Africa
Sports Gambling Booms in Africa
The popularity of gambling in Africa has risen over the past few years with the advent of mobile applications to make betting easier and a proliferation of betting joints.
Ghanaian Efutu Member of Parliament Afenyo Markin is a vehement opponent of gambling centers in Ghana. Earlier this year, he spoke to DW, accusing the Chinese who mainly own and run most of the gambling centers, of taking advantage of young people. He said, “Those Chinese who have come with their raffle joints, I want to tell them we will encourage the police to close these joints down,” before adding, “There are lot of raffle joints in Winneba. Properties are getting stolen because somebody wants money to go raffle.”
The popularity of gambling in Africa has risen over the past few years with the advent of mobile applications to make betting easier and a proliferation of betting joints. In Kenya, SportPesa which was launched in 2013, now has over one million registered.
While it sounds like a “man problem,” reports from South Africa prove women have also been ensnared by the allure of quick money. Heidi Sinclair, treatment and counselling manager at the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation says, “…the reality is that as many as 51 percent of all South African women gamble; what’s more, female problem gamblers are likely to be more severely affected by the condition.” While the practice has its advantages like boosting State revenue, the cost is sometimes too great to ignore.
Mobile Phones – the African Las Vegas
The 2014-2018 Gambling Outlook by PriceWaterhouseCoopers examined the extent of the gambling industry in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya. Gambling in these three countries will be an industry worth $37 billion. Geopoll says, “Most youth (54%) in SSA (Sub Saharan Africa) have tried their hand at gambling. Kenya has the highest number of youth who have participated in gambling or betting in the past at 76% followed by Uganda at 57%. Ghana has the least number at 42%.”
It also says most young people are using mobile phones to gamble with 75% of those who bet using their phones. Kenya has the highest usage of mobile phones for gambling at 96% while South Africa has the lowest at 48%. In effect, as Geopoll rightly states, mobile phones have become Africa’s Las Vegas.
Fictitious gains, Real losses
The Digital Skills Observatory report says, gambling provides participants with a false and risky sense of “better days”. The contention was that people know it is risky but have an impression of winning which is often untrue. A participant in the research, Mark, said he furnished his house through winnings from gambling. However, according to DSO data, “55% of participants believe they win most of the time, but our data shows that more than 50% have spent more on gambling than they have gained.” While gambling has created employment, and taken youths off the streets in some cases, it has also trapped a lot of participants in compulsive “problem gambling”.
A good number of gamblers want to stop but they simply cannot. Families are being affected. Mental health is at risk. The desire to make more has become an adversary. Quartz reports that, “Kampala schools have reported an increase in dropouts with gambling students unable to pay fees, while several communities, including Uganda’s second largest city Gulu in November, have sought to ban betting amid claims of mounting crime and underage involvement.”
Many countries are struggling with regulating gambling in their countries and appealing to the humanity of business people making profits from gambling is foolhardy. They make gains from the losses of the people and they cannot be expected to cut down their source of revenue. They cash in on the chaotic realities of the largely unemployed young people.
It is sad that it has come to this: Youths who should be in full-time jobs and school are now resorting to chance to make a living. Leaders should feel challenged by the festering rot in our midst. Gambling can be tolerated when it is recreational but when whole populations pin their livelihoods on it, there is a fundamental error in the system.
Africa
Nolimit City Celebrates South Africa Debut
Nolimit City, the innovative slot developer known for its boundary-pushing games, announced its official entry into the South African market. This strategic move strengthens Nolimit City’s global footprint and brings its unique entertainment brand to a vibrant new audience.
The South African launch, made possible through Evolution’s One Stop Shop integration platform, enables local players to enjoy Nolimit City’s most popular titles, promising a high-standard experience for South African players. These include San Quentin xWays, Deadwood xNudge and Fire In The Hole xBomb amongst an ever-growing array of fantastic titles.
This announcement comes off the heels of their recent entry into Switzerland earlier this month and sets the tone for the rest of the year, with the provider eyeing further expansion in new markets throughout 2024, and beyond.
