Gaming for Africa - Issue 161

• Chance to win big payouts

• Builds thrills and excitement

• 4 Random Roulette Xtra numbers selected each game

• Random Multiplier pays out up to 500 to 1

Roulette Xtra is an exciting new game from TCSJOHNHUXLEY that combines the traditional game of Roulette with a thrilling random multiplier bet. To find out more visit tcsjohnhuxley.com

Publisher & Editor

Roy Bannister

Executive Publisher Ingrid Keulder

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@gmail.com

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

espite the aftershock effects from the global pandemic of a looming recession, geopolitical strife and soaring inflation, the African gambing industry appears to be shaking off the hangover of the past three years.

The old adage that ‘gambling is recession-proof’ is widely debated, but what is possibly a more apt description is that it is ‘recession-resistant’

For a multi-billion dollar industry that relies heavily on the discretionary spend of its clientele, the amount of discretionary spend has shrunk in light of the current headwinds. But, that has not stopped the industry from placing its bets on a super-recovery in the coming years.

For the African gambling industry, this may be even more so, given the number of new partnerships global operators are signing with African operators alongside innovations designed at making the most of the projected growth in African gaming driven by smartphone penetration. Estimates of the size of the market doubling with 2-3 years appear to be on track, despite the global slowdown.

One only has to look at the back page of this issue of Gaming for Africa (in our new feature called ‘News Snippets’, where we attempt to squeeze in only a small portion of the news that crosses our editorial desks) to catch a small glimpse of the positive gaming activity and developments that are taking place across the continent. Adding credence to this is the editorial feature in this issue, featuring Sportingtech’s Director for Africa Sales, in which he highlights his thoughts on the potential of the market.

Gaming for Africa is a free-to-trade publication, reliant solely on advertisers and supporters to keep readers and industry professionals up to date on the latest African Gambling News, products and developments.

We are eternally grateful to our advertisers, readers and supporters who have managed to keep their marketing spend going during the past number of years when the industry has been under sever strain.

We believe that 2023 will bring an upsurge in fortunes for the industry and spur massive growth - from the team at Gaming for Africa, we wish you all a very Merry Xmas, and a Prosperous New Year!

Roy Bannister

2 Situation at National Lotteries Commission ‘Worse than Imagined’ - Pityana

Emperors Palace Launches New Tables Privé

Habanero Enchants Players with Release of Taiko Beats

Mmabatho Palms Launches 8 New Slot Machines

Metropolitan Sells South Africa Interest to Tsogo Sun

Sportingtech: Engagingthe African Market

Light & Wonder – Gearing up for iGaming in the Rainbow Nation

Sun City Unveils Striking New Salon Prive

BetConstruct Introduces Android SportsBook App v3

Graceland First to Market with New Scientific Games Slots

SunBet Signs Multi-country Deal with Sportingtech for African Expansion

New LPM Games for SA Market from Novomatic

South African Opposition Party Tables Online Gambling Bill

Omega Gaming is Evolving

NOVOMATIC Africa’s New O ce and VR Showroom

Assessing the Africa opportunity with Nexiux Solutions

Khensani Shatters Glass Ceilings with Sun International 24 Global Betting Company bwin Launches in Zambia 26 Botswana Gambling Authority Appoints New Acting CEO 26

R1.4-Billion Looted by Former National Lotteries Commission Executives 28 New General Manager for Peermont’s Khoroni 28 ESA Gaming Debuts in Africa with 888Africa

Sun International Expands Popular GrandWest Hotel

News Snippets

African Gambling Regulators and Licensed Suppliers

CONTENTS

Situation at National Lotteries Commission

‘Worse than Imagined’ - Pityana

Professor Barney Pityana, the board chairperson at the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) has made public statements around the scale of corruption within an organisation designed to funnel funds to goodwill and charities. Speaking to Radio 702 recently, Pityana said the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) is working with the banking sector to weed out corruption within its ranks. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) also found that theft and money laundering in the organisation amounted to R1,4-billion. Speaking to 702’s Bongani Bingwa, Pityana said that they were currently working with the banks to trace acts of corruption.

