SBEA+ Summit 2025 chairperson shares why the program is a must-attend

Tanzania is the first country in East Africa to establish written sports betting regulations.

Tanzania.- In under six weeks, top igaming leaders will gather in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for the 10th Annual Sports Betting East Africa+ (SBEA+) Summit. 

The event, scheduled to hold at the Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel on May 20-21, 2025, will allow industry experts and stakeholders to discuss the latest trends, challenges and future of the gaming industry in the region and Africa at large.

As the d-day approaches, Thomas Buckley Opar Owuor, founder of Owuor Law and chairperson of SBEA+ Summit 2025, shares his reasons why people should attend the event. Owuor said: “Dar es Salaam is a beautiful city with great people and great food. Tanzanians are also very tech-savvy and have a lot to teach anyone who ventures out to experience the retail and online sports betting scene.

“Aside from that, Tanzania’s record of being one of the first in organising gaming means there’s a lot to learn for regulators, investors, operators, marketers and even community advocates around sports betting and how it should be done. These should be strong reasons for those in the industry not to miss the SBEA+ Summit 2025 in Dar es Salaam.”

Owuor also highlighted the factors contributing to Tanzania’s leading position in the East African sports betting market. He said: “The main reason it’s such an important market for the industry is that Tanzania is a trailblazer in many areas of gaming in Africa. [For instance], it was the first country in East Africa to establish written sports betting regulations.

“Ultimately, I think the Tanzanian gaming ecosystem makes it very easy for an operator or investor to have an impact on society, and there is also a lot of cross-governmental support for gaming operations.”

Regarding emerging technologies, Owuor noted that the industry should consider leveraging AI as it can optimise customer centricity and system efficiency. He said AI can help operators provide better customer service 24/7 and give more consistent responses.

Owuor’s stance on AI mirrors Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s speech at the just-concluded Global AI Summit on Africa, where he called for African leaders to embrace artificial intelligence. 

Owuor also discussed the heightened regulatory attention paid to the sports betting industry in Africa. He notes that many people turn to sports betting due to limited economic opportunities. He also warns that excessive taxation, like Kenya’s, may drive the industry underground and increase offshore betting.

However, he commends Tanzania for its approach, which involves open and informed discussions whenever changes to taxes or policies are proposed.