Africa’s Gambling Market Expands as Regulators Push for Stronger Frameworks

Africa’s gambling sector is expanding at an unprecedented pace, driven by the spread of mobile technology, the rise of mobile money services, and a young population increasingly drawn to online sports betting. Statista projects that the African gambling market will surpass US$2.34 billion by 2030, with online gambling fueling the bulk of this growth. But as the industry grows, questions remain about how it is regulated, and which gambling regulators are defining the legal landscape. The short answer is that regulation remains uneven, with some countries establishing robust systems while others lag far behind, creating a fragmented patchwork that impacts everything from casino and bookmaker licenses to online betting compliance.

One of the defining challenges is inconsistency across jurisdictions. In Cameroon, laws permitting casino operations and interactive games were passed nearly a decade ago, but with the gambling regulator largely inactive, the sector remains without proper oversight. Ghana, through the Gaming Commission of Ghana, issues licenses but lacks centralized systems for monitoring online betting revenues and tax flows, making enforcement difficult. Nigeria presents another layer of complexity, with both the National Lottery Regulatory Commission and the Lagos State Lotteries Board issuing gambling licenses, a setup that confuses operators. Some Nigerian states ban gambling outright while simultaneously benefiting from federal tax revenues. In South Africa, the National Gambling Board works alongside nine Provincial Gambling Boards, each with distinct legislation. While this structure allows tailored oversight and content, it also sparks competition and overlap in license approvals and mandates. For operators, this contradictory legal framework creates major hurdles, while consumers remain exposed to illegal markets.

Despite these challenges, a handful of countries are moving ahead with comprehensive reforms. Kenya has emerged as one of the most aggressive regulators, passing the Gambling Act 2025, which dissolved the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) and established the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA). The new body consolidates licensing and enforcement at the national level and introduces a raft of reforms. The GRA enforces a 30% local ownership rule, imposes stricter regulations on gambling advertisements, and mandates integration with a real-time monitoring system linked to the Kenya Revenue Authority to boost tax collection and crack down on unlicensed operators.

Nigeria has also moved to harmonize its regulatory environment by introducing a federated licensing model across 28 states, aligning the National Lottery Regulatory Commission with state-level boards like the Lagos State Lotteries Board. This framework reduces duplication, improves Anti-Money Laundering oversight, and instills greater confidence among investors in market stability. Ghana has pursued a different approach by rolling back its 10% withholding tax on player winnings to curb the growth of unlicensed operations and encourage participation in the formal sector. The Gaming Commission of Ghana hopes this step will broaden the tax base and stabilize revenues through larger transaction volumes. South Africa has reinforced transparency by awarding a 10-year National Lottery license in 2025 to Sizekhaya Holdings. The tender process was heavily focused on governance, reporting obligations, and community reinvestment. Oversight from both the National Gambling Board and Provincial Gambling Boards under the Lotteries Act has turned this license into a benchmark for balancing commercial expansion with responsible gambling standards.

As regulators tighten oversight, consumer protection and responsible gambling have become central priorities. With more than 60% of Africa’s population under the age of 25, the risk of youth gambling and problem betting looms large. Kenya has already moved to require responsible gambling messages in all advertisements and banned the use of public figures in gambling promotions. Nigeria has tied license approvals to responsible gambling measures such as self-exclusion programs and loss limits. South Africa, through its Responsible Gambling Foundation, runs educational initiatives nationwide while provincial boards enforce standards for interactive gaming, mobile betting, and esports wagering. These measures show how consumer protection is increasingly embedded in legal frameworks and directly linked to gambling license renewals.

The question of whether Africa can harmonize gambling regulation remains a pressing one. International collaboration is difficult given the sheer number of regulators, as well as cultural and religious differences, yet progress is being made. The African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) has begun developing baseline standards, and the Gaming Tech Summit Africa (GTSA) 2025 marked a turning point with the launch of the Gaming Alliance Africa (GAA), a Pan-African platform for regulators, fintech players, and compliance experts to coordinate on online gambling oversight and responsible gaming initiatives. Later in the year, the African Lotteries and Gaming Association (ALGA) built on this momentum by hosting a conference focused on unified data-sharing and enforcement frameworks. The push for harmonization promises greater clarity for operators, stronger Anti-Money Laundering tracking for regulators, and consistent protections for consumers across the continent.

Central to this transformation is the Gaming Tech Summit Africa, which has quickly become the hub for regulatory debate and policy innovation. In 2025, GTSA gathered more than 25 regulators, 50 expert speakers, and 400 participants to tackle issues such as gaming regulation, fintech compliance, and player protection. Beyond the discussions, GTSA directly facilitated the launch of the Gaming Alliance Africa and sparked commitments to responsible gambling and cross-border cooperation. By convening regulators, operators, investors, and fintech providers in one forum, GTSA has positioned itself as the most strategic platform for stakeholders seeking to anticipate policy trends, align with compliance frameworks, or help shape the future of gambling regulation in Africa.

The continent’s gambling industry is therefore evolving through a mix of fragmented regulation, pioneering reforms, and collaborative initiatives. While some countries remain hampered by outdated systems, others are advancing real-time monitoring, tightening licensing regimes, and embedding responsible gambling safeguards into law. Far from being a barrier, regulation is emerging as the foundation for sustainable growth in Africa’s gaming sector. And with GTSA 2026 on the horizon, the stage is set for policies, partnerships, and innovations to align. Stakeholders who want to shape the next chapter of the industry are being called to sign up for the Gaming Tech Summit Africa 2026 and be part of the conversations that will define the future of gambling on the continent.

By fLEXI tEAM