Africa-Press – Gambia. Africa’s gambling industry is expanding at a rapid pace, fueled by mobile technology, mobile money services, and a youthful population that is increasingly comfortable with online sports betting.
According to Statista, the gambling market in Africa is projected to surpass US$2.34 billion by 2030, with online gambling expected to lead the growth. So how is this industry regulated, and which gambling regulators are shaping the legal landscape?
The short answer is unevenly. While some countries have strong regulatory frameworks in place, others lag behind, creating a fragmented legal landscape that affects everything from casino and bookmaker licenses to online gambling regulation.
The Uneven Landscape of Gambling Regulation in Africa
One of the biggest hurdles in Africa’s gaming economy is inconsistency. Countries sit at different stages of regulatory maturity.
In Cameroon, laws enabling interactive games and casino operations were passed nearly a decade ago, but the gambling regulator remains inactive, leaving the sector largely unmonitored.
Ghana, through the Gaming Commission of Ghana, has licensing in place but still lacks centralized systems to monitor online betting revenue and tax revenues, making enforcement difficult.
In Nigeria, the National Lottery Regulatory Commission and the Lagos State Lotteries Board both issue gambling licenses, creating confusion. Some states even ban gambling altogether, yet continue to benefit indirectly from national tax revenue.
In South Africa, the National Gambling Board works alongside nine Provincial Gambling Boards, each with its own provincial legislation. While this structure allows for localized content and oversight, it also fosters competition over license allocations, approvals and overlapping mandates.
This patchwork approach has left operators navigating contradictory legal frameworks and consumers vulnerable to illegal markets. It’s the defining challenge that regulators and industry leaders must address to ensure market stability and responsible gambling.
4 Countries Leading in Gambling Regulation in Africa
Despite inconsistencies, several countries are introducing new gambling laws to strengthen their regulatory frameworks.
Kenya has emerged as one of the most proactive markets. In 2025, the country passed the Gambling Act 2025, dissolving the old Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) and creating the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA). The new gambling regulator will absorb all licensing and enforcement functions, consolidating power at the national level.
The GRA will also enforce 30% local ownership requirements, apply stricter rules on gambling advertisements, and require licensed operators to integrate with a real-time monitoring system linked to the Kenya Revenue Authority. This move will boost tax revenues and curb unlicensed operations.
Nigeria has introduced a federated licensing model across 28 states, aligning approvals between the Nigeria Lottery Regulatory Commission and state regulators like the Lagos State Lotteries Board. This model reduces duplication, strengthens Anti-Money Laundering (AML) oversight, and gives investors more confidence in market stability.
Ghana rolled back its 10% withholding tax on player winnings to prevent unlicensed operations and strengthen formal participation. By easing the burden on consumers, the Gaming Commission of Ghana hopes to widen the tax base and stabilize revenues through higher overall volumes.
South Africa set a new benchmark for transparency in 2025 when it awarded a 10-year National Lottery license to Sizekhaya Holdings. The tender process emphasized governance, reporting, and community reinvestment.
Oversight from both the National Gambling Board and Provincial Gambling Boards, under the Lotteries Act, has made this award a test case for whether long-term gambling licenses can balance commercial growth with responsible gambling standards.
Consumer Protection and Responsible Gambling
As gambling markets grow, responsible gambling has become a cornerstone of regulatory frameworks. With over 60% of Africa’s population under 25, regulators are prioritizing protections against youth gambling and problem betting.
Kenya now mandates that all gambling advertisements carry responsible gambling messages and bans the use of public figures for marketing. Nigeria has introduced self-exclusion programs and loss limits as conditions for a gambling license. South Africa, through its Responsible Gambling Foundation, runs national education campaigns in schools and communities, while provincial gambling boards enforce rules on interactive games, mobile betting, and esports betting.
This shift shows that consumer protection is embedded in legal frameworks and tied directly to gambling license renewals.
Can Africa Harmonize Gambling Regulations?
With so many regulators, international cooperation is difficult but increasingly necessary.
Progress, however, is being made.
The African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) has begun exploring baseline standards.
At the recently concluded Gaming Tech Summit Africa (GTSA) 2025, the launch of the Gaming Alliance Africa (GAA) created a Pan-African platform for regulators, fintechs, and compliance experts to collaborate on online gambling regulation and responsible gambling initiatives.
Later in 2025, the African Lotteries and Gaming Association (ALGA) hosted a landmark conference to build on GTSA’s momentum, focusing on unified data-sharing and enforcement frameworks.
While cultural and religious differences remain barriers, harmonization could provide operators with clearer legal frameworks, regulators with better AML tracking, and consumers with more consistent protections across online gambling.
The Role of the Gaming Tech Summit Africa (GTSA)
The Gaming Tech Summit Africa (GTSA) has quickly become the epicenter of these regulatory conversations. In 2025, GTSA convened over 25 regulators, 50 expert speakers, and 400 participants to debate gaming regulation, fintech compliance, and player protection. The outcomes extended beyond discussion with the launch of the Gaming Alliance Africa and commitments to responsible gaming and cross-border cooperation.
GTSA’s unique role is to bridge regulators, operators, investors, and fintech providers in one space. For stakeholders looking to anticipate policy trends, align with compliance, or shape market frameworks, GTSA is the most strategic platform on the continent.
The Future of Gambling Regulation in Africa
The gambling industry in Africa is regulated in diverse and evolving ways. Some countries still operate under fragmented legal frameworks, while others are pioneering real-time monitoring and responsible gambling safeguards.
Regulation is not a barrier; it is the foundation of sustainable growth in the online gaming industry across Africa.
GTSA 2026 will be the place where policies, partnerships, and innovation align. To be part of these conversations and shape the next chapter of the industry, sign up for the Gaming Tech Summit Africa 2026 today!
Christine Akoyo is a corporate and commercial lawyer with extensive experience in partnerships and regulatory engagement. As Partnership and Events Manager at Velex Advisory East Africa and Project Manager for the Gaming Tech Summit Africa (GTSA), she works closely with regulators, operators, and investors to advance dialogue on Africa’s gambling laws and compliance frameworks.
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