The global gambling industry has an estimated value of over $500 billion and grows continuously due to technological advances. Online gambling operations helped land-based revenues, with the United States and the United Kingdom leading the way. In addition, top African countries saw swift growth in their online gaming markets.
Because of the explosion of mobile devices, the betting sector in Africa is booming, and analysts anticipate it will continue to do so at a CAGR of 5.81% until 2029.
Many African customers now have access to betting sites worldwide, thanks to the proliferation of mobile devices and better internet connections. Since some African nations are experiencing greater development than others, major gambling companies are looking for ways to cash in on this trend.
Top African Countries According to Gambling Market Sizes
South Africa’s gaming industry generates over 50% of the continent’s total income and is currently the biggest. Tourists and locals may enjoy various in-person betting choices at South Africa’s 39 brick-and-mortar casinos.
Nearly all citizens partake in gaming to varying degrees, with 90% doing so at least sometimes. In 2004, the government passed the National Gambling Act, which regulates the gambling industry in the nation and outlaws internet casinos but permits legal online sports betting and horse racing.
Offshore betting businesses allow South Africans to access online casinos, and the government can reap financial benefits from licenses granted to certain overseas operators. The sports betting industry in South Africa is second to none, with locals cheering on their beloved rugby, cricket, and soccer teams.
Several horse racing courses exist in the nation, and races from these tracks may be seen all over the globe. According to pay per head bookie experts, top racetracks that attract the best racers in the world include Greyville, Turffontein, and Kenilworth.
Nigeria and Kenya
Nigeria is home to Africa’s second-largest gaming sector. The country’s enthusiasm for sports has caused sportsbooks to explode in popularity, and the National Lottery Regulatory Commission controls gambling activities.
Given its vast population, it’s hardly surprising that Nigeria is the continent’s second-biggest gaming powerhouse. With a population of over 230 million, Nigeria far surpasses all other African countries in terms of population. With a population of almost 170 million, it outnumbers South Africa by nearly 100 million and Ethiopia by about 100 million. The country still has a lot of people engaging in illicit enterprises, even if there are restrictions against it. However, if a problem does emerge, customers will have no legal protection.
Online activities remain popular thanks to the country’s high mobile device penetration rate and excellent connection stats. Customers may choose from several gaming companies that adhere to the same rules as their brick-and-mortar counterparts.
With more than 56 million people, Kenya is the seventh most populous African country, yet it has the continent’s third-largest gaming sector. One key factor contributing to this success is the popularity of online sportsbooks, mainly due to online betting. Football is the largest bet-on sport in Kenya, with over 7 million people having accounts with sportsbooks.
According to Bookie Interaction sources, the sector is still doing well, even though the amount consumers must pay on winnings has increased from 7.5% to 12.5% due to a new tax bill. Increasing tax obligations on ads made by social media influencers may also impact future results.
