Best Betting sites in Ethiopia
In our table below, you will find the top online bookmakers in Ethiopia.
- Generous Welcome Bonuses and Promotions
- Among the Highest Odds in the industry
- Wide Variety of Sports Betting Markets
- A lot of Casino Games
- Great Range of Sports Betting Markets
- Wide Variety of Casino Games
- Generous Bonus Offers
- Mobile App is Available
- Trusted & Secure Online Betting Site
- Competitive Sports Betting Odds and Markets
- Great Range of Casino Games
- Professional Customer Support
- Great range of Betting Markets
- A lot of Casino Games
- Generous Welcome Bonuses and Additional Offers
- Mobile App is Available
- Wide sports coverage
- Competitive odds
- Rich bonus section
- Mobile app available
Top Betting Sites in Ethiopia Ranked
- #1 🥇 1xBet – Best Overall Bookmaker
- #2 🥈 22Bet – Top Mobile Apps
- #3 🥉 Betway – Best Odds for Sports Betting
- #4 🎯 BetWinner – Top In-play Betting Website
- #5 🎯 Melbet – Best Payment Options
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 EthiopiaThe 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.
- 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
- Pros
- Excellent betting platform with high usability
- Attractive betting odds and easily accessible statistics
- Generously appointed online casino
- Cons
- Does not offer live streaming
- 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
- Pros
- Excellent variety of sports markets
- Superior live betting options and odds
- Accepts multiple cryptocurrencies
- Cons
- May restrict your account
- 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
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 BookmakersEthiopians 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.
Cash Out | |
Bet Builder | |
Live Betting | |
Live Streaming |
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.