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
Punt Casino Voted as “Best No Download Casino 2024” by Popular Guide SouthAfricanCasinos.co.za
South Africa’s most-coveted online casino repository and guide, SouthAfricanCasino.co.za, has recently voted for Punt Casino as the “Best No Download Casino in 2024” in South Africa. Given that the vast majority of present-day online casinos are all “no download” casinos, the field was highly-competitive and the stakes were high.
Receiving such a testimony from SouthAfricanCasino.co.za, the most reputed and popular South African online casinos knowledge base on the World Wide Web, is a massive feather in Punt Casino’s cap. This sentiment was mirrored by Punt Casino management that expressed their sheer delight. They deemed it an honor to be titled the best no download casino in 2024 and added that they would strive to keep up the quality of their platform and maybe even enhance it going into 2024.
“SAC (SouthAfricanCasino.Co.Za) is a go-to resource for most South African online casino enthusiasts. Players know that SAC tests every casino meticulously and they listen to SAC about which casinos are worth their time and which ones are better skipped. Given how important they are in shaping the iGaming market across South Africa, we are elated and proud to have been titled the best no-download casino by SAC this year”, said Punt Casino’s Quality Manager. “This accolade has boosted the morale of our team and we’re now more motivated than ever to continue doing the work and putting out the best games, free spins bonuses, casino features, free bonus no deposit casinos and payment options for our valued members.”, he added.
The operations manager at SAC, Michelle Williams, was happy to hand over the winning title to Punt Casino. “In this day and age, online casino real money players simply don’t have the time to download and install software, they want to be able to play instantly and Punt casino is the best no-download, instant-play casino in the market right now by a long mile. They’ve got the basics right, and they’ve also managed to get all the little details spot on. With a user-friendly interface that is light weight and practical, even a first-timer will feel at ease playing games, depositing funds and withdrawing winnings”, said Williams.
“We’ve looked closely at every nook and corner of the Punt website. Our quality testing team went over their terms and conditions with a fine-toothed comb. In addition to being a fantastic no-download casino with hundreds of entertaining games, Punt casino leaves no stones unturned when it comes to player data security, privacy and responsible gambling features.” William further commented.
Williams also elaborated on how seamless Punt mobile casino is, “Even though there are hundreds of SA-facing no-download online casinos, only a handful are truly mobile optimized. Punt Casino is clearly the pack leader. The mobile site is certainly not an afterthought; it works seamlessly on smartphones and tables across all leading mobile operating systems. Mobile players can access the Punt casino site in seconds using Google Chrome or Safari and pick up right where they left off. Punt Casino is the true hallmark of what a no-download mobile casino should look and feel like in 2024”, added Williams.
Punt Casino’s manager Daniel Miller was quick to acknowledge SAC putting their reputation on the line for Punt. “Being the biggest and best online casino guide in SA, SAC sticks its neck out every time it backs an online casino with a title. Being titled “best no-download casino” is a huge vote of confidence from SAC and we appreciate the recognition very much. The onus is now on us to keep the good work going and further improve our site’s standards going into 2024. Thanks to this title, we now have a target on our backs, where other online casinos will be looking to emulate what we’ve done. “We are very excited to enter a new era of online casino gaming and we’ve already got some fantastic enhancement features in the pipeline that I cannot give away details about”.
According to Michelle Williams, South AfricanCasinos.co.za has made it their primary focus to provide South African players with high-quality, secure, and lucrative online gaming. This includes no-download casinos, real money slots games, which are going to be the future of web casino gaming. Gone are the days when you had to download and install an app before you could wager on a game.
Williams reiterated that Punt Casino had won the Best No-download Casino Award for 2024 purely through merit and totally deserve the title. Although Punt Casino is a no-download casino, it does not ignore any of the essentials.
The Punt Casino customer support team is highly-responsive, well-trained and always there should a player have a question or need help. Players can reach out to support staff in seconds thanks to the convenient live chat channel, which is just a click away when playing on PC or mobile.
Africa
Aviatrix and Hollywoodbets ready for take-off in South Africa
The award-winning crash game Aviatrix is arriving in South Africa for the first time, exclusively with leading betting operator Hollywoodbets.
