Sisal, however, did not win the lucrative contract without a fight, having gone up against several other candidates. After the gruelling tender process, La Marocaine des Jeux et des Sports (MDJS) finally settled on Sisal as the most deserving candidate. Should the company deliver an impressive performance, the license may be extended for two more years.

Exclusive Operator Contract Details

The partnership with MDJS gives Sisal full autonomy over sports betting in Morocco. The operator now controls online and retail betting in the region, with Sisal Jeux Maroc, the company’s local holding, responsible for all operations.

Speaking on behalf of the organization, Marco Caccavale expressed his elation at winning the bid, stating that MDJS recognized Sisal’s ability to get the job done. He added that the Moroccan gambling market is ripe with potential.

Sisal on a Roll

The Morocco contract is undoubtedly a significant win for Sisal, but really, it’s just the tip of the iceberg. The operator recently secured four similar international licenses. The most notable recent license was finalized in Tunisia. Sisal now handles the region’s sports betting, online gambling, and instant lotteries. The company has also secured licenses for Spain and Turkey, with Sisal International Group, SuperEnalotto, and MatchPoint all joining the Flutter family.

Some other international licenses Sisal secured are for Spain and Turkey. The expansion saw Sisal International Group, SuperEnalotto, and MatchPoint become part of Flutter.

Caccavale made an additional statement. He confirmed that the Morocco contract brings Sisal’s international license count to four. He added that being under the Flutter corporate umbrella has strengthened his company. In conclusion, he looks forward to exploring the lucrative African market and offering a premium betting experience to all.

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Despite the ongoing confusion surrounding the gaming market’s laws, licensed operators can still organize online gambling in South Africa. So long as they have valid licenses issued by provincial governments. However, there is no denying that the country’s gambling laws need significant structural adjustments. Fortunately, stakeholders in the industry are well aware of the laws’ provisions and can adjust accordingly if any future modifications are made to the document.

The proposed key amendments to the legislation include provisions for managing the issuance of licenses, as well as the protocols and procedures involved in the process. This is viewed as the most crucial point in the amendment by many stakeholders in the industry. The amendment also outlines that documents that validate gambling activities will be issued by the provincial authority in whose jurisdiction the real money casino platforms will operate. 

The proposed law regulating gambling advertisements is equally important. It seeks to create a safer gambling atmosphere for advertising, enabling operators in South Africa to explain what they offer correctly. This would help gamblers better understand the gambling market in general. Furthermore, the law would ensure operators adhere to the South African Financial Intelligence Center Act (FICA).

The amendment would also provide appropriate limitations to ensure that minors and vulnerable persons are protected from the harmful effects of gambling. As the online gaming industry expands, so does the number of people with gambling issues. To this end, the amendment aims to combat this problem by partnering with GamStop, a professional initiative focused on providing solutions to gambling problems. GamStop will closely monitor those battling gambling-related issues by limiting their deposits and gaming time. They will have access to dedicated help centres and many more resources to help them overcome such matters.

Implementing these proposed laws could drastically affect the South African gambling market. While it remains to be seen when these laws will finally come to fruition, stakeholders in the industry are optimistic that the necessary adjustments will come to effect soon. Ultimately, the goal is to create a safer, more regulated gambling environment in South Africa.

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According to Amelco’s head of business development, Brandon Walker, LulaBet aims to be a premium South African online casino. He explained that he expects the product to significantly impact locals. He declared that LulaBet may even be a true industry game-changer.

Walker elaborated that Amelco operates with cutting-edge technology. He emphasized that the company also boasts 15 years of industry experience. He concluded that the tech and expertise will give South African gamblers a true next-level platform.

The Perfect Partnership

Managing director of LulaBet Ian Gutteridge shared some thoughts of his own. He explained that entering the South African market is all about bringing the best gaming technology available. He pointed out that Amelco offers precisely that; cutting-edge technology that is sure to impress.

He continued that Amelco and LulaBet are combining into a perfect partnership. Together the two will be providing locals with a trustworthy tier-one sportsbook platform. Gutteridge concluded that locals should prepare for an online gaming experience they’ve never seen before.

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During the pre-launch briefing, Betta1 manager Ray Phiri said the operator will focus on giving Zambians the opportunity to enjoy entertainment value, leisure, and money-making opportunities. Phiri also spoke about how unique the Betta1 platform is compared to other offerings. Betta1 will bring premium sports betting entertainment across various sports to local bettors. Markets will include tennis, football, ice hockey and Formula 1 racing. 

