Gaming for Africa Magazine - Africa's leading Gambling Trade Publication

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Rank Casino Group Opens Slew of New African Casinos Red Hot Games Enters South African Slots Market

CyberSecurity for Online Gaming Operators

Creative Edge Introduces HomeGrown Digital Signage Revolution Hollywoodbets Backs All-Female Horseracing Operation

Neezy Technologies set to Power the African Online Lotto Market



EDITOR Roy Bannister Editor-at-Large Bill Healey ACCOUNTS & Administration Fax: 086 648 1634 Email: afrogame@mweb.co.za PUBLISHER & Advertising Headstart Productions P.O.Box 607 Langebaan 7357 Fax: 086 648 1634 Cell: 082-468-8622 e-mail: afrogame@mweb.co.za LAYOUT AND DESIGN Nicole Cook Email:nicole@graphicd.co.za PRINTED BY Headstart Productions GAMING FOR AFRICA is a bi-monthly magazine focused on casino operators and the manufacturing sector of the African gaming industry. We publish informed comment, and cover developments in legislation, new products, marketing and sales, promotions and general casino resort tourism trends in Africa Information published in GAMING FOR AFRICA or views or opinions expressed by writers are their own and not necessarily endorsed by the owner, publisher or editor of GAMING FOR AFRICA. While reasonable care is taken to report on events and occurrences in an accurate manner, we cannot accept any responsibility for inconveniences arising from misinformation. We welcome unsolicited articles and photographs but cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage. Press releases are published in good faith and the publishers assume that information provided is correct. Gaming for Africa is a trade publication aimed at the b2b casino and gaming industry in South Africa and across the African continent where legalized gambling is permitted. As such all advertising and editorial in this publication is aimed at professionals within the gambling industry, and not the general gambling public. Gaming for Africa endorses and promotes responsible gambling and proudly subscribes to the aims and initiatives of the legalized gambling industry thorugh the National Responsible Gambling Programme. National Responsible Gambling Counselling Line – 0800 006 008

From the Editor: ACCORDING TO Cybersecurity experts, South Africa is one of the most targeted countries in the world in terms of cybersecurity attacks, with online gaming operations and hotels being particularly vulnerable due to the data they keep, which often includes payment information. In this issue of Gaming for Africa we look at Cybersecurity, with a recent webinar on cybersecurity solutions put on by the Israeli Trade Mission to South Africa - this webinar link is available on demand on page 26, as well as an overview of cybersecurity from Gripp Advisory on page 30. We also interview Dean Finder from Evolution Services SA on the rising popularity of Live Dealer Games, and we explore the increase in Virtual Games offerings from Jika, a divison ok Kiron Interactive. On another positive note - South Africa has eased lockdown restrictions, which is good news for the gaming and hospitality industries, allowing for extended operating hours, increased visitor numbers as well as on-site liquor consumption. The recent re-opening of the Carousel Casino - originally slated to be closed by Sun International, has now opened with a 3rd party management team in place from a new owner (operating under Sun International’s licence until the North West Gambling Board can issue a new licence to the current management company and prospective owner). This is good news for the region, as prospective job losses have been forestalled and the casino operation can continue as an important economic driver in the region. This issue of Gaming for Africa also features some exciting news on a number of new African casinos opened by Rank Entertainment holdings, as well as plans for a number of new casinos for other African countries in 2021. Roy Bannister

Contents 2

Hollywoodbets Backs All-Female Horseracing Operation

2

Pragmatic Play Enters South Africa with CDP Gaming Deal

4

Red Hot Games Enters South African Slots Market

4

Peermont Launches Ground-breaking Winners Circle App

6

Creative Edge Introduces Home-Grown Digital Signage Revolution

6

Eastern Cape Gambling Board Hands over STEM Kits

8

Pragmatic Play: A Comprehensive Analysis of the African Market Demands

10

Rank Opens Slew of New African Casinos

12

Casino Lion Opens in Madagascar

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Neezy Technologies set to Power the African Online Lotto Market

18

Jika Sports Aims to Turn Around South African Sportsbetting

22

The Rise in Popularity of Live Dealer Games

24

TCSJOHNHUXLEY Launches Care & Protect Chipper Champ UV

26

Watch Cyber Security for Online Gaming in SA Webinar

28

Dealing with the Increase in Cybersecurity Threats

31

Interbet’s CSI and SED Projects Bear Fruit

32

Table Tennis Shows Unexpected Popularity During Covid

34

NorthWest Gambling Board Mourns Death of Segomotso

34

US Firm Acquires Kenya’s Surebet

36

PalaceBet Partners with SuperBru

36

Golden Valley Casino comes to the Assistance of Barefoot Learners

38

National Lottery Operator Ithuba Clarifies its Role as Operator - Says it is Not Under Investigation

38

SA National Lotteries Commission Offices Raided by SIU and Hawks

39

Novomatic South Africa Welcomes Ms Ravhanga

40

List of African Gambling Regulators & Associations

February / March 2021

Gaming For Africa

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Hollywoodbets Backs All-Female Horseracing Operation South Africa’s leading all-female owned and managed racing operation, the Randjesfontein based CK Horse Racing Team are the latest sponsored trainer associate in the Hollywoodbets stable. SOUTH AFRICAN sports betting operator, Hollywoodbets’ instantly recognisable purple and yellow finery is proudly carried by various trainers countrywide and the powerful CK Horse Racing Team are the newest addition to the line-up in advance of Guineas day at Turffontein on Saturday. Hollywoodbets Executive, Dermot O’Connell, welcomed the CK Horse Racing Team to the Hollywoodbets family and wished them every success in a brand new partnership focussed on promoting the best of horseracing in South Africa.Under the dynamic

management team of Kathryn Ralphs, Candice and Tammy Dawson, CK Horse Racing have been turning out the big race winners since 2016, and their big race hopes will be carried by Futura’s son Eliud in the colts’ Guineas. The yard has grown into a major force on the SA racing landscape with 86 horses currently in training and with plans for plenty of growth.

Kathryn Ralphs added that there was exciting synergy in the new partnership and that CK Horse Racing were proud to be associated with a marketleading brand that invests in horseracing and the community and strives for excellence.With a team focus on service delivery and customer communication, CK Horse Racing are a powerhouse combination of the love of horses and a passion for racing.

Pragmatic Play Enters South Africa with CDP Gaming Deal Pragmatic Play, a leading game content provider to the gaming industry, has confirmed a partnership with CDP Gaming Technologies to take multiple verticals live with the leading South African brand, Yesplay. THE SUPPLIER has entered into a partnership distribution agreement with CDP Gaming Technologies (Holders of Manufacturers License in South Africa), a B2B partnership that will allow CDP to resell Pragmatic Play products in South Africa. The supplier will make its market debut by initially providing its Live Casino offering throughout the nation, with Slots and Virtual Sports to be provided in the near future. Pragmatic Play’s Live Casino continues to go from strength to strength, combining land-based classics with an optimized online offering to ensure an immersive gaming experience. The supplier’s Live Dealer portfolio is headlined by its Baccarat, Roulette, and Blackjack products. The CDP Gaming Technologies deal marks the provider’s latest global expansion, with numerous commercial successes from its worldwide hubs. Pragmatic Play’s African Business Development Manager, Solomon Godwin, said: “We are thrilled to partner with CDP Gaming Technologies, a leading Licensed Betting Platform provider in South Africa, to be a distributor of our

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Gaming For Africa

products in the country. “Through this partnership, South African gaming enthusiasts will have access to all of Pragmatic Play’s award winning and innovative Live Dealer games and we are excited to make our debut in the market.” Tebogo Makamo, Director and Co-Owner CDP Gaming Technologies, said: “Pragmatic Play is the latest provider to enter the South African market in partnership with CDP Gaming Technologies and we are extremely happy to be

the first operator to offer their content to South African players. “CDP and Pragmatic Play will strive to bring great innovative and award-winning games to the thriving gambling industry in South Africa.” Pragmatic Play currently produces up to five new slot titles a month, while also delivering Live Casino and Bingo games as part of its multiproduct portfolio, available through one single API. For more information, please click here: https:// www.pragmaticplay.com/en/games/ February / March 2021


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Red Hot Games Enters South African Slots Market Red Hot Games (RHG) is the latest slots supplier to enter the South African market after being awarded a National Manufacturer, Maintenance and Supplier Licence by the Gauteng Gambling Board. RHG WILL strive to live up to its name by bringing Hot Games to the thriving gambling industry in South Africa and other jurisdictions on the African continent. “We will initially supply Limited Payout Machines (LPMs), Sports Betting Terminals, Monitors and spare parts to the South African market, before expanding into the

African market and other sectors of the gambling industry,” says Hosea Malope. “RHG’s LPM product is an exciting multigame which consists of Red Hot Slots, Lucky Gems, the Genies Lamp, Valley of the Kings, Lady Luck and Diamond Fever. These games have proven to be popular in the UK and European street market and we certainly expect them to do well in our market.” RHG is managed by the former CEO of Zonke Monitoring Systems, Hosea Malope, who is also the Managing Director of Malope Monitoring Solutions. The two companies share offices in Jet Park. RHG is partnered by HC Terminals, a UK based company specialising in used and new gaming terminals and a massive stock of used

gaming parts which are all available to RHG. “We look forward to welcoming you at our offices at Unit 4 Gail Industrial Park, Jet Park,” says Hosea. For more info, contact RED HOT GAMES via email: maketsem@redhotgames.co.za or Landline: (010) 444-0184, Mobile: (+2782 338-0340).

