Best betting sites in Ethiopia in 2024

Our sports analysts have carried out extensive research to find the best Ethiopia betting sites. In this article, you will learn which sites are best for sports coverage, which have the best odds, and which offer payment methods like Union Cash and CBE Birr. Check out our full report here.

List of the best Ethiopian betting sites

Found: 8 Bookmakers

Rank Bookmaker Bonus Claim
1 Megapari

130% Welcome bonus up to 16,953 ETB

18+ T&C apply, GambleAware.org

2 1xBet

Welcome bonus up to 3,500 ETB

18+ T&C apply, GambleAware.org

3 22Bet

Welcome bonus up to 3,500 ETB

18+ T&C apply, GambleAware.org

4 Melbet

Welcome bonus up to 5609 ETB

18+ T&C apply, GambleAware.org

5 BetWinner

100% Welcome bonus up to 13,312 ETB

18+ T&C apply, GambleAware.org

6 bet365

Welcome bonus up to €30 in Bet Credits

18+ T&C apply, GambleAware.org

7 888Starz

Welcome bonus up to 7,500 ETB

18+ T&C apply, GambleAware.org

8 Betibet

100% Welcome bonus up to €1500

18+ T&C apply, GambleAware.org

ONLINE SPORTS BETTING IN ETHIOPIA - THE ULTIMATE GUIDE

Updated:

Ethiopia Betting Sites

If you are looking for reliable, free and impartial information on sports betting in Ethiopia, you have landed on the right site. Our team of sports betting experts have researched what’s available to gamblers and sports fans in the region today and return with our selection of the standout firms.

Follow our advice and join a betting site that deserves your custom and will give you the kind of gambling service you deserve. This includes generous odds, free bets, cashback, sports and more.

Our top 5 betting sites in Ethiopia

We display only reliable top bookmakers. We pride ourselves on sharing only the bookmakers with the highest quality services and reputations trusted by thousands of customers. 

The same rules apply when picking from multiple bookmaker companies in Ethiopia. 

Our shortlist for the top 5 candidates include: having easy payment and withdrawal options, a wide range of betting markets, far market reach, operating legally in the country of origin, and is optimized to produce player satisfaction in the country it is running. 

Based on those criteria, we’ve decided that these are the best legal bookmakers you can find in Ethiopia. Below we’ve hand-chosen our favourite legal site and offered a description for more details. However, please do your due diligence. Ensure that you are gambling with a bookmaker you trust.

  • 1xBet Ethiopia up to 3500 ETB for new bettors
  • Betway - Free Bet Included
  • Abyssinia Bet- 100% First Deposit Bonus
  • GLX - Fantastic Bonus for existing players
  • HuluSport – Safety & International Reputation

Our pick for the best betting site in Ethiopia: 22Bet

We are massive fans of 22bet and guarantee you will be too when you see the welcome bonus free bet. Create an account today by clicking any link on this site, then making your first deposit and bet. You’ll then bag a stunning 3500 ETB in free sports bets.

Bet now Read review

18+ T&C apply, GambleAware.org

22bet-featured-384x999w

Mobile Betting in Ethiopia

If you’re looking to play from your mobile device, then look no further. These five apps are well-optimized for user satisfaction and gameplay. Anyone can use these sites, but they’re more beneficial for players often on the go who don’t want to miss out on the action. 

Whatever device you have should work for these apps since they’re both iOS and Android compatible. It makes it easy and inclusive; you never have to miss out on the action because your hardware is different. 

All these brands hit high marks on our criteria and seem to be the go-to places to make the most out of your mobile gaming experience. 

Furthermore, these sites have emerged as the top go-to bookmakers in other sub-Saharan African countries where gambling has taken off faster than Ethiopia. Football betting in Ethiopia is easily the most popular. These bookmakers have prioritized football betting and cater directly to user experience. 

Crucially, these bookmakers allow customers to withdraw winnings and place bets electronically through their website and mobile applications. Many of the competitor bookmakers require this in physical shops. 

Overall, we found that these are the best mobile bookmakers for placing bets in: 

Top betting sites in Ethiopia with the greatest bonuses

We looked through the different bookmakers with bonuses, and these are the ones that stood out to us. These bookmakers, some of which we have previously presented in the review of the best sportsbooks for online betting in Ghana, include massive upfront bonuses meant to give a new player a higher edge against the house at the start. These are our top bookmakers with the most generous bonuses:

  1. 22bet
  2. 10bet
  3. 888sport
  4. Bet365
  5. 1xbet

1xBet has a 3500 ETB deposit promo for Ethiopia

If there is a betting site in Ethiopia that’s worth your special attention, it’s 1xBet. The marketing team at 1XBet bonus are so confident you’ll love their site they are happy to give new players a cracking 3500 ETB free bet when they sign up. Simply click any link on this page to create an account, then make your first deposit and bet. Your welcome bonus of up to 3500 ETB will then be dropped into your account balance. This can be used to gamble on all your favourite sports, including football and horse racing.

