SBWA+ Summit and GEFA 2026: Three Weeks Until the Heart of Gaming in Africa

The African gaming sector is turning its attention to Dakar, Senegal, where in three weeks the eleventh Sports Betting West Africa+ (SBWA+) Summit and the second annual Gaming Event Francophone Africa (GEFA) will take place. Both events, organized by Eventus International, will occur from October 14 to 16, 2026, at the King Fahd Palace Hôtel. Participation from executives of state lotteries, regulatory agencies, regional operators, legal and technological experts is anticipated, creating a conducive environment for closing deals.

SBWA+ Summit 2026: A Platform for Operations and Compliance

The SBWA+ Summit 2026 is poised not only as a forum for strategic dialogue but as a space specifically designed for swift decision-making and the establishment of partnerships. Attendees will gain concrete insights into cross-border regulatory frameworks, new practices for mobile player retention, and optimized solutions for gaming in low-connectivity environments, relevant to both French-speaking markets and West Africa. Additionally, the event will analyze emerging growth corridors in these jurisdictions, along with the associated regulatory challenges.

GEFA Event: Boosting Gaming in Francophone Africa

In parallel, the Gaming Event Francophone Africa strengthens the role of French-speaking operators in the African ecosystem. The agenda includes panels on local regulations, player protection, and methodologies to diversify digital offerings in French-speaking markets, where mobile penetration and alternative payments are crucial for sustained expansion.

Nominations Open: SBWA+ Eventus Awards 2026

The award ceremony for the SBWA+ Eventus Awards will take place on October 14, 2026. The ecosystem is invited to nominate organizations or executives that excel in operational excellence, regulatory compliance, or technological innovation in gambling. The nomination deadline is October 2, 2026. These awards highlight adaptability and leadership in the demanding African landscape.

B2B Showcase: PlaylogiQ and Scalable Infrastructure for Africa

PlaylogiQ, the main sponsor and provider of B2B iGaming platforms, is prominent in this year's edition. Recognized for its modular and scalable approach, the company operates in Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria through local partnerships. PlaylogiQ offers an ecosystem that integrates over 80,000 live events and 8,000 casino titles, optimized for regulated markets with connectivity limitations and a preference for mobile technologies.

"In West and Francophone Africa, the transition from retail to online is not about replacing physical points with a website. It’s about connecting both worlds so that operators can grow without losing what already works," stated Niko Mannino, representative of PlaylogiQ.

The company has developed a modular platform that can handle large spikes in traffic and betting, especially during tournaments and key dates, allowing operators to manage sportsbook, casino, payments, and users from a single interface. The integration of mobile payment methods, USSD, and physical agent networks ensures coverage across hybrid channels, vital for the local environment.

Risk Management, Trading, and Retention Tools for African Operators

PlaylogiQ's platform facilitates automatic risk management, real-time trading, and advanced user retention tools, all with centralized visibility over portfolios, limits, movements, and exposure for each operator. The Payment Hub allows the integration of global and local methods, with real-time monitoring and operational logic. The retail module synchronizes physical and online points, including aggregated USSD flows via local payment and technology partners.

"The platform allows operators to define exposure limits by player, profile, event, sport, region, or tournament. Real-time monitoring helps detect unusual activities and identify unbalanced betting patterns. Additionally, our managed trading tools can cover odds compilation and risk control," Mannino added.

For retention, PlaylogiQ integrates features such as bonus management, cashback, personalized accumulator bets, and league prioritization, all on a centralized layer of accounts and transactions. In this way, operators can define margin strategies and adjust rules on the fly by sport, market, or region, maximizing operational efficiency and user experience.

Registration and Spaces for Operators, Affiliates, and Sponsors

With less than a month to go before the start of the SBWA+ Summit 2026 and GEFA 2026, few passes and exhibition spaces are available. Licensed operators and affiliates can request free passes (subject to availability confirmation), while C-level delegates can register for access to sessions, executive lunches, and networking opportunities. Inquiries about sponsorship and exhibition should be directed to Lou-Mari Burnett, Operations Director of Eventus International.

For more analysis on payment methods and international expansion, visit the payments section.

The Landscape of African B2B Events in 2026

The African iGaming calendar confirms Dakar as a nerve center for establishing alliances and sustainable sector development. Both SBWA+ and GEFA offer a platform for defining standards, sharing best practices, and addressing emerging regulatory challenges.

Expectations for the fourth quarter of 2026 point to an environment of increasing regulation, competition, and the need for adaptable infrastructures, where the convergence between retail and digital will be crucial for operators in the region.