The inaugural iGaming AFRIKA Summit opened in Nairobi on Monday, bringing together regulators, operators, investors and technology firms to discuss the future of Africa’s fast-growing gaming industry.
Held at the Sarit Expo Centre, the three-day event runs from May 4–6 and is focused on opportunities, regulation and taxation in a sector seeing rapid expansion across the continent.
Jeremiah Maangi, chief executive of iGaming AFRIKA, said Africa’s gaming market had evolved into a key growth sector driven by rising mobile penetration, a young population and increasing consumer spending.
“Africa’s gaming industry is no longer a frontier market; it is a growth market,” Maangi said, adding that the summit aims to promote structured and inclusive development.
Kenya’s regulator struck a similar tone, positioning policy as central to industry expansion. Peter Karimi, director general of the Gambling Regulatory Authority, said effective regulation was essential to ensure sustainability and investor confidence.
“Effective regulation is not the enemy of growth. It is the foundation upon which sustainable growth is built,” Karimi said, pointing to reforms aimed at strengthening licensing, tackling illegal operators and enhancing consumer protection.
Karimi also highlighted ongoing changes under Kenya’s new regulatory framework, noting that updated laws would prioritise player safety while adapting to rapid technological shifts.
Joseph Kirui Limo, chairperson of the Gambling Regulatory Authority, warned that poorly designed tax regimes could undermine the sector’s potential.
“When tax structures are punitive or unpredictable, they drive operators underground and deprive governments of revenue,” Limo said, calling for competitive and transparent taxation frameworks across African markets.
Data from the Kenya Revenue Authority shows the government collected about $240 million from betting and gaming in the 2024/25 financial year, reflecting the sector’s growing economic significance.
Panel discussions at the summit highlighted regulatory fragmentation across Africa as a key challenge. Denis Mudene Ngabirano, head of Uganda’s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board, said countries with clear regulatory and tax policies were more likely to attract investment.
Speakers also called for greater harmonisation of licensing and tax reporting standards across the continent to reduce compliance costs and support cross-border operations.
The summit comes as African governments seek to balance revenue generation with consumer protection in a sector increasingly shaped by digital platforms and mobile technology.