If you are on the hunt for a place to bet, you have come to the right place. We offer brief, straight-to-the-point reviews of some of the best and most trusted betting companies in Somalia. We only recommend those with an excellent reputation and who deliver a high-quality experience. Whether you’re a sports bettor or a casino fan, this is your starting point.
To make it as helpful as possible, we have thoroughly researched key aspects of every bookmaker, like betting options, bonuses and promotions, depositing, withdrawing, and more. Keep on reading and you are sure to find your next gaming destination.
- Extensive sportsbook with global coverage and niche bets
- Accessible through mirrors/VPN
- Wide football, esports, and prop markets
200% up to 140,000 SOS
- Accepts crypto and digital wallets
- Fast registration
- Strong football coverage
- Suitable for bettors focused on football and live odds
100% up to 72,600 SOS
- Lightweight platform that runs well on weak mobile networks
- Suitable for older Android devices
200% up to 110,000 SOS
- Fast live-betting odds
- Deep markets and player props
- Ideal for experienced bettors who respond to match momentum
100% up to 59.000 SOS
- Similar depth to 1xBet / BetWinner
- A good alternative for users avoiding high-profile platforms
100% up to $100
- Trusted global brand
- Strong and responsible-gaming tools
- Clean and structured sportsbook
100% up to $100
- Crypto-focused betting platform
- Strong esports and alternative markets
- Good for users in restricted regions
100% up to 63,400 SOS
- Clean and easy interface
- Wide slots and crash games selection
- Balanced sportsbook and casino offering
- Less visually cluttered than some legacy platforms
100% up to $100
- Designed for simple, low-stakes football betting
- Beginner-friendly interface
- Popular East African brand
Cashback Bonus
- Extremely low minimum stakes
- Quick bet settlements in regulated markets
- Ideal for budget football bettors
Sports Jackpot
Bookmakers in Depth
1xBet
1xBet is huge, worldwide, and aggressive. It offers markets on basically everything — top leagues, youth leagues, bizarre specials, esports, virtual sports, live streak promotions, prop bets you've never even considered. It's a buffet.
Why It Works for Somali Players:
- Access. 1xBet is everywhere. Even when the Somali authorities publicly spoke about online gambling and named 1xBet specifically in a request for a nationwide block, mirrors and alternative domains still make the rounds in private channels.
- It's that simple: people follow where the odds are, and 1xBet is always there.
Where It Falls Short:
- Compliance and trust. When a site is loud and flashy, it also makes itself a target for shutdowns, bans, and payment interruptions. Somali authorities have framed offshore betting as both a moral and financial crime threat, making it abundantly clear that sites like 1xBet are not welcome. That means: Sudden domain blocks, KYC surprises, Frozen balances if the operator flags your activity as "suspicious".
Bottom line
1xBet is robust and vibrant, but it is also under the microscope. If you are careless with identity, IP, or payment trail, you are taking on more than recreational risk.
Melbet
Why It Works for Somali Players:
- Low bandwidth tolerances. Somalia’s mobile data reliability isn’t always world-class. A sportsbook that loads decently on older Android phones over spotty connections is not a luxury — it’s table stakes.
Where It Falls Short:
- Some casino providers lock out traffic from restricted regions. You’ll click a game tile and get a “not available in your country” message. That’s normal with offshore casinos, but still annoying.
Bottom line
Melbet is a low-friction, working-class solution for those who just want to throw up a ticket, look at the result, and get out without needing to navigate twenty submenus.
Betandyou
Why It Works for Somali Players:
- The cashier. Betandyou tends to accept a wide range of digital payment rails, including crypto (BTC, USDT, ETH and other coins) and certain prepaid-type solutions. TThat matters because Somali bank card payments are practically impossible, and traditional money transfers are either blocked, traceable, or both.aceable, or both.
- The entry requirement. Registration is usually fast. You don't have to labor through a massive questionnaire just to get an account open.
Where It Falls Short:
- Support and language. There is no Somali-language service, and Arabic- or English-only chat can be sluggish. Furthermore, when you try to withdraw, the site may suddenly require verification (KYC) even if you've deposited with crypto. That's how it goes with offshore books: "No ID required" applies until the moment you try to withdraw something meaningful.
Bottom line
Betandyou is usable for volume bettors who don't actually care about anything but football lines and have crypto availability. It isn't for someone who requires hand-holding.
Betwinner
Why It Works for Somali Players:
- Live bet speed. While a match is being played, odds shift quickly, not in slow motion. If you're the kind of punter who reacts to momentum — an early red card, a striker limping, a formation switch out of the blue — you want a book that keeps up instead of freezing when you're trying to confirm a stake.
