Africa
Outlook on Africa’s Gaming Industry 2020-2025 – Mobile Gaming Will Hold a Major Market Share
The “Africa Gaming Market – Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2020-2025)” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering.
The gaming industry is expected to register a CAGR of 12% during the forecast period (2020-2025). The most recent trend is the growing availability and popularity of multi-functional gaming console, which is emerging in the market and helping in growing the market of video games in the region.
Africa is the only region in the world where the youth population is increasing. By 2050 Africa’s young people, i.e., those aged between 0 and 24 years old, will increase by nearly 50 percent. Africa will have the most significant number of young people. Africa’s youth are critical to the continent’s future when it comes to mobile and gaming as a whole.
African studios are making new inroads by launching original locally produced content on Netflix. Several local content productions have been nominated for several global awards, including the Oscars. The Annecy Festival in 2020 will be focusing on animation from Africa. In addition to this, government initiatives in the region are adopting gaming solutions for educational purposes. Developments such as these will provide opportunities for the gaming industry in the area.
During the lockdown, the Entertainment streaming and gaming industries are thriving. The global suspension or cancellation of most sporting events has left punters without live games to bet on, aside from re-runs of filmed matches. The knock-on effect is that sports betting, which accounts for most of the industry’s revenue, has crashed to almost nil.
While the traditional gambling industry is facing unparalleled losses, online gambling sites have reported a surge in activity since the national lockdown came into effect on 27 March 2020. While online casinos worldwide have reported a sharp increase in gambling, as lockdown periods are extended, and financial stresses intensify, people may become increasingly hesitant to spend money on non-essential pastimes, such as gambling.
Key Market Trends
Mobile Gaming Segment Expected to Have Major Market Share
- Mobile gaming generates close to half of the revenue that the gaming industry gets annually. More than 200 million Africans are below 35 years, and this figure might double in a decade. Africa has a huge market for gaming and smartphone companies.
- Mobile gaming is gaining popularity in remote parts of Africa. For example, more than 290 million people in North Africa use mobile phones. The mobile market in the region generates $90 billion annually.
- One of the major drivers for the growth of mobile gaming is the potential to spawn a massive real-money gaming industry around the continent. Mobile tech spreads around the continent, large swaths of Africa are also paving the way for legal betting and gaming.
- However, acceleration in network rollouts by mobile operators in Sub-Saharan Africa has been a vital driver of the reduction in the coverage gap. Infrastructure deployment in Sub-Saharan Africa increased 3G coverage from 63% in 2017 to 70% in 2018, extending access to more than 80 million people. 3.3 billion people live in areas covered by mobile broadband networks but do not use mobile internet – this usage gap’ is more than four times greater than the coverage gap. Such factors might harm gaming companies operating in the region.
Issues Such as Piracy, Laws & Regulations, and Concerns Relating to Fraud During Gaming Transactions will Impact the Growth of the Market
- Most African countries have gaming commissions and laws that regulate gambling. South Africa has clear gaming laws and regulations. It was the first country to create gambling regulation in the continent. Also, online casinos are popular in the country.
- In South Africa, several legislative attempts to further restrict online gambling and payment transactions of unlicensed operators have been postponed in recent years. However, some legislators and regulators at the provincial level have called for a less restrictive regime.
- There is currently an ongoing political and religious debate on the perceived high number of minors accessing gambling. As a result, in May 2019, the minister of finance urged the National Gaming Board (NGB) to stop issuing gaming and betting licenses immediately. The government restricted gambling advertising as of January 2019. Additional measures to ensure responsible gambling and revenue collection to the state budget are on the list.
- A new advocacy organization designed to collaborate, coordinate, partner, build and sustain the growth of esports on the continent has been formed. ESFA or The Esports Federation of Africa is established by a community of both private esports entities, and national federations. WESCO affiliates it. With the launch of the ESFA, African gamers now have a voice, an advocate, an organization with grassroots developments of players at its core. These will provide better opportunities and therefore strengthen the local market in the region.
Competitive Landscape
The gaming market is fragmented as the demand for online games, and increasing penetration of mobile applications across the region will help attract new players in this market over the next few years. Recent developments in the market are:
- In May 2020, Sony announced new PlayStation Studios branding for its first-party PS5 games. Sony will be using the new PlayStation Studios brand for its first-party exclusives going forward as a way to let customers know that a game comes from one of Sony’s in-house development teams.
- In August 2019, Konami Digital Entertainment BV announced that the mobile version of e-Football PES 2020 would be released in October, and it represents a complete overhaul of the current PES 2019 mobile game. The latest major update to the PES Mobile series, which celebrated over 200 million downloads earlier this year, brings many of the critical features and licenses already announced for e-Football PES 2020 on PC and console.
