Payments first: the reason to consider Melbet
Most reviews bury the cashier at the bottom. For Melbet it belongs at the top, because the payment list is what sets it apart in Ethiopia. As of September 2026 the Ethiopian cashier listed the following, all in Birr and without operator fees:
| Method | Deposit limits | Withdrawal | Payout time |
|---|---|---|---|
 Telebirr | 25–15,000 ETB | Yes | 15 min–24 h |
| CBE Birr, M-Pesa | 25–10,000 ETB | Yes | 15 min–24 h |
 CBE, Awash, Bank of Abyssinia, Wegagen | 25–15,000 ETB | Yes | 15 min–24 h |
| Dashen Bank Super | 25–10,000 ETB | Yes | 15 min–24 h |
 Binance Pay, ByBit Pay, Bitcoin, USDT, Ethereum and more | From about 95 ETB; very high caps | Yes | Instant–1 h |
 AirTM, Skrill 1-Tap, Apple Pay, Google Pay | From about 95–1,100 ETB | Check the cashier | Varies |
Local channels carry the lowest minimums (25 ETB) but also the lowest maximums (10,000–15,000 ETB per transaction), so high-volume players end up on crypto. Withdrawals wait for identity verification the first time; after that reviewers report most mobile-money payouts inside an hour. Since the December 2025 measures also targeted payment aggregators, a method can disappear from the cashier without warning — test with a small amount. The payment methods guide compares Melbet with 1xBet and Win Win Bet channel by channel.
Licence and legal status
Melbet has operated since 2012 under Pelican Entertainment B.V. and holds Curaçao licence OGL/2024/561/0554. In Ethiopia it ran a locally licensed site, mel-bet.et, through Bet Win Sport PLC, with a National Lottery Administration licence issued on 8 January 2020. That licence, like every other Ethiopian betting licence, was revoked on 15 December 2025. Today Melbet is available to Ethiopians only as an international operator.
Legal status in Ethiopia (checked September 2026): on 15 December 2025 the Ethiopian Lottery Service revoked every sports betting licence in the country, and in July 2026 it reiterated that no licensed operator exists and warned citizens not to deposit money with unlicensed services. 1xBet and Melbet previously held local NLA licences (1xbet.et and mel-bet.et); those licences are no longer valid. All three brands reviewed here currently operate under international licences from Curaçao, which gives you no protection from an Ethiopian regulator.
Winnings from games of chance are also taxed at 20–25% under Proclamation No. 1395/2025. We explain what this means for you in the legal status of betting in Ethiopia guide. This site is information, not legal advice.
Welcome bonus and the Addis100 promo code
Melbet advertises a 200% bonus on the first deposit. Everything else about it depends on which promotion is active for your account, and the listings we compared did not agree:
| Bonus | 200% of the first deposit |
|---|---|
| Maximum | 24,100 ETB, 28,930 ETB or 37,000 ETB depending on the source and date |
| Minimum deposit | 50 ETB in older listings; 145–185 ETB in recent ones |
| Rollover | 5x the bonus, on singles or accumulators |
| Minimum odds | 1.40 in most listings; 2.10 in one September 2026 audit |
| Validity | 30 days |
The mechanics that do not change are the useful ones: 5x is a low multiplier, singles count, and 30 days is enough time. What you must verify inside your account before depositing is the cap and, above all, the minimum odds — a 2.10 floor makes the bonus much harder to clear than 1.40, because you cannot lean on short-priced favourites.
The bonus codes. Melbet accepts three registration codes through PromoCode.et — Addis100, Betpower100 and Scatter100. Any of them goes into the promo code field at registration and attaches your account to the welcome campaign; none adds conditions of its own and there is no no-deposit element. The Melbet bonus codes hub compares them; the Addis100 guide walks through a Telebirr deposit step by step. Melbet also runs offers for existing customers: a weekly 10% cashback for bets placed in the app (bets of 200 ETB or more, up to 20,000 ETB), accumulator boosts and insurance, and a birthday free bet.
Sportsbook
More than 40 sports and over 1,000 events a day. Football is the core — European leagues, African competitions, the Ethiopian Premier League when fixtures are available — with handicaps, totals, correct scores and player props on the big matches. Tennis, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, table tennis, cricket, athletics and esports fill out the schedule. Independent margin tests put top-league football at 4–5.5% (a payout of roughly 94.5–96%), with wider margins on niche sports.
Live betting is stable and fast; bets confirm within a few seconds. Selected football and tennis matches are streamed, and where there is no video a graphical match centre shows possession, shots and dangerous attacks. Cash out, one-click betting, price alerts and an "Accumulator of the Day" boost are all present. The minimum stake is about 8 ETB, the lowest of the three brands we cover.
