The African iGaming Alliance (AiA) has initiated the first-ever Africa Safer Gambling Week to enhance player protection in the continent's gambling industry.
Launching on Monday, this week-long event seeks to unite various stakeholders, such as industry associations and regulators, in support of safer gambling practices. This annual initiative aims to ensure the expandin g gambling sector in Africa is accompanied by effective consumer protection, responsible gambling habits, and increased public awareness.
Under the campaign slogan #PlaySafeAfrica, each day will spotlight different aspects of safer gambling, including responsible gambling measures, personal limits for players, and the prevention of underage gambling.
The week will feature a structured program designed to facilitate interactions between regulators and industry representatives, in addition to public education initiatives and digital awareness campaigns.
Peter Kesitilwe, CEO of the AiA, emphasized the importance of aligning industry growth with player protection. He underscored the necessity for enhanced collaboration between regulators and operators.
“As Africa’s gambling industry continues to grow, player protection must grow with it,” Kesitilwe stated. “Africa Safer Gambling Week brings regulators and industry together around a shared commitment to safer gambling and stronger consumer protection. We fully support consumers having the tools and information they need to gamble responsibly; this week, like every week, is about ensuring our customers' safety.”
The AiA has also called for a greater cooperative effort among stakeholders within Africa's gambling sector, suggesting that collaboration will become increasingly critical as the industry evolves. This includes enhancing cooperation, exchanging best practices, and prioritizing safer gambling in policy discussions.
Additionally, the initiative will highlight the necessity of directing players toward legal channels, noting that the black market often overlooks player protection. Olabimpe Akingba, head of responsible gaming at pawaTech and a board member of the AiA, pointed out that this initiative is part of the AiA's goal of translating cross-border collaborative discussions into concrete actions for player protection.
“At the African iGaming Alliance, we have been committed to moving beyond conversations about collaboration across African jurisdictions towards meaningful action,” Akingba explained. “And what better place to demonstrate that commitment than through player protection? The Africa Safer Gambling Week is our collaboration in action.”
On the same day, the AiA announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Association of Nigerian Bookmakers, aiming for closer collaboration on issues in Nigeria and throughout Africa. This MoU will focus on opportunities for partnerships regarding safer gambling, player protection, and taxation reforms. Notably, this is the second MoU the AiA has secured within three weeks, having previously established a collaborative framework with the Association of Gaming Operators of Kenya in late August.
