Hawassa City Police Crack Down on Illegal Betting Houses

The Hawassa City Police have taken a mixed approach to the sports betting houses in the city. Initially, they had completely shut down the sports betting houses, arguing that the betting houses were operating illegally in educational and residential areas.

However, the police have now partially reopened the sports betting houses after the owners submitted a legal letter from the National Lottery Administration. Inspector Melkamu Ayele, the police chief, has explained that while the physical betting houses can now resume operations, the “virtual system” of online betting remains prohibited, as the police believe it does not benefit the country.

Additionally, the police have maintained the existing ban on locating betting houses near residential areas and schools. This suggests the authorities are trying to strike a balance between allowing legal betting activities while also restricting them in sensitive locations.

Interestingly, the police have also addressed allegations of bias in their actions. They have stated that if any betting operator is found to be operating legally, they will permit them to open their business. This indicates the police are attempting to apply the regulations fairly rather than targeting specific companies.

Last month, the authorities closed the sports betting houses in Hawassa city in the Sidama regional state of Ethiopia. The owners of sports betting houses in Hawassa City expressed their dissatisfaction when authorities recently shut down their businesses. The owners say that despite having valid business licenses, authorities closed our betting houses and disrupted the business.

Overall, the sports betting landscape in Hawassa City appears to be in flux, with the police navigating a complex situation of legality, location restrictions, and public perceptions. Their measured approach of partial reopening and continued enforcement suggests an effort to regulate the industry within the bounds of the law.