“Ihave been there for two months, and I find the situation worse than I can imagine,” he said. “We are working on that, and we are now working with the banks to see what is happening with the accounts that might be linked with suspicious activities.”

It is believed that some organisations, as beneficiaries, received funding and Pityana added that the accounts were cleaned out and channeled to two unnamed people within NLC. NLC’s commissioner Charlotte Thabang Mampane resigned

with immediate effect in August with a cloud of corruption hanging over her head.

“We have found that the bank has tried to alert us but the executive in the organisation did nothing about it,” said Pityana.

The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) says it is now investigating, with the help of the banks, a number of instances of fraud and theft of money going missing after being allocated to various infrastructure projects. The commission

Emperors Palace Launches New Tables Privé

Peermont’s Emperors Palace is offering even more choice when it comes to Tables Games by launching a new, dedicated Tables area in their Fortuna Privé.

The Fortuna Privé, located off the main casino floor, and en route to the 5-star D’oreale Grande hotel, is already home to a series of popular slots titles, and is renowned for providing an unrivalled private gaming experience. The new additions include 7 new Tables, including Baccarat, Roulette and Poker in a stylish setting.

‘There has been a resurgence in table games in the last year, with guests opting for and enjoying games of skill. Our Tables area in The Fortuna Privé offers a relaxed setting where lovers of Roulette and Blackjack can experience the top-class gaming entertainment that Emperors Palace is famous for,” says Emperors Palace Tables Manager Sikhulile Dlamini.

The new Tables game were strategically selected based on what is currently popular in the industry and at Emperors Palace. The new addition to The Fortuna Privé consist of:

1 x Baccarat Table (with a minimum bet of R200 and maximum of R100 000)

4 x American Roulette Table (with a minimum bet of R50 and maximum of R1000)

1

x Poker Table with a R100 Bet Progressive

1 x  Blackjack Table with a R100 Progressive (and with a minimum bet of R200).

also says it allocated nearly R65 million to complete several multi-million rand infrastructure projects but they have been left unfinished.

“The problem has been the collapse of control in the organisation and the consequences of that we are dealing with day-by-day,” Pityana said.

He said that one such project involved sports clubs in Limpopo, which had received grants, with accounts then emptied.

“Within a day of the deposit of money into those accounts, those accounts were emptied within a day, within hours at times, looted and redirected to the accounts of two people.”

Habanero Enchants Players with Release of Taiko Beats

Premium slots and table games provider, Habanero prepares players for a rhythm-fueled festival with its latest high-octane release Taiko Beats.

The stunning title is played out on a 5x3 format, featuring an authentic soundtrack, complete with a theme inspired by the timeless tradition of Japanese Taiko drumming, but with a modern twist.

Players entering the feature-filled game are met with punchy visuals and an absorbing soundtrack. Enhancing the experience are a host of sticky Wild Symbols, which can be upgraded by landing a winning combination during Free Games round.

The Free Games feature guarantees a high level of excitement and can be triggered by three Scatter symbols, giving players the chance to multiply their wins substantially.

Players can also win up to 28 additional Free Games, with maximum wins worth 4,005x the bet available, giving the exuberant visitors a muchwelcomed surprise and highly rewarding opportunity.

Commenting on the release, Toni Karapetrov, Head of Corporate Communications at Habanero, said: “Taiko Beats’s launch marks the addition of yet another Japanese-inspired title to our collection, with the focus on the art of Taiko drumming, steering it in an entirely new direction.

“The booming soundtrack combines elegantly with the game’s strong mathematical model, delivering a casino experience that aligns with the overall theme, and we expect it to meet the requirements of our loyal

customer base.”

As one of the industry’s leading providers, Habanero took home the Game Innovation award at this year’s CasinoBeats Games Developer Awards. The company also received a shortlist in the Slot Supplier category at the renowned EGR B2B Awards, demonstrating Habanero’s strength in game creation.

