GCI calls for stronger regulation to unlock Africa’s gambling potential
GCI has urged African regulators to tackle the 77 per cent of online gambling revenue still going to unlicensed operators through targeted policy reforms.
South Africa.- Gaming Compliance International (GCI) has called on African regulators to strengthen oversight of online gambling markets, arguing that better regulation, rather than increased demand, is key to unlocking the sector’s economic potential and shifting consumers away from unlicensed operators.
The recommendations form part of GCI’s first comprehensive African online gambling report, which analyses audience and market activity data from 2024 and 2025. The report concludes that while online gambling participation continues to grow across the continent, regulatory frameworks must evolve to ensure a greater share of that activity takes place within licensed markets.
Ismail Vali, president of GCI, said millions of Africans already participate in online betting and gaming, creating substantial economic activity that could generate greater public revenue, support local businesses and improve consumer protection if channelled through regulated operators. He said regulators should focus on ensuring existing consumer demand is captured within the licensed market instead of attempting to create new demand.
Four steps to improve regulation
The report identifies four priorities that GCI believes are essential to improving regulatory outcomes across Africa. The first is comprehensive monitoring of the entire online gambling marketplace, enabling regulators to understand both licensed and unlicensed activity. GCI said regulating only licensed operators provides an incomplete picture of the market.
The second priority is stronger enforcement against unlicensed operators that continue to target African consumers without regulatory oversight. The report said the number of unregulated online gambling operators targeting the continent increased from 3,644 in 2024 to 4,129 in 2025.
The third recommendation is maintaining the integrity of regulatory frameworks through consistent oversight and enforcement, while the fourth is ensuring that licensed markets remain competitive, accessible and attractive enough for consumers to choose regulated operators over illegal alternatives.
GCI said regulatory success should ultimately be measured by marketplace outcomes, including higher levels of consumer participation within licensed markets, rather than by the number of licensed operators alone.
The organisation also called for practical policy improvements across several areas, including taxation, payment systems, product availability, enforcement and regulatory collaboration. It said incremental reforms in these areas could encourage more consumers to migrate to regulated platforms while increasing investment, employment and public revenue.
The report estimates that unregulated online gambling generated $17.8bn in GGR across Africa in 2025, resulting in an estimated $3.55bn in lost tax revenue for governments. It argues that reducing the illegal market would not only increase tax receipts but also strengthen consumer safeguards and create broader economic benefits.
