Compliance in Africa: Challenges and Strategies of Tradabets

Maleek Oyiza, Head of Legal and Compliance at Tradabets, explains why mobile payments, money laundering risks, and varying national standards complicate compliance in Africa. He addressed these issues ahead of the SBC Summit, where he emphasized the need to adapt compliance frameworks to local realities.

Impact of Mobile Payment on Compliance

Mobile payment and alternative payment methods have become crucial for African players. "In a traditional card or bank-based environment, you have established banking control. With mobile payment, the ecosystem is more fragmented," says Oyiza. It is essential to understand how money moves to adjust controls to visible risks.

The variability in payment behavior across African markets underscores that models from Europe or North America are not directly applicable. Operators must understand the local payment ecosystem to mitigate risks in transactions.

AML Risks with Mobile Payment

The risks associated with money laundering in Africa are underestimated, especially the speed and volume of recurring small transactions. This becomes significant when analyzing a pattern rather than individual transactions, where multiple accounts and abnormal deposit patterns can be used.

Transaction monitoring is crucial, and the assumption that a payment provider has completed KYC does not fulfill operators' AML obligations, as they must continue monitoring activity on their platforms.

Compliance Management in Expansion

Tradabets currently operates in Nigeria, aligning with the local regulatory framework. As it expands, Tradabets adapts its group compliance framework to the regulations and expectations of each jurisdiction, ensuring it protects customer integrity and security.

Balancing Payment Experience and Compliance

The tension between speed in payments and compliance checks is a challenge. Players desire quick transactions and view additional verification steps as friction. "Smart and proportionate compliance is the solution," says Oyiza, relying on technology to automate initial checks and reserving deep reviews for necessary cases.

Standardization vs. Localization

Although some compliance can be standardized, each market requires specific adaptations. The internal AML policy and risk assessment methodology can be standard, but licensing requirements and local payment methods vary. Applying an adapted framework ensures consistency without ignoring local laws.

Role of Local Partners and Regtech

Local payment providers and regtech partners are crucial in providing transaction infrastructure and useful data for monitoring. There are still challenges in interoperability and data quality in African markets. "Better data sharing and strengthened APIs would improve compliance," suggests Oyiza.

Understanding African Markets at the SBC Summit 2026

"Africa should not be treated as a single gaming market," emphasizes Oyiza. While there are common issues, regulatory environments can vary significantly. "Good compliance is key to a sustainable business in Africa," he adds. It is essential for operators to invest in technology and collaborate with regulators to promote a safe and viable gaming environment.

Scheduled in Lisbon from September 29 to October 1, 2026, SBC Summit will gather 40,000 industry professionals to discuss these issues and learn from global experiences.