Peter Kesitilwe, the CEO of the African iGaming Alliance (AiA), is optimistic that the first-ever Africa Safer Gambling Week signals a new collaborative era among the continent's licensed gaming sector. The AiA recently hosted this inaugural event, which gathered regulators, operators, and industry associations to address vital issues surrounding safer gambling practices.
Kesitilwe emphasized that a central focus during the week was transforming conversations about safer gambling into tangible actions. "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 remarked.
The Africa Safer Gambling Week will take place annually, although Kesitilwe stressed the importance of viewing player protection as a daily priority. "We want Africa Safer Gambling Week to create a platform for ongoing cooperation," he added. "The campaign may run for a week, but responsible gambling must be practiced throughout the year."
Throughout the week, each day focused on a different aspect of player protection, including initiatives for responsible gambling and efforts to prevent underage gambling. Kesitilwe noted that while Africa is a single continent, it is diverse in its regulatory frameworks and social contexts. The goal is not to create a uniform regulatory model but to foster collaboration that encourages locally relevant messaging and strategies.
"We respect those differences," he 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."
The campaign has successfully raised awareness about gambling issues. Kesitilwe highlighted that it generated over a million online impressions, suggesting a strong interest in enhancing safer gambling measures across Africa.
When asked about the most pressing issue, Kesitilwe focused on underage gambling, particularly exacerbated by the rising prevalence of mobile devices. He expressed concern over the excessive gambling advertisements seen during sports broadcasts. "At a break or at half time, you see 10 to 20 [gambling] adverts. 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?’" He underscored the stance that betting is an adult activity and called for operators to enforce effective age verification. He urged collaboration among regulators, parents, schools, and communities to reinforce this message.
The Africa Safer Gambling Week also addressed the illegal gambling market. Kesitilwe pointed out that offshore operators pose a significant threat to player protection. "An illegal operator may not provide age verification, responsible gambling tools, secure treatment of player funds, or an effective complaints mechanism," he stated. This undermines the licensed businesses that adhere to compliance and regulatory oversight. He cited a study by Gaming Compliance International indicating that approximately 77% of Africa’s gambling market operates offshore, asserting that the success of their initiative will hinge on whether this situation improves by the next event.
Overall, the AiA aims for Africa Safer Gambling Week to be a catalyst for long-term change. Kesitilwe noted aspirations to develop a clearer understanding of problem gambling across the continent and utilize this data to engage with governments and policymakers. He mentioned plans for Africa-wide studies on the prevalence of problem gambling in collaboration with relevant authorities and associations.
Kesitilwe concluded by expressing the hope that participation will expand in coming years, establishing Africa Safer Gambling Week as an integral part of the African gambling calendar. He stated, "Success should not be measured only by whether all countries participate in one year. It should also be measured by whether we have created a credible foundation that more can join."
