Africa is vast and home to many different cultures. From the Mediterranean shores of Tripoli in the north to the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans on the Cape Town coast in the south, the African continent is becoming the next big gambling market.
But what is the state of gambling across the African continent? PASA will illustrate this with a map for everyone, showing which countries have legalized gambling and which have not.
Why are the gambling regulations so varied across many African countries?
The answer to this question is largely related to religion. In the map above, we can see many countries where gambling is not concentrated—many of these countries are predominantly Muslim, meaning the practice is strictly prohibited.
However, there are some exceptions—such as Morocco, where gambling has been legalized.
Is the market growing rapidly there?
This depends on the country; with the growing demand for smartphones and internet access, many believe that mobile broadband access in particular has driven the development of online gambling.
According to MiFinity's data, currently 83% of Africa is covered by mobile broadband networks, 61% of people own various types of mobile phones, while in Europe, 78% of people own smartphones, with the UK alone having a smartphone penetration rate of 91%.
Therefore, yes, the online gambling market is rapidly growing in most parts of Africa, driven by the rapid increase in mobile broadband and smartphone usage (mainly among young people).
Is internet access different?
Yes, there is a significant difference. According to a 2023 report by Statista, Morocco has an internet penetration rate of 88.1%, while according to DataReportal, the Central African Republic had an internet penetration rate of only 10.6% at the beginning of 2023.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that Africa has the lowest number of internet connections (percentage of people using the internet), at only 22%. According to the International Finance Corporation, despite this low figure, there is huge potential for growth, with the goal of the African Union and the World Bank Group to achieve internet connectivity for every business, individual, and government by 2030.