- They also push extras like virtual sports and instant-result games. If no live match is being provided, some Somali players plunge into those short-cycle simulations for instant results. It’s riskier and can burn through funds quickly, but it’s clearly part of the attraction.
Where It Falls Short:
- Interface density. BetWinner loves menus. You're going to have lines stacked on lines stacked on side markets. New punters can get lost in it. And then, region-sensitive features, as in what you see in Somalia, aren't necessarily what someone in, say, Kenya sees. Some payment buttons, some promos — they're geo-filtered.
Bottom line
High ceiling for those who know how to operate with odds and timing. Overwhelming for a beginner who just wants "both teams to score, yes/no."
Linebet
Why It Works for Somali Players:
- Consistency. Linebet largely duplicates the big boys' market depth but typically with a little less visual clutter than classic 1xBet. You still get football totals, halftime bets, player performance bets, esports lines, and boosted combo tickets.
Where It Falls Short:
- Stability and verification. Linebet can impose ID verification at withdrawal, even if it let you deposit without ID. It's a trend with offshore brands. "No KYC" is marketing; "KYC when you're up money" is policy.
Bottom line
Linebet is suitable for those who would prefer the 1xBet-style buffet but do not want to go directly to the most high-profile name.
888Starz
Why It Works for Somali Players:
- Crypto rails. When traditional banking is not an option (there is no legal gambling payment in Somalia and there is no local e-wallet that will openly process a gambling code), crypto is the on/off ramp.
- Esports and "alternative" markets. 888Starz enjoys pointing out non-standard betting: esports matches, player kill counts, map winners, and round counts. That matters because a not-unsubstantial number of Somali players follow worldwide esports streams the way older players follow the Champions League.
Where It Falls Short:
- Noise. 888Starz sites can be cluttered, promo-heavy, and manic. If you prefer clean and calm, this can get manic in a hurry.
Bottom line
888Starz is for the crypto-friendly bettor who requires both a sportsbook and a casino and doesn't mind working through an information-dense interface.
Betway
Somalia lacks a domestic Betway license — because Somalia doesn't grant any gambling license.
Somali punters can access Betway as follows:
🔘 Through VPN routing
🔘 Тhrough other country versions of the site or app
🔘 Тhrough browser-based mobile betting instead of app store downloads
Why It Works for Somali Players:
- It sounds solid. Betway's international reputation is "safe hands, structured, we won't just disappear overnight." Whenever you're in a country where betting has absolutely no consumer protection, that reputation matters.
Where It Falls Short:
- Аccess. You're always fighting geo-restrictions. Is iOS available in your actual region? Usually not. Local cards? Usually not accepted. It's not as "plug and play" here as elsewhere, where there is regulated mobile cash betting.
Bottom line
Betway is targeting more conservative, less frivolous players — but it's inconvenient to reach and finance from Somalia.
Paripesa
Why It Works for Somali Players:
- The interface is less flashy. Paripesa prefers to show markets without the wall-of-text effect. You still have live betting, you still have player props, you still have totals and combinations, but it is just a bit less frantic than some of the older European-style dashboards.
- The casino lobby is large. If you’re into slots, Paripesa usually brings in well-known studios alongside newer “fast win/crash” style games. That variety matters for players who don’t just bet on football; they also spin when there are no fixtures on.
Where It Falls Short:
- Wagering requirements. Paripesa bonuses are hefty, but there are conditions attached — rollover requirements, game restrictions, and time limits. Offshore casinos love big numbers (e.g., "100% bonus up to X"), but bonus clearing without rule-breaking is work, not luck.
Bottom line
Paripesa is for people who require both a workable sportsbook and a casino library without the feeling of attempting to navigate a spaceship panel.
Betika
In Somalia, there’s no domestic Betika license. Again, Somalia does not issue betting licenses at all.
Why It Works for Somali Players:
- Somali users who try to access Betika are usually chasing something specific: that feeling of simple, local-style betting with very small stakes. You’re not feeding $100 into a complex accumulator. You’re staking something symbolic on a single outcome, sharing it with friends, and watching the match.
Where It Falls Short:
- Feature depth. Betika is not meant to impress high-rollers with 200 markets on a Belarus reserve league match. It's meant to keep betting simple. If you require deep props, you'll outgrow them in a hurry.
Bottom line
Betika ticks the "low stake, football first, keep it simple" box. It's casual in a market that's otherwise dominated by huge, casino-weighted sites.
Betpawa
Somalia breaks the usual rulebook again — there is no legal or regulated version of Betpawa operating in the country. What you have instead are people accessing versions of Betpawa from outside the country's borders.
