Leading the Emerging Markets stage is a day of content dedicated to the African markets, featuring expert insights from leading operators, affiliates, regulators, and marketers that are thriving in the region – allowing you to learn from those who’ve cracked the code on African market entry and expansion.

Why African iGaming is Thriving

Africa is quickly shifting from an emerging market to a key growth region for iGaming. With over 70% of the population now using smartphones, mobile adoption is opening up major opportunities for operators.

While South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya have established themselves as key markets in the region, exciting new opportunities are emerging across Ghana, Tanzania, and beyond—for savvy operators who know how to navigate the complexities of these dynamic and high-potential markets.

Here are some of the key panels to look out for:

Africa Leaders Panel: An Ever-Expanding Horizon
 

⏱️ Time: 12:00-12:40

? Date: Tuesday, September 16th, 2025

? Location: Stage 2 (Emerging Markets Stage)

Why This Panel is a Must-Attend:
 

Get strategic direction from industry leaders who have navigated Africa’s most challenging markets. Learn where to focus your initial investments, how to build relationships with local stakeholders, and which emerging markets offer the best risk-reward balance for your expansion strategy.

Key Questions this Panel Will Tackle: 

• Which African markets offer the best entry points for new operators, and what’s the optimal expansion sequence? Understand market maturity levels, regulatory readiness, and the commercial factors that shape where and how operators should scale across the continent.
• How do you build meaningful relationships with local stakeholders, regulators, and betting communities? Learn the cultural nuances and relationship-building strategies that separate successful operators from those who struggle to gain local acceptance.
• What are the biggest mistakes operators make when entering African markets, and how can they be avoided? Identifying common pitfalls around licensing, partnerships, and market positioning that can derail expansion efforts.

Speakers:

• Christopher Coyne (Co-Founder and CEO, 888AFRICA)
• Sab Jhooti (Chairman & Co-founder, Bonmoja)
• Laurence Michel (Africa CEO, Super Group)
• William Scott (Chairman, Meridianbet)
• Ronnie Whelan (CEO, Kingmakers)

A Continent on the Move: Sportsbook Technology in Africa

⏱️ Time: 13:40-14:40

? Date: Tuesday, September 16th, 2025

? Location: Stage 2 (Emerging Markets Stage)

Why this Panel is a Must-Attend: 

Mass smartphone use and an affinity for mobile payments have made Africa one of the world’s most dynamic regions for sports betting. In key markets such as Nigeria and South Africa, mobile betting platforms are scaling rapidly. With technologies like blockchain and in-play betting gaining ground, this panel will examine how the market is evolving—and where the biggest opportunities for investment lie for companies.

Key Questions this Panel Will Tackle:
 

• How can operators leverage Africa’s mobile money infrastructure to create seamless payment experiences? Exploring integration strategies with popular mobile money services and understanding regional payment preferences.
• What role will blockchain and cryptocurrency play in African sports betting, and how soon? Assessing the readiness of African markets for crypto betting and the regulatory implications of blockchain adoption.
• How can homegrown African tech innovations influence global sportsbook development? Understanding how local solutions for connectivity challenges and user preferences could reshape international betting technology.

Speakers:

• Chris Duncan (Director, Bonmoja)
• Charles Lee (CEO, Kwiff)
• Anton Rublievskyi (CEO, Growe)

Regulating Africa: Putting the Player First

⏱️ Time: 15:50-16:40

? Date: Tuesday, September 16th, 2025

? Location: Stage 2 (Emerging Markets Stage)

Why This Panel is a Must-Attend:

As African markets mature, player protection is moving to the forefront of licensing and regulatory expectations. In regions like South Africa, where compliance is closely monitored, overlooking these requirements can put your business at risk. This session offers direct insight from key regulators across the continent, helping you navigate evolving frameworks, adopt proactive compliance strategies, and build lasting trust with both players and authorities.

Key Questions This Panel Will Tackle:

• How are player protection rules changing across Africa? A look at the key trends shaping regulation and what operators need to know to stay compliant.
• What’s the smartest way to manage compliance across multiple African markets? Exploring practical strategies that help operators meet local rules without overcomplicating operations.
• How can technology help operators keep up with regulations and protect players? Highlighting the tools that support safer gambling and show a clear commitment to compliance.

Featured Regulatory Leaders:

• Bashir Are (CEO, Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority)
• Carla Bastos (Executive Manager, Mpumalanga Economic Regulator)
• Peter Kesitilwe (CEO, Botswana Gambling Authority)
• Zoe Siwa (CFO, Western Cape Gambling & Racing Board)

Marketing to Africa: no more one-size-fits-all

⏱️ Time: 16:50-17:30

? Date: Tuesday, September 16th, 2025

? Location: Stage 2 (Emerging Markets Stage)

Why This Panel Is A Must-Attend: 

You’ll master the art of localised marketing across Africa’s diverse markets. From Lagos to Cape Town, success relies on understanding local preferences, mobile-first habits, and data-led strategy. 

Gain practical tips for mobile campaigns, UX design based on real user data, and see how leading operators adapt their approach across regions.

Key Questions This Panel Will Tackle:

• How do cultural differences across African markets impact player betting preferences and marketing effectiveness? Understand from regional experts how to tailor strategies to different markets.
• What mobile-first marketing strategies deliver the best ROI in African markets? Exploring the UX design principles, app optimisation techniques, and engagement strategies that resonate with mobile-first users.
• How can operators use data analytics to understand and predict local betting trends? Learn to leverage mobile user data to build predictive models for market preferences and emerging betting behaviours.

Key Speakers:

• Elad Barzilai (Co-Founder, Leverage)
• Lois Bright (Founder, Women in Gaming Africa)
• Ben Cove (CMO, Logifuture)
• Maha Otu (Director, Betwinner Affiliates)
• Michael Rasmussen (Director, E2 Communications)

Final Thoughts

With a young and tech-savvy population, increasing disposable income and a love of sports, African markets offer growth potential that established markets simply cannot match.

The continent’s mobile-first approach to technology adoption means operators can leapfrog traditional infrastructure challenges and build next-generation gaming experiences from the ground up. 

Meanwhile, the diversity of African markets offers opportunities for operators to test innovative approaches and develop expertise that will serve them well in other emerging markets worldwide.

The Emerging Markets: Africa track is part of the Emerging Markets Stage at SBC Summit 2025. Day two will explore opportunities across Eurasia and the Middle East, while day three will focus on fast-growing markets across Asia.