If you’ve seen Mezzo Bet ads or social media posts and wondered whether it’s legal to use in Ethiopia, the short answer is no. Based on the latest reporting, no sports betting operator in the country holds a valid licence, so any platform taking bets or deposits is operating outside the law. I found no public sign that Mezzo Bet received a new licence, and no announcement that it was exempt from the ban.
How Ethiopia’s betting market collapsed
Ethiopia once had a large, licensed betting industry. One industry count put the number of licensed betting companies at 196 before the crackdown. Betting transactions grew from about Br4.7 billion in 2022 to roughly Br20 billion a month by September 2025, driven by mobile connectivity and digital payments.
That growth ended abruptly. The Ethiopian Lottery Service (ELS) suspended 22 sports betting companies on December 4, 2025, then revoked all sports betting licences nationwide on December 15. It also ordered online and physical betting to stop, and told banks and payment providers to block transactions linked to betting operators. Earlier, the National Intelligence and Security Service had announced the arrest of 24 people described as owners and accomplices of betting companies.
What the regulator says now
The ELS has been direct about the current position. It has stated that no sports betting organisation in Ethiopia holds a legal licence, and it warned citizens not to deposit money through illegal betting sites, social media pages or other money-collection channels. That July 2026 notice was partly meant to make clear that recent court proceedings had not changed the legal status of sports betting.
Enforcement has continued. The law enforcement campaign expanded in August 2026 to target 38 betting enterprises.
Why platforms still appear to operate
Despite the ban, betting hasn’t disappeared. Investigations reported by Fana Media indicate illegal betting has continued, with about 20 billion Birr transacted in September 2026 alone. Offshore websites and social media channels can still reach Ethiopian users even when local licences are gone.
Some of these channels may also be scams. Reporting on the regulator’s warning describes scammers exploiting the regulatory vacuum. If a site is unlicensed and banks are blocking betting payments, you have little recourse if your deposit disappears or a withdrawal is refused.
Is a legal comeback on the way?
Possibly, but not yet. The ELS is reportedly preparing to reintroduce digital lottery services and sports betting under a new structure, but the timing and final conditions remain subject to the ongoing reform process. No specific restart date has been announced.
The policy direction has shifted somewhat. At a February 2026 parliamentary hearing, the state minister of culture and sports said a permanent block on betting was unrealistic and that Ethiopia needed a proper legal framework instead. The government’s concerns about revenue are also clear: a draft audit reportedly found licensed operators owed about Br27.5 billion (around US$167 million) in outstanding obligations.
If betting returns, expect stricter licensing, digital monitoring of transactions and tighter revenue collection. Any operator, Mezzo Bet included, would need to be named on an official ELS licence list.
What to do before using any betting platform
- Check with the ELS directly. Don’t rely on a platform’s own claim to be licensed.
- Be sceptical of social media promotions and any channel asking for deposits via mobile money or bank transfer.
- Remember the financial risk. Blocked payment channels and no legal protection mean lost funds are unlikely to be recovered.
- Watch for official announcements about the relaunch and the list of newly licensed operators.
The bottom line
Unless Mezzo Bet is named in a new official licence from the Ethiopian Lottery Service, and none has been announced, it is not operating legally in Ethiopia. This post is for general information, not legal advice. Because the situation is changing, check the regulator’s latest notices before taking any action.
