The African gambling sector is experiencing a remarkable surge, as recent statistics from Mordor Intelligence reveal. The Africa Gaming Market is estimated to be worth USD 2.14 billion in 2024, with projections indicating it will soar to USD 3.72 billion by 2029, marking a substantial growth rate of 11.62% during the forecast period (2024-2029). Africa Gaming Platforms
This impressive expansion can be attributed to the influx of new market entrants, spanning from casino to sportsbook operators, who are injecting significant investments into various countries across the continent.
With an increasing number of players eyeing the African market, there arises a critical need for platforms that are tailored to operate effectively within the region’s unique landscape. Therefore, it becomes imperative to discern the essential features required to thrive in the African gaming market before embarking on any operational endeavors within the continent.
In a bid to find solutions to the above subject matter, iGaming AFRIKA organised a webinar featuring industry experts: Ms. Maha Otu, Director at BetWinner Nigeria, Mr. Rene Maimo, Head of Marketing and Business Development Unit at DME Systems, Mr. Artur Harutyunyan the CEO at BetFounders and Slotpesa, and Mr. Akinlaja Ayofemi, Founder of Shacks Evolution Studios, to answer the following key questions:
Ms. Otu, felt that the first thing when setting up a platform is its usability and responsiveness across multiple devices, that is, it has to be a responsive platform that can be used on any device whether laptop, tablet, or mobile device. It also has to be able to accommodate any browsers that the user chooses.
She further noted the importance of the registration process, together with deposit and withdrawal methods, “Most sportsbooks should have favourable odds, how easy it is for them to register on the platforms. Registration should be very easy and should have several methods of registration in case one fails,” she said. “How easy it is to make a deposit and withdraw is also a factor,” she added.
Ms. Out went on to advise new market entrants to consider the kind of devices used by punters and hence ensure accessibility of their platforms by all players including those with devices that may not be able to access the internet.
“Every platform should have a light version where people who have a smaller phone have access to the platform as well, and should not be restricted to people having high-end phones, ” she stated.
Ms. Otu couldn’t end her statement without touching on the aspect of localisation, noting that, “a mistake most providers make is to bring the same content for the other market and expect good results. When we have localised content, games that people are familiar with, it’s not difficult to identify with that kind of game or try it out on the platform”.
Mr. Harutyunyan observed that the African market is big with an extremely high number of punters, thus giving investors a variety of options to choose from when selecting their markets of choice to venture into.
Having over six years of experience in the African market, Mr. Harutyunyan’s advice was that the platform has to operate fast while using low data, lite with easy registration, deposit, and withdrawal further complementing the points stated by Ms. Otu. He also added that it is important to require less information during the registration, deposit, and withdrawal processes.
To ensure accessibility of a gambling platform in the diverse African market, Ms. Otu in her remarks said accessibility and internet connection in most countries, apart from South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya, depend on low-end phones. Kenya for instance has SMS betting, where gamers do not need to use the internet. Moreover, she believes that providers and operators need to consider having an offline mode where people can have access to placing bets or having access to platforms when they do not have data at the time. Africa Gaming Platforms
“Even in Nigeria, there are some places without a network and others where the internet is not strong, so in such a place, the gamers should have an option of having access to an offline version of the platform. We should see more innovation across Africa to make it easy for clients,” she further explained.
Ms. Otu further noted that the idea of placing bets through SMS is an idea of making the platforms accessible and making use of it even without data or high-end phones.
Mr. Harutyunyan on his end said that accessibility is a pain for a lot of companies operating in most African markets. He seconded Ms. Otu by noting that there can be an establishment of offline mode for games and casinos as it is the biggest part of the African market, “Many clients are waiting to play offline, it would be a good market to tap,” he said.