Bet now Read review

18+ T&C apply, GambleAware.org

1xbet-featured-384x999w

How to place smart bets on cricket

  1. Get the best odds on your picks

    This is important as the bigger the odds; the more cash will be added to your balance when backing a winner. A 10/1 winner is nice, but not if you could have had 16/1 by shopping around.
    best odds Ethiopia
  2. Consider betting in-play

    Are you confident you know which team will win a match, or would you benefit from watching the first innings to get a feel for the game? Many bettors prefer to bet after a match has started.
    Betting in play Ethiopia
  3. Look out for promotions

    Many leading bookies offer promotions and free bets on cricket matches, especially international test cricket. Check the promos page of your favourite betting app to see what’s available.
    Promotions in Ethiopia

History of Sports Betting in Ethiopia

ethiopia betting history

In 1961, the National Lottery Administration was founded to operate as a conventional lottery. However, in 1981 it reorganized and became the sole agency to regulate and govern gambling.

Until recently, the most popular form of betting in Ethiopia was in the national lottery. However, the internet has changed everything and is the main reason Ethiopian sport betting has become popular.

New rules and talks about betting regulation began to crop up between 1996-2006. Discussions were mostly over whether the NLA should rebuild the original site of gambling: Ghion Hotel Casino.

For years, nothing of these talks came to fruition until it was apparent that online gambling would bring in vast amounts of tax revenue. Part of this slow trend is that Ethiopia didn’t have an extensive network infrastructure until 2006.

  1. Before 1961, gambling in Ethiopia remained largely unregulated until the National Lottery Administration
  2. The only state-sponsored and regulated gambling was through the National Lottery until 1981
  3. Dagoo sports was the first Ethiopian betting site in 2012
  4. There are still restrictions for foreign betting companies in Ethiopia

Eventually, telecommunications and internet access became more prevalent. In 2012, the National Lottery Administration allowed mobile gambling, thanks to new laws. The first and most popular sport betting company in Ethiopia was Dagoo Sports. However, the NLA shut it down due to some sketchy practices.

That said, the internet has caused an enormous boom, and sport betting is opening up across the country. New betting sites in Ethiopia continue to emerge, mainly the local branches of the worldwide famous bookmakers. The industry seems poised to take off and explode, primarily due to recent telecom infrastructure improvements.

One study found that over 75% of young people in sub-Saharan Africa have participated in online sport betting in Ethiopia. Football is the top sport option for gambling in Ethiopia.

Furthermore, the government has decided to take a softer stance under the state’s prime minister: Abiy Ahmed. Due to the immense potential increases in tax revenue, Ahmed has decided to allow gambling advertisements on multiple media outlets.

Table about sports betting in Ethiopia
🌍 Country  Ethiopia
👌 Language  Afar, Amharic, Oromo, Somali, Tigrinya
💲 Currency  Ethiopian Birr (ETB)
Popular sports Athletics, footbal, basketball, volleyball
⚖️ Is betting legal Yes
🏢 Regulator  National Lottery Administration
🧾 Gambling taxes 15%
💳 Most popular payment methods PayPal, Skrill, VISA, and Mastercard

Our verdict on betting sites in Ethiopia

After the Internet gave an enormous boost to the spread of online betting in Ethiopia, more and more sports fans across the country have been engaging in it, thus creating demand for reliable and user-friendly sports betting platforms. Hence, online betting sites in Ethiopia are in abundance, and multiple world-famous bookmakers are open in the country, offering tailor-made bonuses for Ethiopian punters. This being said, Ethiopia is considered one of the hotbeds of active sports betting on the African continent.

Best betting sites in Ethiopia FAQs

? What Payment Methods Do We Recommend?

PayPal, Skrill, Mastercard, and Visa are our top picks for the most universal and reliable betting site payment options.

? How Do I Find the Best-Rated Welcome Bonus Betting Site?

Look no further than our section on “Top 5 bookmakers with the best bonuses” to see what we picked. If you don’t have time to read, here’s the list: 1xBet, Betway, bet365, ReloadBet, LSBet.

? Is Sports Betting Legal in Ethiopia?

Yes. Sports betting is legal in Ethiopia and regulated by the National Lottery Administration. It’s been a commission since 1961 but only began to handle other forms of gambling in 1981. Online sports gambling followed in 2012

? Do Ethiopian Bookmakers Accept Cryptocurrency?

Yes. Many of the Ethiopian bookmakers accept cryptocurrency. Since the start of online gambling, it’s become a popular payment option.

? Which is the best betting site in Ethiopia?

After a thorough analysis, we consider 22Bet as the best betting site in Ethiopia. The bookmaker, among its other advantages, holds an impressive welcome bonus of 3,500 ETB in free sports bets for all newcomers.

Review Author

Vadims Mikeļevičs

Vadims Mikeļevičs

Vadims Mikeļevičs is an e-sports and biathlon enthusiast with years of writing experience about games, sports, and bookmakers.