Togo’s Gozem Money launch drives digital gambling across French-speaking Africa
Togo-based super app introduces fast, low-cost mobile payments platform, giving betting operators and players a simpler, cheaper way to fund accounts and withdraw winnings.
Togolese Republic.-Togo-based platform Gozem has launched its mobile money service, Gozem Money, aiming to transform digital payments for gambling and betting across French-speaking Africa. The platform officially went live on October 7, in the Togolese Republic and is set to expand to Benin, Gabon and Cameroon, offering fast, low-cost transactions and providing operators and players with a more affordable alternative to traditional telecom wallets.
Launched in partnership with West African financial group NSIA Bank Togo, Gozem Money provides accessible financial services, allowing users to top up wallets, transfer funds across operators and make purchases on compatible platforms. Fully interoperable with all local mobile money providers, the platform charges withdrawal fees five times lower than standard rates.
Partner bank NSIA said that the collaboration supports the country’s “broader digital transformation agenda”. The launch also aligns with Togo’s financial inclusion goals and complies with regulations set by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO).
Jean Nango, Managing Director of Gozem Money Togo, said: “Gozem Money reflects our ambition to transform the sector and actively contribute to sustainable financial inclusion”.
Since its debut in 2018 as a ride-hailing service, Gozem has evolved into a multi-service platform, offering transport, delivery, e-commerce and now financial services. A report by E-PLAY Africa stated: “Gozem Money will enable users to top up their wallets, make transfers across operators and make purchases on compatible platforms, as the solution is fully interoperable with all mobile money operators in Togo. The platform claims its withdrawal fees are five times lower than the standard market rates.”
Mobile money drives betting growth
The launch comes at a strategic moment, as Togo’s mobile money transaction value rose 3 per cent quarter-on-quarter to $1.54bn in Q1 2024, signaling sustained growth in digital payments. The rollout follows Gozem’s 2023 acquisition of Beninese e-payments startup Moneex, with expansion plans underway for Benin, Gabon and Cameroon. Since its inception, Gozem has completed more than 20 million rides across 16 cities, evolving into a full-service ecosystem integrating transport, commerce and finance.
Gozem Money’s low-cost, fast and widely accessible payment system could influence digital betting operations, making it easier for users to fund accounts and withdraw winnings. Betting operators stand to benefit from a more efficient payment channel, while Gozem challenges the dominance of telecom wallets like TMoney and Flooz.
Gozem Money demonstrates the rise of homegrown African fintech innovation, showing how a single platform can combine multiple services to drive financial inclusion, convenience and digital adoption across the region.
With payments now cheaper and faster, Gozem Money is set not only to transform everyday transactions but also to support digital gambling and betting growth in French-speaking Africa, reinforcing the platform’s position as a major player in the continent’s evolving digital economy.