Local Games for Local People  

A variety of online games will also be on offer. These will include a live clubhouse section, various strategy-based titles, several slots, and unique games like Rocketman and Aviator. According to Phiri, Zambian online gambling enthusiasts are being treated to winning bonuses of up to a cool 600%. He said the operator’s approach is to bring only the best in entertainment and profits to Zambian players. 

The interface, he explained, was tailor-created with Zambian people in mind. This is precisely what makes Betta1 a home-grown product. Phiri went on to thank the Zambian government, the President of the country, Hichilema Hakainde, and the country’s Ministry of Finance for the excellent policies that have been put into place. These policies, he explained, create a stable economy for the country, and play a leading role in attracting local and foreign investors. 

Zambians will be able to place wagers from as low as K1 for an opportunity to win up to 600% of their bets. According to Chibambo, this is currently the highest payout in the country.

Congratulating all of Zambia

A second keynote speaker at the grand launch was Betta1 CEO Angad Chhabra. The chief executive started off by congratulating the operator’s team and the Zambian people for producing a premium new product. He said the country’s peaceful environment and sound economy make Zambia a premium destination for investments in Africa.

Zambian people, he said, can expect only the best in service delivery from the new operator. He said a secondary benefit is the creation of jobs for the Zambian youth. This group has historically been disenfranchised and excluded from leadership positions within the country’s economy. Chhabra added that every Zambian national of the legal gambling age (18) will be welcomed by the operator. 

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The National Gambling Amended Act of 2008 was drafted but never ratified. This means that online gambling in South Africa has not been adequately regulated for some time. Now opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, is making big movies. It seems as if the National Gambling Amended Act will finally be enforced.

A part spokesperson declared that an unregulated industry is the erosion of African online casino laws.

Big Changes Incoming

Currently, the legislature has not been published. In the meantime, the party spokesperson has revealed what the act will cover. The spokesperson explained that a central focus will be on regulating gambling-related ads. Mention was also made of establishing regulations to protect minors. The issuing of licenses is also to be more closely regulated but will continue to be handled on a provincial level.

Another area that will be addressed is compliance with the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA). The spokesperson stressed that the regulations will ensure operator compliance with FICA.

The spokesperson concluded that stakeholders will be allowed to submit views on the bill. Views should be submitted to the Speaker of The National Assembly.

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Lawmaker Enos Asiimwe made the suggestion to cut down betting hours to the Lotteries and Gambling Regulatory Board. Asiimwe based the proposal on the fact that less gambling time would mean more time to invoke productivity. He believes that some people start betting around 10 am each morning. 

These changes would result in severe consequences for an essential Ugandan industry as bettors around the globe operate at different hours.

Jane Pacutho, an opposing lawmaker, pointed out apparent flaws in the plan. That considers that limiting hours does not limit interest but only condenses it. In these circumstances, bettors might neglect their families after 5 pm in favour of placing wagers. 

Unrealistic Solution

Uganda is in a precarious position, being seven hours ahead of New York and seven hours behind Australia. This means that if the LGRB makes the suggested changes to betting hours, betting on international sports would be impossible in many instances. Betting in advance often results in lower payouts. 

The regulator, however, has not rejected the idea. They presented the hours’ limitation as part of its budget plan to the Committee of Finance. 

The plan lays out a request by the LGRB for $567 000 to implement electronic enforcement in monitoring systems that would safeguard the lawmakers’ interests. Denis Ngabirano, the CEO of the LGRB, has not specified the types of systems that would be used. However, he knows that capital investment will be necessary.

Ngabirano stated that the regulator is seriously considering the time limit issue. He hopes the new rules will tidy up the gambling industry in Uganda. The regulator wants to decrease the operation of illegal gambling sectors alongside the creation of these new regulations. 

Sports Betting Continues to Grow in Uganda

Uganda has an adverse history with gambling. Before these reported regulations began gaining traction, the country wanted to completely ban sports and online betting. However, these plans were halted, knowing how difficult it would be to enforce when so many alternative gambling platforms and channels exist.

Furthermore, to reduce gambling, the government wanted to implement a 35% tax on gaming operators’ revenues in 2017. These plans also fell through in response to significant industry backlash. 

The tax rate might be easier to swallow now as sports betting activity in the country continues to grow steadily. However, these attempts at throttling the industry have deterred major international gambling companies, such as 888 Holdings, from investing in the African sector. 

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The new partnership agreement will significantly benefit both parties and the goals they are pursuing. Pragmatic Play is expected to grow substantially in Africa with the new deal. The operator will access award-winning slots such as Wolf Gold, Big Bass Bonanza, and Gates of Olympus. 

