If you search for “Megapari Telebirr,” you’ll find plenty of pages saying the two work together. The reality in Ethiopia right now is more complicated, so here is what to know before you try to move any money.
What the promotional sites claim
Several review and affiliate pages describe Megapari as an offshore bookmaker that is licensed in Anjouan and accepts local wallets and banks, including Telebirr, E-Birr, CBEbirr, Awash Bank and M-Pesa. These pages earn money by sending people to betting sites, so treat their claims as marketing rather than confirmation. They don’t show that a Telebirr deposit will actually go through today. scores24scores24
The regulatory picture
Telebirr is a different matter. It is Ethiopia’s largest mobile money service, operated by Ethio Telecom, and it sits inside a regulated financial system. bento
In December 2025, Ethiopia’s Lottery Service (ELS) revoked the operating licences of every sports betting company in the country, and ordered banks and payment gateways to stop facilitating gambling transactions in any form. The order applied to both online and physical operations, and it specifically covered payment instrument issuers and operators of payment systems. igamingexpertsigma
Nothing has changed since. In July 2026 the regulator publicly reaffirmed that no operator holds a valid licence and warned citizens about deceptive offshore operators. As of this month, no new licensing process or reopening date has been announced, and operators still cannot legally offer betting services. The government is preparing a stricter framework, but that is still at the planning stage. igamingexpertsumsub
What this means for payment availability
- Availability is uncertain. Telebirr and banks have been instructed to stop handling gambling payments, so a deposit method that appears in a cashier menu may fail, be blocked, or be reversed.
- Information goes stale quickly. A “Telebirr accepted” claim on a review site may be outdated or never have been accurate.
- Nobody is accountable if something goes wrong. Because there is no licensed operator in Ethiopia, there is no local regulator to turn to for a disputed deposit or a stuck withdrawal. The regulator has warned that dealing with unlicensed operators could expose users’ money and personal information to serious risks. igamingbusiness
- Scams are a real risk. Reporting on the ban notes that scammers are exploiting the regulatory vacuum. Fake “agents,” lookalike sites and unofficial Telebirr deposit instructions are the usual tactics. igamingbusiness
Practical advice
- Don’t send money to personal numbers. Anyone asking you to pay a “Megapari agent” through a personal Telebirr account is a red flag.
- Check the official source. The ELS asks the public to report illegal operators through the short code 9695, and it is the authority on what is currently permitted. igamingbusiness
- Be wary of loans for betting. Reports on the crackdown describe young people borrowing from relatives and online lenders, sometimes through Telebirr, to fund bets. About 70 percent of Ethiopia’s population is young, and easy smartphone access raises the risk of problem gambling.
- Know the legal risk. Using an offshore site doesn’t automatically put you in the clear, since authorities have cited the use of international online services to get around local rules as part of the problem.
- Seek help if betting is hurting you. If you’re losing more than you can afford, stop and talk to someone you trust or a health professional.
The bottom line
Promotional pages say Megapari accepts Telebirr, but that doesn’t match the regulatory situation. Betting licences have been revoked, payment providers have been told not to process gambling transactions, and there is no legal route for operators to return yet. Ethiopian officials have indicated that a regulated market could come back, so it’s worth watching for official announcements. Until then, treat any claim of smooth Telebirr betting payments with skepticism, and rely on the regulator, not on affiliate sites.
