The African iGaming Alliance (AiA) has officially launched the first Africa Safer Gambling Week, an initiative designed to enhance player protection throughout the continent.
Beginning on Monday, this week-long event unites various stakeholders, including regulators and industry associations, and is set to become an annual observance.
The initiative aims to ensure that the burgeoning gambling sector in Africa grows alongside efforts for effective consumer protection, responsible gambling practices, and increased public awareness.
Under the theme #PlaySafeAfrica, each day of the week will spotlight a key component of safer gambling, such as responsible gambling, personal limits, and preventing underage gambling.
The event includes a coordinated program of engagement between regulatory bodies and industry players, along with public education initiatives and digital awareness actions.
Peter Kesitilwe, CEO of the AiA, emphasized the necessity of advancing player protection in parallel with industry growth, calling for enhanced collaboration between regulators and operators. "As Africa’s gambling industry continues to grow, player protection must grow with it," he 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 is advocating for collaboration among Africa’s gambling sector stakeholders, deeming it increasingly essential as the industry evolves. It has encouraged enhanced cooperation, the sharing of best practices, and prioritizing safer gambling within the policy framework.
Additionally, the Africa Safer Gambling Week will stress the importance of directing players towards legal gambling avenues, warning that the black market often fails to safeguard players.
Olabimpe Akingba, head of responsible gaming at pawaTech and a board member of the AiA, remarked that this initiative embodies the alliance's commitment to translating discussions of cross-border collaboration in Africa’s iGaming sector into concrete actions regarding player protection. "At the African iGaming Alliance, we have been committed to moving beyond conversations about collaboration across African jurisdictions toward meaningful action," she noted. "And what better place to demonstrate that commitment than through player protection? The Africa Safer Gambling Week is our collaboration in action.”
On Monday, the AiA also announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Association of Nigerian Bookmakers to foster closer collaboration on issues pertinent to both Nigeria and the wider African context.
The MoU will explore avenues for cooperation concerning safer gambling, player protection, and taxation. This marks the second MoU for the AiA within three weeks, following the establishment of a cooperative framework with the Association of Gaming Operators of Kenya in late August.