Peermont Launches Ground-breaking Winners Circle App Rewards Programme App is first to offer Wallet Functionality to Casino Guests in South Africa CASINO AND hospitality leader Peermont has launched a ground-breaking app of its Rewards Programme, Winners Circle. The app is the first in South Africa and possibly world-wide to offer wallet and transactional functionality to its casino players. Winners Circle is the Rewards Programme to all Peermont’s resorts, including its flagship property Emperors Palace and the app now allows players direct access to their account from their mobile phone, providing convenience and ease of use. ‘We’re immensely proud of this milestone service has always been a priority to us,’ says Peermont CEO Nigel Atherton. ‘This pioneering breakthrough will make our players’ lives so much easier without having to queue at an ATM or the Cash Desk. Now all they have to do is log into the app and make a transaction and almost instantly they can enjoy themselves at our casino. Plus, with the reality of social distancing, we feel its our duty to provide an alternative to limit unnecessary

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Gaming For Africa

person to person interaction.’ Not only is the Peermont Winners Circle app like having a Cashdesk at your fingertips, it also allows users to check their rewards points balance, receive notifications, upload required documents and participate in surveys. ‘The Winners Circle app is game changer for us,’ says Peermont Chief Information Officer Nick Truran. ‘With mobile banking and shopping becoming more prevalent in today’s tech-savvy society why not top adopt the same convenience with your casino account? Our focus continues to

be maintaining the highest security standards, so you can rest assured your information and funds are safe with us.’ The Winners Circle app makes use of reCaptcha and SSL encryption, as well as multifactor authentication all within the React Native Mobile App Development Framework to ensure guests have peace of mind. ‘This project with Peermont Resorts is a great example of the strong partnership that we have shared for many years,’ said Sethuram Shivashankar, Senior VP and General Manager for Gaming Systems at Scientific Games. ‘Their implementation of the Unified Wallet will enable Peermont to provide a frictionless Omni-channel gaming experience to players contributing to increased player loyalty and improving the efficiency at their resorts.’ ‘This is just phase one and we’re looking forward to many more innovative additions to this app to ensure our player continue to have exciting times. Watch this space!’ concludes Atherton. February / March 2021


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Creative Edge Introduces Home-Grown Digital Signage Revolution

Cash Connection, Novomatic, Montecasino

JJBX, Scientific Gaming, Montecasino

CREATIVE EDGE has recently deployed the first few high-resolution LED installations of this new dynamic, screen type slots sign or display. Appearing globally in recent years, these signs are considered to be the cutting edge in technology for game and jackpot signage. Also packing a huge visual punch on the gaming floor, these signs are brighter and have a ‘neon-like’ vibe compared to the now traditional LCD screens. The product is also way more versatile and can be configured to many shapes and sizes as well as curves and cylinders – allowing for much of the signage surface to become a live platform.

Generic display, Carnival City Prive

Warren Cooper also says Creative Edge is proud to be just one of a handful of companies worldwide, specialising in this design and manufacture of this type of slots signage. The company has also recently been accredited with the ISO 9001 quality standard to help facilitate the drive to export these products. Both local and international slot machine manufacturers and casino operators alike have expressed great interest and excitement, we are looking forward to start rolling these out as soon as things start to normalise – especially as many of South Africa’s casino floors have sadly become barren or only have dated remnants of any slots signage,

losing the excitement, character and buzz the public used to expect. It also remains a statistical fact that a solid performing bank of machines will generate increased revenue with a sign fitted over that bank. These signs are sleek, and minimalist but pack a huge punch says Paul Gray, but most importantly offer great value, as even though the initial cost is a fair amount more than traditional signage, the longer term value, versatility and flexibility, render the product to be a solid investment, going beyond gaming jackpots and becoming an invaluable platform for the operator. Visit www.creativecasino.co.za for more info.

Eastern Cape Gambling Board Hands over STEM Kits The Eastern Cape Gambling Board will hand over Maths, Science and Technology Kits to four schools identified by Eastern Cape Department of Education. These schools are in some of the disadvantaged areas of the ECape Province and the kits will assist them to demonstrate good maths, science and technology outcomes. The investment by the ECGB is targeted at young learners, Grades R-7, this is informed by well-established research which indicates that quality early education stimulates a greater cognitive growth and impact on early literacy and skills in these key subjects with the children more likely to be successful for the remainder of

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Gaming For Africa

their time in school. In addition to this investment, one of the Gambling Licensees, Gold Rush Gaming Group has also joined the ECGB as a Gambling Regulator investing about 6 Maths, Science and Technology Kits to a number of schools in the Province, with special focus to the schools that

are located in the impoverished areas. This is in response to the call by the provincial government that all departments, public and private sector institutions must invest in education and other welfare programmes in areas considered impoverished in the Province. February / March 2021


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Pragmatic Play: A Comprehensive Analysis of the African Market Demands Solomon Godwin, Continent Manager for Africa at Pragmatic Play, discusses the multi-product provider’s expansion plans on the continent and why the supplier’s offering is uniquely suited to the demands of African players

PRAGMATIC PLAY is a leading supplier of content to the igaming industry. With a portfolio spanning multiple verticals, the company’s mission of being the leading multiproduct provider across regulated territories is a bold one, but not unattainable. With a history based in slot development, recent years have seen the provider adding Live Casino, Bingo and Virtual Sports content to its growing portfolio. Its diverse product offering has seen Pragmatic Play partner with some of the biggest operator groups all over the globe, expanding its footprint in regulated territories worldwide.

to embrace regulation in key African states, already experiencing a commercial success in major igaming nations, such as Kenya. Leading Pragmatic Play’s efforts in Africa is the supplier’s Continent Manager Solomon Godwin. Following his appointment in 2020, Godwin’s innate knowledge of the needs and pain points of online operators has allowed Pragmatic Play to strike commercial deals across the continent. In Africa, there is a vast appetite for not just traditional slot experiences but engaging alternative forms of gaming entertainment. Virtual Sports is hugely popular in the

“In Africa, there is a vast appetite for not just traditional slot experiences but engaging alternative forms of gaming entertainment,” - Solomon Godwin In 2020, Pragmatic Play focused in two of the igaming’s most exciting regions – Latin America and Africa. With the establishment of these regional hubs, as well targeted measures, the supplier has been able to gain a much deeper understanding of the continents’ demands for igaming content and how best to support operator partners. With recent global developments seeing a concerted push towards regulating online gaming, Pragmatic Play has positioned itself

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Gaming For Africa

continent, so our upcoming Virtuals product is primed to offer a valuable solution for operators as an alternative to sports betting. As internet penetration increases, we’ll also see significant growth in mobile gameplay throughout the African continent, something Pragmatic Play’s slot games are geared towards. Designing mobile-first games, optimised for smaller screens with a small loading time, has allowed Pragmatic Play fans to access their favourite titles on the go, enabling engagement from anywhere on any device.

With a deep, varied slot offering of mobile-first, HTML5 games, Pragmatic Play customers will be able to access games that appeal to them anywhere. The company’s diverse range of products ensure there is something for players of all tastes, demographics and desires, enabling operators looking to enhance their offering to be able to take a full, multi-product suite live easily and swiftly through a single API integration. With plenty of hurdles facing operators as the continent looks to embrace regulation of online gaming, Pragmatic Play is uniquely positioned to enable its partners to hit the ground running. Combining its presence on the continent and regional knowledge with a market-ready solution, the company is very much ready for the igaming gold rush that seems just around the corner. If you are interested in integrating Pragmatic Play’s quality content, please contact Solomon Godwin at solomon. godwin@pragmaticplay.com or call +2349041150048.

February / March 2021



Rank Opens Slew of New African Casinos Rank Entertainment Holdings, owner of the luxurious Casino Marina brand, continues to make headlines as it expands its operations in Africa and Indian Ocean Islands. The Group opened a number of new casinos recently in Zimbabwe and Madagascar, and has a few more planned for Togo, Congo and Cote d’Ivoire. ZIMBABWE Rank opened its latest casino in Africa, the 60-slot, 29-table Casino Marina Harare on 7th November 2020, followed closely by a casino in Madagascar. The Casino Marina Harare in Zimbabwe has set the high-level benchmark for gaming operators in Africa as a key attraction not only in Zimbabwe, but the Southern African region. The well attended opening event was officiated by former Finance Minister in Zimbabwe Dr. Herbet Murarwe and representing the Rank group was Executive Director Mr. Rahul Wijeratne who is being groomed to be a leader in the Rank Group. Chairperson and owner of Rank group Mr. Ravi Wijeratne and his executives have set the bar high bringing aspirational developments, world-class facilities and services to areas in Africa that would not otherwise have access to them. The facility is expected to have a significant impact on the local economy and creating employment and unique opportunities. The company’s mission in Zimbabwe is to also offer a Marina experience with class and sophistication to seal the missing boost in the gaming entertainment in the country. Situated on LongChen Plaza Belvedere, the facilities also feature a lavish bar and lounge area with access to cuisine from the restaurant.

The Guest of Honour Dr. Herbet Murarwe and Mr. Rahul Wijeratne share a game of Baccarat

MALAWI Recently Malawi also witnessed the much anticipated opening of Casino Marina Blantyre which sparked sophisticated elegance with its grand opening in the city of Blantyre in Malawi making it an addition to the home of thrills and excitement. The opening was graced by Minister of Tourism, wildlife and culture Mr. Michael Usi who was guest of honour for the colorful event.

FUTURE AFRICAN GROWTH Casino Marina whose headquarters is Colombo in Sri Lanka stands out in the gaming industry, and will be opening a 200 table, 700 slots operation in the not too distant future, in Sri Lanka as the ultimate entertainment hub that has brought the gaming industry into the next level of gaming in Africa. Casino Marina operates 9 Casinos under the same brand name including Colombo itself, two in Malawi, one in Madagascar, one in Zambia and 3 in Mozambique and the recently-opened operaton in Zimbabwe. The group is planning a 2000m2, 50-slots, 20-tables, in Kinshasa, Congo. In Yammoussoukro in Ivory Coast it plans a 2000m2, 60-slots 22-tables, and in Lome, Togo the group is also planning a casino with details that are as-yet-undisclosed. Plans are also underway for the Groups’ main casino in Sri-Lanka to move to a new, as yetundisclosed 54000m2 location with 200 tables and 700 slots. Since inception in 1994, Casino Marina made a commitment to create an operating style built around friendliness and providing the best service to all our gaming patrons from around the world. Continued on page 16

Mr. Rahul Wijeratne, Executive Director Rank Holdings, receiving the official Casino Marina Blantyre Casino License from the Chairperson of the Malawi National Gaming & Lotteries Board, Mr. Bernard Ndau, with Sogecoa partners, Managing Director, Golden Peacock Hotel, Malawi, Mr. Mike Zhang.

Mr. Rahul Wijeratne, Executive Director Rank Holdings, speaking during the opening of Casino Marina Harare.

