Hulu Sport court win stalled by Ethiopian lottery administration appeal
The court found that the NLA had failed to comply with the legal procedures required before imposing the suspension.
Ethiopia.- More than seven months after Ethiopia revoked the licences of all licensed sports betting operators nationwide, one of the affected operators, Hulu Sport, has won an important court challenge. The Federal High Court ruled that the National Lottery Administration (NLA) acted unlawfully when it ordered the company to cease operations.
The court found that the NLA had failed to comply with the legal procedures required before imposing the suspension, effectively setting aside the regulator’s earlier decision. The ruling marks the first major judicial test of Ethiopia’s nationwide crackdown on licensed sports betting operators.
Despite the decision, Hulu Sport has not been allowed to resume operations. The NLA appealed the judgment shortly after it was delivered and secured a 15-day stay of execution, preventing the ruling from taking effect while the appellate court reviews the case. As a result, the operator’s retail outlets and online betting platform remain closed.
The dispute dates back to December 15, 2025, when Ethiopian authorities revoked the licences of all sports betting operators following an investigation by the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), which allegedly uncovered widespread fraud, tax evasion and money laundering across the sector.
Since then, no licensed sports betting operator has resumed business. The regulator has also maintained that sports betting remains prohibited, saying court rulings do not automatically restore an operator’s right to offer betting services without regulatory approval.
The appeal now moves the case to the next stage of judicial review. If the appellate court upholds the High Court’s ruling, Hulu Sport could strengthen its legal challenge against the regulator’s action. If the NLA succeeds on appeal, the original suspension is expected to remain in force.
The outcome is expected to be closely watched across Ethiopia’s gambling sector, as it could clarify the scope of the regulator’s enforcement powers and the procedural protections available to licensed gambling operators.
