African gambling regulators advance Africa Safer Gambling Week in London

Regulators from across Africa gathered in London this week to intensify collaborative efforts on licensing, taxation and player protection within the continent’s expanding industry. 

The meeting was hosted by the African iGaming Alliance (AiA) as a high-level session alongside the iGB L!VE 2026 conference on 2 July.

Representatives included chief executives and senior officials from at least eight African jurisdictions – Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Malawi, Rwanda, Ghana, Tanzania and Angola – who exchanged views and policy experiences on pressing regulatory challenges.

As Africa’s digital betting sector experiences rapid growth, regulators focused discussions on critical issues such as sustainable taxation models that balance government revenues with market competitiveness. It also focused on strategies to channel players towards licensed operators, and enhanced player protection mechanisms.

A technical presentation by data specialists H2 Gambling Capital played a pivotal role, offering insights into global taxation frameworks and the interplay between tax policy, player protection and sustainable revenue generation. 

Participants emphasised the need for balanced tax regimes that encourage compliance, safeguard consumers and foster long-term industry growth.

Cross-border collaboration 

An important outcome from the meeting was the advancement of a continent-wide initiative proposed by the AiA: Africa Safer Gambling Week. 

This event aims to deliver coherent messaging. It also aims to co-ordinate education efforts involving regulators, operators and other stakeholders to promote responsible gambling practices.

Organisers highlighted several other key agreements. These included a strengthened commitment to regulator collaboration across national borders and a pursuit of evidence-based policymaking supported by reliable and up-to-date market data.

It also included a continued dialogue on taxation strategies that align government revenue objectives with competitive market dynamics and player safety. Additionally, enhanced cross-border efforts to identify and combat unlicensed and illegal gambling operations were agreed.

Chief executive officer of the African iGaming Alliance, Peter Emolemo Kesitilwe, said: “Africa’s gaming industry continues to grow rapidly, making regulatory collaboration more important than ever.”

He added: “Today’s discussions demonstrated the commitment of African regulators to work together in addressing common challenges, sharing best practices and building regulatory frameworks that promote responsible gambling, consumer protection and sustainable market development. AiA remains committed to providing a platform that supports this collaboration for the benefit of the continent.” 

Regulatory challenges amid market expansion

The drive towards regulatory co-ordination comes as Africa’s betting market expands due to liberalisation and increased internet and mobile access. In the same vein, Bola Group recently launched a betting platform on WhatsApp in time for the World Cup. Powered by ChatLayer Media Technologies, Chatbet enables players to receive odds and place bets by either sending a message or voice note on WhatsApp. 

Several jurisdictions have recently updated licensing frameworks or modified taxation systems to better capture online revenues. Meanwhile, regulators face persistent competition from offshore platforms and informal operators undermining regulatory compliance and tax collection.

The London session provided a platform for regulators to share their recent approaches. For instance, Nigeria’s Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, South Africa’s National Gambling Board and Ghana’s Gaming Commission have intensified oversight and are experimenting with data-driven compliance technologies.

In the lead up to the World Cup, the NGB warned of a surge in illegal online gambling platforms. NGB warned that these fraudulent schemes mimic legitimate bookmakers by misappropriating names, logos and branding related to reputable operators.  

Smaller markets like Rwanda and Malawi focused on capacity building and improved intelligence sharing to identify illegal operators.