African Gaming Forum: Analysis and Perspectives on the Growth of Gaming in Africa

The African Gaming Forum is emerging as the leading physical forum to address the future of gaming in Africa. This event, organized during the SBC Summit in Lisbon, aims to facilitate contact between key players in an environment marked by expansion, regulatory development, and the complexity of a heterogeneous market.

African Gaming Forum: What It Is and Who Participates

The African Gaming Forum is an exclusive one-day, invitation-only meeting aimed at stimulating debate among regulators, operators, associations, and other key players in the African gaming ecosystem. The agenda combines seven thematic sessions with four moments dedicated to networking, allowing attendees to alternate between structured discussions and direct informal conversations.

The forum has the support of regional entities such as iGaming Afrika and the African iGaming Alliance (AIA), involved in both organizing and designing the discussions that will take place in Lisbon. The event will take place on Wednesday, September 30, from 11:30 AM to 7:00 PM, at the Myriad Hotel.

Confirmed attendees include leading operators such as 1xBet, Bet9ja, Betway Africa, Hollywoodbets, KingMakers, M Sport, SportyBet, SunBet, and World Sports Betting, as well as national lotteries — such as Loterie Nationale du Bénin and National Lottery Kenya — alongside representatives from markets in West, East, Central, Southern, and Northern Africa.

Key Regulators and Associations in the African Gaming Industry

The forum will also feature regulators from various countries:

• National Gaming Board, South Africa
• Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya
• Lagos Lotteries & Gaming Authority, Nigeria
• Ghana Regulatory Authority
• Gambling Board of Namibia
• Botswana Gambling Authority
• Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board, South Africa

In addition to regulatory bodies, representative associations such as the Association of South African Bookmakers, Ghana Association of Sports Betting Operators, Association of Gaming Operators Kenya, International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR), and the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) will attend. Their aim is to provide perspective on regulation, integrity, and sustainable development in the African gaming sector.

Main Topics and Sessions of the African Gaming Forum

During the seven sessions of the program, regulatory challenges, expansion opportunities, and risks of the unregulated market will be analyzed:

• Regulators Panel: Analysis of collaboration between regulators and operators for the development of effective frameworks, growth, and player protection.
• CEOs Panel: Entry and sustainable expansion strategies, the rise of iCasino, and cultural and regulatory challenges.
• Ghana: Review of the rapid evolution of the Ghanaian market and its regulatory implications.
• Kenya: Impact of the new Gambling Control Act and compliance obligations.
• Nigeria: Challenges and opportunities amid regulatory uncertainty and cooperation between authorities.
• South Africa: Analysis of potential consequences of new taxes on liability and the unregulated market.
• Ethiopia: Consequences of the iGaming ban and discussion on future regulatory paths for licensed operators.

Debates will be led by prominent figures such as Lungile Dukwana (CEO, National Gambling Board, South Africa), Bashir Are (CEO, Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority), Emmanuel Siisi Quainoo (Acting Commissioner, Gaming Commission of Ghana), John Mutua (CEO, Association of Gaming Operators Kenya), Ronnie Whelan (CEO, Kingmakers), and other sector executives and representatives from associations.

"We bring policymakers, operators, and associations into the same room, facilitating comparison between jurisdictions rather than analyzing each market in isolation," highlights the organization.

Networking and Regional Linking Among Stakeholders

Beyond the conferences, the forum prioritizes spaces for professional networking. Four structured networking sessions allow participants to delve deeper into the event's topics and foster direct contact among operators, regulators, and key associations:

• 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Opening lunch (Lungile Dukwana, CEO of National Gambling Board, South Africa, and Lois Bright, founder of Women in Gaming, Africa)
• 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Networking break
• 3:40 PM - 4:00 PM: Second networking break
• 5:10 PM - 7:00 PM: Networking cocktail and buffet

These opportunities aim to strengthen cross-cutting collaboration and foster connections to explore projects and solve specific challenges in the African market.

Africa in the Global Conversation of the Gaming Industry

The African Gaming Forum, in the context of the SBC Summit, aims to be a strategic space for operators, regulators, and associations across Africa to discuss regulatory approaches, opportunities for responsible growth, and challenges in the gray market. The event connects African leaders with international companies, technologies, and trends that will shape the industry’s future.

For those working in African markets, the forum provides an environment to identify regional opportunities, formulate tailored strategies, and strengthen relationships. The international context of the SBC Summit broadens the scope of these discussions, integrating the African perspective into the global evolution of gaming, regulation, and technology.

For more information on regulatory trends and sector events, see the regulation section or discover upcoming meetings in events.