Peter Kesitilwe, the CEO of the African iGaming Alliance (AiA), envisions that the inaugural Africa Safer Gambling Week will herald a new era of collaboration within the continent’s licensed gambling sector. This week marked the first observance of Africa Safer Gambling Week, organized by the AiA, which convened regulators, operators, and industry associations to discuss various issues surrounding safer gambling practices.
A central theme highlighted by Kesitilwe is the need to transform discussions surrounding safer gambling into actionable outcomes. He expressed optimism regarding the progress made, stating, “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.”
Africa Safer Gambling Week is set to become an annual event, although Kesitilwe emphasized that player protection should be a daily commitment. “We want Africa Safer Gambling Week to create a platform for ongoing cooperation,” he remarked. “The campaign may run for a week, but responsible gambling must be practiced throughout the year.”
The week featured daily discussions focused on different aspects of player protection, covering topics such as responsible gambling and underage gambling prevention. Kesitilwe noted the diversity of the continent; while Africa is a single entity, it encompasses varied markets with distinct regulatory frameworks and social contexts. The goal is not to impose a uniform regulatory model but to foster collaboration that allows for tailored messaging and relevant measures.
“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.” The aim is to establish a common platform for the continent, emphasizing information sharing and collective agreement on fundamental principles regarding consumer protection.
Another objective of the campaign is to enhance awareness. Kesitilwe revealed that more than a million online impressions have been generated during the week, which he interpreted as a strong desire for improved safer gambling initiatives in Africa.
Focusing on underage gambling, Kesitilwe pointed out the potential risks as mobile penetration grows. He raised concerns about the prevalence of gambling advertisements in sports programming. “At a break or at half time you see 10 to 20 [gambling] adverts,” he said. “It’s come to a point that oftentimes I even hear my kids singing [gambling adverts]. They’ll just keep asking, ‘But Daddy, what is this? What does this mean?’
“Our position is unequivocal. Betting is an adult activity. Operators must maintain effective age verification, marketing must not target or appeal to children, and regulators, parents, schools, and communities must reinforce the same message.”
Additionally, Africa Safer Gambling Week spotlighted the illegal gambling market, with Kesitilwe emphasizing the detrimental impact of offshore operators on player protection. He explained that addressing the illegal market is not just a regulatory concern but a crucial issue for player safety. “Oftentimes when you see governments increasing taxes, banning iGaming, it’s mainly because of illegal operators because they don’t comply,” he asserted. “An illegal operator may not provide age verification, responsible gambling tools, secure treatment of player funds, or an effective complaints mechanism.”
Kesitilwe mentioned a study by Gaming Compliance International, estimating that about 77% of Africa’s gambling market consists of offshore operations. He believes that the success of the inaugural Africa Safer Gambling Week will be evaluated based on whether the trend toward channelization improves by the next event.
He cautioned that governments and policymakers often misconstrue the root causes of problem gambling, leading to regulations that tighten the noose around licensed operators while unintentionally driving more business to the illegal sector.
The AiA's aspirations go beyond merely shrinking the illegal market. Kesitilwe indicated that the organization aims to gain a clearer understanding of problem gambling across Africa and use that information to engage with governmental bodies effectively. “We also intend to conduct Africa-wide studies on the prevalence of problem gambling in various markets, naturally collaborating with regulators and associations,” he said.
The AiA hopes to apply insights from this initial week to enhance participation and establish the campaign as a staple in the African gambling landscape. “Our ambition is to expand participation each year and make the week an established feature of the African gambling calendar,” Kesitilwe concluded. “Success should not just be measured by the participation of all countries in one year but by creating a credible foundation that allows for further involvement.”
