The Africa Summit held at iGB L!VE 2026 addressed various pressing issues in the gaming sector, including localisation, collaboration, and the future of sports betting, while tackling the illegal market problem.
In the first panel discussion titled "Towards Cooperative African Gaming Markets: Enabling Growth through Best Practice," moderated by Robin Harrison, Global Content Director at iGamingBusiness, industry leaders gathered to explore crucial topics. Among the panelists were Lungile Dukwana, CEO of the South African National Gambling Board, Bashir Are, CEO of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, and Olabimpe Akingba, head of responsible gaming at pawaTech.
The conversation turned towards the need for regional harmonisation and regulatory cooperation within Africa's gaming sector. Akingba highlighted the necessity for operators to adopt flexibility, stating, "there's really no one size fits all across the continent." Dukwana pointed out that shared standards on basic issues, like consumer protection, could serve as a simple first step towards harmonisation. In contrast, Are warned that excessively high fiscal policies could jeopardize market viability, remarking, "When you have a regime in which the taxes are very high, the market will not survive." Guga Gotsadze, CEO of SmartSoft, cautioned against viewing Africa as a single market, asserting, "Rather than building one regional strategy, we develop market specific approaches. Understanding those differences is what creates sustainable growth."
During the second panel, "The Future of Taxation, Channelisation and Sustainable Market Growth," Ed Birkin, Managing Director at H2 Gambling Capital, joined Dukwana and Dan Thomson, CCO of pawaTech, to discuss the intricate balance between tax policy and market growth. Dukwana assured that local enforcement remains strong, declaring, "There is no illegal operator or offshore operator that should be comfortable in the South African space." Thomson pointed out pawaTech's exit from three African jurisdictions over the past 18 months due to unworkable tax rates, stating, "This is an industry that could grow for the next 20 years… But if it’s squeeze, squeeze, squeeze, we are not NGOs; we are commercial entities. We are here to ultimately turn a profit." Gotsadze emphasized the need for transparent and balanced regulation that promotes confidence in investment.
The third panel focused on "Localisation & Cultural Considerations of Adapting Global Products for Local Audiences," led by Lois Bright, Co-Founder of Gaming Advisory Partners. Panelists included Christian Rajter, CEO of Split the Pot, Gail Odgers, General Manager of Virgin Bet South Africa, and Simon Munsamy, Managing Director of Playtech Africa. Odgers highlighted the complexities of addressing diverse demographics, stating that localisation must evolve continually based on insights gained. Rajter stressed the importance of engaging with the local market, suggesting that companies should listen to both players and market inhabitants. Munsamy added that while not everything needs localisation, agility is essential. Gotsadze reminded that localisation should not compromise product quality.
Next, the discussion turned to payments in the panel "Cracking African Payments: Mobile Money, KYC, AML and the Compliance Puzzle." Charles Ekundayo, CEO of Africa Gaming Expo, moderated a panel featuring Anthony Prissman from Super Group, Denis Mudene Ngabirano, CEO of the Ugandan National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board, and Conor O’Donovan, Africa partner at Tekkorp Capital. Prissman noted that mobile money has transformed transaction dynamics, underlining the necessity of trust in building a customer base. O’Donovan pointed out that mobile money isn't always cost-efficient, while Ngabirano mentioned how Uganda's high gambling age has driven youth towards the black market, necessitating risk-based KYC processes. Prissman commented that a pan-African KYC technology system remains a distant goal.
Lastly, the summit culminated with a panel on "Sports Betting in Africa: Combining Local Passion with Product Innovation." Kyle Goldsmith, Emerging Markets Editor at iGamingBusiness, chaired this session, which included Martin Sack, Co-Founder of Gaming Advisory Partners, and William Scott, Non-Executive Director at Ithuba Holdings. Both confirmed that football drives sports betting growth in Africa. Sack emphasized the role of improved infrastructure and mobile payment adoption as key growth factors, stating, "I think it’s more about infrastructure… All of those things together provide growth in the sportsbook." He dismissed the notion that sports sponsorship is uniquely effective, insisting that solid execution and product quality are paramount. Gotsadze echoed the centrality of football in African culture and its impact on engagement within the gaming ecosystem.
