An Ethiopian Ministry has raised alarm about sports betting, asking the parliament to look into the matter. The Ministry of Women and Social Affairs in its 9-month performance report highlighted the impact of sports betting on youths. It blamed sports betting for negative habits in youths.
Acknowledging the revenue generation from sports betting, the ministry called for a review of the guidelines and regulations governing sports betting, urging research-based decisions and parliamentary support.
Betting in Ethiopia has been legal for less than a decade. Thousands of betting facilities have sprung up across Ethiopia especially in Addis Ababa, the federal capital.
The country’s primary gambling law, the National Lottery Administration Re-Establishment Regulation 2009, permits a sports-betting lottery to accept bets on sports competitions. The more recent Sports-Betting Lottery Directive No. 172/2021, which came into effect in September 2021, introduced new sector-specific rules for sports betting.
The Standing Committee on Health, Social Development, Culture, and Sports Affairs noted the problematic impact of the National Lottery’s income and supported the actions against sports betting service providers.
The committee praised Addis Ababa city administration for taking actions on betting service providers and suggested that others should learn from Addis Ababa’s experiences. Last year, Addis Ababa government ordered the closure of hundreds of betting facilities on security grounds. But since the government could not announce complete ban on betting, the betting facilities continued operating.
The National Lottery Administration defends betting. It says that it provides employment and economic activity. It is important to consider the complexities of sports betting as it affects society and the economy. Should it banned altogether or regulations should be introduced to end its harmful effect on youth?
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