Africa’s online gambling sector is expanding rapidly across borders, but the responsible gaming frameworks needed to support sustainable growth are struggling to keep pace.
Ladipo Abiose, founder of Nigeria-based non-profit GamblePause, says that across the continent “operators are stronger than the regulators,” creating a dangerous imbalance for players.
GamblePause has this week launched its dedicated app, putting responsible gaming tools directly into the hands of players who may not otherwise be protected by their local regulator.
The app supports more than 40 languages, reflecting a deliberate effort to deliver tailored, localised protection to players across vastly different regions and communities.
Abiose has been direct about the scale of the challenge, stating that on player protection, advertising, and verification systems, “we are still way, way behind.”
In some cases in Nigeria, the only KYC process involved in creating a gambling account is users ticking a box to confirm they are over 18, a system Abiose describes as “clearly not working” and one that persists because it is “favourable to the operators.”
The organisation has recently registered in Zambia and is working in partnership with GamAid Zambia, while also collaborating with Namdef in Namibia and pursuing registrations in Tanzania, Cameroon, and Malawi.
These efforts form part of a broader ambition to unite the continent under the African Responsible Gaming Network, countering a trend where organisations are “working in silos.”
Abiose explained the strategic thinking behind the app launch, saying: “I understood the politics around the market and understood where power lies. So I asked what are we going to do to solve this problem?”
Rather than continuing solely with advocacy, GamblePause shifted its approach to building practical technological systems and bringing ready-made solutions directly to regulators.
This approach appears to be generating results, with Abiose securing meetings this week with the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board on the back of the app’s launch.
One of the most significant technical challenges the app addresses is the blocking of both licensed and unlicensed gambling platforms, including those operating illegally.
Abiose acknowledged that illegal operators can establish new websites quickly, explaining: “When you block a website, in maybe less than 48 hours, they can set up a new one. So what we’ve done is we’ve built a backend where we are easily able to update our URLs, seamlessly.”
The blocking system also extends to gambling advertisements and prediction markets, a segment Abiose believes will become very significant across Africa within the next two or three years.
Beyond technical blocking tools, the app connects users experiencing gambling-related harm to therapeutic professionals who speak their language, adding a meaningful human support layer.
Staying financially independent from operators and regulators is a core principle for the organisation, though Abiose acknowledges it is a genuine struggle for groups in this space.
“It’s really difficult for average organisations to stay independent, because at some point they believe they will need financial assistance from the operators or the regulators,” he said.
GamblePause has addressed this by working primarily with B2B organisations, both Africa-based and international, to draw on global responsible gambling expertise without undue operator interference.
Abiose also highlighted a troubling verification practice in Nigeria, where some operators only attempt to verify a user’s identity at the point of withdrawal, not when they are depositing or losing money.
He described this arrangement plainly as “operator protection as opposed to player protection,” calling for a technologically based data verification system to be embedded across platforms at the regulatory level.
Looking ahead, Abiose plans to travel across Africa presenting on player protection and verification reform, stressing that GamblePause offers regulators a homegrown solution built for African realities.
“This is an African product, right? And what we’ve done is built a product, prioritising African realities and embodying them. We need to ensure that we are able to collaborate on this level and grow the platform.”