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Pictured during the cake cutting Mr. Tom Alcorn General Manager Casino Marina Malawi (L) Mr. Rahul Wijeratne, Executive Director Rank Holdings (C) and Golden Peacock Golden Managing Director Mr. Mike Zhang (R) February / March 2021



Casino Lion Opens in Madagascar The latest Casino Marina operation opened its doors in Antananarivo, Madagascar on 23 December 2020 in style. The casino is located on the 5th floor of the Globe Center Behoririka, the oldest and largest shopping center in Antananarivo and adds to the more than 450 shops to satisfy young and old, and a food court with rooftop terrace. CASINO LION is the tenth casino to open for the Casino Marina group. The casino offers 60 upmarket gaming machines and automatic roulette with progressive jackpots and floor-wide Mystery Jackpots through the ACE System and 11 live table games offering Poker, Blackjack, Roulette and Baccarat. Herman Franken, the regional General Manager in Madagascar and oversaw the project from inception including the ceremonial candle lighting on opening night. Herman had this to say: “I’m really proud of my team here in Tana, who despite limited working conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic pulled this installation off. Of course this would not been possible without the tremendous support we got from Lennie Govender from ACES.” Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions The entire installation was conducted by the Casino Marina staff in Madagascar with remote assistance from the ACE Team in South Africa. “It really was a superb effort by the operations staff in Antananarivo and the ACE team based in Johannesburg,” commented Cliff Lamberton from ACES. Production and logistics were managed

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by Elzette Lotriet and Denise Carlisle respectively under difficult conditions with limited production capacity as a result of lockdown and infrequent freight, but they got the hardware built and sent, which left it up to Tom and his team and Kurt Roman from ACES. All training was conducted through ACES online training portal, which offer course bundles for the various job roles in the casino, course of each ACE module and all the webinar recordings. All course on the ACE training portal are free and can be accessed from any device with an internet connection: https://aces-training.thinkific.com/

February / March 2021


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Neezy Technologies set to Power the African Online Lotto Market No stranger to global online lotteries, Neezy Technologies are bringing almost two decades’ experience to the African sports betting market. Having powered some of the world’s largest and most recognizable online lotteries the company has expanded further into Africa with its lottery software and infrastructure services. ‘’FEW LOTTERY software providers truly understand the secondary lottery market and what ultimately drives sustainable conversion and retention campaigns within this vertical. Our latest expansion comes from our years of learning what works in the lottery market, what customers expect, and ultimately what operators require to maximize revenue,” says Robert J. Warrington, Chairman of Neezy Technologies. We catch up with him to hear what these exciting plans entail. Tell us a bit more about Neezy Technologies - where did it start and where are you now? “Back in 2004 we were one of the first technology companies to identify and act on the potential for lottery software. Today, our software powers many of the world’s leading lotto operations including Giantlottos.com, a well known and successful online lottery brand proudly built and maintained by Neezy Technologies.” Why online lotteries? “High jackpot prizes combined with the simplicity of the game resonate with both traditional and non-traditional gamblers. This makes lottery the world’s most popular prize based game. For operators, the 70% and upwards GGR combined with incredibly low withdrawal rates provide an attractive opportunity to add value both as a standalone game or compliment existing sports betting operations.”

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What differences and opportunities do you see when comparing sports betting players and lottery players? “The psychology of a lotto player remains fundamentally different from traditional Sportsbook punters. Lotto players tend to be odds agnostic making the cost per acquisition (CPA) far lower than traditional bet game verticals. Added to this is the fact that “South Africa maintains its status as one of the world’s most active lottery markets at over 67% of the population participating in lottery games. This presents exponential growth opportunities. With the right partner lottery can serve both as an acquisition tool as well as a profitable standalone game for sports betting operations’ existing clientèle” To this end, Neezy Technologies have honed our system to optimise cross-selling and acquisition of this new ‘softer’ player demographic setting the benchmark for lottery software partnerships.”

Insurance, that’s interesting… Could you expand? “Certainly, we offer an AAA rated underwriting warranty which takes the hassle out of sports betting operators requiring a standalone policy, thus effectively creating a turnkey ‘pay per bet’ model. Understanding that large minimum premiums were historically deal breakers for operators, Neezy’s policy has been structured to absorb the vast amount of the minimum premium, which in turn assists the operators cashflow whilst mitigating risk associated with committing to traditional policies.”

What sets Neezy Technologies’ products apart? “Neezy Technologies’ Lotto Betting API was developed by operators, for operators. Our platform is licensed, intuitive and has been built to marry seamlessly into existing sportsbook platforms and wallets. Over and above our software, Neezy understands what really drives lottery sales. And as part of our commitment to our clients we work together to ensure that strong conversion and retention strategies are employed in order to extrapolate the most value from our games on offer. We also have some attractive insurance offerings to sports betting and lottery operators.”

What values do you uphold at Neezy? “We operate in an ethical manner and with a mandate of providing transparent and legitimate services, backed by a robust management, processes and hard learnings, born from being at the forefront of B2C lottery trading for over fifteen years.”

In which jurisdictions does Neezy have approval? “We have been operational in the UK and Australia for a number of years now, and are proud of our most recent licenced approval in South Africa. All our products are SANS accredited and tested.”

What should companies do that wish to find out more about Neezy? “Certainly, they can visit our website (https://www. neezytechnologies.com) for further details and where our brochure can also be downloaded. They can also contact me and my team via email - partner@neezytechnologies.com or call us on +44(0)20 8242 4618.” February / March 2021

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Rank Opens Slew of New African Casinos Continued from page 10 In a highly competitive industry, the Marina style of hospitality makes it distinct and unique. Marina is the home for over fifty internationally renowned gaming tables such as Baccarat, Black Jack, Roulette, Texas, and all poker games plus slot machines across ready to cater to your ultimate gaming desires. Also for gaming satisfaction Marina888.com was introduced as a one stop portal online gaming to relive the Marina experience from the comfort of the home. The hospitality and generosity is top class with exquisite cuisine and a selection of high end on beverages. The entertainment is great experience show casing some of the best entertainers flown from overseas for pleasure and beyond. Casino Marina’s operations at a Glance: CASINO MARINA MAPUTO: MOZAMBIQUE Based in Mozambique’s capital, Casino Marina Maputo is the largest Casino in the country. Located in Gloria Mall, which has a magnificent view towards Indian Ocean. The Casino’s General Manager is Mr. Patrice Ha Yeung. Casino Marina, MAPUTO AFECC Gloria Mall AV DA Marginal N 4441 Maputo, MOZAMBIQUE Phone: +258 20034444 Email: info.maputo@casinomarina.com Website: www.casinomarina.com/maputo Facebook: www.facebook.com/Casino-MarinaMaputo-564929963839374/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/casino_marina_maputo/ CASINO MARINA BEIRA: MOZAMBIQUE Casino Marina Beira is the most entertaining destination in Mozambique’s second largest city and port Beira. The Casino Marina Beira is located next to the beautiful Macuti Beach, within the extravagant Golden Peacock Hotel, offering guests extensive gaming, non-gaming and entertainment opportunities. The Casino’s General Manager is Mr. Paul Kerr Casino Marina BEIRA SA. Mozambique, Sofala, Beira Cidade Urbano 1, Bairro Estoril, Rua Carlos Pereira Talhao n° 16.. MOZAMBIQUE Phone: +260 96 8637805 Email: info.beira@casinomarina.com Website: www.casinomarina.com/beira/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/

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Gaming For Africa

casinomarinabeira/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/casino_marina_beira/ CASINO MARINA ANTANANARIVO: MADAGASCAR Located in Madagascar’s capital city, and within the country’s largest hotel, Casino Marina Antananarivo draw both locals and the foreign expatriate community. The property located in the island’s Central Highlands covers thousands of sq. meters of area. The Casino’s General Manager is Mr. Herman Franken Casino Marina, ANTANANARIVO Madagascar Golden Peacock Hotel, 54 Villas Ivato 105 Antananarivo, MADAGASCAR Phone: +261 34 88 333 33 Email: info.antananarivo@casinomarina.com Website: www.casinomarina.com/antananarivo/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/casmarina/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/casino_marina_ antananarivo/ CASINO MARINA COLOMBO: SRI LANKA Based in the heart of Sri Lanka’s capital and commercial center, Casino Marina Colombo is the country’s largest entertainment hub. Offering a spectacular view overlooking the Indian Ocean, the casino offers 150 Slots machines, and 72 Table Games bifurcate in Baccarat, Roulette, Black Jack, 3-Card Poker, Mini Poker, Tick Poker, Texas Hold’em and Caribbean poker. The Vice President of Marina Colombo is Mr. Romesh. Casino Marina COLOMBO Marine Drive, Plan Road Colombo 03 SRI LANKA Phone: +94 11 4 219988 / +94 774 591 888 / +94 776 233 888 Email: info.colombo@casinomarina.com / info@marinacolombo.com Website: www.casinomarina.com/colombo/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/ CasinoMarinaColombo/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/casino_marina_colombo/ CASINO MARINA LILONGWE: MALAWI Located in Malawi’s capital city, Casino Marina Lilongwe offers the top casino gaming options in Malawi. The Casino’s General Manager is Tom Alcorn. Casino Marina LILONGWE Golden Peacock Hotel Complex, New City Centre, Area 13 Lilongwe, MALAWI Phone: +265 994 67 77 66

Email: info.lilongwe@casinomarina.com Website: www.casinomarina.com/lilongwe/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/Casino-MarinaMalawi-1808129156126652/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/casino_marina_ llilongwe/ CASINO MARINA BLANTYRE: MALAWI Located in Malawi’s Blantyre city , Casino Marina Lilongwe offers the top casino gaming options in Malawi. The Casino’s General Manager is Tom Alcorn. Casino Marina LILONGWE Golden Peacock Hotel Complex, New City Centre, Area 13 Lilongwe, MALAWI Phone: +265 994 67 77 66 Email: info.lilongwe@casinomarina.com Website: www.casinomarina.com/lilongwe/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/Casino-MarinaMalawi-1808129156126652/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/casino_marina_llilongwe/ CASINO MARINA LUSAKA: ZAMBIA Based in Zambia’s capital city, and in one of the fastest growing cities in sub-Saharan Africa, Casino Marina Lusaka offers casino gaming enthusiasts the best gaming facilities in the country. The Casino’s General Manager is Mr. Quintin Fouche. Casino Marina LUSAKA Plot 402, Kasangula Road, Roma Area Lusaka ZAMBIA Phone: +260 967137502 Email: marketing.lusaka@casinomarina.com Website: www.casinomarina.com/lusaka/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/CasinoMarinaZambia/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/casino_marina_lusaka/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarinaZambia NAUTILUS CASINO NAMPULA: MOZAMBIQUE AV. Eduardo Mondlane Edificio Girassol Nampula Mozambique Phone: +258 87 253 5555 Facebook: www.facebook.com/pg/CasinoMarinaNampula CASINO MARINA HARARE: ZIMBABWE Long Chen Plaza , Cnr Samora Machel & Mutley Bend Harare, Zimbabwe Facebook: www.facebook.com/Casino-MarinaHarare-Zimbabwe February / March 2021


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Jika Sports Aims to Turn Around South African Sportsbetting Virtual sports is big business in Africa and there’s no better proponent of the art than developer and provider Kiron Interactive. Gaming for Africa takes a look at the company’s roadmap and its latest localised service, Jika Sports

WE’RE ALL familiar with the events of the last 12 months or so. In general terms at least, it’s been a regular rollercoaster with perhaps more dips than climbs, particularly for those invested in the sports betting industry. But for those who have bet on virtual games being the future, the brakes have been released and the sector is enjoying one of its most successful periods since its inception. Kiron Interactive is one such innovator. Having pioneered virtual racing 19 years ago, it has been instrumental in the development and expansion of the virtual sports industry. Since it launched its first ever horse racing game in 2001 from its Johannesburg headquarters, its portfolio has grown to become one of the most diverse on the market, with 24 quality virtual games now available across its global markets. Today, almost all of the major sports events, from football and hockey to basketball and motor racing, have a virtual alternative and with every new sport added or new format developed, the vertical’s appeal grows. That growth, particularly in Africa, culminated in the 2019 launch of a virtual betting destination for the South African market, Jika Sports, a move

