The African Responsible Gaming Network (ARGN) was officially launched on Monday, designed to enhance player protection and combat gambling-related harm across the continent.
This new initiative brings together key stakeholders, including responsible gaming organizations, researchers, and treatment specialists, marking a significant advancement in the collective efforts to tackle gambling issues in Africa. It aims to foster collaboration among representatives from various nations, both within Africa and beyond.
The ARGN will prioritize four main strategies:
1. Creating a comprehensive pan-African gambling harm report that gathers insights, trends, and research from across the continent.
2. Compiling a directory of services for treatment, recovery, and support available for individuals affected by gambling issues in Africa.
3. Formulating policy recommendations and practical measures to help regulators and policymakers reinforce responsible gaming frameworks.
4. Coordinating awareness and prevention campaigns that can be implemented across different African markets.
Lebo Seoheng, who serves as the advocacy and communications manager at the South African Responsible Gaming Foundation, has been appointed as the president of the ARGN. Seoheng highlighted the network's launch as timely, coinciding with the growth of Africa’s online gambling sector, which necessitates stronger player protection and responsible gambling initiatives.
Addressing the need for a cohesive approach, one of ARGN's founding members, Ladipo Abiose Akolade of the GamblePause Initiative Africa, stressed the importance of bridging the gaps in responsible gambling efforts across Africa. “The ARGN was created to address the fragmented nature of responsible gambling efforts across Africa and to foster greater collaboration among organizations working in this space,” Akolade noted.
He pointed out, “Problem gambling is becoming a bigger issue across Africa, and most responsible gambling efforts take place within individual countries. While many organizations are doing commendable work, opportunities to learn from each other and collaborate on shared challenges have been lacking.”
The network aims to create a platform that connects different organizations, enhancing collaboration and developing a collective voice dedicated to player protection. However, Akolade clarified that the ARGN does not intend to supplant national organizations or regulators but to support and strengthen their existing efforts.
Akolade emphasized that the goal is to promote shared principles rather than uniform regulations, acknowledging the diverse legal frameworks and cultural contexts across African countries. “Basic principles should apply universally. These include protecting minors, offering effective self-exclusion options, promoting responsible advertising, and ensuring access to support for those affected by gambling harm,” he explained.
When discussing specific responsible gambling measures, Akolade expressed the network's objectives include the establishment of minimum player protection standards that go beyond theoretical guidelines to enforceable regulations. He said, “We would like to see stronger player protection measures across African markets, encompassing effective age and identity verification, meaningful self-exclusion systems, responsible advertising standards, better access to treatment services, and heightened actions against illegal operators.
Currently, the landscape gives only nominal attention to responsible gaming, often limited to vague messages urging players to gamble responsibly without substantial protective structures in place. “Our aspiration is to see responsible gaming regulations evolve from paper-based requirements into actionable standards required by regulators,” he stated.
The launch of the ARGN follows the first Africa Safer Gambling Week, which took place earlier this month, organized by the African iGaming Alliance. CEO Peter Kesitilwe indicated that this initiative signifies the start of a new chapter in collaborative efforts for player protection. He remarked, “We want Africa Safer Gambling Week to create a platform for ongoing cooperation. The campaign may run for a week, but responsible gambling must be practiced all year round.
