During an interview at the Africa Gaming Expo (AGE) 2026<\/strong>, Pace said it is inaccurate to describe Africa as lagging, noting instead that the continent represents a collection of emerging jurisdictions at different stages of maturity. He said: \u201cIt\u2019s difficult to really say that Africa is lagging because lagging has a negative connotation,\u201d adding that regulatory approaches vary widely across countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Africa\u2019s gambling market has seen strong growth in recent years, driven largely by mobile betting, increasing internet penetration and a young population. Countries such as South Africa, Uganda, Botswana, Kenya and Nigeria <\/strong>have established regulatory frameworks, while others are still developing oversight structures. This fragmented landscape has made it harder to implement unified international standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pace noted that while some regulators are making progress, legislation in many jurisdictions has not yet aligned with more established markets in Europe and North America<\/strong>. He stated: \u201cThe legislation has not yet caught up with legislation in other countries, but it\u2019s getting there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Industry analysts warn that inconsistent rules across borders create compliance challenges for operators and limit cross-market collaboration. Global standards covering areas such as responsible gambling, cybersecurity and fair gaming are often adopted unevenly, depending on local regulatory capacity and political priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these challenges, regulatory bodies across Africa are increasing engagement with international organisations such as IGSA to improve oversight and technical standards. Efforts include strengthening licensing regimes, enforcing anti-money laundering measures and introducing responsible gambling frameworks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pace added that the next phase of development will depend on clearer regulatory direction and stronger collaboration between governments and industry stakeholders. He noted: \u201cNow it\u2019s a matter of really understanding what needs to be done to allow this industry to continue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As legislation evolves and regulators build capacity, more African markets are expected to align with global standards, improving transparency and investor confidence while supporting long-term industry growth.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/02\/photo-1517245386807-bb43f82c33c4-300x200.jpg\")
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