Top 5 Ethiopian Betting Sites for 2024

Created by potrace 1.10, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2011
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Best Betting sites in Ethiopia

In our table below, you will find the top online bookmakers in Ethiopia.

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Top Betting Sites in Ethiopia Ranked


Introduction

Ethiopia is a Western African country that shares its borders with Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Kenya. As a West African country, it is home to over 115 million people who primarily avoid betting activities. As a result, land-based betting shops are non-existent, while online sports betting thrives.

In this best betting site in Ethiopia article, we will look closely at betting in Ethiopia and pride clarity of its gambling laws. Moreover, we provide a list of top online betting sites for Ethiopians, including information about betting features, bonuses, leading sports and more.

Interesting facts about betting in Ethiopia

As Ethiopia is one of the oldest countries globally, its natural history would include exciting facts about betting. Ethiopia is also a deeply religious country with a diverse population that has differing opinions about betting. That being said, let’s look at some facts about betting in Ethiopia.

  • The most common form of gambling amongst Ethiopians is lottery games offered by the Ethiopian National Lottery Association.
  • The fastest-growing segment of gambling in Ethiopia is sports betting. Today, over 45 sports betting companies offer sports betting services to Ethiopians over the age of 18.
  • Ethiopia first enacted gambling legislation in 1961 when it founded the National Lottery Administration. Its responsibilities include controlling and regulating all activities related to gambling.
  • Due to the limited investment in telecommunications, less than 15% (17 million) of Ethiopians have access to online betting sites.
  • The first sports betting company founded in Ethiopia was Dagoo Sports Betting. It opened in 2012 and closed after less than a year of operation.
  • Since 1980, there have been no land-based casinos operating in Ethiopia.

Gambling Legislation and Laws in Ethiopia

The act of gambling in Ethiopia is generally seen as unfavourable due to religious overtones within Ethiopian society. While this perception is common, it has not resulted in Ethiopia enacting gambling legislation. Concerning its gambling laws, they were first enacted in 1953 when the national lottery proclamation took effect.

The national lottery proclamation was created to make lottery betting a legal activity. In addition to the national lottery proclamation, the National Lottery Administration Re-establishment Proclamation grants the National Lottery Administration the authority to issue licenses and regulate all lottery activities. In addition to the lottery, the NLA is responsible for governing other gambling-related games such as poker, casino, and sports betting.

Unfortunately, online betting in Ethiopia is a grey area as there is no formal regulation relating to online gambling. Resultantly, online betting companies are not required to obtain licensing from the NLA and a free to offer their services to Ethiopians. The downside is the lack of a regulatory body, but most bookies offering services in Ethiopia are licensed establishments.

What are the Top 5 Online Betting Sites in Ethiopia?

As a country without online gaming legislation, Ethiopians have the liberty to choose from a growing selection of online sportsbooks. However, choosing a safe and reliable bookmaker can be challenging for Ethiopian punters. To ensure they have access to reliable bookmakers, here is our list of Ethiopia’s top betting sites.

#1 1xBet

1xBet has been an established betting site that has been operational since 2007. Having over a decade of experience under their belt has seen the company gain a reputation for quality. A large part of that quality comes from their superior sports betting platform. With 28+ featured sport types and more than 1,000 monthly events, the sportsbook includes pre-match and in-play betting options. The bookie also features generous odds, live results and statistics.

Along with its extensive sports betting options, 1xBet increases its appeal by offering many alternative betting solutions. They include virtual sports, casinos, bingo, eSports, Toto, Lotto and Poker as complementary betting features.

1xbet homepage Ethiopia
  • Pros
  • Pre-match and live betting for over 28 sports markets
  • Excellent range of betting markets
  • Generous odds and Ethiopian-friendly payment methods
  • Cons
  • Some games unavailable due to licensing limitations

Visit 1xBet

#2 22Bet

A highly rated sportsbook throughout Western Africa, 22bet has risen to great heights since opening in 2017. Today, they rank among the best sportsbooks in overall satisfaction for preferred odds and flexible betting options. As a licensed bookie, 22Bet delivers the opportunity to punt on more than 30 sports. Available for live and pre-match betting, they offer hundreds of daily events and an even more significant number of markets.

Along with 22Bet’s high usability, the bookie features slots, esports, virtual games and an online casino with live dealer games. Moreover, they include the opportunity to download apps, access a mobile website, and access real-time statistics and results.

22bet homepage Ethiopia
  • Pros
  • Excellent betting platform with high usability
  • Attractive betting odds and easily accessible statistics
  • Generously appointed online casino
  • Cons
  • Does not offer live streaming

Visit 22Bet

#3 Betway

As a 2006 established online bookie and casino entertainment site, Betway has remained consistent since its opening. Ideal for Ethiopians punting in an unregulated market, Betway offers a licensed, safe and regulated betting environment. The environment consists of over 28 sports for pre-match and in-play punting. Betway furthermore brings together a highly institutive platform that allows flexibility for odds formats, preferred languages and promotions.

