Casino Gambling in Ethiopia
Ethiopia is a small nation in eastern Africa. Despite the small size, the country does offer a few gambling options for those looking to place a wager. However, much of the industry is not regulated. For the parts of the industry that are regulated, the primary organization in charge is the National Lottery Administration (NLA). This organization takes care of licensing are regulation for the Ethiopian gambling industry. Casino gambling is legal in Ethiopia and licenses are required for these operators. There is only one licensed casino operating in Ethiopia today. It’s called the Ghion Hotel & Casino and it is located in the national capital, Addis Ababa. Online casino gambling in Ethiopia exists in a grey area as it is not specifically regulated under any Ethiopian laws. That means, while there are no licensed online casinos in Ethiopia, players can still access and gamble at offshore betting sites.
Types of Gambling in Ethiopia
Most other forms of gambling are legal in Ethiopia and regulated by the National Lottery Administration. Hence the name, lottery is one of the biggest gambling activities under the control of the NLA. It has been this way since the 1960s.
Currently, the NLA offers a Tombolla lottery (a type of raffle) and a game called Bingo Lottery. Neither are available online – all tickets must be purchased through licensed lottery retailers in the country. There are currently about 60 lottery agents in Ethiopia where tickets can be bought.
Sports betting is also legal in Ethiopia and controlled by the National Lottery Administration. However, there are no actual licensed sports betting operators in Ethiopia at this time. Those looking to place sports bets should use reputable online betting sites that accept gamblers from Ethiopia.
Poker is also legal in Ethiopia but again, there are no licensed poker halls in the country. That said, the NLA does claim jurisdiction over this game. If you want to play poker in Ethiopia, we suggest looking for an online poker site accepting Ethiopian players.
Best Ethiopian Online Casinos
Since there are no licensed online casinos operating in Ethiopia, your best bet is to play at an offshore online casino that accepts players from Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian government has never expressed any desire to crack down on this activity. It is not explicitly illegal, but it is also not explicitly legal either. In this grey area, Ethiopian gamblers are able to access international online casino sites.
Wondering what is the best online casino for Ethiopian players? We recommend choosing from our list of the best Ethiopian online casinos. Our team has narrowed down the options for you by personally testing each site.
We only recommend safe and secure online casinos with good reputations. Our experts have checked every aspect of these casinos including the gambling license, casino support, game availability and developers, payment options, withdrawal times, and fairness.
FAQ
✅ Is gambling legal in Ethiopia?
Many forms of gambling are technically legal in Ethiopia, but in reality most are not available. There is currently one land-based casino operating in Ethiopia and it’s licensed by the National Lottery Administration (NLA). This organization controls all legal gambling in Ethiopia, sets the rules, issues licenses, and collects fees. According to the NLA, casinos, sports betting, poker, and lottery are all legal. However, you won’t find any poker halls or sports betting venues in Ethiopia.
✅ Is online gambling allowed in Ethiopia?
Online gambling in Ethiopia exists in a grey area of the law. That means there really are no laws to govern the practice - it’s not illegal, but there are no laws specifically stating that it is legal either. As a result, the government and the National Lottery Administration don’t enforce any rules surrounding the use of international online casino sites. Players in Ethiopia are free to access and play at offshore casino sites as long as they accept Ethiopian players. Check out our list here on this page to find the best Ethiopian online casinos.
✅ What is the best Ethiopian online casino?
It’s tough to pick just one casino that is better than all the rest. In reality, it comes down to your preferences as a gambler. Do you prefer slots or table games? That is the first question you should ask because it will help you narrow down your choices. When you’re trying to pick the best Ethiopian online casino, take a look at the game selection and developers that are available. You can also look at the available casino bonuses - pay extra attention to the welcome bonuses offered to new players. You should also take care to check the casino gambling license to make sure the site is safe. We recommend international casinos licensed by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and the government of Curaçao.
✅ Is sports betting legal in Ethiopia?
Technically sports betting is legal in Ethiopia according to the National Lottery Administration and national laws. However, there are no licensed sports betting operators currently in Ethiopia. That means that anyone looking to place sports bets from within Ethiopia will need to use an offshore betting site.
✅ What are the best Ethiopian online casino payment methods?
The trickiest part of gambling online in Ethiopia is finding a site that will accept your currency. In general, most online casinos don’t accept the Ethiopian birr (ETB) as currency. That means you will have to convert the currency, usually to a popular international currency like the Euro or US dollar. Our top method to do this is via an e-wallet. Most international casino sites already accept popular e-wallets that will convert your currency for you. We recommend Skrill, Neteller, Click2Pay, PayPal, and EcoPay. These services will convert your currency to an accepted currency. You can then use the e-wallet to deposit and withdraw directly at the casino. Just be aware that most e-wallets charge a fee for any currency conversion services.
✅ Is the National Lottery Administration reputable?
The National Lottery Administration has a history of corruption. The organization has been accused of this many times over the years. Additionally, we have heard many reports of the NLA simply not investigating complaints of shady business practices. This is unfortunate for the Ethiopian gambling industry - it will not be able to survive and grown under a corrupt organization. As an Ethiopian gambler, your best bet for casino gambling is to use reputable and safe offshore casino sites.
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