Africa is becoming an increasingly attractive online gambling market with plenty of potential for the future of this segment.
Online gambling industry constituent, Slotegrator, is interested in gambling licenses available on this continent, specifically, some of Africa’s most attractive markets such as Uganda, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Kenya.
The accelerating mobile internet gaming and economic growth are transforming Africa’s markets into great investment opportunities when it comes to iGaming. Although many sports books are relatively established, online casino gaming is going to become more accessible as Africa’s telecommunication infrastructure gets better and population’s income rises.
In Zambia, Uganda, and Kenya, licensees can obtain permits for land-based casinos only although online operators can also apply.
Slotegrator is considering the market of Kenya, where Betting Control and Licensing Board issues licenses to land-based and online operators. This is even though online gambling is not officially regulated.
Bookmaker licenses cost EUR 2800 in Kenya, while casino licenses are EUR 32,000. Prices are steeper for foreign based businesses.
In Uganda , the situation is similar and so are fees for foreign operators.
Companies must also have a minimum capital of about €60,000 and submit a security guarantee after obtaining the license: €46,000 for bookmakers, €117,000 for casinos. In Nigeria, the lack of federal-level regulations creates friction between the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) and the Lagos State Lotteries Board (LSLB), which both issue licenses.
Each regulator has its own set of fees, and unfortunately, operators are sometimes subject to double taxation. In South Africa, online sports betting is allowed, but online casino gaming is banned. Licenses are issued locally by provincial authorities, with the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board (WCGRB) most widely used by operators.
The application fee for a WCGRB bookmaker license is about €750, and the same amount is charged in yearly fees. Prospective operators also have to keep in mind that, to obtain a license, they must pass a probity investigation, which can command its own fees.
Tanzania is a fully regulated market of great interest for online casinos and online sportsbooks. License fees amount to just over €500 per month; sportsbooks pay a 6% levy on all stakes. To obtain a permit, operators are required to make significant investments in the country – $300,000 for local companies, $500,000 for foreign-based or foreign-owned ones.
Source:
“Slotegrator shares an overview of licensing in the African online gambling market”, PR Newswire, July 8, 2021.