“ICE Africa was an excellent show for GLI”

How have you seen this second edition of ICE Africa?

This was a good show for GLI, and we had a lot of interest from both regulators and suppliers, discussing the future potential across Africa, which grows more interesting each day. As sports betting continues to grow as a popular form of gaming across the continent, we are working with regulators to help them move forward in a safe and secure way. And, of course, as Africa continually grows as an attractive market in the sports betting arena, suppliers from around the world are expressing their interest in entering the market. We are working with suppliers to help them understand regulatory requirements in various jurisdictions.

What is the purpose of your participation in this fair? Has it been fulfilled?

We see Africa as a growth market for GLI, both in terms of our unsurpassed abilities to help regulators understand new technologies and best practices from around the world. Then on the supplier side, most ICE Africa exhibitors are looking to enter various African jurisdictions, so these suppliers and manufacturers look to GLI for advice on these new markets. This made ICE Africa an excellent show for GLI, because we had conversations with regulators and suppliers, and we were able to facilitate discussions between these two groups. The important takeaway is that regulators and suppliers are both keenly interested in expanding gaming in Africa in safe, secure ways that bolster the public trust.

As the first independent test lab in Africa, you have a lot of experience in the field. How do you think will be the evolution of the regulation in the continent? Which should be the main issues to be considered for future legislations in the region?

Many governments and regulators across Africa are grappling with the growth in sports betting, lotteries, and online gaming. While it is exciting, it can also be challenging, primarily because as technologies have advanced, that oftentimes mean existing gambling laws and regulations are obsolete. That means regulators are faced with the need to define and implement a robust regulatory framework with a set of technical standards for the modern era against which gambling products can be evaluated to ensure credibility and integrity of the industry. We are happy to say GLI has assisted many regulators in this regard across the continent and will continue to do so. We have created a landing page specifically for Africa, and your readers can visit it at this link: https://content.gaminglabs.com/soloazariceafrica

What are the main challenges that you have to face in order to install a new business in this region?

Sometimes people outside of Africa look at the continent as one culture where one size fits all. Of course, the exact opposite is true. Africa is a vast continent with many different cultures, economies, wants, and needs. The gaming landscape is equally as diverse and vibrant. One size does not fit all either in terms of regulation or product, and each must be tailored to each individual market’s wants, needs, and tastes. We are excited that regulators and suppliers have turned to GLI for our global insight in best practices in regulation, testing, certification, responsible gaming, and countless other services to successfully address this new era of gaming in Africa.