African i Gaming Alliance Calls for Unified Regulations

Key Takeaways:

• African i Gaming Alliance urges end to fragmented regulations across the continent to foster collaboration and growth.
• Focus on sector-wide problem gambling initiatives and technical expertise to support operators.
• Aims to position Africa as a competitive i Gaming market without competing with local regulators.

The African i Gaming Alliance (Ai GA) has emerged as a pivotal voice in the continent's burgeoning online casino sector, advocating for streamlined regulations to replace the current patchwork of rules that hinder industry progress. Founded to bridge gaps between operators, regulators, and stakeholders, Ai GA's recent push highlights the need for collaborative frameworks that prioritize player protection while enabling market expansion. In a statement to industry media, Ai GA head Peter Kesitilwe emphasized that fragmentation—where countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa operate under vastly different licensing and compliance standards—creates barriers to entry for licensed software providers and payment platforms, ultimately driving operators toward unregulated black markets.

This call comes at a critical juncture for Africa's iGaming landscape. With internet penetration surpassing 50% in key markets and mobile gaming adoption accelerating, the sector is projected to grow by over 10% annually through 2028, according to recent SOFTSWISS data. However, disparate rules on everything from age verification to transaction limits complicate cross-border operations for international software giants like Playtech and Evolution Gaming. Kesitilwe noted that Ai GA is not seeking to supplant national regulators but to facilitate knowledge-sharing, such as standardized cybersecurity protocols and AI-driven responsible gaming tools. For instance, the alliance plans to pilot joint initiatives in East Africa, where payment platforms like Flutterwave could integrate seamless, compliant trusted payments and deposit systems tailored to local currencies and anti-money laundering requirements.

The impact on the online casino industry is profound. Unified regulations could attract more investment from licensed operators, boosting tax revenues for governments while enhancing player safety through consistent enforcement. Currently, fragmented oversight leads to uneven consumer protections; in some regions, lax verification exposes players to fraud, while overly stringent rules in others stifle innovation from online casino software providers. By promoting a "sector-wide approach" to problem gambling—such as shared self-exclusion databases—Ai GA aims to mitigate these risks, potentially reducing illicit activity by 20-30%, based on similar European models. This matters for global stakeholders too: as Asia and Latin America tighten their borders, Africa represents untapped potential for expansion, with operators like Sun International already reporting 105% year-on-year growth in regional iGaming deposits.

For payment platforms, the push aligns with demands for faster, more secure transactions. Crypto payments and e-wallet integrations, long hampered by regulatory silos, could standardize under Ai GA's vision, enabling instant withdrawals and reducing fees that currently average 5-7% in cross-African transfers. Software providers stand to benefit from clearer certification paths, allowing quicker rollout of localized content like mobile-optimized slots compliant with diverse data protection laws.

Ultimately, Ai GA's advocacy underscores a maturing African iGaming ecosystem. If successful, it could transform the continent from a peripheral player into a hub for innovation, drawing parallels to Malta's role in Europe. Operators ignoring this shift risk missing out on a market where unique active players grew 71% in the first half of 2025 alone. As Kesitilwe put it, "Collaboration isn't optional—it's the key to sustainable growth." With upcoming summits in Johannesburg, the alliance is poised to influence policy, ensuring the online casino sector evolves responsibly and competitively.

Sources:

• igamingbusiness.com/african-igaming-alliance-industry-collaboration-end-to-fragmentation/