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Gaming For Africa

that made virtual sports available across all major South African bookmakers online, on mobile and in retail outlets. Among the seven games on offer are the action-packed Jika Soccer game, available in English, Italian, and Spanish league formats, while Jika Racing consists of Kiron’s thrilling market-leading suite of racing games, including horseracing, jumps and greyhound racing. The Jika Sports portfolio has been developed and deployed on technologically advanced and robust platforms by Kiron’s globally experienced team. As such, it is fully certified in South Africa, with the developer holding a manufacturer’s licence with the South African National Gambling Board and certification through the NRCS with approvals from all Provincial Licensing Authorities to deploy these games in all nine provinces. Such a tailored and localised product offering couldn’t have come at more opportune time for the market in South Africa as not long after, of course, the pandemic hit and professional sports was wiped from the calendar almost overnight, leaving bettors without any live events to enjoy. Analysis suggests that revenue in the sports industry will be under

US$74bn in 2020 as a result of the crisis, almost half that of the pre-covid estimates. So Jika Sports and Kiron’s wider global products are testament to the huge value of diversity in content offerings. If the last 12 month’s industry struggles taught us anything, it’s that a varied product portfolio is not just nice to have, but essential. The challenges faced during the sports vacuum have forced operators across the world to recognise virtual content as a stable and consistent income stream. In Africa’s strongest online markets, notably Kenya, alternative virtual sports provided a lifeline to keep customers engaged in the absence of sports betting. The vertical succeeded in driving revenue, acquiring customers, and retaining them over the long term. The challenge now is to maintain momentum. From the supplier side, it’s important that the recent spike in revenues is reinvested in product development. Kiron knows all too well that there is no time to rest on its laurels if it is to sustain the current pace of growth. New games and variants will serve to broaden the appeal and continue to attract new audiences, but it recognises that it also needs to concentrate on quality. One of Kiron’s strengths is the level of authenticity provided by its products. With sharpened focus on technology it can make the virtual experience even more akin to the real-life counterpart. For its most recent product launch, GOAL, Kiron’s in-house animation division and a dedicated team of highly skilled software engineers, worked tirelessly for 18 months to capture the vitality of live football and recreate the high-level stadium atmosphere, even using a real football team with commentary provided by live commentators. But the success of the game wouldn’t have been possible without investment in state-of-the-art motion capture, in combination with the latest gaming technologies and Kiron’s industry-leading maths and algorithms. Continued on page 26

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The Rise in Popularity of Evolution and Ezugi Live Dealer Games in South Africa Evolution Service’s SA’s CEO, Dean Finder sits down for a Q&A with Gaming for Africa and tells us more about Live Dealer Games and what he foresees for the industry’s future. IT SEEMS like Live Dealer games are growing in popularity in online gaming at the moment? Since the commencement of lockdown in March 20, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Evolution Services SA Recorded a significant increase in the number of transactions and players, playing Live Dealer Games on our operator’s websites. Factors influencing this trend would have been the closure of Land Based casinos and suspension of Sporting Events and Horse Racing during the hard lockdown. Players who would normally place bets in Retail Betting Shops and Casino’s migrated to online betting platforms as a form of entertainment. South African consumers now have access to state-of-the-art mobile technology and data and Wi-Fi packages are more affordable which facilitates more online gaming activity. The sheer thrill and user experience players are getting on bookmakers’ websites is unprecedented and this is also assisting in making these games so popular. Players don’t need to study form or have intimate betting knowledge to participate. Do you see this trend continuing, and what do you think the future holds for igaming? Definitely! We are very bullish on the growth this sector will continue to show for all operators and suppliers. While there are of course economic headwinds, COVID has changed the landscape not only for betting and gaming but all sectors of the economy. There will always be a place for bricks and mortar, however, no one can dispute online, and the growth thereof is the future. From a personal perspective, we anticipate further growth within the Evolution Services SA stable, as Evolution and Ezugi launch exciting new games and we onboard new Operators. We currently have our flagship retail Bet on Numbers live lottery draw active in Betting World; however, we have a fullblown retail roll out strategy in place for 2021 across multiple operators, with four exciting new retail games being added to our retail wagering platform. Evolution recently acquired NetEnt and Red Tiger which means that Evolution Services SA will be adding Slots and Instant games, to our already enormous offering, to our operator’s websites to cater for that segment of the market. This is due to launch in the latter part of 2021.

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Gaming For Africa

What are the benefits to operators and players? There will always be players who enjoy the hum of the Casino machines and being in the casino environment, however, there is an ever-growing number of players who prefer to gamble in the comfort of their own home. Online gambling provides entertainment 24/7, 365 days a year, especially in the current times that we live, where social distancing has become a way of life. This also means that one does not have travel to a gambling establishment to have access to your favourite traditional live dealer games. We live in a society where people love to be connected via social media platforms, therefore Evolution and Ezugi games live chats are a great way for players to interact with our dealers and other players across the globe. Most of our operators run various promotions and loyalty campaigns on their websites and it is a great way for the players to earn rewards and potentially win prizes while playing their favourite Live Dealer Games. The benefit to operators is that apart from an initial set up fee and regular technical maintenance on their sites, the overheads on Live Dealer Games are low. Ezugi and Evolution deal with staffing issues, development of new games and features as well as equipment maintenance and sanitisation of studios. A plug and play concept! Online gaming eliminates the need for cash transactions and the issues and safety and risk that comes with dealing with large amounts of cash. Players can easily credit their online accounts with operators and winnings are transferred directly into the players online account, and the player can decide when to cash out and credit their bank account. Most of all the games suite we offer are backed by tried and trusted brands that are of the highest integrity. Odds and pay-outs are standard worldwide and the RTP’s are transparent and very fair to the player and operator. Importantly, all our games and integrations are tested and certified to comply with the local regulations.

Evolution was voted the Live Casino Supplier of the Year for the 11th year running at the EGR B2B Awards and is a testament to the high-quality Live Dealer Games we offer which includes traditional live Dealer Games such as Roulette, Blackjack, Poker, Baccarat and Dice Games. Evolution launched the most entertaining, top- performing Game Show ever, Crazy Time in 2020. Other popular Game Show titles include Monopoly Live, Deal or No Deal, Mega Ball and Foot Ball Studio. Most of the popular Game Types are also available in RNG/ First Person Variations with R1 minimum bets and is a great way for first time players to try their hand at the games before moving to the Live variations. Continued on page 31

Tell us a bit more about your products and services. Both the Ezugi and Evolution teams are made up of industry professionals, product experts, developers and talented designers, that ensure the player gets the ultimate gaming experience.

February / March 2021



TCSJOHNHUXLEY launches Care & Protect Chipper Champ UV

TCSJOHNHUXLEY’s original Chipper Champ Chipping Machine was introduced over forty years ago and subsequently transformed the game of roulette. Now the Chipper Champ UV is about to do the same.

GAMING CHIPS are an essential element of any live casino table game but due to the amount of handling they require, there is a possibility for germs to easily spread. Providing players and dealers with suitable levels of protection is vital at this time to help combat the spread of the virus. Through TCSJOHNHUXLEY’S Care & Protect range of products, the company has been working to provide operators with the right tools to ensure suitable levels of safety are achieved, bringing peace of mind to everyone who works in or visits a casino.

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Gaming For Africa

The introduction of the Chipper Champ UV with its in-built UV-C light technology, a proven sanitation tool, is a game-changer. Available for both the Chipper Champ 2 and Chipper Champ Pro, chips can now be automatically sanitised at the same time as being sorted without any delay to the game. This new addition, which can be retro fitted to existing chipping machines, allows one side of the chip to pass through the UV-C sanitiser unit whilst being sorted. Accordingly, repeat cycles during a player’s game session will ensure both sides are exposed to the sanitising unit. This provides

players with peace of mind that their chips are constantly being sanitised whilst in play. With safety of paramount importance, the Chipper Champ UV incorporates an automatic protection feature that cuts power to the UV-C lamp should the door be opened during operation. This ensures an extra safeguard for casino staff and guarantees no harmful light can escape. For more information on this and other products in the Care & Protect Range, visit: https://www.tcsjohnhuxley.com/productcategory/care-protect-range

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Watch Cyber Security for Online Gaming in SA Webinar The Israel Trade Mission to South Africa in conjunction with the Israel Export Institute and Gaming for Africa hosted an webinar for Cyber Security for Online Gaming in South Africa.

THERE WERE four case study presentations presented by the below companies: 1. The biggest mistakes gaming CISOs are making – Reuven Aronashvili Founder and CEO of CYE 2. How to protect your data without any code changes. – David Talinovsky SecuPi COO 3. Mitigation of Ransom denial of service attacks

on online gaming organizations – Egbert du Toit Imperva, Enterprise Account Executive 4. Automated penetrating testing for the gaming industry – Noam Segev Pcysys Regional Director Southern Europe, CEE, CIS & Africa. There were over 70 registrations, and over 20 B2B meetings. Majority of the

registrations came from the Gambling industries in South Africa. The feedback that was received from Israel and South Africa participants was very positive and we expect many opportunities to develop from this event, said Israel Trade Mission to SA’s Karishma Sewduth. WATCH THE RECORDED WEBINAR HERE:

Jika Sports Aims to Turn Around South African Sportsbetting Continued from page 18 At the same time, and particularly in retail dominated African markets, there needs to be a concerted focus on online development. The continent’s challenges are known all too well by operators who have been forced to embrace digital

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Gaming For Africa

channels by the pandemic, but it’s now a case of adapting to survive. Of course, that is easier said than done in markets where data is expensive, connectivity is patchy and payment systems and infrastructure differ widely. Each nation attaches its own set of unique difficulties on these aspects too. For virtuals to reach their full potential on the continent, Kiron and its contemporaries need to work collaboratively. Its base in Johannesburg has provided it with the opportunity to react to the local challenges proactively and the company’s focus now is expanding its reach. This on-the-ground presence will become even more crucial as online sectors develop, no doubt instigating concurrent regulatory changes, and localisation becomes ever more essential. Kiron now operates in over 33 countries in Africa, with Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and of course South Africa being its strongest markets. Part of its success in the

region is a tailored approach to partnerships and localised content, such as Jika Sports. Kiron is now not only looking at the gameplay, animation, graphics, commentary and bet markets, but also working with operator partners to ensure virtual products are positioned correctly. Ultimately, Kiron, like many others in the African industry want to see the virtuals market here thrive - and it is taking every step possible to make it a main contender on the global stage. February / March 2021


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Dealing with the Increase in Cybersecurity Threats by Robin Williams, CISA, CDPSE, CIA IT Lead Robin@grippadvisory.co.za