Why It Works for Somali Players:
- Cost of entry. Somalia is not a wealthy country. This matters in Somalia’s economy — a site that allows very small bets and fast settlements attracts players who cannot or don’t want to risk large amounts.
Where It Falls Short:
- Scope. Betpawa is intentionally lean. You will not find the massive casino arcades, live game shows, and novelty bets that 1xBet or 888Starz will throw at you. It's more of a no-frills football machine, less of an "everything store."
Bottom line
Betpawa will suit football bettors on a budget who want something simple instead of a casino circus.
Is gambling legal in Somalia?
We need to slam on the brakes here and be very clear.
Gambling is entirely illegal in Somalia. Not “limited,” not “licensed but restricted.” Illegal. The ban encompasses sports betting, casino games, lotteries, poker rooms, fantasy leagues, and esports betting — the entire gamut. There’s no regulator, no gambling authority, and no legal pathway for an operator to get approved. Somalia doesn’t issue gambling licenses, full stop.
The Somali government has expressly ordered the shutdown of betting channels and identified offshore websites (like 1xBet) as threats to cultural values and economic integrity. Authorities consider betting to be both morally forbidden under Islamic law and dangerous economically because of fraud, cash leakage, and possible links to money laundering.
What it means for you:
- If you’re betting online from inside Somalia, you’re doing it under no protection of the law and in violation of national law.
- You can be cut off at any time — not just by the site, but by local payment rails or ISPs if/when they’re forced to block traffic.
- You have no recourse if a bookmaker refuses to pay you. You can’t “report it to the regulator” because there is none.
In short: if you’re imagining “Somalia works like Kenya or South Africa, just with worse mobile coverage,” stop. Kenya and South Africa both have legal betting industries with licensing frameworks, tax structures, and dispute channels. Somalia does not.
This is an underground activity dressed up in shiny, international branding. Treat it that way.
Critical criteria for choosing a bookmaker
- Customer Service
- Website Functionality
- Sports Markets
- Betting Types
- Bonuses and Promotions
- Payment Methods
- Mobile Betting
- Different Services like Casino or Bingo
- Quality, Security and Fairness
- Special Competitions
Online sports betting in Somalia
Sports betting in Somalia is illegal, but since the government lacks the infrastructure to regulate online sports betting and gambling, players can visit overseas betting operators and can’t be prosecuted.
In Somalia, you can’t find any online or offline legal sports betting operators since the teachings of Islam prohibit gambling.
The only activity that’s close to gambling is the ‘pirate stock exchange’ in the town of Haradheere, where people can fund pirate companies with weapons and money. In return, they can receive a cut from ransoms they collect.
Generally, online gambling is nonexistent in Somalia, so players have to find ways to access both online casinos and bookmakers.
Online Casinos in Somalia
You can find lots of ways to gamble in Somali online casinos. You can enjoy games like table games, slots, live casino, bingo, lottery, poker, and more. Traditional games like slots and table games are one of the most popular ways for Somali gamblers to have fun. Live casino is for those who love the thrill and excitement of playing with live dealers. Most operators have entire sections of their websites dedicated to live casino and its bonuses.
All of the games above can be found on foreign gambling websites where players are free to enjoy whatever type of gambling they want.
The best advice that Somali gamblers can receive is to beware of gambling at casinos without licenses and fair games. Such casinos can risk the players’ safety and potentially hack their debit cards.
Mobile betting
Mobile betting in Somalia is highly anticipated, as it offers significant flexibility, primarily through a high-quality mobile website or app.
Mobile apps are usually available on iOS and Android devices, and responsive mobile websites let bettors place bets directly in their mobile browsers. Betting without a mobile app could be a blessing in disguise since it’s much faster and it takes up no space in your mobile device.
Overall, you only need a good Internet connection, lots of luck, and a full battery to access all your favorite sports. With that said, you can finally start betting.
Deposit & withdrawal
Depositing and withdrawing from Somali betting operators can be done via various payment methods like Mastercard, Visa, Perfect Money, Skrill, ecoPayz, Sticpay, Neteller, cryptocurrencies, Airtel, and MTN web deposit.
Somali players and bettors have a wide range of options to choose from and this makes the choice easy as everyone can pick what suits them best.
Payment methods are a staple for securing betting and gambling operators, so players and bettors can feel safe when making transactions.
Bonuses and promotions
Promotions and bonuses in Somali operators vary widely, and the most common are welcome bonuses that offer Free Bets and other sweet prizes.
Of course, you can find ongoing promotions and bonuses for cash prizes, special sports bonuses, competitions, and so much more.
Finding the best ways to win and have fun is what Somali players can look forward to when searching for their next favorite betting and gambling operators.