Africa
Tekkorp Launches Strategic Initiative To Capitalize On African Market
Tekkorp Capital, the leading global betting and gaming investment and advisory boutique, is delighted to announce Conor O’Donovan is joining to lead its African business, in response to the rapidly growing opportunities across the continent. With a decade of expertise in the African market as a prominent equity investor and several years of hands-on experience as CEO of multi-territory African betting brands, Conor’s leadership will be crucial as Tekkorp and its partners navigate and invest in this rapidly developing region.
Conor’s strategic focus will be on identifying exciting investment opportunities, while assembling an advisory and management team of leading African industry luminaries to steer investment and operational oversight. Investee companies will benefit from Tekkorp’s and its capital partners’ investment along with the decades of experience built up with some of the most successful businesses in the sector. For operators requiring more than access to capital, Tekkorp will provide comprehensive operational, technical, and strategic support, including product solutions, media partnerships, payments, and legal expertise, ensuring the full resources needed to succeed.
Conor O’Donovan, Tekkorp Capital Africa Partner, said: “Africa offers some of the most exciting growth opportunities in global gaming, with a range of attractive targets across diverse markets. At the same time, the landscape is fragmented and has its unique set of nuances and challenges. Tekkorp, alongside our strategic partners, is well-equipped to navigate these complexities and bring out the potential in strong, locally led businesses. Our goal is to turn these promising companies into regional leaders, building a diversified portfolio of high-performing, compliant brands with strong governance, unblocking the barriers to major operators investing with confidence.”
Matt Davey, Tekkorp Capital’s Founder and Chairman, commented: “It’s well-known that Africa is a high-growth market, and over the next decade we expect to see strong growth at a significant pace. This will encourage more operators to enter the space, and that’s why we believe the time is right to get ahead of the coalescing trends and create a balanced portfolio of premium African assets, underpinned by our local expertise, to best capitalise on this profitable opportunity.”
Robin Chhabra, Tekkorp Capital’s CEO, added: “Of course, we’ve long been active investors in the sports betting and gaming industry, always looking for great businesses with strong opportunities in market segments or territories we like. So, this focus on Africa is a logical extension of that philosophy. We’ve assembled a crack team, with Conor’s nous and know-how at the helm, as we explore another fragmented market rich with possibilities.”
Africa
SmartSoft’s expertise and future vision for the African market
In recent years, the online gaming landscape has witnessed a surge in innovative and engaging titles that capture the interest of players worldwide. Among these, first ever flying crash game by SmartSoft – JetX emerged as a standout game, particularly gaining substantial traction in Africa. This article provides an in-depth examination of JetX, a popular online crash game, and explores the expertise behind its creation. By focusing on the game’s features, the developer SmartSoft Gaming, and insights from an interview with the Vice President Commercial, we aim to highlight the factors contributing to JetX’s success and its impact on the gaming industry.
About SmartSoft Gaming
Founded in Georgia in 2015 by industry experts, SmartSoft set out to create a one-of-a-kind casino games provider that offers high-quality gaming experiences worldwide. By combining interactive features with captivating visuals, we blend gaming and gambling to deliver more engaging, entertaining, and superior experiences. Our mission is not just to attract players but to enhance their enjoyment.
To gain further insights into the development of JetX and the vision behind its creation, we spoke with the Vice President Commercial of SmartSoft.
Rusa Javakhishvili Vice President Commercial of SmartSoft shared insights and analytics from African countries, and outlined future plans. Rusa joined SmartSoft two years ago as Head of Finance and Strategic Projects. In early 2024, she transitioned to the commercial side as Head of Account Management, and is now Vice President of Commercials, overseeing several regions, including Africa.
What was the general concept and inspiration behind JetX?
In recent years, the online gaming landscape has witnessed a surge in innovative and engaging titles that capture the interest of players worldwide. Among these, JetX has emerged as a standout game, particularly gaining substantial traction in Africa. The main concept of the game is that it is easy to play, the player is involved in the decision as much as possible, it is fast and within the fast-paced world we think that it delivers exactly what players need for an enjoyable experience.
How does JetX differentiate itself from other crash games in the market?
At SmartSoft, we appreciate our relationships with partners, it’s very important to us. We constantly think and work to create a valuable product and maintain strong connections with them. SmartSoft’s portfolio includes a diverse range of online casino games, each designed to offer unique features and interactive gameplay but JetX is the literal gem!
JetX is an online crash game that combines simplicity with excitement, offering players an engaging betting experience. This dynamic gameplay requires both luck and strategy, appealing to a broad audience seeking quick, high-stakes action. JetX stands out due to its user-friendly interface, real-time gameplay, and mobile compatibility, making it accessible and enjoyable for players on the go. Its growing popularity in Africa can be attributed to its exciting gameplay mechanics and the potential for significant winnings.
What strategies did you employ to ensure JetX appeals to a diverse audience, particularly in Africa?
When we expanded into the African market, we knew it’s a big and diverse region, so it’s important to understand each country individually instead of seeing it as one market. With our partners’ help, we’re working hard to learn about each country’s marketing practices and what types of games people enjoy. It’s a challenging task, but the African market is a top priority for us, and we’ve allocated resources to quickly build our knowledge in this area.