Hollywoodbets players will enjoy exclusive access to a range of daily tournaments and promotions, making their Aviatrix adventure even more thrilling. Anastasia Rimskaya, Chief Account Officer at Aviatrix, said: “Bringing Aviatrix to South Africa exclusively with Hollywoodbets is an exciting milestone for us. We’re excited to offer South African players a unique experience where they can build, customise, and pilot their own planes while competing for rewards. With Hollywoodbets, we’re confident Aviatrix will soar to new heights in this vibrant market.”
Wayde Dorkin, Head of Product at Hollywoodbets, said: “Everyone at Hollywoodbets is ready for take-off with Aviatrix. Players will be able to exclusively enjoy the game in South Africa, building their own planes, soaring through the skies and earning incredible rewards along the way. Aviatrix delivers an unmatched gaming experience that will keep players on the edge of their seats!”
Aviatrix was recently named ‘Game of the Year’ at the EGR Operator Awards 2024.
The title is constantly updated with new features and functionality, such as the ability to claim free bets with promo codes within the game.
Africa
Racing1 partners with SOREC to bring International Racing to Morocco for the first time
Racing1, the brand name for the newly created Strategic Alliance between Tabcorp, Racecourse Media Group (RMG), 1/ST CONTENT and Arena Racing Company (ARC), has quickly broken new ground in an industry-first deal with SOREC (Société Royale d’Encouragement du Cheval) to import international racing into Morocco across digital and retail channels.
By leveraging Racing1’s truly global distribution network and reach, Moroccan racing fans can now enjoy a best-in-breed racing experience from the comfort of their homes, on the move, or in-store at their local retail outlet. The integration arrives courtesy of Racing1’s four cornerstone partners, who are already providing daily racing from the UK, North America and Australia via SOREC, creating an immediate spike in new revenues, and opening the door to many of the planet’s most prestigious racetracks.
Via the Racing1 brand, 1/ST CONTENT, ARC, RMG and Tabcorp are deploying their collective expertise to deliver targeted, localised solutions (featuring bespoke 24/7 racing video, data and wagering packages, including tote and managed trading services) that appeal to assorted audiences and their respective betting proclivities, whether they’re already familiar with racing, or new to the sport and in need of more educational content.
More broadly, Racing1’s compelling daily timetable of engaging horse racing action from around the world boasts a 24/7 chronology to seamlessly complement any racing or sporting schedule across all time-zones, supplying global partners with a reliable source of fast-settling betting content at varied viewing windows throughout diverse territories.
Racing1 confirmed the announcement at the recent ALA Conference (Association des Lotteries d’Afrique, 1 November) in Marrakesh which drew 12 African delegations, including representatives from national lotteries and government ministries. In a continent where football is king, there is now an emerging opportunity for North and West African operators and their customers to be introduced to more worldwide racing and the flexibility its 24/7 program presents.
Simon Fraser, spokesperson for Racing1, said: “The new Racing1 name symbolises the network of content leaders and right holders that our Strategic Partnership has conveniently coalesced into one all-access 24/7 hub. Transcending international boundaries, Racing1 is untying the tangled worldwide web of racing rights, while simultaneously bringing data-led innovation that dramatically deepens fans’ engagement. Our goal is to improve access and international interest in horse racing at a time when the sport is facing certain regulatory headwinds.
“It’s a great way to help global operators engage new and under-served audiences by delivering 24/7 horse racing. And, in this instance of Morocco, courtesy of our good friends at SOREC, international racing is now both complementing their domestic cards and also being broadcast at peak evening viewing slots. It’s all part of our wider Strategic Alliance promise to return better value to racing’s key stakeholders through more and more international deals.”
Omar Skalli, CEO of SOREC, added: “This partnership with Racing1 is a milestone for Moroccan horse racing fans, offering unprecedented access to the excitement of international horse racing and enriching their understanding of the sport. With daily coverage from top racing regions like the UK, North America and Australia via SOREC networks, our audience can now experience the thrill of the world’s most prestigious racetracks.”
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