Betting and gaming across Africa: new regulatory frameworks, licensing regimes, tax changes and the operators and suppliers expanding into South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and beyond.
South African Trade Minister Parks Tau is considering whether to appeal a court ruling that struck down the award of the national lottery licence to Sizekhaya Holdings. During a parliamentary briefing on the matter, the lottery regulator disclosed that Sizekhaya's ticket sales have fallen well below its licensing bid forecasts.
The Uganda Gaming Operators Association has urged the government to reconsider a 15% withholding tax on player winnings, arguing that retail casinos cannot administer the deduction accurately. The trade body has proposed that land-based venues continue operating exclusively under the existing 30% gross gaming revenue tax framework.
Octoplay has officially entered the South African market through a new partnership with operator Hollywoodbets, marking the developer's debut in Africa. Under the terms of the agreement, Hollywoodbets has secured a one-month exclusivity period to offer Octoplay's games to its South African player base.
Kenyan gambling operators have urged the government to annul newly imposed licensing fees and capital requirements. Industry representatives argue that the updated licensing framework raises serious legal questions and imposes unsustainable financial burdens on local businesses.
Super Group, the parent company of Betway and Spin, is exploring growth opportunities driven by market consolidation in the UK. Simultaneously, the operator continues to expand its footprint across key African markets.
Super Group has lowered its full-year 2026 revenue forecast to between $2.52 billion and $2.57 billion, down from its previous projection of more than $2.6 billion, following slower growth in the third quarter. While the operator reported increased casino revenue and ongoing expansion across Africa, the gains were tempered by softer sports betting performance.
The High Court of South Africa has set aside the decision to award the Fourth National Lottery licence to Sizekhaya Holdings, reopening the tender process. Sizekhaya, which is majority owned by Goldrush Holdings, had previously assumed operational control from incumbent operator Ithuba. The court ruling follows a successful legal challenge brought by Ithuba to contest the award process.
Gaming Innovation Group (GiG) Chief Financial Officer Phil Richards has stepped down from his position after two and a half years with the company. During his tenure, Richards oversaw key corporate milestones, including the group's major stake acquisition in 888Africa.
Honoré Gaming has partnered with The Affiliate Platform (TAP) to integrate its affiliate management software across its operator network in French-speaking Africa and Latin America. The integration connects affiliate acquisition with existing Smartico loyalty and retention tools.
African gambling regulators will convene on November 5 during SiGMA World Rome to begin drafting a regional cooperation framework. Hosted by the Gaming Regulators Africa Forum (GRAF) and SiGMA, the workshop will center on cross-border enforcement, tackling illegal gambling, and information sharing while respecting national autonomy.
Tanzania's gaming tax revenue reached TZS307.8 billion, driven by continuous market expansion, digital payment adoption, and increased mobile participation. In light of this growth, the domestic gaming regulator is preparing to implement stronger player protection safeguards.
Sun International's digital arm, Sunbet, has renewed its technology partnership with Bede Gaming to support its ongoing expansion across African markets. The agreement extends a nearly decade-long collaboration, with Bede's platform continuing to power Sunbet's online operations in South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia.
Following a provisional order signed by President Lula to ban online sports betting and casino operations in Brazil, FIRST.bet's chief executive has responded to the sudden regulatory shutdown. The operator had previously invested significant capital into local compliance and operational infrastructure ahead of the ban. Moving forward, the company is shifting its strategic growth objectives toward established and emerging markets in Europe and Africa.
Wazdan has entered the South African market through a new partnership with operator Hollywoodbets. The rollout features an initial batch of 10 slot titles delivered via Light & Wonder’s aggregation platform.
Blueprint Gaming has expanded its presence in South Africa through a new distribution agreement with Supergroup brands Betway and Jackpotcity. The deal provides players nationwide with access to Blueprint's slot portfolio, including its Megaways and Cash Strike titles. The partnership marks a key step in accelerating the supplier's commercial footprint in the jurisdiction.
EGT Digital has partnered with SportPesa to expand its gaming presence across Africa. This collaboration integrates EGT Digital's casino games into SportPesa's platform, offering its customers access to the provider's in-house developed portfolio.
Pateplay has officially launched in South Africa through a collaboration with local aggregator Intelligent Gaming. This partnership provides South African players with immediate access to Pateplay's portfolio of slot titles.
Wazdan has entered the South African market through a partnership with operator Hollywoodbets, facilitated by the Light & Wonder aggregation platform. This collaboration will bring a selection of Wazdan's gaming titles to players in the country.
Wazdan has entered the South African market through a partnership with Hollywood Bets. This agreement will see Hollywoodbets integrate an initial 10 Wazdan game releases via Light & Wonder's aggregation platform.
