Africa's Gaming Industry Demands Smarter Regulations

The Africa Game Expo 2026 revealed that Africa's gaming industry is growing faster than its regulatory systems can manage. Key discussions emphasized the urgent need for smarter regulations to address the challenges posed by unlicensed operations.

Bashir, Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Lottery Game Authority, noted that restrictive regulatory environments unintentionally drive operators to illegal channels, exacerbating the black market. Moruntshi Kemorwal, Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Gambling Authority, highlighted that Botswana is experiencing a significant increase in illegal market activities, which outpace regulatory efforts.

Peter Emolemo, Chief Executive Officer of the African iGaming Alliance, pointed out that unlicensed operations are driven by technological convergence and fragmented regulatory systems. Divin Afuba, Deputy Director General of the Instituto de Supervisão de Jogo in Angola, stressed the importance of strong regulations to mitigate risks associated with high entry barriers.

The summit concluded that Africa's regulatory design is flawed, necessitating a shift towards smarter regulatory frameworks to ensure a viable legal market.