Introduction Since the start of the covid-19 pandemic in 2020, security researchers have estimated that cybersecurity attacks have increased by 300%1, with over 45 000 hack attempts occurring every day in South Africa2. The increase in number is driven primarily with the fast adoption of digital transformation to enable remote working from home, the establishment and increase of hacking forums where information about vulnerable organisations are exchanged, and due to the profile of the typical hacker evolving with the establishment and accessibility of automated penetration test tools allows any interested person to become a hacker. Another alarming prediction is that the total cost for cybercrime committed globally will reach $6 trillion in 2021, up from $3 trillion in 20153. Why is cybersecurity important for gambling operators? Gambling operators, including online and land-based casino operations, Limited Payout Machine (LPMs) and Bingo operators have been a target for scammers and fraudsters since the early days of gambling. Criminals tend to follow the flow of money, and with significant money changing hands in the gambling business, it has always been a natural fit to target these operations. So much so, gambling operators have become synonymous with high-level security, employing secure networks over its operational gaming systems and employing teams of loss prevention / security officers in and around the gambling floor to limit the risk. As gambling operators do an increasing amount of business online, the threat from scammers remains relevant, if not heightened from before – only the landscape has changed. So instead of chip switching scams, hidden

earpieces and heists, we see denial of service (DoS) attacks, game hacks and fraud involving user accounts (i.e., stealing confidential and payment information). Cybersecurity is an increasingly big issue for gambling operators, if not more important than security at land-based gambling operations. With a more condensed target, and various ways to potentially penetrate digitised systems, gambling operations need to be more proactive than ever to secure their platforms. With the rise of hacking forums on the internet and information available on the dark web regarding the trade of compromised accounts and / or backdoors into gambling networks, gambling operators need to incorporate threat intelligence into their security plans to identify emerging, unknown threats and attacks that can be launched against their organisations and react promptly to this information before it turns into a breach. Risks of Hacking It’s important for gambling operators to take measures to prevent loopholes and exploits from giving criminals or attackers access through the back door. If a gambling operation is vulnerable, it’s potentially exposing the personal details of its customers to the fraudsters, who could then use this data to steal either directly or indirectly from the customer or the operator. Privacy legislation such as POPI or the European variant called GDPR, requires organisations including gambling operators to design their systems and processes with privacy and security in mind. These regulators put all organisations to the test when it comes to cybersecurity posture and effectiveness and requires disclosure of any data breaches as soon as they become apparent, which is a public relations disaster waiting to happen.

There may also be licensing issues for those found wanting. And of course, it does nothing to build trust between the customer and their chosen gambling operator, if online operators are vulnerable to these types of attacks. This has potentially longer-term implications for gambling operators, and as we have seen with high profile hacks in years gone by, there’s the very real potential of destroying a trusted gambling operator brand. Unfortunately, this is not a static picture either, with the risks and defences in cybersecurity constantly changing and evolving. As a result, it’s essential that gambling operators take the risks seriously and take steps to protect against these threats both now and in the future. What control measures can you put in place to prevent cyber related security incidents? During the Cold War, US President Ronald Reagan adopted a signature phrase – ‘trust but verify’ – in delicate negotiations with the Soviet Union. This was a great framework to ensure that both East and West complied with the conditions of the nuclear disarmament treaties. Absolute security has always been an impossible goal, but there is a need to adopt a new framework to truly minimize business risk. The current digitally transformed world has created a completely dynamic environment where a static trusted state cannot be assumed. This requires a rethink of Reagan’s mantra. Now a ‘verify and keep verifying’ approach is needed. This zero-trust attitude to network security means that one cannot make any assumptions, and one has to continually authorise and protect organisations and their people, their assets and their workloads. Continued on page 30

Internet Crime Complaint Centre (IC3) as reported by www.thehill.com Research from Kaspersky on South Africa cyber trends 3 Kaspersky global report on cyber crime 1 2

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Dealing with the Increase in Cybersecurity Threats Continued from page 28 An organisations effort needs to tackle cyber security holistically covering the people, process and technology elements of internal control, while having a good balance of preventative (controls to prevent cyber risk from occurring) and detective controls (mechanisms to identify breaches when they happen) to effectively manage cyber risk. The implementation of best practice Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) or security program is a good starting point in tackling cyber risk and applying the zero-trust principle, which is incorporated in nearly all ISMS frameworks. The benefit of adopting a best practice security framework is that the organisations that have designed these frameworks continuously research the threat landscapes and ensures that their frameworks are relevant to tackle the latest threats and vulnerabilities available. The foundational and baseline practices organisations should consider and can implement to provide basic level of protection to cyber risks are: Detection, Response and Mitigation Security incidents can happen without warning and they often go undetected for long periods of time. On average, it takes organisations 6 months to detect a breach after an initial compromise4. Detective controls are important in the fight against cybercrime and it is important that security teams have systems and processes in place to review security logs generated to identify suspicious activity in a timely manner. The time taken to detect a breach has financial implications, with faster detection rates decreasing the costs. A security incident response plan should be developed and accompany the detection efforts detailing the steps to contain and control a security related incident to prevent further unauthorised access to data and information. Vulnerability Management and Penetration Testing A vulnerability assessment is an automated technical assessment designed to find as many

4

flaws as possible in a computer environment. Organisations should enable continuous vulnerability scans to identify and remediate any vulnerabilities that can be exposed by an attacker. This should be supplemented with recurring penetration tests to monitor security exposures and evaluate the effectiveness of the security team’s response to a security incident. Patch Management 20% of breaches recorded occurred because systems were running outdated software that had known security vulnerabilities. It is important that organisations ensure that all systems remain up to date and are patched as soon as security patches become available. Configuration Review All devices connected to an organisations network should be configured according to a best practice baseline to sufficiently harden the network and stay up to date with the latest security trends. Awareness and Security Training Staff are normally considered the weakest link when it comes to cyber security as initial attacks are targeted towards employees through phishing campaigns. Organisations should continuously train staff on security risks and conduct routine social engineering and security breach simulations to improve security behaviours. End Point and Perimeter Protection It is important to ensure that anti-virus protection is enabled to protect all endpoints and firewalls with intrusion detection (IDS) and protection services (IPS) to prevent malicious and harmful traffic coming into the organisations network. Firewall rules and configurations should be regularly reviewed to ensure that weaknesses in the security of the network will be found prior to exploitation and allow rules to be updated as necessary to meet technology changes or new threats. Cyber Security Reviews It is important to continuously review your information security practices for gaps or

deficiencies to ensure that the network and connected devices are sufficiently hardened to protect against cyber-attacks, and that the organisation have adequate protection from cyber risk. A combination of internal assessments performed by the security team together with expert companies specialising in cybersecurity assessments should be used to continuously assess the effectiveness of cybersecurity controls in place. A cyber security review is a comprehensive audit focusing on reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the people, process and technology arrangements in place dealing with cyber risk, and incorporates validating the controls through the performance of penetration testing and vulnerability analysis. Conclusion Managing cybersecurity or, more specifically, managing cybersecurity risk, is much more than just technology and, in most cases, has nothing to do with having the money to afford state-ofthe-art technology. Managing cybersecurity risk is generally a matter of acquiring affordable technology and, above all, getting the basics right: managing people, processes and organisation, and setting up governance and operational models (i.e. security framework) that work. This is easily said but is a big challenge by itself, particularly in larger organisations where several teams and service providers are involved, each of them with a specific service level agreement. The more pieces in the puzzle, the more complex it becomes, and the reality will prove that defining and improving security related roles, responsibilities and processes in organisations will turn out to be more valuable than implementing next-generation firewalls and technology acquired by the organisation to address cyber risk. There is no magic solution, nor a single approach that fits all. Knowing the organisation, the industry in which it operates, the risk and the resources will result in a better position to develop the right solution.

Research from Kaspersky

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Gaming For Africa

February / March 2021


Interbet’s CSI and SED Projects Bearing Fruit Easing the profound hardship caused by the national lockdown by reaching out to the most vulnerable and hardest-hit communities has been the core focus of Interbet’s CSI and SED strategy during 2020. “As a caring corporate citizen in the time of an unprecedented global crisis, Interbet was committed to investing its CSI and SED contributions to projects which bring immediate and tangible, on-the-ground relief where it is needed the most,” explains Gary Piha, CEO of Interbet. ”IN DOING so, Interbet has forged meaningful working relationships with a range of non-profit organisations which are actively involved in addressing vital, ongoing community needs springing from the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Piha. “Over the past year, we are proud to have contributed almost R400,000 towards the efforts of a number of dedicated and selfless non-profit organisations whose commitment to bringing relief at a time of unparalleled hardship is an example to us all.” The organisations which have benefited from these donations include Ladles of Love, a non-profit feeding scheme founded by Danny Diliberto, which began modestly with one soup kitchen, but has expanded exponentially to provide food relief to tens of thousands of destitute people. Since the commencement of the national lockdown, Ladles of Love has provided bulk food for over eight million meals. Interbet made a sizeable contribution to the SA Medical and Education Foundation (or the SAME Foundation), which provides equipment and infrastructure, as well as much-needed healthcare training to schools,

hospitals and clinics in poorly resourced and povertystricken areas. Interbet’s contribution was applied towards procuring vital life-saving medical equipment and PPE for the Tygerberg and Groote Schuur hospitals in the Western Cape. Interbet also contributed R100,000 to the Ikamva Labantu Charitable Trust, an NPO working throughout the Western Cape’s township communities which is dedicated to creating sustainable socioeconomic change. These investments were supplemented by a donation to VMS Charity, an NPO based in Athlone in the Western Cape, which was applied towards the provision of free medical, dental and related healthcare services to orphanages, child and youth care centres, safe homes, shelters for abused women with children, homes for the destitute, special care centres and old age homes, as well as specialised training provided to doctors and dentists. “Interbet’s focus on the needs of vulnerable members of the community extended further to providing aid for the elderly, in the form of a

contribution to The Association for the Aged (“TAFTA”),” adds Piha. Interbet’s donation to TAFTA went towards the provision of sheltered housing and healthcare for vulnerable members of the elderly community. “At Interbet, we place enormous value not only on our CSI projects, but also on channelling our resources towards the development of new and sustainable PDI-owned enterprises,” says Piha. ”During the past year,” he adds, “Interbet has been both privileged and delighted to have been able to assist four upand-coming PDI business entrepreneurs with the vital seed funding needed to establish their businesses, in the form of interest-free loans totaling just short of R1.5 million. All too often, the will to start a business and the experience to make a success of it are already there – and all that is needed is a financial kick-start. It is in this arena that Interbet takes particular pride, having provided the platform for a number of vibrant emerging enterprises, offering a range of services, including a removal service, a taxi service, a car wash and the establishment of a brand-new supplier of core services.

