Looking at Africa in 2025, the regulation of gambling and the digital space has recorded unprecedented traction. This positive traction is happening as governments and the relevant authorities are fine-tuning the regulatory space. This year has now recorded reforms that may change the corporate space and consumer protection space forever.
From taxation to cooperation across borders, authorities are dealing with long-standing problems head-on. These measures also acknowledge the fact that fragmented policies affect not just gamblers but an entire market as well. The imperatives of harmonised policies are currently evident in different nations.
One of the defining storylines for 2025 is the push towards a stronger and more unified regulatory framework. In this respect, the African Gaming Regulators Association (AGRA) is leading the charge towards pan-African regulatory standards that provide for “consistency, fairness, and transparency in regulation, certification, and consumer protection.”
AGRA’s efforts are in reference to a realisation that fragmentation of regulations makes it difficult to enforce them, especially against unlawful operators. Nevertheless, illegal operators, loopholes in cross-border jurisdictions, and varying customer protection measures remain among the primary concerns.
Meanwhile, in East Africa, Kenya is winding up the year with the enactment of the Gambling Control Act 2025. It repealed the Betting, Lotteries, and Gaming Act of 1966, resulting in a new era in regulation.
The bill introduced three-year default licences for betting and gaming operators. This law ensures long-term predictability and is essential for operators interested in investing in systems and responsible gambling infrastructure. According to the Kenyan regulator, improved traceability of gaming returns will be achievable.
Alongside licensing, the Gaming Regulatory Authority of Kenya, previously known as Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), also targeted emerging games this year. They require all licensed operators to submit their “crash games” data for evaluation. The regulator, naturally, demands transparency regarding the mechanics, betting, and algorithms involved.
On a different note, Kenyan operators like Betika, OdiBets, Betpawa, and JUICEBET, alongside 95 others, received a regulatory license. This licensing is a reflection of their compliance status and shows how a dynamic environment exists for sports betting.
Other African countries have also adopted a financial stance regarding gambling regulation. Some of these countries include Ethiopia, which reshaped its taxation rules for gambling under Proclamation Number 1395/2025. The Ethiopian government, for example, imposed a tax of between 20% to 25% for gambling winnings, with a 15% total turnover tax.
In other regions, there are fiscal reforms coupled with the regulation of revenue capture. In Morocco, for example, there were tax regulations on foreign gambling winnings at a fixed rate of 30%. This measure is based on an understanding that there are audited channels for gaming provided by domestic companies and foreign winnings remain outside fiscal capture.
What this means on both sides of the border is that regulators are no longer satisfied with devolved oversight but instead want to redefine tax and enforcement to ensure that the gambling industry contributes to their coffers too.
Regulators are not only updating laws, but also enforcing them through tangible actions. In Côte d’Ivoire, the country’s gambling regulator destroyed over 110 illegal slot machines and parts of the machines in Abidjan. They carried out the raid in partnership with the Economic and Financial Criminal Unit and the Criminal Asset Recovery Agency. This regulatory action is a warning that illegal gambling will have severe consequences.
For example, theBotswana Gambling Authority directed the destruction of old slot machines at the Avani Hotel. This effort was part of the measures put in place to control illegal gambling while allowing functional slot machines in the country.
To enhance capacity, the regulatory body in Uganda has adhered to global standards. The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) accredited GLI Africa and BMM Test Labs as third-party testing labs. The task of these testing bodies is to examine and verify the certification of the gaming machines and software.
Regulatory evolution goes beyond national borders. In November 2025, the recently established African iGaming Alliance (AIA) signed an agreement with the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding. This collaboration is aimed at enhancing integrity and partnership in the sports betting environment in Africa.
In this MoU, it is agreed that IBIA would be AIA’s betting integrity strategy partner, and AIA would be IBIA’s regulatory policy partner in Africa. These agreements aim at ensuring consumers, operators, as well as sports are protected against match fixing and manipulation. These developments highlight the increasing focus on inter-sectoral collaboration.
South Africa’s government has put out a draft discussion paper that recommends a 20% gross gambling tax on online betting and internet gambling. This proposed tax will be in addition to the current taxes that are charged by the province, ranging between 26% and 29%. According to the National Treasury, the bill aims to respond to the rapid growth of online sports betting and the emerging social and economic implications. At its current rates, more than R10 billion ($597 million) is projected to be raised by the national government. The transition to digital policy extends beyond gaming.
Regulatory development in the year 2025 also reaches the surrounding realms of digital technology. A case in point is Google’s extension of restrictions on the advertisement of offline gambling in seven African nations, such as Algeria and Egypt.
As the year 2025 is coming to an end, the strategic ambition of African regulators is evident across all sectors. Starting from tax and compliance to integrity and enforcement, Africa is definitely taking the right direction towards managing expansion and regulation. The next challenge for the regulatory bodies is to sustain the momentum. Harmonisation of frameworks and enforcement, along with public participation, have been core areas. Looking ahead to this scenario, the regulatory environments on the continent may stand out for their dynamism and significance across the global landscape.
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