AiA Launches First Africa Safer Gambling Week Alongside Second Regional MoU in Three Weeks

The African iGaming Alliance has launched the maiden Africa Safer Gambling Week. The annual initiative starts this week and aims to promote player protection across the continent by aligning gambling sector growth with effective consumer protection, responsible gambling practices and greater public awareness.

The campaign operates under #PlaySafeAfrica. Each day addresses a distinct theme, including responsible gambling, personal limits and the prevention of underage gambling. Activities encompass coordinated engagement between regulators and the industry plus public education and digital awareness efforts.

Peter Kesitilwe, CEO of the AiA, tied the launch to the pace of industry expansion. “As Africa’s gambling industry continues to grow, player protection must grow with it,” Kesitilwe said. “Africa Safer Gambling Week brings regulators and industry together around a shared commitment to safer gambling and stronger consumer protection.” He added that the focus remains on giving consumers the tools and information needed to gamble responsibly every week.

Collaboration Moves from Talk to Signed Agreements

The AiA has called for strengthened cooperation, sharing of good practices and keeping safer gambling at the forefront of policy. The week also stresses channelisation into legal offerings, given that the black market often neglects player protection.

Olabimpe Akingba, head of responsible gaming at pawaTech and AiA board member, positioned the event as concrete delivery. “At the African iGaming Alliance, we have been committed to moving beyond conversations about collaboration across African jurisdictions towards meaningful action,” Akingba explained. “And what better place to demonstrate that commitment than through player protection? The Africa Safer Gambling Week is our collaboration in action.”

The launch coincided with an MoU signed with the Association of Nigerian Bookmakers covering safer gambling, player protection and taxation. It is the second such agreement in the last three weeks, following the framework reached with the Association of Gaming Operators of Kenya in late August, according to reporting by iGaming Business.

What Implementation Must Deliver

These steps clarify the direction but leave open how commitments translate into daily operator controls and regulator oversight that actually reduce harm. The test will be whether legal channels gain measurable ground against unregulated offerings that provide no safeguards.

Reporting: iGaming Business (iGB)

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