The Rise in Popularity of Live Dealer Games Continued from page 22 Ezugi has grown into an industry giant in a very short period of time, now broadcasting from nine studios around the world and various land-based casino’s, such as the Golden Nugget in New Jersey and Portomaso in Malta, to mention a few. Ezugi’s game portfolio includes popular favourites such as Roulette, Poker, Baccarat and Sic Bo and Blackjack. Ezugi caters for Niche markets with the addition of the Chinese games such as themed Baccarats, Dragon Tiger and Sic Bo and Indian Games which include favourites like 32 Cards, Lucky7, Teen Patti, Bet on Teen Patti, and Namaste Roulette, Andar Bahar. Ezugi have a presence in Retail with our Flagship Lottery Style game Bet On Numbers being streamed in Betting World branches. I have already outlined earlier our retail plans for 2021, of course depending on COVID-19 restrictions and its impact on retail betting shops. I also alluded to the addition of NetEnt and February / March 2021

Red Tiger slots resultant of them being acquired by Evolution in December 2020. We believe slots online will be the next big game changer in online betting in South Africa. Watch this space. What is your advice to an operator looking to offer Live Dealers as part of their gaming mix? Don’t hesitate to add it, it’s a must have product that any bookmakers online offering must contain! Our Advice would be to always deal with suppliers who are licenced and certified according to requirements set by the various Gaming Boards in South Africa. Adding Evolution and Ezugi Live Dealer games to an operators existing product offering not only adds another revenue stream for the operator, but Live Dealer Games and Games Shows are live when other forms of sports and retail betting could be affected by COVID-19. Operators who were live with our products over the hard lockdown experienced this benefit which helped cushion the loss of revenue from retail operations.

Do you foresee local African and South African terrestrial casinos stepping into this space soon? They have already! Peermont via their online operations Palacebet, BETcoza who are 50% owned by Tsogo are all live and performing well, while Sunbet, who are the online operations of Sun International are set to go live with our offering in the next few months. Both Ezugi and Evolution offer Dual Play also known as OTT (Over the table) Roulette and Baccarat Tables, where high resolution cameras are placed above the tables in Casinos and has proven to be very popular, as players know and have the peace of mind that they are betting online, however, on the outcome of a real live Roulette or Baccarat game from a licenced casino. This allows land-based casinos to add an additional revenue stream and benefit from online gaming platforms. We are currently exploring these opportunities with a local casino group, along with the respective regulator to take this exciting local opportunity forward in the very near future. Again, watch this space! Gaming For Africa

31


Table Tennis Shows Unexpected Popularity During Covid SunBet index indicates unexpected rise in popularity of the sport SUNBET, A division of South Africa’s leading hospitality and leisure Group Sun International, has announced that the most popular sports during 2020 were Football, Tennis, Cricket, Basketball, Rugby, and, unexpectedly, Table Tennis. SunBet, South Africa’s premier online betting platform, announced this finding at the conclusion of its first ever SunBet Gaming Index, which is set to be released on a regular basis. Nitesh Matai, SunBet’s General Manager, said “Table Tennis became the most popular sport during hard lockdowns last year, by a long way. We also saw people waging money on the outcome of games in unlikely sports such as Darts, Esports, Ice Hockey and Volleyball.” Football remains perennially popular

during the major European leagues which run from August to May. However, some sports may become more popular during a specific month due to a major tournament. Tennis picks up in terms of turnover and volume during the four majors (Australian Open, French

Open, Wimbledon, US Open), the same way cricket betting picks up during the Indian Premier League or rugby during Super Rugby. “This rang true for 2020 as well, except during the complete global shutdown of just about all sports as the world came to terms of the Covid virus,” said Matai. Another interesting statistic is that the average player spent about 15 minutes a day betting. “2021 looks set to be a monumental year in terms of sports betting, provided that the current pandemic is contained. Many major tournaments that were scheduled to take place in 2020 were postponed to this year,” said Matai. “We are looking forward to a fun-filled betting year and welcoming more bettors to SunBet, which offers trustworthy and secure sports betting and gaming options easily, anywhere and at anytime,” concluded Matai.

TABLE TENNIS ANYONE?

32

Gaming For Africa

February / March 2021



NorthWest Gambling Board Mourns Death of Segomotso The North West Gambling Board has learnt with shock the untimely passing of its Corporate Services Manager, Mrs Segomotso Motlhabane. She passed away in late Febuary after a short illness. MRS MOTLHABANE joined the Gambling Board in 2016 and throughout her tenure as one of the Executive Managers she demonstrated ethical leadership, administrative astuteness and efficacy. She was affectionately referred to as “Mme” meaning a Mother is Setswana. Before joining the Gambling Board Mrs Motlhabane had an illustrious career in the public service spanning over two decades having served as a Deputy Director under the Chief Directorate of Corporate Services at the North West Department of Local Government. She was also coordinator for the Media In Education Trust (MIET AFRICA) which was a non-governmental organisation funded by the Royal Netherlands Embassy. The primary objective of the NGO was confined within the rural sustainability projects such as HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns and roll out of vegetable gardens. It was during this period that

she worked closely with organisations such as Treatment Action Campaign & Life Line as a Local Coordinator of the AIDS Council. She also contributed immensely in building the NGO sector, helping to streamline their operations and lobbying funding to ensure their sustainability and efficacy. Her work in both the public sector and non-governmental organisation is unapparelled. She held various qualifications ranging from a Diploma in Teaching and an LLB Degree which she obtained from the Mahikeng Campus of the North West University in 2008. The Chief Executive Officer of the North West Gambling Board, Mr Nathan Oliphant wishes to take this opportunity and convey his condolences to the management, staff and the family of Mrs Motlhabane. “May Her Soul Rest In Eternal Peace!,” Mr Oliphant said.

US Firm Acquires Kenya’s Surebet TransAtlantic Capital Inc, a Nevada-based investment business, has acquired Kenyan licensed lottery and sports betting company Surebet. TRANSATLANTIC CLAIMS the transaction makes it the first US company to acquire a gaming platform in East Africa. According to TACI, Kenya has a reported mobile market of over five million daily gamers who spend on average $20 on betting, and that being the first public company to secure a footprint in East African Gaming makes it ‘an attractive opportunity for USA shareholders to participate in the financial growth of Africa.’ The investment business says that in 2018, people in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa placed bets totalling over $40bn. While those wagers were mainly on football and horse racing, there is a growing interest in North American football, basketball, and baseball as well. Julies Jenge CEO of TransAtlantic Capital, said: “Surebet is a nice addition to

34

Gaming For Africa

our global platform of cannabis, psilocybin. Having experience on the continent. Most people view Africa as a country that seems

to always be in need of aid, but the 1.2 billion Africans on the continent are the fastestgrowing segment of gamers.”

February / March 2021


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Gaming for Africa Magazine is Africa’s only b2b Gambling Industry & Integrated Resorts Publication, and focuses on all legalised gambling sectors on the African continent and surrounding Islands. We cover news, trends, products & technology in the gambling, casino, lottery, sportsbetting, bingo, lottery, hospitality, software, payment technologies and mobile gaming sectors.Readership consists mainly of senior to mid-level gaming industry executives across the industry, along with operators, regulators, financial authorities, buyers and allied industries aligned to the gambling sector.

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Readership is around 20 000.Through our relationship with leading casino trade publication Casino International, we reach a further estimated 15 000 readers globally. GFA Magazine is published mainly online (with a few select issues printed as hard copy for distribution at important trade events like ICE Africa) and along with its weekly e-mailed industry newsletter, Infoline, reaches a vast African industry audience. Further reach is ensured via our website and social media platforms like dedicated linkedin African Gaming groups and twitter.


PalaceBet Partners with SuperBru Sports prediction website Superbru has announced Peermont’s PalaceBet as its official Sportsbook and Live Games partner. Established in 2006 Superbru is a highly popular sports predictor brand that has sports fans competing in competitions such as the FIFA World Cup, English Premier League, Wimbledon, and even Rugby League and Cycling. ‘EVERY SPORTS fan knows Superbru, and as a brand synonymous with sports entertainment, we are thrilled to be their official partner when it comes to sports betting,’ says Peermont Chief Executive Officer Nigel Atherton. PalaceBet burst onto the scene in 2020 as the first online sportsbook of the prestigious Peermont Hotel and Casino group. Powered by the industry leading Draftkings software, PalaceBet offers a wide spread on all major sports and leagues, including soccer, rugby, cricket, boxing and motorsport from a variety of leagues around the globe. Complementing their offering, PalaceBet also offers online fixed-odds betting live games

from popular developers BetGames and Evolution Gaming. ‘We pride ourselves on partnering with the best of the best and as far as sports brands go, you don’t get better than Superbru,’ says PalaceBet General Manager Iain Gutteridge. ‘Superbru is based on the same philosophy as PalaceBet: built by sports fans, for sports fans. And as a sports nut that plays on Superbru, I am totally excited about this partnership – it’s like having your two favourite teams from different sports join forces!’ ‘There are clear synergies between our prediction games and sports betting, and the opportunity to explore those with PalaceBet

is exciting, ‘ said Andy Wood, founder of Superbru. ‘The team at Peermont share our vision, in terms of enhancing the enjoyment of sport and responsible gambling, and we will together add value to the fans’ experience.’ James Hutchison, Superbru’s Commercial Director, added, ‘We can identify those people on Superbru that are interested in sports betting, so that we can share data-driven insights and tips from our community. Those not interested in betting will not see any betting-related content or ads, maintaining the family-friendly nature of Superbru. The team at PalaceBet has been fully-supportive of this segmented approach, and we are confident that they are the perfect partner for Superbru.’

Golden Valley Casino comes to the Assistance of Barefoot Learners 98 Learners from Roodewal Primary can now walk into their school with pride, thanks to a donation of shoes from The Golden Valley Casino. CONCERNED TEACHERS approached The Golden Valley about the plight of learners

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Gaming For Africa

who are sometimes forced to go to school hungry and barefoot, because of the

hardships they and their families face. Speaking about the donation, The Golden Valley’s General Manager Keenan Bergins said, “The school is located in an area known for gangs and crime and the impact on children living there cannot be overstated. We had initially decided to donate 50 pairs of shoes but when we realized how many more children were in need, we increased the number. Seeing the joy on the faces of children whose parents battle to provide them with food, let alone shoes, was very humbling. “We applaud the commitment of teachers at the school for actively getting involved in the development of their learners, and for consciously looking for ways in which to make a difference for them.” February / March 2021


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National Lottery Operator Ithuba Clarifies its Role as Operator - Says it is Not Under Investigation Ithuba is in no way involved in current investigations into National Lotteries Commission: Ithuba’s Press Release Reads: In light of the emerging news regarding the SIU investigation of alleged corruption at the National Lotteries Commission (NLC), the National Lottery Operator, ITHUBA wishes to reaffirm our role and mandate to clear confusion and concerns raised by our players, who remain a priority to us. The mandate of the National Lottery Operator, ITHUBA, is to reinvigorate the South African National Lottery and raise funds that must be used towards developing the economic and social circumstances of South Africans. This is where our mandate and role ends, a role that we have carried out with a sense of urgency right from the beginning. Our focus has always been on delivering on this mandate while offering a versatile game portfolio, big jackpots as well as convenient gaming to our players. The Operator and the NLC are two different entities and we assure the public that ITHUBA is not under any investigation. We remain fully committed to continuing to deliver on our mandate to successfully operate the Lottery, offering life changing jackpots and elevating the South African National Lottery to world-class standard, as we have done since 2015. Ithuba Holdings Proprietary is the official operator of the National Lottery in South Africa. Since taking over the operation of the national lottery in 2015, Ithuba has been living up to their objective to reinvigorate the National Lottery through optimising the consumer experience, restoring faith and trust in the National Lottery; and showcasing its positive social contribution to society. Ithuba, proudly rooted in South Africa, is intent on contributing positively and actively to socio-economic development by producing as many millionaires as possible, as well as uplifting communities through various initiatives. Ithuba is determined to uphold the ethical and efficient operation of the National Lottery, setting the benchmark for Lottery operations in South Africa and beyond.

