Stakeholders in the gaming industry have pushed for stronger player-protection measures across Africa’s rapidly growing gaming sector to curb underage gambling, addiction and other gambling-related harms.
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The call was made during the second responsible gaming symposium organised by Gamble Alert in Lagos, where stakeholders from Nigeria, Ghana, and other African countries examined the future of responsible gaming on the continent, themed, ‘Building Accountability: Strengthening Africa’s Model for Player Protection’.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA), Bashir Are, who said regulation exists primarily to protect players, urged regulators across the continent to strike a balance between revenue generation and consumer protection.

He said no regulator, regardless of its resources, could single-handedly protect every player as effective player protection requires collaboration among regulators, operators, technology providers, researchers, advocacy groups and communities.

Are noted that while Africa’s gaming sector witnessed significant growth, particularly in sports betting, virtual gaming and online casino products, regulators and operators must continue to work together to strengthen responsible gaming frameworks, adding that greater cooperation among regulators and operators is necessary to sustain the industry’s growth.

Deputy Commissioner for Strategy and Growth at the Ghana Gaming Commission, Bashiru Donbine, while echoing similar concerns, identified weak Know Your Customer (KYC) systems as one of the gaps affecting player protection across African markets.
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He said that Ghana had linked its national identification system to gaming platforms, a measure, he said, had helped to reduce underage gambling by enabling operators to verify players more effectively.

Donbine also highlighted the growing role of technology in regulatory oversight, noting that regulators are increasingly using digital tools to monitor operator-compliance and responsible gaming obligations.
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However, Director-General, Oyo State Gaming and Lottery Board, Olajide Boladuro, said regulators must ensure that operators comply with responsible advertising standards and avoid marketing messages that portray gambling as a pathway to wealth.

He added that advances in technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) could help both regulators and operators identify changes in player behaviour and intervene when signs of potential harm emerge.

A keynote presentation by the Managing Partner at WYS Solicitors and Founder of SLEC Africa, Olafadeke Akeju, challenged stakeholders to critically examine whether existing responsible gaming measures are delivering the desired outcomes.

She said that many gaming regulations and responsible gambling frameworks currently operating across Africa were adapted from foreign jurisdictions and might not adequately reflect local realities.
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Akeju, however, questioned whether existing tools sufficiently address gambling-related harm, urging stakeholders to place greater emphasis on evidence-based interventions, data governance, research and player education.

She stressed that responsibility for safer gambling should not be shifted entirely to players but shared among regulators, operators, technology providers and other actors within the gaming ecosystem.
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Director in charge of Special Projects and Mental Health at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Tolu Ajomale, while speaking from a public health perspective, said governments still lack adequate data on gambling-related harm.

He noted that many individuals struggling with gambling addiction often present first financial distress, domestic problems, depression or anxiety rather than seeking treatment specifically for gambling-related issues.
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According to him, governments need access to gambling-related data to make policies and design frameworks that respond to the realities of the problem, adding that operators also need to share data to help authorities better understand the scale of gambling-related harm.
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Ajomale further highlighted the role of advocacy organisations, such as Gamble Alert, describing them as a bridge between users, operators and regulators and calling for greater support to enable them to continue public education, advocacy and support services.

Head of Responsible Gaming at PawaTech, Olabimpe Akingba, who spoke on behalf of the CEO, Africa iGaming Alliance, Peter Kesitilwe, said accountability must become a measurable commitment rather than a symbolic aspiration.
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Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer, Gamble Alert, Fisayo Oke, said the symposium was convened to bring together regulators, operators, researchers, advocates and players to examine concerns surrounding the gaming industry from multiple perspectives.
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According to him, operators and regulators often highlight the gaming industry’s contribution to the economy, while some players argue that the industry is exploiting them, making it necessary to bring all stakeholders together for discussion.

He said the organisation’s long-term objective is to shift responsible gaming discussions away from treatment and addiction alone towards prevention, education and early intervention.

Oke also said that responsible gaming efforts in Africa should extend beyond treatment and harm mitigation to include economic literacy, financial resilience and stronger public awareness, saying that the industry must pay greater attention to the broader social and economic conditions that shape gambling behaviour.