/ 16 August 2022

Betting is gaining popularity in Africa

Igaming

Africa has become a tempting market for iGaming operators to invest in. Thanks to its sustained economic growth, which has triggered a revolution in the expansion of several smart mobile brands throughout African countries, the continent is now a prosperous ground for the industry of online gambling to thrive.

In this article, we will undergo a thorough exploration of the legislation and trends that became prominent in different African countries in the past couple of years.

Keep reading to discover the statistical growth of the gambling industry in different African countries, with an emphasis on the importance of Live Casino games as a vital resource for the further development of the betting sector.

An overview of online gambling in Africa

The progressive growth of economic prosperity in numerous African countries has become undeniably visible over the last quarter-century. 

And as African countries were not as negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic as Europe and America, they continue to show progress and have already announced numerous prosperous measures that should be adopted in the following months of 2022.

The rise of the online gambling industry is closely tied to this wave of constant developments, which translated through a decrease in the overall price for internet connectivity in several African countries. Hence, nowadays, African citizens represent over 11.5% of the overall internet users in the world.

And since increasingly more Africans are being facilitated access to a stable internet connection, the number of 3G and 4G networks available on the continent have doubled over the last five years.

So, in a world of endless possibilities for future prosperity and continuous technological growth, we should note that it was only a matter of time before Africa became a tempting prospect for iGaming companies looking to expand.

South Africa

Currently, South Africa is by far the most developed online betting market on the continent, with several financial experts expecting its gross revenue to surpass $2.3-billion by the end of 2022.

The reasoning behind the continuous gross of the industry can be easily traced back to its high GPD, which enables a stronger purchasing power in the country in comparison to its neighbouring countries.

The regulation of the online branch of this industry has been beneficial for both the government, which welcomes an increase in tax revenue, and the population, which welcomes the addition of new and exciting leisure activities.

Kenya

The online gambling industry has been regulated in Kenya ever since the Gaming Bill was adopted in 2019. However, many iGaming companies decided to abandon this market once the government threatened to introduce an additional 20% tax on casino stakes, as the prospect of investing in an unstable market was by no means appealing.

Hence, the evolution of the online gambling market has been indefintely stalled for the moment, with only a few companies willing to still take a chance on the Kenyan market.

Which is currently the most profitable gambling market in Kenya?

Currently, the gambling market in Kenya continues to be dominated by sports betting, with an estimated number of over 7-million citizens actively placing bets on online gambling services.

The future of the online casino industry is still unclear, but it will certainly be conditioned by future legal decisions that can either tempt or discourage investors to take a chance on the Kenyan market.

Nigeria

According to 2022 statistics data, Nigeria has the largest population and gross domestic product in all of Africa. Hence, it should come as no surprise that the country is currently the most profitable gambling market in sub-Saharan Africa, which translates to an average of 7% of the continent total.

Until 2004, all gambling activities were strictly banned on Nigerian territory. Even now, online gambling is not regulated on a federal level.

There is an ongoing legal conflict between the Nigerian Lottery Regulatory Commission and the Lagos State Lotteries Board, as both organisations are trying to impose regulations and collect licensing taxes.

Similar to the rest of African countries, the sports betting sector makes for the vast majority of the GGR. And, according to yearly statistics, over 30% of the entire population places bets on sports every single day. It is no surprise then that Nigerians spend over $2-billion every year on sports betting.

Other African countries

Online gambling has also become a sector of interest for several foreign investors in other African countries.

Tanzania

In Tanzania, online gambling has experienced rapid growth during the past couple of years, thanks to the mobile infrastructure continuously expanding. 

Noticing a prospect of economic growth, the government of Tanzania swiftly decided to regulate the online gambling industry through the Internet Gaming Regulations Act promulgated in 2012.

Uganda

In Uganda, the regulatory online gambling act was promulgated as the Lotteries and Gaming Act was released in 2016. And although there are no actual stipulations that actually refer to online gambling, the legalisation of sportsbooks has been formally licensed by the Ugandan National Gaming Board.

As many more African countries are benefiting from an ongoing technological revolution with new marketing opportunities surfacing every day, we can only expect the online gambling sector to keep expanding on the continent in the following years.

Live casino betting in Africa: The most profitable table games

As part of our analysis of the online gambling sector in Africa, we find it necessary to elaborate on the great role live casino games have played in the expansion of the industry throughout the continent.

While the convenience and accessibility of online casinos have been perceived as highly appealing by most African citizens, the lost opportunity of enjoying an authentic live dealer experience soon became visible in the complaints of some other players.

By introducing Live Dealer gambling titles as part of their game selection, online casinos have successfully sufficed for the loss of a live setting, as players are now able to be transported into an evocative Nevada evening when accessing the games.

Blackjack

Being quite possibly the most popular casino game from all over the world, Live Blackjack is the favourite table game of several gambling enthusiasts who are looking for a thrilling gaming experience. The main goal of the game is to create a hand nearer to 21 than the dealer’s hand.

Blackjack uses the international 52-card deck without jokers, with several variations of the original game being present in several online casinos which are active in Africa. 

The most appealing aspect of this live game comes from its fast-paced nature. Hence, when accessing the live version of this game in online casinos, African players have the chance to recreate an authentic dealer gambling experience right from the comfort of their homes.

Baccarat

Originating in the classical card game with the same name, Live Baccarat has been a hit in African online casinos since the moment it was launched.

At its core, Baccarat is a game of guessing, where players place bets on which hand out of the two being dealt shall win. The winner is decided according to the highest number out of the two cards. Over time, strategists from all over the world have developed numerous tactics meant to maximise the winning chances of bettors.

The main reason behind this game’s outstanding popularity lies in the small house edge value it has, which is actually the lowest one of all the available card games in online casinos.

Conclusion

Currently, Africa is considered to be one of the most promising lucrative markets in the world where the iGaming companies could expand to.

The governments of several African countries have already passed regulatory acts which offer further hope for future developments and reforms taking place on the continent.

Due to the introduction of Live Casino titles, gambling enthusiasts from Africa can now take full advantage of the amazing prospect of unlimited accessibility provided by online casinos, as they are now able to enjoy an authentic, Vegas-reminiscent gaming experience right from the comfort of their homes.