The African iGaming Alliance (AiA) has kicked off the first Africa Safer Gambling Week, a significant initiative focused on enhancing player protection across the continent. This event begins on Monday and gathers various stakeholders within Africa, including regulators and industry associations, with plans for it to become an annual tradition.
The primary goal of Africa Safer Gambling Week is to ensure that the expansion of the gambling sector in Africa is accompanied by effective consumer protection, responsible gambling practices, and increased public awareness.
Under the banner of #PlaySafeAfrica, each day this week will spotlight a different aspect of safe gambling, addressing themes such as responsible gambling, setting personal limits, and preventing underage gambling. The week will include a coordinated program featuring engagement between regulators and the industry, complemented by public education and digital awareness initiatives.
Peter Kesitilwe, the CEO of AiA, emphasized the importance of coupling industry growth with enhanced player protection, advocating for increased cooperation 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 also encourages stakeholders within Africa’s gambling sector to work together, an endeavor deemed vital for the ongoing development of the industry on the continent. The alliance is calling for strengthened cooperation, the sharing of best practices, and ensuring that safer gambling remains a priority on the policy agenda.
Moreover, the Africa Safer Gambling Week will highlight the necessity of directing customers to legal gambling options, cautioning that black market operations often fail to prioritize player safety.
Olabimpe Akingba, head of responsible gaming at pawaTech and an AiA board member, remarked that this initiative embodies the association's commitment to turning cross-border collaboration within Africa’s iGaming sector into actionable measures for player protection. "At the African iGaming Alliance, we have been committed to moving beyond conversations about collaboration across African jurisdictions towards meaningful action. And what better place to demonstrate that commitment than through player protection? The Africa Safer Gambling Week is our collaboration in action."
On the opening day of the event, the AiA announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Association of Nigerian Bookmakers. This agreement aims to foster closer ties concerning issues both in Nigeria and across Africa, exploring collaborative opportunities in safer gambling, player protection, and taxation.
This MoU marks the second such agreement the AiA has signed in three weeks, following an agreement with the Association of Gaming Operators of Kenya in late August.