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Gaming For Africa

SA National Lotteries Commission Offices Raided by SIU and Hawks The Special Investigating Unit (SIU), raided the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) officers in Hatfield Pretoria in December for an array of items to help get to the bottom of any alleged corrupt activities. THIS CAME after President Cyril Ramaphosa previously gave the go-ahead for an investigation to take place regarding corruption, fraud and tender irregularities within the commission. SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago told a media outlet the teams, together with the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), lookined for items such as documents, files and computers. When asked how many people the SIU and Hawks would be investigating at the National Lotteries Commission, Kganyago instead said they would be looking at “everything” including contracts and allocations dating back to January 2014. “Once we have criminality, we will involve the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA),” said Kganyago. “We were fearful of the fact that documents might disappear now that this is in the public, we then applied for a search and seizure warrant which was granted by the magistrate yesterday and that’s why we’re here today,” he added. Kganyago said the raid started at 7:00 on Tuesday and would continue until the work was done. Ramaphosa Authorises SIU to Investigate According to media outlet GroundUp, Ramaphosa authorised the SIU to investigate the following at the National Lotteries Commission; • (a) serious maladministration in connection with the affairs of the NLC; • (b) improper or unlawful conduct by employees or officials of the NLC; • (c) unlawful appropriation or expenditure of public money or property; • (d) unlawful, irregular or unapproved acquisitive acts, transactions, measures or practices having a bearing upon state property; • (e) intentional or negligent loss of public money or damage to public property; • (f) offences in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act; and • (g) unlawful or improper conduct by any person, which has caused or may cause serious harm to the interests of the public – “or any category thereof”. Corruption Watch’s head of legal and investigations Karam Singh said: “We are very pleased to see a proclamation in the National Lotteries Commission matter. It is something we have tracked given the stories for many years of alleged corruption. We hope the investigation can address the serious allegations of financial irregularities as reported.” February / March 2021


WHO’S WHO IN THE LIMITED PAYOUT MACHINE, BINGO AND LOTTERY OPERATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA ROUTE OPERATORS VUKANI GAMING CORPORATION - Head office VUKANI GAMING CORPORATION (Western Cape) GRAND PARADE INVESTMENTS LIMITED GPI Management Services Chief Operating Officer: Slots TBA Grandslots – General Manager Tyrone Jacobs Kingdomslots - General Manager Felix Mthembu Grand Gaming: Slots – General Manager Kiran Rama KZN Slots GM: Prakashnie Govender Luck@it - KwaZulu-Natal BINGO OPERATORS VIVA BINGO - Lawrence Smith GALAXY BINGO - Chris Du Toit (CEO) SA BINGO - Manny Stavrou NATIONAL LOTTERY OPERATOR Ithuba SAGMA Wavell Alexander BASA Bingo Assoc. of SA - Lawrence Smith NATIONAL CEMS OPERATOR Route Gaming Solutions

TEL 011 268 6420 021 526 4440

FAX 011 268 6434 021 551 0195

021-421 7771 021-419 2225 031-583 9800 087 350 1456 031 368 9700 (031) 548 6069

Fax: 031 368 3950 (031) 548 6070

011 279 7900 011 384 1900 011 791 5507

086 648 1226 086 262 6045 011 791 1609

011 346 6000

www.ithubalottery.co.za

011 542 2760 011 279 7900

086 648 1226

011 787 7744

MANUFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS WHO’S WHO TEL

FAX/EMAIL

Andy Hudson (Managing Director):

+27 11 468 1315

aph@3pointgaming.co.za

Samantha Dennison (General Manager):

+27 11 468 1315

shd@3pointgaming.co.za

Kobus de la Porte (Technical Sales Manager)

+27 73 396 5365

kdl@3pointgaming.co.za

Alicia Nydoo (Financial Manager)

+27 11 468 1315

and@3pointgaming.co.za

Managing Director: Cliff Lamberton

(011) 514 5000

cliff@aces.co.za

24/7 Support:

(011) 514 5050

support@aces.co.za

Managing Director – Mike Alexander

(011) 997 4208

mike.alexander@umafrika.co.za

Sales Manager – Paul Nicole

(011) 997 4200

paul.nicole@umafrika.co.za

Operations Director – Ovy Litlhakanyane

(011) 997 4235

ovy.litlhakanyane@umafrika.co.za

Compliance Director – Pramodh Munbodh

(011) 997 4214

pramodh.munbodh@umafrika.co.za

General Manager: Riaan Swart

(011) 466 3388

riaan@aruzegaming.co.za

Sales Manager: Jan Snyman

(011) 466 3388

jan@aruzegaming.co.za

Africa Business Development Consultant: Peter Lobban

(011) 466 3388

Peter.lobban@aruzegaming.co.za

Compliance Manager: Ann-Marie van Heerden

(011) 466 3388

annemarie@aruzegaming.co.za

Product Compliance Manager: Grantham Daniels

(011) 466 3388

gratham.daniels@aruzegaming.co.za

Technical Manager: Theunis Malan

(011) 466 3388

theunis@aruzegaming.co.za

Managing Director - Cliff Lamberton

(011) 514 5100

cliffl@atomicgaming.co.za

Operations Director - Andrew Stewart

(011) 514 5100

andrews@atomicgaming.co.za

0832001800

(011) 728 2031

MD Steve Diversi

+27 82 5651238

steve@customgaming.co.za

Operation Manager: JP Morton

+27 11 805 0005

jp.morton@customgaming.co.za

Deputy operation: Vincent Tokwe

+27 11 805 0005

vincent@customgaming.co.za

Technical; Ajay Ramdin

+27 11 805 0005

ajayramdin@customgaming.co.za

Technical; Nolo Msini

+27 11 805 0005

nolom@customgaming.co.za

3 POINT GAMING

ACE SUPPLIERS

UMAFRIKA TECHNOLOGIES

ARUZE GAMING AFRICA

ATOMIC GAMING

CASINO SPECIALISED SERVICES MD - Shaun Govender CUSTOM GAMING SOLUTIONS

CREATIVE EDGE MD - Warren Cooper

011 864 3120

credge@iafrica.com

Managing Director: Charl Geyser

+27 87 701 0740

charl@drgt.net

General Manager: Allwin Language

+27 87 701 0740

allwin@drgt.net

Operations Manager: Arnold Moffat

+27 87 701 0740

arnold@drgt.net

Finance Manager, Rushiel Prag

+27 87 701 0740

rushiel@drgt.net

Marketing Manager, Duncan Pollock

+27 87 701 0740

duncan@drgt.net

Technical Support

+27 60 544 6204

support-za@drgt.net

MD (Sales) - Dennis Williams

(011) 784 2845

Dennis@origingamer.co.za

Sales - Marc Molle

(011) 8845454

Marc@origingamer.co.za

MD - Ian Mossop

(012) 6632273

Ian.Mossop@GameSmart.co.za

Sales and Marketing - Dennis Meyer

(012) 6632273

Dennis.Meyer@GameSmart.co.za

Sales & Marketing Dir - Mario Vilela

(011) 317-1091

(011) 317-1017

Sales Manager (Bingo & LPM Africa ) - De Waal Fourie

(011) 317-1041

(011) 317-1017

Sales Manager - Etienne van Rooyen

011 317 1022

011 317 1017

Sales Executive (Other Africa) - Stella Tkachova

011 317 1043

011 317 1017

Operations - Eugene Mogami

(011) 317 1062

(011) 317 1017

Systems - Riaan Butler

(011) 317 1122

riaan.butler@igt.com

Eduard Rall - Managing Director

072 855 1709

Eduard.Rall@mpgaming.co.za

Markus Prader - Director

076 991 8013

Markus.Prader@mpgaming.co.za

Clint Young - Director

076 991 8013

Clint.Young@mpgaming.co.za

Namedi Mphahlele - Director

072 139 6883

Namedi.Mphahlele@mpgaming.co.za

DRGT™ AFRICA (PTY) LTD

GAMER

GAMESMART

IGT-AFRICA

MP GAMING

Yolindi Duplessis - Sales and Admin Manager

Yolindi.Duplessis@mpgaming.co.za

NOVOMATIC AFRICA MD – Gordon Cameron

011 847 9700

gordon@novomaticafrica.co.za

Sales – Deon Valkenborgh

011 847 9700

sales@novomaticafrica.co.za

Technical – Einstein Luther

011 847 9700

einstein@novomaticafrica.co.za

SG GAMING AFRICA Senior Director – Wavell Alexander (011) 571 7500 wavell.alexander@scientificgames.com Director of Systems & Operations – Jacques Mc Lean (011) 571 7500 jacques.mclean@scientificgames.com Director Compliance – Ishmael Masoka (011) 571 7500 ishmael.masoka@scientificgames.com Senior Manager Operations – Pieter Boers

