GamblePause: Confronting Gambling Harm in Africa, One Community at a Time

The organisation’s growing influence was recently underscored by its appointment as Clarion Gaming’s Safer Gambling Charity Partner, writes Nseobong Okon-Ekong

As Africa’s gaming and betting markets expand at unprecedented speed, a quieter but no less urgent movement is gaining momentum alongside them—one focused on responsibility, recovery, and human impact. At the forefront of this movement is GamblePause, an independent social impact organisation committed to reducing gambling-related harm across the continent. Founded by Ladipo Abiose Akolade, GamblePause is steadily emerging as a critical voice in Africa’s safer gambling ecosystem, combining lived experience with structured intervention and policy engagement.

“I launched GamblePause having personally experienced gambling-related harm for nine years,” Akolade says, grounding the organisation’s mission in hard-earned insight. “Our mission is to promote safer gambling behaviours, raise awareness of gambling-related harm, and provide accessible education, counselling, and rehabilitation pathways—particularly for vulnerable populations.”

Operating primarily in Nigeria, GamblePause has expanded its reach through virtual psychological and online support services to Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya. The organisation also collaborates with partners in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, who volunteer expertise and training. According to Akolade, these partnerships help ensure standardised recovery services to clients, even as gambling habits and risks evolve across borders.

What sets GamblePause apart is its emphasis on accessibility. “We are proud to be the first organisation in Africa to offer free gambling rehabilitation support,” Akolade notes. “We are removing financial barriers to care and ensuring that help is accessible to those who need it most.”

Its work spans community outreach, digital education platforms, rehabilitation referrals, research collaboration, and international partnerships, with a particular focus on countries experiencing rapid growth in online and youth gambling.

Despite being a relatively young charity, GamblePause has already had a notable impact in a short time.

“We have evolved from a grassroots awareness initiative into an emerging regional voice on safer gambling in Africa,” Akolade explains.

In the past 12 months alone, the organisation has reached more than 5,500 individuals through community awareness sessions, workshops, and digital campaigns. It has also conducted over 3,300 one-to-one support interactions through virtual counselling and early-intervention services.

Youth engagement remains a central pillar of its strategy. GamblePause has reached over 1,500 secondary school students through awareness and debate competitions, while delivering large-scale gambling awareness programmes at the University of Lagos.

“In April 2025, we reached 11,000 students, and in December 2025, a further 12,500,” Akolade says. “These sessions focused on gambling risk awareness, early warning signs, prevention strategies, and access to counselling, support, and rehabilitation pathways.”

The organisation’s growing influence was recently underscored by its appointment as Clarion Gaming’s Safer Gambling Charity Partner, covering world-leading events such as ICE Barcelona, iGB Affiliate Barcelona, and iGB L!VE London.

“Make no mistake, being named Clarion Gaming’s Safer Gambling Charity Partner is a historic milestone,” Akolade says. “It is a powerful validation of our work, strengthens our credibility, and gives us a global platform to amplify safer gambling messaging across Africa.”

Looking ahead, GamblePause intends to use the partnership to deepen its impact.

“We will scale gambling-harm awareness campaigns across Africa, expand rehabilitation pathways, and deliver evidence-informed safer gambling education for operators, regulators, and communities,” Akolade explains.

Central to all of this, he adds, is “a steadfast commitment to early intervention among young people”.

As Africa’s gaming industry matures, GamblePause is ensuring that growth is matched with responsibility—proving that safer gambling is not a peripheral concern, but a foundation for sustainable development.