“On low internet connectivity, we can try to get games that require less internet and provide services that can work with low service connectivity. One of the best solutions is a mobile app, especially for Android which is very easy to download an Android Package Kit file format (APK). Additionally, the app should be able to work with low internet connectivity,” He added. “Put attention on internet connectivity and check whether there’s low or good connectivity, also introduce SMS betting that doesn’t require any internet and try to understand the market needs. Be simple and clear, the speed should also be very fast,” continued Mr. Harutyunyan.
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The moderator of the webinar, Mr. Ayofemi stressed the need to understand what customers want and are using, and if one can penetrate the market
Mr. Maimo was keen to note that the issue of connectivity has remained a preoccupation to most investors and all ideas on how to reduce the size of images to make sure that loading is easy to maximise available connectivity. Africa Gaming Platforms
He also invited operators in Africa to try out USSD betting as it was not yet fully exploited and was a big opportunity to grab a good share of the gaming population. “The take-home message is investors should give a chance to try out USSD betting to reach the markets where people want to bet but there’s no internet connection, especially those in remote villages,” he added.
Abhujeet Sarkar, who was following the discussion live, was in support of Mr. Maimo’s point is that USSD is under-explored in most countries even though most punters are still working with feature handsets.
Lucios Obinna Unegbu, who was watching the webinar online wondered how betting platforms think about customer retention considering the competition in the market. Artur responded by stating that retention is the second most important part of gambling platforms after the acquisition.
Unegbu further added that “everyone has to make decisions on how to move on with retention though it’s not about distributing the players so a lot of features needs to be figured out that will make players come back and play.”
While responding to a question on methods used to mitigate bonus abuse, Mr. Ayofemi stated that the important thing is being able to track the particular user as a user opens multiple accounts to benefit from a said bonus, “if the pipeline of that particular user is tracked, limit the number of accounts he can create”.
Mr. Ayofemi emphasised the importance of considering bonus abusers and their strategies even before running any bonuses and promotions.
Mr. Maimo finalised the session by stating the importance of ensuring players have easy access to customer service, as this would help in customer retention. Africa Gaming Platforms
September 18, 2024 – Sportsbet.io, the world’s favourite crypto-led sports betting site, has once again raised the bar by announcing yet another A-list ambassador with the signing of legendary Nigerian singer Harrysong.
The ‘Reggae Blues’ singer is also a renowned songwriter and instrumentalist with millions of fans across Nigeria and beyond. He’s won numerous awards and won a hard-earned reputation as one of Africa’s most beloved music personalities.
Now he’s turning his attention to the world of cryptocurrency betting with this landmark Sportsbet.io partnership.
Sportsbet.io Ambassador Harrysong said: “I share a lot in common with Sportsbet.io. We both value creativity and aren’t scared to try something new. Above all else, we work day and night to create something truly special. That’s why I’m really excited to introduce my fans to the very best crypto-led betting site in the world.”
Harrysong fans can expect special promotions and other surprises as part of the partnership, which is just the latest in the ‘Join the Crypto Experience’ ambassador program run by Sportsbet.io.
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Other music legends, like King Kaka, have also signed up, alongside some of the biggest names in sport, including Nigerian football hero Nwankwo Kanu.
And if you are a natural-born networker, you can join Harrysong yourself and earn financial freedom as well as access to exclusive VIP events with Sportsbet.io.
Got what it takes? Find out more at: https://jointhecryptoexperience.io/.
About Sportsbet.io
Founded in 2016 as part of Yolo Group, Sportsbet.io is the leading crypto sportsbook. Sportsbet.io has redefined the online betting space by combining cutting-edge technology, with cryptocurrency expertise and a passion for offering its players with the ultimate fun, fast and fair gaming experience.
Official Turkish Betting Partner of English football team, Hull City and a club partner of Premier League team Newcastle United, Sportsbet.io provides an expansive range of betting action across all major sports and eSports, offering players more than 1M pre-match events per year and comprehensive in-play content.
As the first crypto sportsbook to introduce a cash out function, Sportsbet.io is recognised as a leader in both online sports betting and within the crypto community.