Also included in the agreement is the implementation of Pragmatic Play’s successful live casino content. Classic games like Blackjack, Roulette and Poker will all be available for play at ChampionBet. However, Pragmatic Play keeps it modern with newer titles like Mega Wheel and Sweet Bonanza Candyland.

The Ultimate Casino Experience

ChampionBet strongly believes that Pragmatic Play will provide its customers with the best online casino experience on the market. According to Pavel Vanis, CEO of ChampionBet, by providing a reliable service, customers will return again and again.

ChampionBet has been growing exponentially over the past few years. The brand has opened hundreds of retail outlets in African countries like Ghana, Ethiopia, and Uganda. Moreover, the up-and-coming African gambling company is regulated and licensed by the Gaming Commission of Ghana. The company also hosts a fully responsive website with sports betting and slots.

Pragmatic Play Expresses Excitement

Yossi Barzely, the CEO of Pragmatic Play, also commented on the deal. He stated that ChampionBet’s expansion across Africa makes for a perfect meshing of brands. He added that the deal was the perfect vehicle for growth within the region for both companies.

Pragmatic Play will provide a robust package of content that will become indispensable to African operators. 

Newly Games Released and Coming Soon

The new partnership was concluded just in time for Pragmatic Play to release their latest slot, Cash Patrol, which is experiencing tremendous success globally. It is a cops-and-robbers-themed slot that places the player in a windy city where the police must catch the bad guys to win a max of 10,500x. 

In addition to more commercial deals with game developers, fans of Pragmatic Play can also expect the provider to launch its next big hit, Big Bass Splash, soon. The Big Bass fishing series has been wildly popular, and the latest instalment promises more of the same high volatility slots action. 

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It seems as if the local government is keen on pushing the tech revolution even further. It wasn’t long ago that a massive $210 million was committed to the local 2022 ICT budget. The money is going to innovative projects like the Konza Technopolis and National Optic Fibre Phase II expansion. Indeed it seems like Kenya is the place for African tech gurus.

There is another area in which the country is shining. Mobile money transactions.

Leading the Way in Financial Freedom

Mobile phone penetration in Kenya has skyrocketed. Home internet connectivity has also dramatically increased. With these developments, mobile money transactions have also seen increased popularity. In fact, it is said that Kenya is second only to China regarding mobile money networks.

The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics recently released a report. The report revealed that 35 million Kenyans are using the mobile money market. That is a truly staggering number, well ahead of far bigger countries.

In more detail, it was reported that mobile money transactions totalled Ksh15.3 trillion in 2021. That same number was Ksh9.4 trillion in 2020. The trend is pointing upwards and is expected to stay that way in 2022. No other country in Africa comes even close to competing.

M-Pesa Spearheading the Revolution

Safaricom offers mobile services through M-Pesa. M-Pesa is amongst the most prominent mobile money companies on the planet. The company controls 99% of the Kenyan mobile phone market, which is a statistic that speaks for itself.

It is primarily thanks to a national increase in online betting in Kenya that the company is doing so well. Almost all local betting operators use M-Pesa for withdrawals and deposits. So it only stands to reason that the company would see such lucrative benefits. 

A statement from Safaricom put it into perspective. It was revealed that around Ksh463 million is spent daily on betting. This means betting is the second biggest revenue generator for the company. Only business-to-consumer payments generate more revenue, though they may soon be overtaken if trends continue.

Tax Revenue Benefits

But Safaricom isn’t the only organisation seeing the benefits. The local government is also enjoying a boost in tax revenue. In turn, the tax increase is being used to build infrastructure. So the mobile market isn’t just about betting.

It can instead be said that mobile money and betting are now the driving force behind much of the Kenyan economy. It is also why the country is leading the way as far as African technology is concerned. It remains to be seen just how big the industry will get in the coming years.

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Betfred certainly seems unstoppable. It was in June 2021 when the company first entered the South African sports betting arena. It was also around that time that the behemoth finalized a purchase of Betting World. Since then, Betfred has not only offered online services to South Africans but also opened 53 retail stores.

In the meantime, another purchase was finalized, that of Sepels Sportsbet.

LottoStar Added to the Team

The deal with LottoStar involved the purchasing of a controlling share. Betfred now effectively controls the smaller organization, adding them to a growing team. LottoStar has been in the region since 2014. During that time, the sportsbook made an impressive headway into the local market.

