Report: 77% of Africa’s $23bn betting market unregulated

A significant portion of Africa's online betting and gaming market, estimated at $23 billion in gross gaming revenue, operates without regulation. A report by Gaming Compliance International reveals that 77% of this market remains unregulated, with unregulated operators generating $17.8 billion in 2025, while regulated operators accounted for only $5.2 billion (23%).

The report identified 4,129 unregulated online gambling operators in Africa in 2025. During the same year, 215 million people, representing 14% of the continent's population, interacted with online gambling platforms. Regulated gambling content reached only 11% of the audience, while unregulated content captured 89%.

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The purpose of regulation is not to exclusively regulate licensed operators. The purpose of regulation is to regulate the marketplace.

Gaming Compliance International advocates for African governments and regulators to implement standardized, outcome-based regulation. The organization stresses that regulation should focus on optimizing the entire marketplace, not just licensed operators, aiming to ensure consumers opt for regulated platforms over illegal ones. Success should be measured by marketplace outcomes.

The report highlights customer and operator taxation, payment systems, and product availability as key public policy areas influencing the competition between regulated and illegal platforms. High taxes on consumers and operators, coupled with costly payment systems and product restrictions, push users towards unregulated options. The organization urges a shift in regulatory focus to create a more competitive and safer online gambling environment across the continent.

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High taxes imposed directly on customers encourage migration to the unregulated sector where those costs do not exist.