The African Gaming Forum will bring together senior stakeholders from across the continent to examine how Africa’s gaming industry can grow sustainably as regulation, taxation and market structures evolve.
Taking place on Wednesday, 30 September at the Myriad Hotel in Lisbon, the invite-only Forum will feature a full day of discussions focused on the challenges and opportunities facing both established and emerging jurisdictions.
With dedicated sessions on Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Ethiopia, alongside broader discussions on regulation and expansion, the agenda will give attendees a closer look at how different markets are developing and what that means for operators looking to grow across the region.
Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, said: “The African gaming industry is developing at an incredible pace, and we wanted to create a dedicated space at SBC Summit where the people driving that growth can come together.
“Africa is not one market. Each jurisdiction is developing under different regulatory, commercial and cultural conditions, and that means the challenges and opportunities vary significantly from country to country. The African Gaming Forum is designed to reflect that reality, giving delegates the chance to hear directly from the people working in those markets and understand what growth looks like on the ground.”
The conference will open with an overall look at regulation across the continent in the session GRAF Regulator Panel: African Gaming Under the Microscope. Hosted by event partner Gaming Regulators Africa Forum (GRAF), the panel will feature Lungile Dukwana (CEO, National Gambling Board, South Africa), Moruntshi Kemorwale (Chief Executive Officer, Gambling Authority Botswana) and Vusi Mtsweni (Chief Executive Officer, Mpumalanga Economic Regulator), with Mabutho Zwane (CEO, Eastern Cape Gambling Board and President, GRAF) moderating. The discussion will examine how regulators and operators can develop frameworks that encourage innovation and market growth while strengthening compliance, player protection and responses to unregulated activity.
The region’s leading executives will then address the continent’s biggest challenges during the CEO Panel: Leading the Way – Scaling the Opportunity in Africa session. Regional experts Christopher Coyne (CEO, 888Africa), Jeremiah Maangi (Founder & CEO, iGaming AFRIKA), Alexandre Paque (CEO, Elephant Bet), Ronnie Whelan (CEO, Kingmakers) and Peter Emolemo Kesitilwe (CEO, African iGaming Alliance) will examine how operators can capitalise on Africa’s young, mobile-first audience, market-entry strategy, and how to navigate cultural and regulatory differences between markets. The session will also explore the shift towards iCasino and how greater regulatory alignment across multiple jurisdictions could influence future expansion.
Ghana will then take centre stage in the panel A New Entry to the Big 4: Gaming in Ghana Continues Apace, examining the market’s rapid growth and regulatory development. Featuring experts Akomea Kwaku Ohemeng Agyei (CEO, Mybet Africa), Kobby Boateng (President, Ghana Association of Sports Betting Operators), Moritz Honig (CEO, Betfox) and Emmanuel Siisi Quainoo (Acting Commissioner, Gaming Commission of Ghana), the session will explore whether Ghana can continue its upward trajectory and what further regulatory development could mean for operators entering or expanding in the market.
The conversation will then zone in on Kenya’s changing regulatory landscape in the session A Whole New World: Kenya and the Gambling Control Act. Featuring experts Marcel Elfersy (CEO, B2 Tech), Jason Gibson (CPO, SportPesa), Sab Jhooti (CEO, Bongo Bongo), Peter Maina Karimi (Director General, Kenya’s Gaming Regulatory Authority), Vusi Mtsweni (CEO, Mpumalanga Economic Regulator) and John Mutua (CEO, Association of Gaming Operators Kenya), the session will examine how the new Gambling Control Act could reshape one of Africa’s largest gaming markets, including what operators need to know about compliance, responsible gambling and future growth.
Elsewhere on the agenda, Regulatory Uncertainty vs Economic Opportunity: The Nigerian Question will explore how greater cooperation between state authorities, regulators and operators could unlock further growth, while South Africa: Will New Taxes Lead to Responsible Growth? will examine how taxation, player protection and competition from unregulated operators could shape the market’s next phase. After the Ban: What’s Next for Ethiopian iGaming? will turn attention to the impact of Ethiopia’s iGaming restrictions and whether a new regulatory framework could provide a route back for licensed operators.
Alongside the conference programme, the African Gaming Forum will feature dedicated networking opportunities throughout the day, giving attendees the chance to continue discussions and connect directly with operators, regulators and industry associations from across the continent.
The African Gaming Forum is being delivered in partnership with organisations embedded across the continent, including iGaming AFRIKA, Gaming Regulators Africa Forum (GRAF) and the Ghana Association of Sports Betting Operators (GHASBO). Together, the partners bring regional media reach, regulatory expertise and operator representation to the Forum, helping ensure discussions reflect the realities of individual African markets
Attendance is invite-only, with applicants required to hold a valid SBC Summit or Affiliate Leaders Summit pass to be considered.
Register your interest in attending the African Gaming Forum here.