Betway also strengthens its appeal to Ethiopian punters by adding an online casino and esports betting. The Betway casino includes exclusive games and live streaming for esports, along with traditional games of chance.

homepage of betway
  • Pros
  • Includes access to over 28 sport markets
  • Features an online casino and esports platform
  • Free betting tips and competitive odds
  • Cons
  • Cryptocurrency payments not accepted

Visit Betway

#4 BetWinner

BetWinner has always been seen as a champion for punters who want to punt a diverse range of sports. As an online bookmaker, BetWinner was founded in 2018 and has since become home to over 150,000 punters. BetWinner includes access to over 30 sport types and includes live betting among its options as part of its sportsbook. The bookie is known for favourable odds and its extensive options for punters who favour live streaming.

As for BetWinner’s other gaming categories, the bookie excels by including casino, virtual, and esports options. As a featured alternative to sports betting, the casino comes well-appointed with over 1,500 games. Moreover, BetWinner offers live coverage for more than 30 esports.

homepage of betwinner
  • Pros
  • Excellent variety of sports markets
  • Superior live betting options and odds
  • Accepts multiple cryptocurrencies
  • Cons
  • May restrict your account

Visit BetWinner

#5 Melbet

Founded in 2012, Melbet has over a decade under its belt delivering high-quality sports and casino betting. As an experienced bookie, Melbet offers Ethiopians access to more than 30 sports and includes pre-match and live betting events. Along with market diversity, Melbet is home to competitive odds, live streaming and player-friendly betting features. Several of those features include detailed statistics, post-game results and early cash out options.

As for Melbet’s other gaming categories, the bookie excels by including options for casino, virtual and esports. As a featured alternative to sports betting, the casino comes well-appointed with over 1,500 games.

melbet homepage Ethiopia
  • Pros
  • Excellent live betting platform and live streaming
  • A large variety of poker, casino and other games
  • Access to past results and sports statistics
  • Cons
  • Limited resources for betting information

Visit Melbet

Competition between Operators

The Ethiopian market is devoid of competition between operators as it is controlled by the National Lottery Administration. As the National Lottery Administration regulates all gambling-related activity, there are no formal operators within the country.

Therefore, the monopolies within Ethiopia are centred around state-licensed lotteries and licensed sportsbook operators beyond competition between online operators. In this respect, competition exists, but it is somewhat muted due to the country’s limited social acceptance of betting.

Bonuses from Ethiopian Bookmakers

Ethiopians have the advantage of accessing a long list of desirable bonuses from Ethiopian bookmakers. As bookmakers in Ethiopia operate online, most bonuses are designed for an international audience. For Ethiopians, that is good news as it ensures the promotions at their disposal offer the greatest value. In this respect, the most common include bonuses for new players, re-deposit bonuses, free bets and a variety of others.

Betting Features and Options in the Ethiopian Bookmakers

Similar to other jurisdiction bookmakers, Ethiopian bookmakers offer an attractive section of betting features and options. Generally speaking, the features and opportunities provided by Ethiopian bookmakers are the same as those offered in other countries. We have highlighted those most frequently offered by Ethiopian bookmakers to better understand those features and options.

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Cash Out
This is one of the most frequent features offered by Ethiopian bookies. The purpose of the cash out is to give punters the option to cash in bets early. However, in doing so, only part of the bet will be returned, while the other will be forfeited as a processing fee.

Bet Builder
This option is a tool that allows punters to create a custom bet for a particular sporting event. The betting markets chosen are then calculated based on the amount staked and the posted odds. Generally, this is most often used for betting on football or basketball.

Live Betting
Live betting is now a standard for Ethiopian bookmakers while previously it was viewed as a luxury feature. As an option, punters can choose preferred markets, access real-time betting odds and place in-play bets.

Live Streaming
Live streaming is a free service provided by Ethiopian bookmakers who offer international sports coverage. Depending on the bookie, this feature will be available for multiple sports types and horse and greyhound racing.

What are the available Payment Methods in Ethiopia?

The available payment methods in Ethiopia include bank transfers, online payment solutions and ATM transfers. While these differ slightly from those offered in other jurisdictions, they function similarly. Unfortunately for Ethiopians, very few online bookmakers accept transactions using the Ethiopian Birr. Therefore, bettors will incur a minimal currency conversion cost when transacting online.

However, while this is inconvenient, the minimum transactional rates are ideal for the Ethiopian market. Generally, the minimum amount for deposits is 10 euros, although this is dependant on the bookmaker. As for withdrawals, the payment methods are identical to deposits, but withdrawal minimums will be 20 euros or more.


