Africa

Sports Betting gaining popularity in Uganda

Published

6 years ago

June 20, 2018

Niji Narayan

Photo credits: clutchpoints.com

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The ongoing FIFA World Cup Is having several effects on the globe. One of the effects is the rising popularity of sports betting. Take for instance the people of Uganda. Sports betting is taking wings in the country. It has prompted several gambling companies to closely watch the trend.

In recent times, there has been a significant increase in the level of sports betting throughout East African countries such as Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. This is a huge market that is largely untapped by the gaming companies.

Technology is allowing more and more people in these countries to place sports bets, whether at physical locations or online.

As internet usage and availability continue to increase in the region, there will be a race between the various betting companies to take advantage of this untapped market.

There are obvious concerns with the social consequences that may arise with increasing levels of gambling, along with the economic opportunities that may become available. Other regions outside of East Africa also have significant numbers of sports bettors, such as South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana.

Kampala is the capital of Uganda, and 736 gaming venues are located there, according to the National Gambling Board Uganda (NGBU), with 583 having the appropriate licenses. Those who have online operations in the country will pay 20 per cent of their revenue to the state, and there is a 15 per cent tax on punter’s winnings.

Sports betting fanatics in Uganda will bet on anything they can get their hands on, whether it is the Premier League or something more obscure like football leagues in Azerbaijan and Albania. The average bet is around the $0.50 mark.

Of course, the wages earned in countries like Uganda are lower than in Western countries, so this is a much greater portion of their income.

A lot of the sports betting operators advertise large jackpots and potential high-yielding bets such as accumulators. Gamblers are lured in with the idea of winning it big, something that would have the potential to change their lives.

In a developing country such as Uganda, there is not really much support for those who develop gambling issues. Events like the World Cup traditionally spike levels of betting. Through such a high-profile event with so much television and media coverage, a significant number of people are newly exposed to the world of sports betting.

Future of African sports betting

There is the ideal mix in Eastern Africa for a boom in online sports betting. The population is young, and the region’s economies are growing at a rapid rate. Smartphone usage is constantly trending upwards, there is a passion for sports, and unemployment levels are rising. This is the more optimistic viewpoint being taken by some people.

Others are a bit more pessimistic; they would point to the young population as being impressionable and therefore a vulnerable target for gambling companies and their marketing efforts. The promise of big wins in these developing countries constantly abounds but, of course, they are out of reach for most people.

All across Africa, populations are growing at a rapid pace. Unemployment is also growing and studies show that unemployed people are more likely to be active gamblers on sports. This, of course, is a major issue because they have no regular income sources to support themselves, which can lead to problem gambling.

Sports betting laws throughout Africa are generally a lot more lenient than those found in Western countries. This means that gambling companies can get away with certain things they wouldn’t dream of doing in a stricter regulatory environment.

The central marketing theme for a lot of sports betting operators in Africa is the promise of life-changing wins. With such high levels of poverty and unemployment, the allure for this get-rich-quick deal is alluring.

All they supposedly need to do is win a certain bet, such as a football accumulator, and they will be able to rise above the poverty line and live a comfortable life. Money goes a long way in these countries, so even a win of a few thousand dollars would be life-changing.

It is clear that most countries such as Uganda are sports-mad, particularly when it comes to football. Sports betting takes matters to a different level and will provide an outlet for potential financial gain for countless people in Africa. The amount of people betting on sports on the continent is only going to grow exponentially in the coming years.

Source: VegasSlotsOnline

Africa

Hub88 partners with LiveGames to enhance content offering

Published

2 days ago

April 24, 2024

George Miller

Hub88 partners with LiveGames to enhance content offering

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Hub88 has partnered with live casino supplier LiveGames, further strengthening its product offering by adding a unique range of content to its platform.

LiveGames provides fully customisable online live dealer games and branded tables including the first vertical roulette table in the sector, along with crash games and the widely played Tombola.

