IGSA opens Africa hub in Nigeria as gaming compliance oversight strengthens
New GSA Africa office positions Nigeria as a regional centre for gaming standards, stronger regulation and cross-border compliance oversight.
Nigeria.- Nigeria is reinforcing its position as one of Africa’s fastest-growing regulated gaming jurisdictions following the launch of GSA Africa, the new regional office of the International Gaming Standards Association (IGSA).
The move reinforces Nigeria’s role in advancing gaming standards, regulatory cooperation and technology-led compliance across the continent, as African markets continue to mature and formalise.
IGSA, the industry’s largest technical standards development organisation focused on gaming standards, regulatory frameworks and technology protocols, said the Lagos-based office will serve as a strategic hub for collaboration with regulators, operators and suppliers across Africa.
The organisation said the decision to establish GSA Africa in Nigeria reflects the country’s rapid regulatory development and Lagos’ role as the nation’s economic and gaming centre.
IGSA President Mark Pace said the new office marks an important step in strengthening the association’s presence across Africa. “IGSA is very excited to open GSA Africa, which is dedicated to working with the various gaming industry constituents on the African continent. Nigeria is one of the fastest-growing regulated gaming jurisdictions in Africa and Lagos is its economic hub, making it the perfect site for our newest office,” said Pace.
He added that the focus would be on helping African markets adopt proven operational standards already used in other regulated jurisdictions. “Through GSA Africa, IGSA wants to help the African market to adopt and benefit from technology-based standard processes and procedures, which have been successfully implemented in other jurisdictions,” he said.
Africa hub wins support
The initiative has also drawn strong support from the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority as Nigeria continues tightening compliance measures across its licensed gaming sector.
Bashir Are, CEO of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, said the regulator sees the office as an opportunity to improve oversight and strengthen industry standards. “It is an honour to have the GSA Africa office located here in Lagos, Nigeria’s economic, commercial, financial and gaming hub. We look forward to collaborating with GSA Africa to drive adoption of Standards and Best Practices, as a means to grow and better regulate the gaming industry in Africa,” said Are.
The Chairman of the IGSA Board of Directors, Nimish Purohit, said the expansion reflects IGSA’s long-term commitment to building stronger relationships across Africa’s regulated gaming market.
Purohit said: “On behalf of the IGSA Board of Directors, I am very pleased to see IGSA expand its reach and develop stronger ties to the African gaming market. We are opening GSA Africa in recognition of the growing regulated gaming market on the continent, as well as our desire to partner with regulators, operators and suppliers there in order to understand Africa’s unique challenges and opportunities that can benefit from Standards and Best Practices.”
Meanwhile F. K. Fayad, Managing Director of GSA Africa, said Africa remains one of the world’s most dynamic and high-potential gaming markets, and that the launch of GSA Africa reflects a shared responsibility to strengthen regulatory frameworks, technological integrity and international best practices while supporting sustainable growth, transparency and accountability across the sector.
