Africa’s online betting industry is booming, but a new report has revealed that most of the market operates outside government oversight. According to Gaming Compliance International’s 2026 Africa Online Gambling Marketplace Report, 77 per cent of the continent’s estimated $23 billion online betting and gaming market remains unregulated, raising concerns over consumer protection, lost tax revenue and the growing influence of illegal operators.
The report estimates that Africa’s online sports betting and casino industry generated $23 billion in gross gaming revenue in 2025, with only $5.2 billion (23%) coming from licensed operators. In contrast, $17.8 billion (77%) was generated by unregulated platforms. It also found that more than 4,100 unregulated online gambling operators were active across the continent, while about 215 million Africans, representing 14 per cent of the population, engaged with online gambling during the year. The report further noted that regulated gambling content accounted for just 11 per cent of audience exposure, compared to 89 per cent for unregulated content.
Comparing Africa with other global markets, the report showed that the continent’s regulated market share remains behind regions such as Latin America, which leads with 27 per cent, while North America recorded 24 per cent. Europe matched Africa at 23 per cent, the global average stood at 22 per cent, the Middle East recorded 14 per cent, and Asia-Pacific had the lowest regulated share at six per cent. Gaming Compliance International argued that regulators should focus on managing the entire gambling ecosystem rather than concentrating only on licensed operators, stressing that the ultimate goal should be to encourage consumers to choose regulated platforms over illegal alternatives.
The organisation identified customer taxation, operator taxation, payment systems and product availability as the four key policy areas influencing the success of regulated markets. It warned that excessive taxes on bettors and operators, combined with restrictive payment options and limited product offerings, make illegal platforms more attractive. To address these challenges, the report recommended adopting its MPEO framework—Monitor, Police, Enforce and Optimise—which it says would strengthen oversight, improve enforcement against illegal operators and create a more competitive regulated market that benefits both consumers and governments.
Gaming Compliance International concluded that Africa’s fast-growing online gambling sector should be viewed as a major economic opportunity rather than simply a regulatory challenge. The organisation said better-designed regulations, stronger collaboration among regulators and targeted reforms in taxation, payments and enforcement could significantly improve consumer protection, increase government tax revenues and boost public confidence in the industry. It added that with millions of Africans already participating in online betting, the priority should be optimising the existing market to ensure growth is driven through safe, regulated platforms rather than illegal operators.
source: punch