CEO of Betfred Joanne Whittaker made a statement. She explained that the partnership would help both companies in the region. She also mentioned that the partnership will benefit European and United States markets. No further mention was made of how the South African deal would help overseas business.

More About the Companies

LottoStar has been busy in Africa. The company recently spearheaded a $1 million local campaign for children in need. A spokesperson explained that employees also put a lot of time into rebuilding communities. As far as services go, the company focuses on fixed odds betting and live dealer games.

Betfred is a true gambling industry behemoth. The organization boasts 1,600 retail shops in the United Kingdom. It is also recognized as the world’s largest independent bookmaker, amongst the largest in Western Europe. South Africa also isn’t the only region the company is gunning for. Licenses have recently been received to operate in Louisiana and Arizona.

Build the Portfolio

In other news, Betfred has extended its partnership with Inspired Entertainment. Inspired Entertainment is known for its virtual sports software. The company produces simulated dog racing and horse racing games. Bettors can bet on the outcomes without having to visit land-based tracks. Inspired Entertainment has been providing the software to Betfred for 15 years. 

The corporations have reportedly achieved much success with the software. Virtual sports are now offered on over 32,000 channels and over 100 sites. COO at Inspired Entertainment Steve Rogers shared some thoughts. He explained that year-over-year revenue has increased by 166%.

The companies are now locked into a partnership for many more years.

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The whole story starts with a Twitter account called @MayorofTwitter. It is a well-respected account in the local betting community, known for so-called ‘Sure Game’ predictions. Sure Game predictions refer to a betting tip that is almost certain to win.

In this case, a Sure Game went viral. The betting community jumped on it, resulting in numerous N7.500 bets being placed. Combined with a betting code, the guaranteed payout came to N5.5 million. A fantastic deal for bettors, but terrible news for MSport if having to make the payouts.

The Scam that Shook Nigeria

The prediction was accurate, meaning that MSport now owed millions. Except the operator had no intention of being honourable. The company changed the odds overnight, drastically reducing the owed amount. Suddenly bettors were winning N1.5 million instead of N5.5 million.

It isn’t necessarily uncommon for sportsbooks to change odds. The difference, in this case, is that the change was made after the match had concluded. Changing odds after a game has finished isn’t just an irregularity. It is downright criminal. As would be expected, bettors were not happy.

#MsportScam trended on Twitter for days, to such an extent that the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) decided to take action. Most didn’t expect the NLRC to get results, but things took a dramatic turn in this case.

The NLRC Gets Results

MSport representative Funmilola Akingbelu met with NLCR Director General Lanre Gbaja. To everyone’s surprise, it wasn’t long before MSport promised to make payments. Gbaja also publically pledged that an investigation would be launched into the matter. Sure enough, bettors soon started to get the total N5.5 million payments.

Gbaja stated that the NLRC has the matter well in hand. He elaborated that his organisation is always working tirelessly to resolve complaints. Additionally, he added that issues are always resolved amicably, with all stakeholders and organisations considered.

In this case, the matter was resolved, much to the relief of betting enthusiasts. In other cases, similar situations do not come to a satisfactory conclusion. The fact is that Africa is rife with operators that act dishonourably.

Irregularities in African Sports Betting

A well-known incident took place in Cameroon. After a bettor landed an incredible $22 million wager, 1xBet refused to make the payment. Such unrest followed that a riot consumed the area.

Early in the year, Nigerian operator SportyBet pulled a similar stunt to MSport. A bettor walked away with N7 million, triggering the company to change policies overnight. The operator will now never make any payout higher than N25 million.

It isn’t just in Africa that betting regulations are a problem. In Germany, lawmakers have been struggling to agree on policies for years. In many German states, gambling is illegal to this very day. In the United Kingdom, a similar situation exists, with lawmakers in constant conflict over which regulations should be implemented.

A big difference is that an independent organisation called GamCare exists in the UK. The group works exclusively toward keeping local operators under constant scrutiny.

A Growing Problem in Africa

As online betting in Africa grows, it has become more evident that steps need to be taken. Irregularities are becoming commonplace, and governments seem to do little in response. In many cases, existing regulatory bodies are powerless to rein in enormous corporations.

In Nigeria, the steps taken by the NLRC are a guiding light. It is the first time a regulator has stepped up so publically, indicating that the tides are finally changing. Even still, there is plenty of work to be done.

Sports betting in Nigeria is a vast industry and only getting bigger. This means that watchdogs have their work cut out for them. The question is whether the industry will be safe and adequately controlled. There is no question that more must be done to ensure the situation does not turn into chaos.

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