How has JetX been received by African players compared to other regions? Are there any notable differences in player behavior or preferences?
The African market is one of the most interesting and significant for us, and we believe it has great potential. It is a highly dynamic and exciting market, where players are exposed to a wide variety of games. Their enthusiasm for diverse content gives us inspiration and motivation to create games specifically tailored to their unique preferences and needs. Moreover, they are quick to engage with new releases, eagerly embracing fresh content when it aligns with their tastes and expectations. Although Crash products were introduced only recently, they have quickly become a favorite among consumers. We expect this trend to continue growing.
How do you assess player feedback and incorporate it into ongoing game improvements?
This is a crucial aspect for us. That’s why, in collaboration with our partners, we consistently review key feedback on our games and strive to incorporate it as much as possible into new versions. We strive to bring enjoyment in everything we do – whether it’s in our work environment, or for the end users. Our goal is to delight both the customers and ourselves with our work. Therefore, we integrate gaming’s fun elements into gambling to maximize enjoyment. This approach fuels our drive to innovate and create playful experiences, redefining the gambling industry and making it more entertaining;
What future developments or updates can players expect for JetX?
Our product has undergone numerous changes since its inception, with many more improvements planned. These changes are aimed at delivering the best possible user experience for players while ensuring the product remains of the highest technical quality.
How has the success of JetX influenced SmartSoft’s approach to game development?
JetX, the first Crash game created in 2018, holds a special place as one of the company’s most beloved titles. Its global popularity is evident, and we’re thrilled that players enjoy it. At SmartSoft, having a diversified portfolio is crucial, which is why we release new games every year. As pioneers in the Crash genre, we ensure that we continually expand our offerings. Our goal is to provide players with a wide range of high-quality games they can trust to deliver an enjoyable experience.
Africa
SIS partners with leading operator 888AFRICA to provide live numbers draws
Regional reach increases through bespoke iframe with Bitville Gaming
SIS (Sports Information Services), the leading multi-content supplier of 24/7 live betting services, has partnered with 888AFRICA to provide its comprehensive numbers offering to the operator.
The integration with 888AFRICA, facilitated by a region-specific iframe developed alongside Bitville Gaming, will see the operator gain access to the full suite of over 200,000 live draws. These include the original 49’s live draw, 39’s and Fast 15’s.
The content is presented through a clean, attractive, and engaging front end to maximise the player experience. The launch will significantly enhance the reach of SIS across Africa, where the live numbers draw product suite has already enjoyed great success.
Operating for over 27 years, the SIS- owned 49’s is the original live draw and brings credibility and integrity to fixed-odds numbers betting. To complement this, 39’s and Fast 15’s offer high-frequency events that run every three minutes while maintaining healthy margins for operators.
Launched in 2022, 888AFRICA licences 888 Holdings’ world-class betting and gaming brands across Africa’s regulated online markets. Currently live in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia through 888bet, the operator offers a unique betting experience with relevant products and features which will now include live draw offerings which have proven to be popular with audiences.
Joe Andrews, Head of Sales Africa at SIS, said: “The appetite for live numbers draws in Africa has grown rapidly and partnering with 888AFRICA will significantly increase our product visibility. Bitville Gaming has great reach in the region, and we are thrilled that our partnership is already delivering the widest range of content to operators.”
Ian Marmion, Chief Operating Officer at 888AFRICA said: “Our ability to widen our offering to our partners is always important to us, and the portfolio of live numbers draws from SIS will provide a huge boost in maximising engagement. The content is a proven performer across Africa and I am sure our audiences will welcome this enhancement to our offering.”
Andrew von Hoesslin, Chief Executive at Bitville Gaming, said: “The aim of our agreement with SIS was to provide a bigger operator network for its content and we are seeing this happen first-hand. We are sure that 888AFRICA and its players will be delighted with the influx of additional wagering opportunities.”
-
Asia6 days ago
NODWIN Gaming partners with Japanese gaming company KONAMI for ‘eFootball Diwali Showdown’
-
Asia7 days ago
Red Bull M.E.O. returns in 2024 to India: BGMI qualifiers lead to thrilling LAN National Finals in Chennai
-
Asia7 days ago
GG.BET is inviting BLAST Premier: World Final attendees to the GG.BOOTH to take part in some fun activities
-
Australia7 days ago
ALLIANCE PARTNERS TABCORP AND 1/ST CONTENT COMPLETE DEAL WITH THE JOCKEY CLUB OF TURKIYE TO DELIVER TURKISH RACING TO AUSTRALIA VIA SKY RACING
-
Africa7 days ago
Tekkorp Launches Strategic Initiative To Capitalize On African Market
-
Baltics7 days ago
Genome launches SEPA instant payments, adding another valuable feature for iGaming companies
-
Eastern Europe7 days ago
ICONIC21 makes Romania debut with Princess Casino
-
Industry News7 days ago
Swedish Gaming Group Cherry Weighs Sale of ComeOn