What are the Mobile Betting options in Ethiopia?

The mobile betting options in Ethiopia resemble those available to bettors in other Western African countries. Ethiopian bookmakers offer two options: a mobile website and mobile betting apps. While both offer immediate access to sports and other betting options, the two are distinctively different.

A mobile website is accessible only through a compatible mobile browser, while an app requires downloading and installation. However, beyond system updates, the differences between the two end as both offer the same betting options and features.

One difference worth mentioning is Ethiopians opting to download apps have two options for downloading. These include direct via the bookmaker site or through the respective apps store. As for mobile sites, they require manually entering the bookie site into a mobile browser. However, Ethiopian punters can avail a web app for more efficient access.

Are Online Casinos available in Ethiopia?

The availability of online casinos in Ethiopia is widespread due to the lack of specific legislation governing online betting. Resultantly, Ethiopians have unrestricted access to licensed online casinos offering superb gaming options. The range in gaming options cover a full range of interests and include table games, slots, bingo and scratchcard games.

However, this is just a sample of online casinos’ traditional games, as live dealer games are also available. These are generally favoured as they are played in a live setting and are naturally more interactive. They also offer an entertaining selection of games and interact with live dealers.

Besides the choices online casinos offer in game selection, they include other qualities that are seen favourably. The most relevant is they are licensed and follow strict regulations that govern their operation. As Ethiopia is an unregulated market, this carries the utmost importance as it ensures a safe betting environment.

It is worth mentioning that each of the top 5 betting sites for Ethiopia are licensed and provide enhanced safety measures. Moreover, they provide multiple bonus opportunities and Ethiopian-friendly payment methods.

What are the Leading sports for betting in Ethiopia?

The leading sports for betting in Ethiopia wishing to punt online is football, basketball, athletics and volleyball. The top sports are closely tied to the popularity of those sports within Ethiopian society. As such, punters are naturally drawn to betting on those sports, but they deserve an explanation.

  • Football
    Like most West African countries, football plays a prominent role in the lives of Ethiopians. A major contributing factor to football being a leading sport is the many local clubs and the country’s national teams.
  • Basketball
    Basketball’s popularity also is resultant on the countries national team and star players such as Buay Tuach. In addition, the country has an active local basketball association and men’s national under-16 basketball team.
  • Athletics
    Athletics is a primary source of physical activity within Ethiopia’s society at both the local and Olympic levels. As the International Amateur Athletic Federation, Ethiopia is home to long-distance runners and Olympic gold medalists Haile Gebrselassie and Abebe Bikila.
  • Volleyball
    Volleyball has been a leading sport for betting since the 1970s when it was prevalent in Ethiopian schools. Part of the reasons it remains a leading sport is the countries Women’s National Team and local volleyball clubs.

The profile of an Ethiopian Bettor

It is difficult to dissimilate the average profile for an Ethiopian bettor due to the demographic nature of Ethiopian society. As many in the country view gambling negatively, it is unclear what age group most frequently gamble. Likewise, social and economic factors for profiling purposes are unclear. It is tied to the social stigma within Ethiopia’s predominantly Muslim population.

However, the country has a long history of offering lottery games, and that is commonly a non-gender form of betting. Unfortunately, its National Lottery Administration does not provide statistical information that would help to develop an Ethiopian player profile. Therefore, considering the societal norms, we have to assume the average bettor is male, employed and between the ages of 25 and 65.


FAQ about Online Betting in Ethiopia

Is online betting legal in Ethiopia?

Yes, online betting is legal in Ethiopia due to the lack of online gambling legislation.

Are there any taxes for Ethiopian players on their winnings?

No, Ethiopian players are not required to pay tax on their winnings.

Can I open an account and play in ETB (Ethiopian birr)?

You may only open an account and play using the Ethiopian birr if available as a currency option with Ethiopian bookmakers.

Are there any betting restrictions for Ethiopian players?

No, Ethiopians face no gambling restrictions when playing with online bookmakers.

Will I face persecution if I gamble online?

No, there are no laws in Ethiopia preventing Ethiopians from betting online.

What is the minimum age requirement for gambling online in Ethiopia?

The minimum age requirement in Ethiopia for gambling online is 18.

Will local authorities have access to my betting history in Ethiopia?

No, online bookmakers never share this information with local authorities.


Our Final Verdict about betting in Ethiopia

The betting industry in Ethiopia is far from being viewed as liberal. While the country has slowly been adopting a more liberal attitude towards sports betting, it remains unregulated, and therefore laws are outdated. The positive to this is that without regulations and rules governing online betting, Ethiopians are free to gamble online.

Whether this will change in the future is anyone’s guess, but internet betting in Ethiopia is legal for the time being. Resultantly, Ethiopians are free to register with any of our top Ethiopian betting websites and punt as their leisure.