Olabimpe Akingba, the Executive Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Bookmakers (ANB), has emphasized the need for African regulators to prioritize responsible gambling and take stronger action against unlicensed operators. Akingba pointed out that in some African countries, the focus is more on revenue generation than responsible gaming, and regulators need to step up enforcement to ensure a safer gambling environment.
Focus on Responsible Gambling:
Olabimpe Akingba highlighted the need for African regulators to prioritize responsible gambling over revenue generation. She expressed concern that regulators are not doing enough to enforce responsible gambling measures, including addressing addiction and providing treatment options.
Challenges with Unlicensed Operators:
Akingba mentioned that licensed operators in Nigeria are setting their own standards for advertising, but regulators are not taking sufficient action against unlicensed operators. This creates an unfair advantage for responsible operators and underscores the need for stronger regulatory enforcement.
Diverse Regulatory Environments:
Tyrone Dobbin, Co-Founder of Sportingbet South Africa, noted the diverse regulatory environments across African countries. He highlighted the need for operators to navigate varying regulatory frameworks, languages, and cultures, making it challenging for big international players to adopt a pan-African approach.
Localizing Products and Payment Methods:
Charles Lee, CEO of kwiff, emphasized the importance of localizing products and offering different payment methods suitable for the African market. He stressed the need to understand the preferences of local players and provide them with the right product and content.
Success Stories and Challenges:
While a pan-African approach has seen successes, it also presents challenges due to the continent’s diversity and regulatory variations. Dobbin pointed out that for a few successful cases, there have been numerous failures, underlining the complexities of operating across different African countries.
Efforts to enhance responsible gambling measures and address unlicensed operators are crucial for creating a safer gambling environment and fostering a fair and competitive market in the African gaming sector.