Ethiopia has officially entered the digital lottery era with the launch of its first-ever digital lottery system. The historic event took place at Skylight Hotel and brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including CEOs, board members, lottery agents, previous winners, and key government representatives.
The digital lottery was launched by Ethiopian Lottery Service CEO Beza Girma, Ethiopian Investment Holdings Deputy CEO Habtamu Hailemichael, and Solomon Kebere, CEO of Tamcon Software Solutions—the tech firm behind the platform.
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In his opening remarks, Deputy CEO Habtamu highlighted the long-standing contribution of the Ethiopian Lottery Service, which has been entertaining the public and generating economic value for over six decades. However, he acknowledged the need for modernization. “Despite its potential, the sector has not fully kept pace with population growth and technological advances. This digital lottery is a major step forward,” he said.
He also emphasized that since the Ethiopian Lottery Service came under the umbrella of Ethiopian Investment Holdings, it has undergone significant reforms. The launch of the digital lottery is one of the visible results of this transformation.
CEO Beza Girma shared the challenges of the traditional paper-based system, which relied heavily on physical ticket distribution, high printing costs, and a complex supply chain. “All these slowed down growth and reduced revenue,” she noted. “With the digital lottery, customers can now play anytime, anywhere—without the need for physical infrastructure.”
The new system is expected to improve efficiency, accessibility, and transparency. It will also lower operating costs, allowing more rewards to be offered to players.
Initially, the digital lottery will offer popular games such as paper-based, instant-win, and bingo lotteries in multiple languages. In the next phase, more modern and entertaining game types will be introduced.
Users can now participate in the lottery through various digital platforms including:
- Website
- Mobile apps
- SMS
- USSD codes
- POS machines
- Retail shops and vendors
Solomon Kebere of Tamcon Software Solutions stressed the importance of the project beyond gaming. “This is not just about winning prizes. It’s about creating job opportunities for young people and boosting the local tech ecosystem,” he said.
The digital lottery also prioritizes security and responsible gaming to ensure fairness and user protection.
This move marks a significant milestone in Ethiopia’s digital transformation journey and is expected to make lottery participation more inclusive, modern, and enjoyable for all.
