The African iGaming Alliance (AiA) is launching the first Africa Safer Gambling Week to promote player protection and responsible gambling across the continent.
The initiative began Monday and brings together gambling regulators, industry associations, and other stakeholders. The event is set to be held annually under the #PlaySafeAfrica campaign.
Each day of the week will focus on a different safer gambling topic, including responsible gambling, setting personal limits, and preventing underage gambling.
The programme will include engagement between regulators and industry stakeholders, alongside public education and digital awareness activities.
AiA CEO Peter Kesitilwe said the growth of Africa’s gambling industry must be accompanied by stronger player protection measures and greater cooperation between regulators and operators.
“As Africa’s gambling industry continues to grow, player protection must grow with it,” he said. “Africa Safer Gambling Week brings regulators and industry together around a shared commitment to safer gambling and stronger consumer protection.”
“We fully support consumers having the tools and information they need to gamble responsibly; this week, like every week, is about ensuring our customers’ safety,” Kesitilwe added.
The AiA is also calling for greater cooperation across the continent, including sharing good practices and keeping safer gambling on the policy agenda.
The initiative will also highlight the importance of channelisation into legal gambling offerings, with the AiA warning that black-market operators often lack adequate player protection measures.
Olabimpe Akingba, Head of Responsible Gaming at pawaTech and an AiA board member, said the campaign demonstrates the alliance’s efforts to turn cross-border cooperation into action on player protection. “The Africa Safer Gambling Week is our collaboration in action,” he added.
The launch coincides with the AiA signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Association of Nigerian Bookmakers to strengthen cooperation on safer gambling, player protection and taxation in Nigeria and across Africa.
The agreement is the AiA’s second MoU in three weeks. In late August, it signed an MoU with the Association of Gaming Operators of Kenya to establish a framework for closer cooperation.