Following an extraordinary 2021, Habanero has continued to reinforce its leading position as a tier-one supplier by securing notable deals with the likes of 888Casino, Codere, Betway and LeoVegas.

Mmabatho Palms Launches 8 New Slot Machines

Mmabatho Palms continues the celebrations of its 45th birthday with the launch of 8 new slots machine on their casino floor. The news come courtesy of manufacturer Aristocrat, one of the world-leaders in landbased casino and digital app games.

Amongst the new arrivals is 5 Dragons, a  5-reel and 25-payline non-progressive video slot that offers free spins, disperse symbols and wild symbols that present players with an opportunity to claim handsome awards.

“These machines are bringing variety and flexibility on the casino floor and its great for our customers” says Thabo Mputla, Gaming Manager of Mmabatho Palms. One of these

machines includes the Wild Panda machine with amazing 5-reel, 100-payline video slot game from Aristocrat. Wild Panda features free spins and free spin wilds. Player’s Choice include a selection of classic Aristocrat games such as 5 dragons, Queen of the Nile, Inga Fortune, and Dolphin Magic.

All 8 slot machines are multi-denomination so players can choose from 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c

Metropolitan Sells South Africa Interest to Tsogo Sun

Metropolitan Gaming has announced the sale of its interest in Emerald Resort and Casino in South Africa to a consortium controlled by Tsogo Sun.

The sale will allow Metropolitan Gaming to focus on its core markets of the UK and Egypt, where it is committed to building the Metropolitan brand through acquisition and investment. Work is already under way on the refurbishment and rebranding of its Mayfair property, which will reopen later this year.

Michael Silberling, CEO of Metropolitan Gaming, said: “Following the addition of the iconic Park Lane Club to our portfolio of casinos in the UK earlier this year, the sale of our interest in Emerald Resort and Casino reflects our focused strategy to invest in and develop the business within our primary markets.

“We want to thank all our employees at Emerald Resort and Casino past and present for their hard work, professionalism and loyalty, particularly during the global Covid-19 pandemic. We very much look forward to following their progress and successes over the years to come.”

Sportingtech: Engaging the African Market

The rich potential in African markets is well-known to many, and there is no better time to capitalise than now. Mark Schmidt, Director Africa Sales, from Sportingtech discusses the recent operator deals that have solidified the company’s presence in Africa, and the growth opportunities that are set to present themselves there in the months to come

The iGaming industry has a thoroughly bright future on the continent of Africa - not only are sports a pillar of many countries there, with sports betting growing stronger every year, but online casino entertainment is gradually becoming more familiar to a variety of markets across the region. On top of that, once patchy network coverage and high data costs also are also being quickly mitigated by lite offerings and intuitive solutions.

Africa is at the forefront of innovation worldwide when it comes to the delivery of online gaming to suit its users’ needs. This is obvious when we examine the average number of users each betting brand has across various countries, presenting figures that would impress any European operator.

Across the continent, operators are getting it right when it comes to maintaining player trust and, as a result, customer retention. Operators in countries like Ghana and Nigeria have remained adept at keeping their punters engaged, not just with football betting but with free-to-play, virtual and casino games. They have risen to the occasion and learned how to become entertainment providers, not just betting brands.

Another element where Africa is playing a world-leading role is in payments. In Kenya, the use of mobile phones as payment devices is widespread. One survey found that in Uganda, 43% of people had a mobile money account and in Kenya, that number was 72%. In other parts of Africa, depositing and withdrawing to and from a gambling site is only possible via bank transfer, which can take hours. When customers begin to deposit and withdraw from more upgraded offerings, they will be pleasantly surprised with the speed and ease of the transaction.

There are undoubtedly a number of positive signs that exponential progress is being made in Africa, and Sportingtech is on hand to address the needs of its markets, evidenced in the recent delivering of an award-winning lite online sportsbook website in Sub-Saharan Africa that has been received extremely well.

