Zeena Rossouw on South Africa’s gaming dilemma - Part 1
The gaming industry in South Africa is at a critical juncture where digitalisation is booming, and the regulatory landscape is complex, skills are in short supply, and trust is a concern. According to Zeena Rossouw, these are the core challenges that define the most critical dilemma in the gaming industry. Her approach is pragmatic, informed by experience, and future-focused in terms of sustainability.
As the founder of Legends Management & Gaming Solutions, Rossouw believes that the gaming industry in South Africa needs alignment, not fragmentation. Her solution is to address and support the long-standing disconnects in the gaming industry, she tells SiGMA News.
Zeena was nominated as the Most successful Business Woman in Gaming in 2017, nominated a finalist as the Compliance Professional of the year at the Gaming Industry awards Ceremony in 2019. She also won the SBEA Outstanding Women in iGaming award in 2022. She was also voted the Top Most Influential Woman in Gaming in 2024. These accolades are a clear indication of her impact and contribution to the iGaming industry.
Closing structural gaps in the market
Legends Management & Gaming Solutions emerged from apparent structural shortfalls. Rossouw explains the company was founded “to close critical gaps in the South African and broader African gaming industry.” These gaps existed between operators, test laboratories, certification bodies, and regulators.
She says at the time, the industry lacked a unified platform of expertise. Stakeholders struggled to meet compliance, operational, training, and responsible gambling requirements simultaneously. Legends business design provides support “all under one umbrella.” The goal was confidence, clarity, and credible execution. Rossouw stresses independence, trust, and integrity as non-negotiable principles.
COVID-19 and the skills drain
The pandemic exposed a more profound vulnerability. Zeena Rossouw identifies skills erosion as one of the industry’s most dangerous consequences. “A vast number of industry experts were left without work during COVID,” she explains. This exodus created a “critical knowledge and skills exit from the sector.” This left the industry short and the skilled individuals without jobs.
She warns that the impact continues to undermine operational quality. “Industry skills continuity is critical!” Rossouw emphasises. Legends positioned itself to retain expertise. The firm became a platform where experienced professionals could remain active. This decision directly addressed a growing industry blind spot.
Innovation versus compliance pressures
South Africa’s regulatory environment remains highly complex. Rossouw believes that operators frequently find themselves caught between compliance and innovation. Many struggle to balance governance requirements with responsible technological advancement.
She also highlights regulatory constraints. Regulators themselves require technical support to maintain oversight. The need for consistency amongst regulatory bodies is also a factor that is often overlooked. Innovation often outpaces available regulatory capacity and technical knowledge.
Rossouw’s experience as Senior Vice President of a South African Testing Laboratory was formative. She says it revealed “how much guidance and support were missing in this space.” Legends was built “to provide that support as we have the time, skill and knowledge.”
Navigating market entry confusion
The complexities of entering an international market are a new dimension. Zeena Rossouw explains how foreign businesses face misinformation as they attempt to do business in another country. The challenges include company registration, B-BBEE, regulatory compliance, and other product technical requirements.
Tax compliance, licensing, recruitment and even finding reliable offices or suppliers often confuse new market entrants. Legends positioned themselves as a “trusted partner to navigate these complexities.” Their services include providing accurate, actionable information as a key differentiator. For Rossouw, this information is critical in instilling confidence in new investors. Without this, there is no way for them to commit.
A career shaped by learning and humility
Rossouw’s career spans 35 years in the gambling industry. She brings compliance, technical, operational, and executive leadership experience. These experiences shaped Legends’ values and mission.
She credits continuous learning and relationship-building. “I have worked hard on relationships,” she says. She also highlights humility as a leadership strength. “I have never been scared to say, ‘I don’t know’.” That mindset fostered collaboration and credibility across stakeholders. It remains central to Legends’ consulting approach.
A partnership built on financial discipline
The leadership model of Legends is deliberately balanced. Rossouw teamed up with her business partner, Janietzche Megun to enhance the leadership. Megun has 30 years of experience in Operations, Finance, Accounting, and Forensic Auditing. This leadership enhances the financial discipline of the organisation.
According to Rossouw, strong internal controls are the foundation of all decisions. The duo has a total of 65 years of experience in management. The extended team further amplifies this. Legends has experts with “120+ years of collective experience!”
Shaping the digital betting future
Online and digital betting continues to expand rapidly. Zeena Rossouw sees both opportunity and heightened responsibility. Her long-term vision focuses on independence and professional standards. Legends aims to be “the independent and fully licensed go-to team of experts.”
The company supports manufacturers, game providers, operators, and regulators. Its objective is a “resilient, responsible, and future-ready” gaming landscape. Rossouw defines Legends’ role as threefold.
Supporting regulators
The priority is regulatory support. Legends works closely with regulators to strengthen oversight frameworks. It provides technical, compliance, auditing, and responsible gambling expertise.
Rossouw believes innovation should go hand-in-hand with governance. Regulators require partners who understand evolving technologies. That collaboration protects both consumers and market stability.
Empowering industry stakeholders
The second focus is empowering operators and investors. Legends helps clients navigate compliance and operational complexity. This support enables sustainable growth and transparency.
Rossouw argues confidence drives responsible expansion by volunteering on committees such as QCTO and CATHSETA to give valuable expert input on Learnerships and NQF qualifications to build and retain industry knowledge. This is Rossouw’s ultimate passion. Accountability strengthens long-term commercial viability. Trust remains the industry’s most valuable currency.
Bridging the entire ecosystem
The third pillar is ecosystem integration. Legends is “the first independent and Nationally Licensed management consulting business in this space.” This regulator-endorsed position serves as a vital bridge between regulators, stakeholders, and operators.”
Rossouw believes collaboration solves systemic challenges. Fostering trust benefits all parties involved. “We are Legends in the industry and will do everything we can to help our industry!”
A sustainable path forward
Zeena Rossouw’s perspective reflects realism, not idealism. South Africa’s gaming dilemma requires experience-based solutions. Legends represent a structured response to fragmentation and uncertainty.
Her approach prioritises knowledge retention, compliance, and integrity. The objective remains sustainable transformation. For Rossouw, the future depends on shared responsibility across the entire gaming ecosystem.
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