(011) 571 7500 pieter.boers@scientificgames.com

Sales Manager – Juan Mc Ewan (011) 571 7500 juan.mcewan@scientificgames.com Field Services Manager – Wendall Kaba (011) 571 7500 wendall.kaba@scientificgames.com SIGNATURE GAMING Managing Director - Quentin Sargent

quentin@signaturegaming.co.za

Operations Director - Mike Stein

mike@signaturegaming.co.za

Commercial Director - Stephany Geremia

stephany@signaturegaming.co.za

Sales and Compliance Administrator - Lili Kozul

lili@signaturegaming.co.za

Technical Manager - Andries Dhlamini

andries@signaturegaming.co.za

Service Manager Khanya Luthuli

khanya@signaturegaming.co.za

OMEGA GAMING Managing Director - Quentin Sargent

quentin@omegagroup.co.za

Operations Director - Mike Stein

mike@omegagroup.co.za

Commercial Director - Stephany Geremia

stephany@omegagroup.co.za

Technical Director - Obert Matshili

obert@omegagroup.co.za

Sales and Marketing Executive - Sue-Marie Swart

suemarie@omegagroup.co.za

Sales and Compliance Administrator - Hayley Nel

hayley@omegagroup.co.za

TCSJOHNHUXLEY Managing Director – Christiaan Els

(011) 315-7910

christiaan.els@tcsjohnhuxley .com

Business Development Manager - Werner Coetzee

(011) 315-7910

werner.coetzee@tcsjohnhuxley.com

Technical Manager – Warren Jones

(011) 315-7910

warren.jones@tcsjohnhuxley.com

Sales and Marketing – Liza Wagner

(011) 315-7910

liza.wagner@tcsjohnhuxley.com

Novomatic SouthFury as Nigerian Government Illegal Operators Siphon Off Africa Welcomes a Trillion Naira Annually Ms Ravhanga Vows to Stamp out Illegals The Nigerian South FederalAfrica Government hashas started moves Novomatic (Pty) Ltd ai m ed at putti n g an end to the acti v i t i e s of il egal loofttery welcomed Mbofholowo Ravhanga to the position operators, which leave losses amounting to more than one Finance Manager. tril ion NaiSenior ra annual ly. To this end, the federal government through the National Lottery Regulatory Commission MBOFHO IS a 30-year-old (NLRC) isChartered to policAccountant, e unauthorized online games. that obtained her BCom Degree in Accounting from the University NATIONAL of Johannesburg in 20 11, She then obtained a is also considering on one hand LOTTERY Regulatory Commission Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting Sciences level (CBN) to monitor the payment to enlist the help of the Central Bank(CTA of Nigeria 2) from thesettlement University services of South to Africa (Unisa)in 20 14 before unauthorized lottery operations; and the Nigerian Comqualifying munications as a Chartered Accountant in 20on 16.another Originaltoly ban illegal lottery and gambling Commission (NCC) from Thohoyandou in Limpopo she brings her a wealth activities on GSM networks. It willwith be recalled that Mr Bello Maigari, acting execuof knowledge and experience. has over years tive secretary, NationalShe Lottery Trust 8Fund (NLTF) has last week raised alarm over cumulativethe experience audit, accounting, and activities in of regulatory illegal lottery operators. financial management in Business Maigari, obtained said that there were Consulting, many lottery operators in the country without Public Sector, and the Automotive a licence, adding that thisSector. has resulted to leakages in terms of what they were Ms Ravhanga Novomatic onfund. the 4th of January 2021 and that than supposed joined to remit to the trust “Nigerian government is before losing more she worked Nissan South Africa 4 years.of illegal operators. There are a lot of illegal onefortrillion Naira every yearfor because “We are lookinginforward to theand contribution Ravhanga l make operators the industry these are that partMs of the reasons wil why there are leaktowards the growth and of Novomatic South Africa,” saidregulated MD Gordon ages. Some aresuccess conducting this business without being and there are Cameron.chances that such proceeds will be channelled towards crime, fraud and money laundering,” he said.


List of S.A. Gaming Legislators & Associations PROVINCE

CONTACT

TELEPHONE

FAX

WEBSITE

NATIONAL GAMBLING BOARD LOTTERIES BOARD EASTERN CAPE

Ms Caroline Kongwa (Accounting Authority) Ms Charlotte Mampane (CEO) Adv. Ncumisa Mayosi (Chairperson) Mr. Mabutho Zwane (CEO) Mr Oompy Goeieman (Acting CEO) Mr Dali Mjila (Chairperson) Mr Primo Abrahams (CEO) Ms. Althea Lapoorta (Chairperson) Mr Tiego Kgomo (Chairperson) Mr. Nathan Oliphant (CEO) Mr Bheki Mlambo (CEO) Mr. Mdoda Eric Mbhele (Chairperson) Mr. Elijah Tijane (Chairperson) Mr Gregory Makoko (CEO) Mr Mxolisi Zwane (Chairperson) Mr Steven Ngubeni (Chief Executive Officer) Ms Sibusisiwe Ngubane (Chairperson) Ms Portia Baloyi (CEO) Mr Dhilosen Pillay (CEO) Mr Dhilosen Pillay (Chairperson) Adv. Themba Ngobese CEO

010 003 3475 012 432 1300 043 702 8300 0437 028 300 053 832 0490 053 832 0490 021 480 7400 021 480 7400 018 381 3215 018 381 3215 013 750 8000 (013) 750 8000 015 230 2300

0866185729 012 362 2591 043 748 2218 0437 482 218 053 830 4838 053 830 4838 021 422 2603 021 422 2603 018 381 4421 018 381 4421 013 750 8099 013 750 8099 015 295 3566 015 230 2300 011 581 4900 011 581 4900 086 501 8126 086 501 8126 051 404 0322 051 875 2460 +27(0)11 011 9091

www.ngb.org.za www.nlb.org.za www.ecgbb.co.za

NORTHERN CAPE WESTERN CAPE NORTHWEST MPUMALANGA LIMPOPO GAUTENG KWAZULU-NATAL FREE STATE CASINO ASSOCIATION OF SA

011 581 4800 011 581 4800 033 345 2714 033 345 2714 051 404 0300 051 405 5483 011 011 9032

www.ncgb.co.za www.wcgrb.co.za www.nwgb.co.za www.mer.org.za www.lgb.org.za 015 295 3566 www.ggb.org.za www.ggb.org.za www.kzngbb.co.za www.fsgb.co.za www.casasa.org.za

(OUTSIDE SOUTH AFRICA DIAL 0927 – PLUS AREA CODE WITHOUT 0)

African Gaming Regulators & Associations

Botswana Gambling Authority www.gamblingauthority.co.bw

Ghana Gaming Commission www.gamingcommissiongh.com GRAF Gaming Regulators Africa Forum www.gamingregulatorsafricaforum.com

Kenya Betting Control & Licensing Board www.presidency.go.ke/index.php/betting-controland-licensing-board

Uganda Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board www.lgrb.go.ug

Malawi Gaming Board www.gamingboard.org.mw Tanzania Gaming Board www.gbt.go.tz

WESTERN CAPE

EASTERN CAPE

NORTHERN CAPE

FREE STATE

KWAZULU-NATAL

NORTH/WEST

GAUTENG

MPUMALANGA

LIMPOPO PROVINCE

Maintenance and supplier licence holders 3 Point Gaming

(National Licence)

+27 11 468 1315

ACE (African Casino Equipment) (Pty) Ltd

(National Licence)

(011) 514 5000

(011) 514 5060

Aruze Gaming Africa (Pty) Ltd

(National Licence)

(011) 466 3388

(011) 466 3389

Atomic Gaming

(National Licence)

(011) 514 5100

086 558 5564

Bally Gaming Africa

(National Licence)

(011) 571 7500

(011) 571 7508

(011) 887 0553

(011) 786 4720

(010) 221 1371

+27 86 649 4210

(011) 608 0335

(011) 608 0328

+27 83 255 7545

0862243463

(011) 315 2711

(011) 315 2722

COMPANY

TELEPHONE

Bergmann Automaten GmbH Biddcom Software

(National Licence)

Bingo Vision (Pty) Ltd Casino Specialised Services (Pty) Ltd

(National Licence)

Coin Security Cotswold Micro Systems Ltd

FAX

• • •

• • •

• • •

• •

• •

• •

• •

• •

(011) 493 6246

(011) 493 2568

Custom Gaming Solutions

(National Licence)

0860 664443

086 555 4677

DRGT™ Africa

(National Licence)

087 701 0470

086 689 5445

Electronic Vending Services

(National Licence)

(011) 708 2542

(011) 708 2596

GameSmart (Pty) Ltd

(National Licence)

(012) 663 2273

(012) 663 2683

GTECH S.p.A. (Spielo International)

(National Licence)

+49 57 412 409 9950

GVV

(National Licence)

011 823 6278

0865 002 611

IGT - Africa

(National Licence)

(011) 317 1000

(011) 317 1017

(011) 466 2821

(011) 466 2822

Money Autotech (Pty) Ltd

MP Gaming

(National Licence)

076 991 8013

086 563 4775

Novomatic Africa (Pty) Ltd

(National Licence)

(011) 847 9700

(011) 315 1579

Omega Gaming (Pty) Ltd

(National Licence)

(011) 745 0777

(011) 466 1038

+1 702 384 2425

+1 702 384 1965

Paul-Son Gaming Supplies Inc

Playmeter Leisure Services (Pty) Ltd

(National Licence)

083 448 4444

(011) 728 0231

Route Gaming Solutions (Pty) Ltd

(National Licence)

(011) 787 7744

(011) 781 8649

(011) 887 6035

(011) 887 5641

(011) 315 7910

(011) 315 7912

SA Gaming TCS John Huxley

(National Licence)

• •

Tsoaranang Holdings UmAfrika Technologies (Pty) Ltd

• (National Licence)

(011) 997 4200

(011) 608 0030

Viscount Portfolio (Pty) Ltd Viva Bingo

(011) 314 1720

(011) 314 1811

Vukani Gaming Corporation (Pty) Ltd

(011) 268 6420

(011) 268 6434

(011) 542 2760

(011) 314 6969

WMS Gaming Africa

40

Gaming For Africa

(National Licence)

• • •

February / March 2021


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© 2020 IGT. The trademarks and/or service marks used herein are either trademarks or registered trademarks of IGT, its affiliates or its licensors. Artwork, descriptions, game play, photographs, videos, and other product details depicted are subject to change. Our business solutions empower customers to choose parameters and practices that become the foundation of their Responsible Gaming programs..



Articles inside

Table Tennis Shows Unexpected Popularity During Covid

1min
page 34

Gaming for Africa Magazine - Africa's leading Gambling Trade Publication

8min
pages 30, 32

Watch Cyber Security for Online Gaming in SA Webinar

1min
page 28

TCSJOHNHUXLEY launches Care & Protect Chipper Champ UV

1min
page 26

The Rise in Popularity of Evolution and Ezugi Live Dealer Games in South Africa

6min
page 24

Jika Sports Aims to Turn Around South African Sportsbetting

5min
page 20

Casino Lion Opens in Madagascar

1min
page 14

Mr. Rahul Wijeratne, Executive Director Rank Holdings, speaking during the opening of Casino Marina Harare

5min
page 12

Creative Edge Introduces Home-Grown Home-Grown Digital Signage Revolution

1min
page 8

Peermont Launches Ground-breaking Winners Circle App

2min
page 6

Red Hot Games Enters South African Slots Market

1min
page 6

Pragmatic Play Enters South Africa with CDP Gaming Deal

1min
page 4

Hollywoodbets Backs All-Female Horseracing Operation

1min
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