Daily Brief: Police Crack Down on “Illegal Sports Betting” Shops in Addis Ababa

Officials in Addis Ababa have taken action against 86 sports betting shops operating within the Addis Ketema District, claiming they were found engaging in illegal activities.

According to Addis Ababa Police, sports betting shops have been identified as potential hotspots for criminal activities, contributing to increasing crime rates.

Speaking to the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation, Chief Inspector Paulos Demsey, the head of the community police service division within the district police department, stated that police took actions against these establishments where violent incidents have been reported.

According to Paulos, the affected betting shops were found to be operating outside the district where their licenses were issued and engaging in the sector without the required business licenses. Paulos added that actions against shops involved in unlawful activities would continue.

This marks another major crackdown on betting companies in the capital in recent months. In December 2022, the National Lottery Administration shut down 20 sports betting shops that were found running bets on unauthorized virtual games.