Africa’s gaming industry is entering a new phase of growth. According to GeoPoll’s 2025 gambling report, sports betting participation exceeded 70% across major markets, including South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Uganda, and Ghana, with 94% of respondents placing bets through mobile phones.

While this rapid growth in online betting is creating new opportunities for operators, it is also increasing the complexity of Africa’s gaming industry, especially as gaming becomes a more significant source of revenue for African countries.

In response, gaming regulators across the continent are introducing new licensing frameworks, responsible gaming requirements, advertising controls, and compliance obligations. They are also paying closer attention to taxation, consumer protection, AML/CFT compliance, and responsible market conduct.

For gaming businesses, this means that expanding into Africa is no longer simply about securing a licence or launching a platform. It requires navigating a growing web of legal and regulatory requirements that vary significantly from one market to another.

As a result, many gaming businesses are turning to specialised advisory support to help navigate these complexities and reduce regulatory risk.

How Gaming Advisory Africa Supports Gaming Businesses

Gaming Advisory Africa was established to help gaming stakeholders respond to the opportunities, risks, and regulatory expectations of Africa’s regulated gaming markets.

As a professional network founded by Velex Advisory, Gaming Advisory Africa brings together legal, regulatory, financial, compliance, and operational expertise from across the continent to support businesses at every stage of growth.

Through its work across the African gaming landscape, Gaming Advisory Africa supports operators, investors, and stakeholders seeking to build sustainable businesses within the continent.

Licensing and Market Entry Support

Entering a regulated gaming market requires careful planning long before an operator submits a licence application.

Gaming Advisory Africa supports businesses with market entry assessments, licensing strategy, regulatory engagement, documentation preparation, and cross-border expansion planning.

This gives operators greater clarity before committing capital, partnerships, or operational resources while helping them align with the regulatory framework of each jurisdiction.

Regulatory and Compliance Advisory

Gambling regulations across Africa continue to evolve, and operators need to understand how new requirements affect their contracts, partnerships, internal policies, and day-to-day operations.

According to Norah Kiambati, Legal Manager at Velex Advisory and a member of the Gaming Advisory Africa network, “One of the biggest mistakes gaming businesses make is treating compliance as a one-time licensing requirement. In reality, compliance is an ongoing business function that influences everything from operations and partnerships to market expansion and long-term sustainability.”

Gaming Advisory Africa supports businesses through regulatory reviews, legal compliance assessments, gap analysis, contract reviews, and ongoing advisory support that helps them stay aligned with changing expectations.

This approach helps operators strengthen regulatory compliance while reducing exposure to legal and operational risk.

Business Growth Advisory

For established operators, Gaming Advisory Africa also supports business growth through expansion strategy, capital growth planning, M&A advisory, due diligence, transaction advisory, and market expansion guidance.

As Africa’s gambling industry matures, businesses increasingly need support that extends beyond licensing.

Gaming Advisory Africa helps operators identify opportunities for sustainable growth while navigating the legal and commercial realities of expansion across multiple African countries.

Gaming Advisory Africa’s Role in Policy Development

Gaming Advisory Africa’s work extends beyond operators. The network also engages with regulators, policymakers, technology providers, investors, and industry associations to support stronger regulatory frameworks and a more sustainable gaming ecosystem.

This includes participating in industry conferences like the Gaming Tech Summit Africa (GTSA), expert discussions, regulatory forums like the Gaming Regulators Africa Forum (GRAF), and stakeholder engagements that create space for practical conversations around policy, compliance, responsible gambling practices, innovation, and market development.

As Christine Akoyo, Project Lead for GTSA and a member of the Gaming Advisory Africa network, explains, “The African gaming industry is growing rapidly, but regulatory conversations often happen in silos. Industry forums create opportunities for regulators, operators, and advisors to exchange perspectives, identify common challenges, and contribute to frameworks that support sustainable growth across markets.”

Through these engagements, Gaming Advisory Africa contributes to broader conversations shaping the future of the African gaming industry.

As regulatory expectations continue to evolve, operators that invest in strong legal, compliance, and governance foundations will be better positioned to scale, attract partners, and build sustainable businesses.

Get in touch with Gaming Advisory Africa to strengthen your legal and compliance framework, navigate regulatory change, and build a gaming business ready for sustainable growth across Africa.