Bola Group has launched Chatbet, a unique sports betting platform designed for WhatsApp, claiming it to be the first of its kind in Africa. Powered by ChatLayer Media Technologies, Chatbet allows users to receive betting odds and place wagers through text messages or voice notes on WhatsApp. This innovative platform removes the barriers of needing app downloads, web browsers, or complex betting interfaces that require extensive data usage.
Chatbet covers a wide array of major sports and has been tailored specifically for the African market. This launch arrives at a time when betting operators across the continent are looking to enhance customer engagement in regions where smartphone use is on the rise, but high data costs remain a challenge. The service will initially be available in Zambia, with plans to expand into Zimbabwe and Malawi later on.
Hilton Hasson, CEO of Bola Group, characterized the launch as a significant achievement for both the organization and the African betting landscape. He stated, “Our teams have spent six months working on something that has never existed in Africa before. WhatsApp is already in everyone’s pocket, data costs make traditional platforms a barrier and sports betting in this market is still massively underserved digitally, and Chatbet solves all three.”
Hasson emphasized the importance of the timing of the launch, aligning it with the upcoming FIFA 2026 World Cup, indicating a strategic move as part of the company’s customer acquisition plans and its long-term goals for online betting in sub-Saharan Africa. “The fact that it launches as the World Cup kicks off is no accident,” he noted, adding, “This is the biggest sporting event on the planet and we are the only operator on this continent where a fan can place a bet via a voice note.”
