Polymarket in Ethiopia
Not available: Polymarket is close-only, and Ethiopia has revoked all betting licences.
| Polymarket status | Close-only |
|---|---|
| National position | Banned or blocked by the regulator |
| Regulator | Ethiopian Lottery Service (ELS); National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) |
| Last reviewed | 23 October 2026 |
The legal situation in Ethiopia
Polymarket is close-only for Ethiopia: new trades are refused. On 15 December 2025 the Ethiopian Lottery Service revoked the licences of every sports-betting company, online and retail, and ordered banks and payment gateways to stop processing gambling transactions. On 23 July 2026 the ELS said no operator held a valid licence. The same day, the National Bank of Ethiopia reaffirmed that crypto and other virtual-asset transactions are prohibited without its authorisation.
Key facts
- Close-only on Polymarket under its own geoblock.
- Dec 2025: 22 betting firms were suspended, then all betting licences revoked on 15 Dec 2025.
- 23 Jul 2026: the ELS said no betting operator is licensed and warned against offshore sites.
- 23 Jul 2026: the NBE reaffirmed its ban on using, trading or transferring virtual assets.
What are your options in Ethiopia?
If Polymarket or local law restricts this country, the honest answer is: don't try to get around it. VPNs and third-party wallets break Polymarket's terms, can get funds frozen and may be illegal locally. Look for prediction markets or exchanges licensed by Ethiopian Lottery Service (ELS); National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), and check back here: rules change.
Sources
General information, not legal advice. Check the regulator's own website before acting.
Frequently asked questions
Is Polymarket legal in Ethiopia?
Not available: Polymarket is close-only, and Ethiopia has revoked all betting licences.
Can I use a VPN for Polymarket in Ethiopia?
No. Using a VPN to reach Polymarket from a restricted location breaks its terms of service and can lead to frozen accounts. It may also break local law.