GAMING FOR AFRICA Gaming for Africa


Casino International’s Africa partner is the excellent Gaming For Africa magazine, bringing you the continent’s latest developments.


Uganda’s New Gambling Payments Regime Sparks Industry Debate


Uganda’s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) has introduced a new payments framework aimed at tightening oversight of gambling transactions. Published on 17 June 2026, the policy shifts operators toward more transparent, regulatormonitored payment channels.


The NLGRB argues that the change is necessary to curb fraud, improve tax collection, and reduce the leakage of gambling revenue into unregulated offshore systems. However, operators have raised concerns that the new rules may slow down deposits and withdrawals, particularly for mobilemoneydriven customer bases. Uganda’s market is heavily dependent on mobile payments, and friction in this area could affect player retention. Industry analysts suggest that the policy may ultimately benefit the market if implementation is smooth but warn that any


disruption to mobile money flows could push players toward unlicensed platforms. The move comes amid broader regional pressure for stronger compliance, with Uganda positioning itself as a regulatory leader in East Africa. The NLGRB’s CEO, Denis Mudene Ngabirano, has also emphasised the importance of digital oversight and crossborder collaboration in shaping Uganda’s future gaming landscape, reinforcing the country’s ambition to modernise its regulatory architecture.


Malawi: Bola Group Launches WhatsAppBased Betting Platform ‘Chatbet’


Tanzania Confirms New 5% Excise Duty on Betting Stakes


On 22 June 2026, Tanzania’s government announced that it will implement a 5% excise tax on betting stakes, marking one of the most significant fiscal changes to the country’s gambling sector in recent years.


The new tax applies directly to the amount staked rather than operator revenue, meaning both operators and players will feel the impact. For operators, margins may tighten,


especially in a market where customer acquisition costs are rising. For players, the effective cost of betting increases, which could reduce overall wagering volumes. Regulators argue that the tax will generate substantial public revenue and help fund social programmes. Industry stakeholders, however, warn that higher taxation may push bettors toward offshore or informal markets, undermining the government’s revenue goals. The Tanzanian market has grown rapidly due to mobile betting adoption, and analysts will be watching closely to see whether the excise duty slows this momentum. The move aligns with a continental trend of governments seeking greater fiscal returns from gambling, but Tanzania’s directstake model is one of the more aggressive approaches seen in 2026.


24 JULY 2026


Malawi’s gambling sector saw a notable digital innovation on 11 June 2026, when Bola Group officially launched Chatbet, a betting platform that operates entirely through WhatsApp. The product is designed to reach mobilefirst African audiences who prefer lightweight, lowdata services over traditional apps. Chatbet allows players to place bets, check results, and manage accounts directly within WhatsApp’s chat interface. For Malawi – where smartphone penetration is rising but appstore access and data costs remain barriers – this approach could significantly expand the regulated betting audience.


Industry analysts say Chatbet reflects a broader continental trend: operators are increasingly building microbetting ecosystems inside existing social platforms rather than relying on standalone apps. The move also positions Bola Group as an early adopter of conversational betting technology in Africa, potentially influencing similar launches in neighbouring markets. Regulators will be watching closely. While WhatsApp betting increases accessibility, it also raises questions about responsible gambling controls, identity verification, and transaction monitoring – areas Malawi’s authorities have been tightening since 2025. Still, Chatbet’s debut marks one of the most inventive product launches in Africa’s gambling sector this year.


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