspended indefinitely as part of a government crackdown on the sector.
The betting operator’s local entity, Addis Telco Services Share Company, was among the 22 firms suspended by the Ethiopian Lottery Service (ELS) last November. Authorities accused the owners and accomplices of the suspended sports betting organisations of concealing more than 100bn birr (€750m) in revenue owed to the government through underreporting and irregular financial practices.
The ELS confirmed that at least 24 suspects have been apprehended through “the collaboration of the National Intelligence and Security Service, the Financial Security Service, the Ethiopian Federal Police, security bodies of the Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa city administrations and the public”.
According to the regulator, the suspensions will remain in place until the criminal investigation concludes and the full details have been revealed. On December 15, the ELS extended the action by revoking all sports betting licences nationwide, blocking transactions via banks and payment providers. This covers online, retail and agent-based services, with no resumption timeline provided.
A notice on Betika’s Ethiopian website reads: “Dear customers, we would like to inform you that your favourite betting partner, Betika, has been suspended for an indefinite period. We will soon be back with improved odds, faster service and a more efficient operation.”
The betting operator has not released additional public comments on the allegations. It continues to operate in Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, where it remains a significant player.
