iGaming AFRIKA chief calls for tech and regulatory overhaul in African betting market

Jeremiah Maangi, chief executive of iGaming AFRIKA, has given an exclusive interview to betting news outlet SportsBoom addressing regulatory reform and emerging technology in Africa’s betting industry. The interview followed the SBC Summit in Lisbon, where iGaming AFRIKA acted as an official media partner representing the continent.

Regulatory landscape remains inconsistent

According to Maangi, most African nations have introduced gambling laws and regulatory bodies, but enforcement varies widely by jurisdiction. He said unlicensed and illegal operators continue to exist because compliance monitoring is patchy in places, even as more countries update legislation in response to the growing popularity of sports betting.

Centralised regulation debated

Maangi addressed growing discussion around a centralised gaming regulatory framework for Africa, which would allow licensed sportsbooks to operate across multiple countries under one set of rules. He said such a system could simplify compliance, strengthen consumer protection, increase tax revenue for governments and attract greater investment and innovation to the sector.

However, he cautioned that Africa’s diverse legal systems and differing cultural attitudes towards gambling make a uniform regulatory model difficult to implement. Disparities in regulatory capacity and resources between countries would also complicate enforcement, he said.

Responsible gambling focus

Maangi said iGaming AFRIKA dedicates resources to promoting responsible gambling content and works with industry figures to raise awareness of safer gambling practices, describing this as central to achieving balance in the sector.

Technology seen as key driver

On innovation, Maangi pointed to cryptocurrency and blockchain as offering African operators and regulators a chance to improve transparency and build user trust, with smart contracts enabling faster, more reliable payouts. He also highlighted the potential of mobile betting improvements built around widely used mobile money platforms to boost accessibility and participation.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning were cited as tools that could personalise betting experiences through behavioural analysis while also supporting risk management by flagging unusual betting patterns. Maangi added that gamification could help engage younger audiences, while responsible gambling tools could support a safer betting environment overall. He said the combined effect of these technologies could make the African sports betting market more accessible, secure and attractive to investors.

The interview was published by SportsBoom, part of Zealium Media.