Trust is key

If robust technology is the most important factor in rolling out in markets like those in Africa, then the trust of its customers is a close second. The idea that a customer can deposit and withdraw their money without being swindled is far more attractive than the kinds of bonus and free bet promotions that we see working so effectively in other parts of the world. Part of that journey to building trust comes from the simplicity of the onboarding journey, so a slick, easyto-use front end becomes vital to success.

The importance of localisation

Localisation is essential to long-term success in any market, and the first hurdle to overcome in Africa is the language barrier. There are some where an operator can rely on English, but Swahili, Portuguese and French offerings are necessary to rollout effectively in large swathes of the continent.

Implementing an effective localised offering is the only way to ensure success, and this also includes developing an intimate knowledge of the sporting preferences in a given region.

This applies to local regulation, too. The challenge faced by operators here is to have enough local knowledge and management market-by-market

to ensure they are building as strong a partnership as possible with the regulator. This enables them to have an effective two-way dialogue on policy, rates and the implementation of different regulatory requirements.

Operators must embrace omnichannel offerings

A great deal has been made of the rise of mobile on the continent, and for good reason – the growth rates remain impressive. However, retail still remains an important channel to many operators in cash-focused economies, even in more mature African markets. The pandemic saw a huge boost in online gaming, but many have returned to retail since reopening. To cater to all demands, an omnichannel experience is now paramount – a presence both on and offline is key to attaining a high level of player engagement and retention.

To help operators avail of these opportunities, Sportingtech takes a consultative approach to any new client, in any new country. Clients play an active role in designing their tailored solution and, and their needs are adapted to. With a strong executive and product team at the helm, Sportingtech has achieved an edge of competitors in the region in terms of knowledge.

Markets with rich potential

The industry has been cultivating offerings in the African market for some time, and it seems it is finally ready to bear fruit in a meaningful way. To be able to capitalise, however, prospective operators need to be able to wield the effective trio of trust, technological competence and regulatory compliance.

Mark Schmidt, Sportingtech’s Director of Africa Sales

Light & Wonder – Gearing up for iGaming in the Rainbow Nation

The bold new era set out by Light & Wonder, previously known as Scientific Games, is in full swing. As part of its mission to deliver new worlds of play to consumers worldwide, the global games company has set its sights on becoming the market leader in South Africa’s fledgling iGaming market.

The reason behind its launch into the Rainbow Nation is obvious, according to James Bustin, Commercial Director at Light & Wonder. “We anticipate that it will be an extremely fast-growing market, especially for the next couple of years,” he said. “Furthermore, we’re fully expecting iGaming to outgrow online sports betting, which is a huge statement of intent, as historically sports betting has been the only legal form of online gambling in the country.”

A South African native with vast experience of the country’s iGaming market, Bustin has already navigated the challenges and opportunities of a South African market entry with live dealer specialist Authentic Gaming only a year prior. Now with Light & Wonder, he is ready to support the company’s expansion into one of the industry’s biggest growth opportunities.

He said: “I was working for Authentic Gaming when it was acquired by Light & Wonder, only weeks prior to that Authentic had announced its debut in South Africa with Betway, so I knew I was in a fantastic position to show Light & Wonder what the true value of the South African market really looked like. “iGaming has been part of the conversation in South Africa for a very long time. If I’m being completely honest, it’s always been a matter of when and not if, so to see real movement now is incredibly satisfying.”

However, despite being in a prime position to help guide Light & Wonder through the process of having its games certified in the country, Bustin made no secret of the challenges the country faces: “In terms of pushing through legislation regulating the South

African market, it’s been a very difficult road for lawmakers as everything is brand new. It’d be fair to suggest that the regulators are still figuring everything out else themselves and we still have a way to go until everything is perfect. We are working with the regulators at every stage and are delighted to see how the various provincial regulators worked to get iGaming approved in South Africa within the current regulatory framework.

Of course, South Africa is experiencing the same ups and downs previous emerging markets have faced themselves. There’s always going to be difficulties along the way, but we’re genuinely getting to a very good place, which is more than can be said for the past few years.”

