Regulators call for urgent overhaul of Africa’s outdated gambling regulations
Panelists noted that most regulatory systems across the continent were originally built around land-based gambling.
Kenya.- A high-level panel at the iGaming AFRIKA Summit in Nairobi has called for urgent reforms to gambling regulation across Africa, warning that current legal frameworks are struggling to keep pace with the rapid shift towardss online and mobile betting.
The discussion featured African iGaming Alliance chief executive Peter Emolemo Kesitilwe, Uganda National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board head Denis Mudene Ngabirano, pawaTech executive Olabimpe Akingba, Gaming Regulatory Authority representative Esther Ngwanga, and was moderated by Curtis Roach of iGamingFuture.
Panelists noted that most regulatory systems across the continent were originally built around land-based gambling, but consumer behaviour has increasingly moved online, creating enforcement gaps that illegal operators are exploiting. They said fragmented rules across jurisdictions are making oversight even more difficult as digital platforms operate across borders.
Kesitilwe stressed that while online gambling is inherently cross-border, regulation and accountability must remain anchored at national level to ensure effective enforcement. Other speakers warned that weak coordination between regulators is allowing unlicensed operators to expand their presence in several markets.
The panel also highlighted the challenge facing governments as they attempt to balance revenue generation from the gambling sector with stronger consumer protection measures. Participants cautioned that overly strict regulations could unintentionally push players towardss illegal betting platforms.
Speakers agreed that future regulation will require more flexible legal frameworks, stronger regional cooperation and improved enforcement tools to respond effectively to the continued growth of digital gambling.
