Peter Kesitilwe, AIA: “Africa’s igaming sector is under the spotlight of global investors, but capital only flows where there is predictability and trust”

Peter Emolemo Kesitilwe, the newly appointed CEO of the African iGaming Alliance (AIA), told Focus Gaming News how the organisation plans to harmonise standards, promote responsible gambling, and attract investment to shape Africa’s igaming future.

Exclusive interview.- As the inaugural CEO of the African iGaming Alliance (AIA), Peter Emolemo Kesitilwe brings nearly a decade of regulatory experience from his leadership at the Botswana Gambling Authority. In this exclusive interview with Focus Gaming News, he outlines the AIA’s mission to harmonise standards, advocate responsible gambling, and foster collaboration between regulators, operators, and technology providers. Kesitilwe also shares how these efforts aim to attract investment, build trust, and position Africa as a fast-growing and well-regulated hub for the global igaming industry.

As the first CEO of the newly formed African iGaming Alliance (AIA), what immediate priorities will you focus on over the next one to two years to shape the future of Africa’s online gambling industry?

My immediate priority is to establish the Alliance as a trusted, credible voice for Africa’s igaming industry. In the first 24 months, we will focus on three pillars:

• Harmonisation of Standards: Develop a framework that allows regulators to share best practices and adopt common principles without undermining national sovereignty.
• Responsible Gambling: Scale up Africa-wide responsible gambling initiatives, including education campaigns, digital tools, and treatment frameworks that protect players while enabling growth.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships with governments, operators, fintech providers, and civil society to create an inclusive industry that contributes meaningfully to national development.

Having spent over nine years at the Botswana Gambling Authority, including as CEO, how will your experience help African regulators develop common standards without compromising each country’s unique regulations and market conditions?

At the Gambling Authority of Botswana, I oversaw the sector’s transformation from a casino-dominated market into a diversified, technology-driven ecosystem. I introduced online betting, supported policy reform, and deployed digital monitoring platforms. This experience has taught me how to balance market facilitation with regulatory oversight. It gives me the credibility to guide regulators in Africa toward common minimum standards—such as AML/CTF frameworks, licensing integrity, and player protection—while still allowing flexibility for country-specific contexts.

The AIA brings together regulators, operators, and professionals in law and IT. From your perspective, how will this diverse expertise help build a fairer and more sustainable igaming industry across Africa?

The Alliance is uniquely positioned because it integrates regulators, operators, and professionals from law, IT, and compliance. This diversity ensures that solutions are not one-sided. For example, lawyers help craft robust frameworks, IT specialists contribute digital compliance tools, and operators provide market realities. By combining these strengths, we will build an industry that is fair, transparent, and technologically resilient.

“The Alliance is uniquely positioned because it integrates regulators, operators, and professionals from law, IT, and compliance.”

Peter Kesitilwe, CEO of the African iGaming Alliance (AIA).

How will the AIA’s collaboration with regulators and operators across Africa help attract investment and drive growth in the continent’s online gambling market?

Africa’s igaming sector is under the spotlight of global investors, but capital only flows where there is predictability and trust. By working closely with regulators and operators, the Alliance will reduce fragmentation, improve compliance, and promote transparency. This will not only build investor confidence but also enable operators to scale responsibly. Over time, this collaboration will position Africa as the world’s fastest-growing and best-regulated igaming frontier.

“By working closely with regulators and operators, the Alliance will reduce fragmentation, improve compliance, and promote transparency.”

Peter Kesitilwe, CEO of the African iGaming Alliance (AIA).

Responsible gambling is a key focus for the AIA. How do you plan to balance rapid growth in Africa’s multi-billion-dollar igaming market with effective consumer protection?

We cannot talk about growth without acknowledging the social risks of gambling. The Alliance will prioritise consumer protection mechanisms, such as pan-African self-exclusion registers, responsible marketing codes, and AI-powered monitoring for early detection of problem gambling. Our philosophy is simple: sustainable growth can only happen when players are protected, governments are assured of fair taxation, and operators compete on integrity rather than exploitation.

What is the AIA’s position regarding taxation and levies within the gaming industry across the continent?

The Alliance advocates for fair, balanced, and transparent taxation. Excessive or inconsistent tax regimes risk driving operators underground, which reduces government revenues and harms consumers. We believe in the principle of “tax operators, not players”—ensuring that governments collect sustainable revenue without burdening ordinary citizens. Our goal is to promote tax policies that encourage compliance, attract investment, and prevent the growth of grey markets.

What plans do you have to expand membership and increase representation across the African gaming industry?

Currently, the Alliance brings together some of the most progressive operators, regulators, and associations. Our plan is to expand representation to all corners of the continent by:

• Actively engaging regulators and inviting them to join working groups.
• Partnering with fintech and digital innovation companies to build an ecosystem approach.
• Extending membership to smaller operators and national associations to ensure inclusivity.

Ultimately, we aim to represent the entire African igaming value chain—from regulators to operators, from start-ups to multinationals, and from advocacy groups to player protection bodies.