Malcolm Mizzi, Commercial Director at Nolimit City, said: “We’re thrilled to bring the adrenaline-fueled excitement of Nolimit City games to South African players. This marks a major milestone in our worldwide expansion, and we’re committed to delivering the best possible gaming experience to this dynamic market.”
Dean Finder, Chief Executive Officer at Evolution Services SA, said: “South African players, get ready for the exhilarating world of Nolimit City games! Their arrival is a game-changer in our market, and we’re dedicated to providing a top-notch, action-packed slot experience Nolimit is famous for.”
Africa
NSoft Unveils Revolutionary Crash Cash Game in Admiral Bet Uganda Retail Shops
NSoft, a leading software solutions provider for the betting and gaming industry, is thrilled to announce the launch of its innovative Crash Cash games in Admiral Bet retail betting shops across Uganda.
This groundbreaking move marks a significant milestone in NSoft’s strategic expansion into the African market, particularly in the realm of retail crash games, in partnership with the esteemed Admiral Bet brand.
By transitioning this popular online gaming concept to the retail environment, NSoft is set to revitalize the retail betting sector, which has faced challenges such as limited space and outdated equipment, hindering its ability to offer fresh gaming experiences.
NSoft is redefining the retail betting landscape with the introduction of Crash Cash. Unlike anything currently available in retail betting, Crash Cash is designed to disrupt and innovate with its state-of-the-art infrastructure, providing a seamless, visually engaging experience for players.
The game is enhanced by NSoft’s proprietary Boost Gamification System, offering unique features that set it apart in a competitive market.
Crash Cash’s simplicity and accessibility are key to its appeal. The game’s straightforward mechanics ensure that it is easily understandable and enjoyable for players of all experience levels, making it a perfect fit for the fast-paced retail environment where engaging and quick-to-learn games are highly valued.
With this innovative offering, NSoft is not only aiming to captivate players but also to establish a new benchmark in retail gaming experiences.
The company’s deep understanding of the retail gaming market, combined with its commitment to innovation, positions Crash Cash as a game-changer that will attract new customers and redefine what is possible in retail betting.
Africa
1Stop Translations Partners with Suss Ads
1Stop Translations has entered into a strategic partnership with Suss Ads, a leading Kenyan technology and marketing services provider. The partnership aims to offer iGaming companies entering the African markets a seamless entry into the continent.
This partnership will integrate the expertise of 1Stop Translations in the field of translations and international digital marketing with that of Suss Ads.
Nicola Pansini, Sales and Marketing Manager at 1Stop Translations, said: “We are proud to announce this agreement between 1Stop Translations and Suss Ads, because the two companies have a common goal: to provide their customers with the best possible service in terms of quality and results. With this partnership, the two companies have integrated their service offering, becoming the point of reference for all companies operating in the iGaming and betting sector and looking for effective marketing solutions to expand their business in the African market.”
Dennis Maina, Managing Partner at Suss Ads, said: “We are excited to join forces with 1Stop Translations. This partnership will seamlessly integrate the expertise of 1Stop Translations in translations and international digital marketing with our own specialization in Programmatic Ads and SMS advertising campaigns. Together, we will offer a comprehensive solution that leverages technology and linguistic proficiency to empower our clients to reach and engage with their target audience effectively in the African market and beyond.”
-
Central Europe7 days ago
HIPTHER’s Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2024 reaches new milestones with record registrations and prominent sponsors
-
Central Europe6 days ago
HIPTHER’s Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2024 Boasts All-star Sponsors and Record Registrations
-
Africa6 days ago
A Comparative Analysis Of Land-Casinos and Online Casinos in South Africa 2024
-
Asia7 days ago
Crane Payment Innovations partners with Mohegan INSPIRE’s Casino
-
Asia6 days ago
FBM® Group wins two prizes at the Asian Gaming Awards
-
Conferences in Europe6 days ago
2024 Gaming in Spain Conference
-
Latest News7 days ago
Svenska Spel Strengthens Management Team
-
Industry News7 days ago
CT Interactive is a Finalist at the Italian Gaming Awards 2024 in the Casino Content Provider Category