In December 2023, a lucky Sportsbet.io won the biggest ever online slots jackpot while playing on the site, turning a $50 spin into a prize of more than $42 million.
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For more information about Sportsbet.io, please visit https://sportsbet.io.
In just one week, SBC Summit will welcome 25,000 attendees to the Feira Internacional de Lisboa, Lisbon, from 24 – 26 September, marking a 66.7% surge in attendance compared to the previous edition in Barcelona, solidifying its place as the fastest-growing event in the sports betting and iGaming industry.
Spanning an impressive 110,000m², SBC Summit will feature 600 global exhibitors showcasing their latest innovations across the ‘Casino & iGaming,’ ‘Sports Betting,’ ‘Player Protection’ and ‘StartupSphere’ zones, while also introducing three new summits: the ‘Affiliate Leaders Summit,’ ‘Payment Expert Summit,’ and ‘ESI Lisbon.’
This year’s standout feature is the ‘Super Stage’ in the MEO Arena, one of the largest indoor arenas in Europe, where an all-star lineup including skateboarding icon Tony Hawk, World Wide Web inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee, football legends Peter Schmeichel and Luís Figo, UFC fighter Merab Dvalishvilli, and celebrated sports presenter Laura Woods will be featured across the event’s three core days.
The MEO Arena will also be the venue for INFINITY Lisbon, featuring world-renowned DJs Miss Monique, Don Diablo, and Darude. This will be the biggest closing party the industry has ever seen, adding even more star power to the event, and aligning with SBC’s vision of elevating business conferences by delivering unforgettable experiences for attendees.
Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC said: “Barcelona showed us just how much our flagship event has grown, and now in 2024, we’re thrilled to be taking it to Lisbon—a city and venue that’s more than ready to host our incredible attendees. This expansion is something we take great pride in, and we’ve gone above and beyond to make it a VIP experience for everyone.
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“With all the industry leaders present, amazing content, and an impressive lineup of exhibitors, we’ve streamlined everything to make the attendee experience smoother. This SBC Summit is a perfect example of what the SBC experience stands for!”
The Summit will showcase an 8-stage conference program, including the Super Stage, with each focusing on vital areas like sports betting, casino & iGaming, payments & compliance, affiliation, player protection, and esports.
Delegates will engage in thought-provoking discussions on topics such as data-driven player trends, AI, breakthroughs in slot design and sportsbook innovation, regulatory updates, and new affiliate traffic opportunities.
A prestigious lineup of over 600 speakers will feature names like Gustaf Hagman, CEO of LeoVegas; Ivan Bešlić, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Sofascore; Neal Menashe, CEO of Super Group; Nils Anden, CEO of Kindred Group; Paris Smith, Founder of Life Winning; Per Widerström, CEO of Evoke; Savvas Fellas, Founder & CEO of MrQ; Shimon Akad, COO of Playtech; Steve Birch, CCO of Sky Betting & Gaming; Stuart Simms, Group CEO of FairPlay Sports Media; Tom Bowry, Chief Strategy Officer at Flutter Entertainment; Vlad Kaltenieks, CEO of BoyleSports and more.
As SBC’s premier global event, the summit will feature 30 region-specific sessions within the Global Markets Lounge, roundtable discussions, and leaders’ panels. Attendees will have the chance to explore the intricacies of key markets such as the UK, Africa, USA, Latin America, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Eurasia, Brazil, India, UAE, and many others.
Other exciting additions to the SBC Summit include:
“We’ve carefully designed every detail of SBC Summit to ensure our attendees have a seamless and enjoyable experience, from convenient airport badge pickup and four easy-to-find registration areas to colour-coded badges and pre-loaded wristbands for food. We look forward to welcoming you to what will truly be, the greatest show in gaming! See you in Lisbon!” Sojmark added.
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Get your ticket to the SBC Summit and benefit from a group discount for three or more people, saving €200 per person per ticket.
Affiliates and operators can apply for complimentary passes
