Africa gaming industry to convene on September 24 for first Pan-African responsible gambling conference
The event comes at a time when Africa’s gaming sector is experiencing rapid growth in online gambling, fuelled by mobile technology and increased accessibility.
Nigeria.- Regulators, operators and responsible gambling experts from across Africa are set to convene virtually on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, for the inaugural Pan-African online conference on responsible gambling, aiming to address player protection amid the continent’s booming gaming industry.
The half-day event, titled “Safer Gaming for Africa,” will bring together participants from South, East and West Africa. Organised by Abuja-based gambling charity GambleAwareNG, the conference seeks to foster collaboration among stakeholders to build a safer gaming ecosystem, tackling issues like gambling harm and barriers to responsible play.
Key sessions include an opening speech by Bashir Are, CEO of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, followed by a keynote on gambling harm in South Africa. A panel discussion will explore “Responsible versus Problem Gambling” across various African jurisdictions, while a workshop will focus on identifying and overcoming obstacles to safer gaming practices. The event will also feature an app launch event where the AHA MINAKI App, designed to aid harm prevention, will be unveiled.
GambleAwareNG has partnered with organisations sharing similar missions to support the event. They include Gamblepause Initiative Africa, the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF), Responsible Gambling Kenya, GAMINGWEEK and GamCare Uganda. This alliance underscores a regional push for peer-to-peer knowledge exchange and access to the latest research in responsible gambling.
The conference comes at a time when Africa’s gaming sector is experiencing rapid growth in online gambling, fuelled by mobile technology and increased accessibility. However, this expansion has raised concerns over addiction, underage gambling and inconsistent regulations. In South Africa, for instance, betting volumes have risen by 27 per cent in recent years, highlighting the need for stronger safeguards.
Beyond discussions, the gathering is expected to cause wider ripples, potentially influencing policy reforms and industry norms. By bridging regulators, charities and grassroots advocates, it could lead to enhanced frameworks for harm reduction, better enforcement against illegal operations and the integration of technology for player protection.
Similar initiatives across the continent, such as Botswana’s Responsible Gambling campaign and Ghana’s 2025 Gaming Awareness Month, reflect a mounting momentum toward ethical standards in the sector.
