Peter Kesitilwe, CEO of the African iGaming Alliance (AiA), is optimistic that the first-ever Africa Safer Gambling Week marks a significant step towards enhanced collaboration across the continent's licensed gaming sector. This inaugural event saw the AiA unite various stakeholders, including regulators, operators, and industry groups, to address important topics surrounding safer gambling practices.
Kesitilwe emphasized that turning discussions into tangible actions has been a key focus for the week. He stated, "The initiative demonstrates that cooperation does not have to remain at the level of conference and policy discussion. It has to translate into practical action, educating players, engaging communities, protecting young people and highlighting the dangers of illegal and unlicensed gambling."
He noted that Africa Safer Gambling Week will be an annual event but highlighted that the commitment to player protection should be ongoing. "The campaign may run for a week, but responsible gambling must be practiced throughout the year," he added.
Each day of the event addressed different aspects of player protection, from responsible gambling to the prevention of underage gambling. Kesitilwe acknowledged the diversity within Africa, where various markets exhibit distinct regulatory frameworks and social conditions. His goal is not to impose a uniform regulatory model but to foster cooperation that allows for tailored messaging and actions in each locale.
"We respect those differences," Kesitilwe stated. "At the same time, many of these risks cross borders. We do not need identical laws in every country, but we do need greater cooperation. Africa Safer Gambling Week will create a common continental platform. It's more about cooperation, information sharing, and agreement on important principles of consumer protection."
Raising awareness is also a priority, with the campaign reportedly generating over a million online impressions, illustrating a strong interest in advancing safer gambling initiatives across Africa.
Kesitilwe pinpointed underage gambling as a pressing concern, particularly with the rise of mobile phone access throughout the continent. He raised specific alarms about the prevalence of gambling advertisements in sports-related programming. "At a break or at halftime, you see 10 to 20 adverts. It has come to a point that I even hear my kids singing those gambling ads, asking me what they mean. Our position is unequivocal. Betting is an adult activity. Operators must maintain effective age verification, and marketing must not target or appeal to children. Regulators, parents, schools, and communities must reinforce the same message."
During Africa Safer Gambling Week, the AiA also tackled the issue of illegal gambling. Kesitilwe stressed that offshore operators pose significant risks to player protection. He argued that addressing the illegal market is not just a regulatory obligation; it's essential for protecting players. "Oftentimes when you see governments increasing taxes or banning iGaming, it’s mainly because of illegal operators who fail to comply. An illegal operator may not provide age verification or responsible gambling tools, undermining licensed businesses that invest in compliance and regulatory oversight. We are where we are because of illegal operators."
Kesitilwe referenced a recent study by Gaming Compliance International, indicating that about 77% of Africa’s gambling market is offshore. He believes the effectiveness of Africa Safer Gambling Week will largely depend on whether changes occur by the next iteration of the event. He cautioned that governments often misidentify the root causes of problem gambling, which leads to regulations that penalize licensed operators and inadvertently promote illegal gambling.
Looking to the future, the AiA's aspirations for Africa Safer Gambling Week extend beyond merely shrinking the illegal market. Kesitilwe noted the need for comprehensive studies on problem gambling throughout Africa to provide data-driven insights for policymakers. He affirmed, "We also intend to conduct Africa-wide studies around the prevalence of problem gambling in different markets, working closely with regulators and associations."
Additionally, the AiA aims to use insights from this week to bolster participation and establish the campaign as a staple in the African gambling calendar. "Our ambition is to expand participation each year and make the week an established feature of the African gambling calendar," he concluded. "Success should not be measured only by whether all countries participate in one year but also by whether we have established a credible foundation that can welcome more participants in the future."
