AIA unites regulators in Toronto to advance responsible gaming
The African iGaming Alliance (AIA), in partnership with the Africa Gaming Expo (AGE Lagos), hosted a landmark African Regulators Reception at the Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto, bringing together senior gaming regulators and industry leaders from across the continent to strengthen collaboration and shared governance in Africa’s fast-growing iGaming sector.
Africa’s gaming future “Written by Africans”
In his opening remarks, Peter Emolemo Kesitilwe, Chief Executive Officer of the African iGaming Alliance, stated that Africa’s gaming future must be “written by Africans, guided by responsibility, collaboration, and purpose.”
Kesitilwe explained that the AIA, which now connects over twenty jurisdictions, continues to build bridges between regulators, operators, and policymakers through three core pillars: Regulatory Harmonisation, Integrity and Compliance, and Responsible Growth.
He reaffirmed that the Alliance’s role is to facilitate, not replace national efforts, ensuring that Africa’s regulatory voice is heard globally while strengthening the continent’s reputation for credible and ethical oversight.
Lagos calls for united regulatory action
Delivering his address, Bashir Are, Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA), called for deeper collaboration among African regulators. “This gathering is a testament to what is possible when regulators across our continent choose collaboration over competition, and dialogue over distance,” he said.
Bashir highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing reforms and commended the African iGaming Alliance for harmonising standards and promoting trust across jurisdictions. He stressed that Africa’s regulatory journey “is still being written – and we are writing it.”
Namibia advocates integrity and shared learning
Echoing similar sentiments, John Erastus, Chief Executive Officer of the Namibia Gambling Board, emphasised the importance of balancing industry growth with public protection. “Regulation is not just about oversight; it is about leadership, integrity, and collaboration across borders,” he said.
Erastus praised the AIA as a “catalyst for shared learning and global credibility,” reaffirming Namibia’s commitment to data sharing, collaborative enforcement, and responsible gambling initiatives.
Broader perspectives from across Africa
The reception also featured remarks from Mokgase Gregory Makoko, Chief Executive Officer of the Limpopo Gambling Board, and Nicolas Simeon N’Diaye, Benin’s Chief Gaming Regulator. Both shared their countries’ progress in modernising gaming frameworks and promoting responsible play.
A defining moment for African regulation
The motivation behind the creation of the African iGaming Alliance (AIA) is to bring together regulators, operators, law specialists, and IT to promote ethical and fair gaming practices across Africa. The Alliance seeks to design sustainable policies that will support the continent’s rapidly growing online gambling sector.
According to Kesitilwe, the committee will act as a bridge between regulators and the industry, translating policy goals into practical and enforceable frameworks. Through research, technical assistance, and stakeholder collaboration, it will help standardise responsible gambling measures, anti-money laundering protocols, and digital compliance systems across African markets – ensuring that consumer protection remains at the heart of iGaming’s growth on the continent.
As Africa’s gaming markets continue to expand, the Toronto reception marked a defining milestone in the continent’s regulatory cooperation.
The gathering underscored integrity, innovation, and unity as the foundations of sustainable industry growth. The collective message from all regulators was clear: Africa’s gaming oversight must evolve through partnership, trust, and shared responsibility across borders.
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