Uplatform emphasizes the necessity of adaptable platforms to meet operators' evolving needs, citing regulatory shifts, growth in African markets, and increased demand for casino and sportsbook solutions. The company used SBC Summit Lisbon to engage with partners and identify new business opportunities as operators re-evaluate their technological requirements.
Amusnet has officially launched its gaming portfolio on Sunbet, Sun International's premier online betting and gaming platform in South Africa. This strategic partnership expands Amusnet's South African footprint by bringing its acclaimed slot catalogue to Sunbet's digital ecosystem.
Kiron has launched 20 virtual sports titles with SportyBet across five African markets: Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, and Nigeria. This expansion includes virtual football, basketball, horse racing, and greyhound racing, providing scheduled entertainment for SportyBet players.
A SOFTSWISS panel found that licensing costs represent only a fraction of the total market entry expenses for African iGaming. The discussion highlighted the broader economics of launching in the African iGaming market, focusing on South Africa as a key case study.
DATA.BET has signed a deal with SportsDey to provide its full iFrame sportsbook solution for the African market. This agreement allows SportsDey to expand its offering in the region without needing to build its own trading and risk infrastructure, with the product already live.
Playson has expanded its footprint in South Africa by partnering with World Sports Betting. This collaboration will see a selection of Playson's acclaimed Hold and Win titles introduced to World Sports Betting's player base. The integration will occur via Light & Wonder, further strengthening Playson's presence in the region.
DATA.BET has partnered with Africa-focused SportsDay to expand its presence in the region. SportsDay will integrate DATA.BET’s full sportsbook iFrame solution, which includes Managed Trading Services, 24/7 odds, risk management, and a Single Page Application. This partnership will provide SportsDay with odds and data across over 100 disciplines, encompassing traditional sports, esports, and virtual sports.
GR8_TECH, showcasing an expanded 'Champions' concept at the SBC Summit, emphasizes solutions simplifying technology and operations for betting businesses. The company projects Latin America and Africa as significant sources of growth and attention for the industry in 2027.
SunBet is developing a strategy to increase its market share in South Africa and challenge current leaders. The company's CEO plans a December launch for an updated betting product, which will feature an improved user interface and experience.
African football is facing increasing pressure to address match manipulation, with countries like Uganda, Mali, and Kenya strengthening their responses. Moses Swaibu has warned about the growing risks to African players regarding betting-related integrity issues.
Khalid Ali, CEO of the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), discussed the insights from African alert data, noting that increased alerts indicate more effective integrity systems. He highlighted that most football alerts involve accounts outside the country and expressed IBIA's reservations about restricting regulated betting on domestic competitions.
SunBet aims to leverage its land-based customer base to compete with leading online rivals in South Africa. The CEO believes the digital brand is currently the third-largest in the market, behind Betway and Hollywoodbets.
Press Box PR is expanding its operations into African markets. The agency will provide interviews, commentary, thought leadership, and digital PR campaigns. These services will be specifically tailored for African audiences within the betting industry.
Logifuture, a B2B iGaming supplier, has launched its Zoom Sports virtual football and tennis feed with Kenyan operator Odibets. This partnership marks Logifuture's entry into the Kenyan market, with future expansion planned for Tanzania and Ghana.
A new pan-African responsible gaming network has been launched to promote common principles across the continent. This initiative unites various African responsible gambling organizations as the region's online betting market continues its expansion. The network aims to standardize and improve player protection efforts.
Logifuture, a B2B iGaming provider, has launched its Zoom Sports virtual offering with Kenyan operator Odibets. Zoom Sports provides 24/7 virtual football and tennis content. This launch is part of a regional expansion, with deployments in Tanzania and Ghana planned next.
A SOFTSWISS-commissioned survey in South Africa identified a discrepancy between financial pressures and the demand for player protection tools. Unemployed respondents, who most frequently cited using a windfall to pay debt (22.1%), showed limited interest in spending-limit tools (35.3%).
Gambian operator BETESE Aviator has integrated QTech's aggregation platform, reporting significant increases in turnover and player engagement. This partnership aims to scale operations across Africa, leveraging QTech's content distribution.
SBC has partnered with the Ghana Association of Sports Betting Operators (GHASBO) to enhance Ghanaian operator participation and knowledge exchange at the African Gaming Forum 2026. This collaboration aims to bolster Ghana's voice and market expertise within the African iGaming landscape.
The African Gaming Forum, an invite-only event in Lisbon, will gather senior stakeholders to discuss the sustainable growth of Africa's gaming industry. The agenda focuses on evolving regulation, taxation, and market structures across the continent.
Axom Gaming is expanding its operations across Africa, leveraging a strategic partnership with 888AFRICA to capitalize on the continent's growing iGaming market. This collaboration aims to secure a leading position in emerging African territories, highlighting significant investment and market entry strategies.