Casino, live casino and esports
The casino draws on more than 100 studios: slots, crash games, jackpots, virtual sports and a live section with roulette, blackjack, baccarat and game shows. Esports has its own hub (CS2, Dota 2, LoL) and there are Toto pools. It is a complete offer, close to 1xBet's in size. If casino is your main interest, compare it with Win Win Bet, whose casino welcome package and cashback ladder are more developed.
Registration and verification
- Open Melbet and choose a registration method
One-click, phone number (+251 with SMS code), email or social login. Select ETB as the currency.
- Type Addis100 into the promo code field
Before you confirm. It cannot be added afterwards.
- Verify your phone number
Required before the first deposit or withdrawal.
- Upload identity documents
National ID, passport or a recent utility bill. Reviews report 12–24 hours for approval; withdrawals stay locked until it clears.
Two-factor authentication can be switched on for logins and payouts and is worth enabling given the sums involved.
App and mobile cashback
The iOS app is listed in the App Store as "Melbet World: Sports Betting" (about 4.0 stars). Android users download the APK from the mobile site because of store restrictions; it needs Android 5.0 or later and around 100 MB. The app carries the full product and adds biometric login. The one real incentive to use it is the weekly cashback for app bets, which the mobile website does not offer. Battery use during video streams is noticeable.
Customer support
Live chat runs 24/7 and in the tests we read connected a human agent within two minutes and resolved a verification hold in five. Email at info-et@melbet.com answers in two to four hours; the phone line is a UK number. The interface is available in Amharic as well as English, which helps with navigation even if chat is in English.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Most Ethiopian payment channels of the three brands, from 25 ETB
- Mobile-money payouts often within an hour after KYC
- 5x rollover with singles allowed and 30 days to complete
- Lowest minimum stake (about 8 ETB)
- Amharic interface option
- Weekly app cashback for existing players
Cons
- No Ethiopian licence since December 2025
- Bonus cap and minimum odds differ between listings — verify before depositing
- Local channels capped at 10,000–15,000 ETB per transaction
- Interface feels busy during live streaming hours
- Mixed user reviews online, with strict KYC a common complaint
- Phone support at international rates
Our verdict on Melbet Ethiopia
4.5 out of 5. Melbet earns its score in the cashier: nobody else we cover lists this many Ethiopian banks and wallets, and payout times on Telebirr and CBE Birr are as short as any. The sportsbook and casino are large and competent. The score is capped by two things — the same lost local licence that affects 1xBet, and a welcome bonus whose real terms you must confirm yourself because published figures disagree. For a bettor who deposits and withdraws in small amounts through mobile money, Melbet is the most practical of the three. For market depth, see the 1xBet review.
Rating by category
Editorial opinion — see how we rate.
200% welcome bonus with code Addis1005x rollover · singles or accumulators · 30 days · confirm cap and minimum odds in your account
Melbet Ethiopia FAQ
Is Melbet legal in Ethiopia?
Melbet's Ethiopian licence (mel-bet.et, Bet Win Sport PLC) was revoked with all other betting licences on 15 December 2025. The brand remains accessible under its Curaçao licence, without local regulatory protection. See our legal status guide for the details.
What is the Melbet bonus code?
Addis100, Betpower100 or Scatter100 — all three are accepted. Enter one during registration; it links the account to the 200% welcome offer, which is credited with the first qualifying deposit.
Does Melbet accept CBE Birr and Telebirr?
Yes, both for deposits and withdrawals, with limits of 25–10,000 ETB (CBE Birr) and 25–15,000 ETB (Telebirr) per transaction and payouts quoted at 15 minutes to 24 hours.
What is the minimum deposit at Melbet?
25 ETB on local methods. To activate the welcome bonus the minimum is higher — 50 ETB in older promotions, 145–185 ETB in recent ones — so check the figure shown in your account.
How fast are Melbet withdrawals?
After identity verification, mobile money and bank transfers are quoted at 15 minutes to 24 hours and crypto at up to an hour. The first withdrawal waits for KYC, which reviewers put at 12–24 hours.
Is there a Melbet app for Android and iPhone?
Yes: an APK for Android from the mobile site and "Melbet World" for iOS in the App Store. App users get a weekly 10% cashback on bets of 200 ETB or more.
Related pages
18+. Bonuses, codes, payment methods and conditions change. Verify the live offer at Melbet and the rules that apply to you in Ethiopia before registering. This site may earn a commission if you register through our links.