The Africa Summit at iGB L!VE 2026 focused on key issues affecting the continent's gaming sector, including localisation, collaboration, regulatory practices, payments, and addressing illegal markets.
Kicking off the event, the first panel, led by Robin Harrison, Global Content Director at iGamingBusiness, featured notable figures such as 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 panel concentrated on enhancing regional regulations, cooperation, and equitable taxation across Africa's gaming landscape.
Akingba highlighted the need for flexibility among operators, stating, “there's really no one size fit all” across diverse markets. Dukwana suggested harmonisation could begin with simple consumer protection standards, while Are warned against high taxation rates that could jeopardize market viability.
Guga Gotsadze, CEO of SmartSoft, shared that treating Africa as a single market poses significant risks, advocating for tailored strategies to foster sustainable growth. "Understanding those differences is what creates sustainable growth," he said, emphasizing collaboration between regulators and operators to manage tax implications effectively.
In the second panel, Ed Birkin, Managing Director of H2 Gambling Capital, Dan Thomson, CCO of pawaTech, and Dukwana discussed the intricacies of taxation policies and encouraging lawful market growth. Dukwana reaffirmed the proactive stance of local enforcement against illegal operators in South Africa, while Thomson revealed pawaTech's withdrawal from three African markets over unworkable tax structures.
Gotsadze reiterated that transparent regulations are crucial for fostering investment in the sector.
Panel three shifted focus to adapting global gaming products for varied African audiences, moderated by Lois Bright, Co-Founder of Gaming Advisory Partners. Participants included Christian Rajter, CEO of Split the Pot, Gail Odgers, South Africa General Manager at Virgin Bet, and Simon Munsamy, Managing Director at Playtech. Odgers pointed out the necessity for ongoing product adaptation to meet multicultural needs, while Rajter stressed the importance of engaging directly with players for insights.
Munsamy advised against a one-size-fits-all model, underscoring that localisation should not compromise product quality.
The fourth panel explored the evolving landscape of payments and the influence of mobile money on the African gambling sector, chaired by Charles Ekundayo, CEO of Africa Gaming Expo. Experts included Anthony Prissman from Super Group and Denis Mudene Ngabirano, CEO of the Ugandan National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board.
Prissman noted how mobile money has revolutionized transaction dynamics, fostering trust among users with the caveat that not all markets benefit equally from this payment method. Ngabirano discussed how stringent gambling age regulations in Uganda have inadvertently shifted youth towards the black market, leading to risk-based KYC practices.
Finally, the discussion centered on the African sports betting landscape, chaired by Kyle Goldsmith, Emerging Markets Editor at iGamingBusiness. Panelists included Martin Sack from Gaming Advisory Partners and William Scott from Ithuba Holdings. Both acknowledged football as the primary driver of sports betting growth in Africa, highlighting the importance of technological improvements in payment and infrastructure for sportsbook development.
Sack cautioned against relying solely on sports sponsorship to address inherent product flaws, insisting that strong execution is essential. Gotsadze noted football's deep cultural roots, contributing to its prominence in the gaming ecosystem.
