African iGaming Alliance champions industry collaboration, calls for end to fragmented regulations
Summary
Peter Kesitilwe, former head of the Botswana Gambling Authority, has been appointed head of the African iGaming Alliance (AIA), a trade group set up by Betway, BetPawa, 888Africa and Sportybet. The AIA aims to unite operators to push policymakers away from punitive taxation and towards harmonised rules, stronger responsible gambling frameworks and standardised licensing across African markets. Kesitilwe highlights regulatory fragmentation, a large unregulated black market and high banking/payment costs as the main obstacles to the sector’s growth, and says his regulatory experience will help bridge industry and government.
Key Points
- AIA formed by major operators to coordinate industry responses to regulation and taxation.
- Primary goals: harmonise tax rates, promote responsible gambling and standardise licensing frameworks, leveraging forums such as GRAF.
- Regulatory fragmentation means operators must apply for different licences in neighbouring markets, complicating cross-border expansion.
- Unregulated operators may account for up to two-thirds of activity in Africa, costing governments an estimated $2bn–$5bn in unpaid taxes.
- High banking and payment-aggregator fees are a major barrier; some operators are exploring crypto as a cost-saving option.
- Kesitilwe’s background in regulation and legislation is intended to help the alliance act as a bridge with policymakers on AML/CFT and consumer protection.
Why should I read this?
Quick and blunt: if you work in African iGaming, payments or regulation, this matters. The sector’s biggest names are organising to stop patchwork rules, fight the black market and fix expensive payment bottlenecks. We read the detail so you don’t have to — this is a clear signal that policy, taxation and payments will be front-and-centre for the market going forward.