The Africa Summit at iGB L!VE 2026 brought together industry experts to discuss critical issues such as localisation, collaboration, payment solutions, and the future of sports betting in relation to the illegal market.
The first panel, moderated by Robin Harrison, Global Content Director at iGamingBusiness, featured key figures including 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. This session revolved around regional harmonisation, regulatory cooperation, and effective taxation practices in Africa's gaming sector. Akingba highlighted the necessity for flexibility among operators, asserting that "there’s really no one size fit all" across the continent. The panelists emphasized creating regional networks to address straightforward issues, with Dukwana stating that sharing consumer protection standards is a solid starting point.
The discussion also highlighted concerns over high tax rates potentially harming market viability, with Are cautioning, "When you have a regime in which the taxes are very high, the market will not survive." SmartSoft’s CEO, Guga Gotsadze, underscored the risks of treating Africa as a singular market, insisting that tailored strategies for individual markets foster sustainable growth. Akingba noted the need for collective efforts: "Regulators, operators, we need to work together to ensure that the tax authorities… understand that there’s a level at which you can tax that could completely wipe out the industry."
In the second panel, Ed Birkin, Managing Director of H2 Gambling Capital, discussed with Dukwana and Dan Thomson, CCO of pawaTech, the balance between taxation and market channelisation. Dukwana reassured that local enforcement in South Africa remains vigilant, declaring, "There is no illegal operator or offshore operator that should be comfortable in the South African space." Thomson revealed that pawaTech had withdrawn from three African markets over the last year and a half, citing unaffordable tax rates and reinforcing the notion that while the industry is poised for long-term growth, excessive taxation is a deterrent. He noted, "But if it’s squeeze, squeeze, squeeze, we are not NGOs, we are commercial entities. We are here to ultimately turn a profit."
The third panel addressed the need for localisation and adapting global products for local audiences, moderated by Lois Bright from Gaming Advisory Partners. Participants included Christian Rajter, CEO of Split the Pot; Gail Odgers, General Manager for Virgin Bet in South Africa; and Simon Munsamy, Africa Managing Director at Playtech. Odgers pointed to the complexities of catering to diverse demographics, voicing that localisation demands continuous evolution based on market feedback. Rajter emphasized the importance of understanding local sentiments, stating, "You should listen to the players… communicate with those in the market." Munsamy cautioned against one-size-fits-all strategies while advocating for agility in operations. Gotsadze reiterated that quality should not be compromised in the pursuit of localisation, aiming to maintain the core experience for players while ensuring relevance to local audiences.
The fourth panel centered on the vital role of mobile payments in Africa's gambling landscape, chaired by Charles Ekundayo from Africa Gaming Expo. This panel included Anthony Prissman from Super Group, Denis Mudene Ngabirano, CEO of Uganda's National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board, and Conor O'Donovan, Africa partner at Tekkorp Capital. Prissman highlighted how mobile money has revolutionized transaction dynamics, emphasizing trust as central to successful gambling operations. However, O'Donovan pointed out that while mobile payments are efficient, they also present challenges. Ngabirano brought attention to Uganda’s high minimum gambling age of 25, which he argued drives youth towards illegal markets, leading to the need for more flexible KYC compliance. Prissman remarked that pan-African KYC technology remains a distant goal, while Gotsadze noted that increasing access to digital payments signals significant growth opportunities for the region.
The summit concluded with a discussion about sports betting in Africa, moderated by Kyle Goldsmith, Emerging Markets Editor at iGamingBusiness. Participants included Martin Sack from Gaming Advisory Partners and William Scott, a non-executive director at Ithuba Holdings. The panelists agreed that football is crucial to driving sports betting growth, with Sack mentioning that technological improvements in infrastructure and payment systems have spurred developments in the sportsbook. He cautioned against viewing sports sponsorship as a panacea for underlying issues, stating, "If you have a bad product, you can’t put lipstick on a pig." Gotsadze echoed the sentiment regarding football’s significance: "Football is unquestionably the dominant sport across most African markets… it drives engagement across the entire gaming ecosystem." Sack concluded that sustainable engagement requires trust, focusing on responsible gaming and fair products to build lasting relationships with customers.
