Blask records 24% rise in Africa igaming demand in H1 2026
Botswana led the continent, while Ethiopia recorded the sharpest decline after sports betting licences were revoked.
Botswana.- Online gaming analytics firm Blask has reported broad growth in Africa’s igaming demand during the first half of 2026, with 39 of the 42 markets it tracks recording higher online interest than in H1 2025.
The Blask Index measures demand for igaming in individual markets using monthly data. It does not represent gambling revenue, betting turnover or player spending. Across the comparable African markets, the Index increased by about 24 per cent year on year.
Botswana recorded the strongest increase, with its H1 Index rising 445.7 per cent. Sudan followed with a 236 per cent increase, while Gabon and Benin posted gains of 123.4 per cent and 119.3 per cent, respectively.
Chad and Zimbabwe also recorded increases of more than 100 per cent, with their Index figures rising 109.2 per cent and 106.4 per cent, respectively. Namibia, Gambia and Sierra Leone completed the top 10, recording growth of 79.5 per cent, 75.1 per cent and 70 per cent, respectively.
Several of Africa’s larger igaming markets also experienced significant increases. South Africa’s Index rose 48.7 per cent, while Nigeria gained 46.8 per cent. Mozambique increased by 30.5 per cent, Tanzania by 21.1 per cent and the Democratic Republic of Congo by 9.7 per cent.
Only three of the 42 markets reported declines. Ethiopia registered the largest fall, with its Index dropping 73.7 per cent following the Ethiopian Lottery Service’s decision to revoke sports betting licences effective December 15, 2025.
Rwanda saw a 36.2 per cent decline, while Tunisia fell 7.2 per cent. The three markets were the only ones in the comparison where H1 2026 demand fell below the corresponding period in 2025.
