The Federal High Court of Ethiopia has overturned the National Lottery Administration’s (NLA) decision to suspend sports betting operator Hulu Sport. However, the company remains unable to resume operations after the regulator immediately appealed the ruling and obtained a 15-day stay of execution, leaving the country’s sports betting shutdown firmly in place.
Court overturns NLA suspension
After the Federal High Court declared that the NLA’s suspension of the operator was unlawful and did not adhere to the necessary procedural due process criteria, Hulu Sport won a legal battle. A major development in one of Ethiopia’s most widely followed gaming conflicts, the court reversed the regulator’s previous ruling.
Ethiopia’s second-tier federal court is the Federal High Court. Its rulings have significant legal weight because it stands above the Federal First Instance Court and below the Federal Supreme Court.
Despite the favourable judgment, Hulu Sport has not been allowed to reopen its retail outlets or online betting platform.
Appeal keeps betting operator offline
Shortly after the court’s decision, the NLA filed an appeal and was given a 15-day stay of execution. The High Court’s ruling is momentarily put on hold while the appellate court considers the matter.
As a result, Hulu Sport’s betting shops remain closed and its online services continue to be suspended.
The appeal means the court ruling has not yet changed the company’s operational status. Instead, the case now moves to the next stage of judicial review, where the appellate court will determine whether the High Court’s decision should stand.
Industry shutdown remains in force
The dispute follows Ethiopia’s nationwide suspension of sports betting, introduced on 15 December 2025.
The Ethiopian government revoked all existing sports betting licences, forcing every licensed retail outlet, agent and online platform to stop operating. Authorities said the decision followed an investigation by the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), which allegedly uncovered widespread fraud, tax evasion and money laundering across the sector.
Since then, no licensed sports betting operator has returned to the market.
The ongoing legal battle involving Hulu Sport is the first major court challenge to emerge from the government’s industry-wide enforcement action.
Lottery authority maintains strict position
While recent court decisions have raised expectations among some operators, the Ethiopian Lottery Service (ELS) has maintained that sports betting remains prohibited.
The ELS issued a public notice stating that no sports betting operator is currently licensed to operate in Ethiopia. It also warned businesses and the public that court rulings do not authorise betting operations to resume without formal regulatory approval.
Appellate ruling now in focus
Hulu Sport’s immediate future now depends on the outcome of the NLA’s appeal.
If the appellate court upholds the High Court’s judgment, it could reopen the path for Hulu Sport to challenge the suspension of its operations. If the appeal succeeds, the regulator’s original decision is likely to remain in place.
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