The supplier delivers experiences with a player-focused design, easy to use mobile interface, and high-resolution broadcasts.

The partnership will support LiveGames’ goal to further expand in international markets, including Africa, Asia, and Latin America where Hub88 has a strong presence.

The deal showcases Hub88’s commitment to grow its ecosystem of partners, offering a diverse portfolio of products and content.

Ollie Castleman, Head of Hub88, said: “We’re thrilled to unveil this strategic partnership with LiveGames which sees us add a great provider to our platform, one that utilises modern technology to offer bespoke and personalised gaming experiences to players.

“We are looking forward to collaborating and strengthening our content library with their diverse games.”

The LiveGames Team said: “Our journey started in a small studio and as a team, we are excited about now expanding to every corner of the world together with Hub88 and their extensive operator network.

“We are committed to promoting innovation in the industry and this partnership will support us on that mission.”

Africa

NE Group powers 888bets launch in Angola

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

George Miller

NE Group powers 888bets launch in Angola

Reading Time: < 1 minute

NE Group, a leading B2B iGaming software supplier, has teamed up with online gambling operator 888 to launch 888bets for the Angolan market.

888Africa was originally set up to operate 888 brands in online betting and gaming markets across hand-picked regulated countries within Africa. Angolan sports bettors will now have seamless access to online sports betting through 888bets.co.ao

NE Group specialises in offering innovative, lightweight front-end solutions for best-in-class iGaming experiences. An extensive localised knowledge is the inspiration behind a platform that is renowned for flexibility and adaptation for unique African preferences. Together with 888, the platform delivers smooth gameplay across diverse data speed environments – essential for broad accessibility in Africa.

For the first time in the country, Angolan bettors will have the opportunity to experience the acclaimed Aviator crash-game on the platform. Additionally, the new site incorporates built-in features and tools for Responsible Gaming teams to monitor and support safe gaming practices

NE Group CEO Imran Bukhari said: “It’s brilliant to see the 888bets sportsbook launch in Angola to bring sports betting fans an experience they deserve. Our specialised sports betting platform and lightweight frontend solution for Africa allows 888bets to quickly scale.”

888bets added: “As a country with huge potential, we expect big things from our launch in Angola. Working with NE Group has enabled us to deliver an experience that sports bettors will love and that is enriched with engaging products.”

Africa

KingMakers’ Nigerian operating business, BetKing, selects Genius Sports to power growth with in-play trading services

Published

3 weeks ago

April 8, 2024

George Miller

KingMakers’ Nigerian operating business, BetKing, selects Genius Sports to power growth with in-play trading services

Reading Time: < 1 minute

New partnership sees KingMakers’ BetKing business benefit from Genius Sports’ leading portfolio of in-play content in Nigeria, including football, tennis and basketball

Genius Sports Limited has today announced a new agreement to supply KingMakers, one of the fastest-growing group of betting operators in Africa, with a range of in-play trading services.

The deal sees BetKing power its live betting product with ultra-fast venue content for the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, English Football League, FIBA basketball and every other major European and South American football league.

Genius Sports will also provide BetKing with its market-leading trading services which include modelled odds feeds for major football competitions.

With in-play sports betting growing rapidly across Africa, fast and accurate odds are vital to maximising revenues by increasing the availability of betting markets.

Tim Smeets, Trading Director at Kingmakers said “We’re thrilled to announce our new partnership with Genius Sports. Their trusted trading solutions, including low-latency in-play content on crucial football leagues like the Premier League, will enable us to offer market-leading betting experiences for BetKing users in Nigeria.”

Will Westcott, Head of Business Development at Genius Sports said “Every year, we continue to invest in delivering the highest-quality trading services for the African market. With the value of in-play betting growing across Africa, we’re excited to help BetKing execute its online sports betting vision in Nigeria, by providing it with the fastest, most reliable live content on the market for major sports.”