History of Gambling in Ethiopia

In 1981, the country’s National Lottery Administration was tasked with regulating all gambling activities in Ethiopia. Although the National Lottery Administration was established in 1961, it was not until 20 years later that it began regulating the industry. During the 1980s, there was just one land-based casino in Ethiopia, which was a part of Ghion Hotel & Casino resort.

Today, Ghion Hotel & Casino resort is operating but offers very few games and cannot accommodate many gamblers. Because of it, during the past several years, online casinos have become popular among Ethiopians. Besides, since the government took steps to improve the Internet connection in Ethiopia, gambling sites have become more accessible. Still, only a few locals have an Internet connection, so online casinos are not extremely popular.

Currently, there are no online casinos based or licensed in Ethiopia, so the residents take advantage of offshore casino sites.

Legal Aspect of Online Gambling in Ethiopia

The main Ethiopian gambling authority is the National Lottery Administration. It has the right to issue licenses and fully regulate the industry. However, there have been many complaints that the NLA is not functioning appropriately. Until today, no clear provisions have been issued on online casinos, and not a single gambling site has received a license from this authority. For this reason, players reach for offshore casino sites to play their favorite casino games.

Payment Options at Online Casinos in Ethiopia

Foreign casinos that accept Ethiopian gamblers offer multiple banking options, including prepaid cards, vouchers, e-wallets, cryptocurrencies, mobile payments, and bank cards. The most common way to top up casino balance among Ethiopian gamblers is by using credit and debit cards.