As South Africa opens up to iGaming, so has the demand for games as operators look to fill their lobbies with top-class content. For Light & Wonder, this has certainly proven to be the case with operators lining up to utilise its premium portfolio offering and make use of the highly coveted Open Gaming System (OGS) content aggregation platform.

This early interest can be in part attributed to Light & Wonder’s presence in the land-based market. Players strongly resonate with its offering, thoroughly enjoying popular games such as 5 Treasures, Endless Treasures, Dancing Drums and 88 Fortunes, to name but a few.

The beauty of these games is that most of Light & Wonder’s land-based titles have already been designed and optimised for online play, meaning that operators should have no reservations when it comes to picking up the studio’s award-winning portfolio of games, as there is already a strong level of familiarity in

place with a wide audience across the country.

In addition to offering operators its catalogue of proprietary games, the studio has also announced plans to offer a number of third party titles from Light & Wonder’s inhouse studios, Lightning Box, Elk and Authentic Gaming along with leading partners such as Blueprint Gaming, Hitsqwad, Reel Play, Gaming Realms, Thunderkick and many more partner studios to coming soon.

Furthermore, the cross-platform global game company has the luxury of leaning on insight from other fast-growing young markets, such as Canada and the United States, utilising data and drawing key comparisons in order to make forecasts and predictions for South Africa.

Light & Wonder is proof that adopting a true omni-channel approach is pivotal when launching in new markets, with many within the company feeling that South Africa is set to be a launching pad as iGaming begins to regulate across the continent.

In summarising his feelings on the South African iGaming scene, Bustin spoke excitedly on what the future holds for both the market and Light & Wonder as the company prepares to burst onto the scene with a number of leading operators: “Ultimately, I see the South Africa being incredibly lucrative for both operators and suppliers alike. Even though it’s new, there’s already a lot of confidence in the market.

“South Africans love to bet online. We’ve seen that with sports betting and now we finally get to bring casino into the fray. Casino has dominated the land-based market for years now, so it wouldn’t be a stretch to suggest that it’s going to do exceptionally well.”

South Africa’s favourite slot games now available online.

5 Treasures, Dancing Drums, 88 Fortunes, Jin Ji Bao Xi Endless Treasure, and many more of South Africa’s leading casino slots are now available in South Africa.

Elk, Reel Play, Blueprint, Gaming Realms, Fantasma, Thunderkick, Lightning Box, Hitsqwad and Authentic Gaming are all available via our single integration, with many more providers to be offered soon.

Free rounds that work across providers.

For assistance email James Bustin on jbustin@lnw.com or call on +27 84 674 1862.

Sun City Unveils Striking New Salon Prive

Sun City, South Africa’s most famous gambling destination, has given its newly refurbished Salon Privé inside the Sun City Hotel casino a dramatic new look.

Brett Hoppé, General Manager for the Sun City Resort said the brief to David Muirhead & Associates design studio was to create a Salon Privé that was not only inspiring and uplifting, but “glamorous, and extending a warm welcome to our loyal customer base and new visitors”. The renovation has given the 641m² space a more “practical and comfortable feel, yet with an international allure of glamour and sense of luxury”, Hoppé said. The new space will also house 80 slot machines and eight tables.

Muirhead, who led the design team, said a sense of intrigue has been created – and most importantly, an imposing, impressive entrance sets the tone for what awaits greets visitors on the inside. “The design is bold, defined and glamourous, appealing to all the senses.”

The entrance exterior is flanked with onyx marble clad walls, back lit and detailed with black marble and black glass. “The black and ivory checkerboard tiles invite one to strike a pose - there is no mistake about this sense of arrival, this is an entrance of stylish symmetry which feels like a luxurious boutique hotel lobby,” Muirhead said.

Looking up, bespoke crystal chandeliers hang from charcoal and gold coloured ceilings which in turn sets the stage for moody glamour which awaits guests. The walls are adorned in shimmering gold Versace wallpaper, with artwork that is both contemporary and edgy in its expression.

On entering, the luxurious, bespoke leopard print carpeting pays homage to a proud African essence that is the common thread linking all

design elements. “Here, the wallpaper is black and gold palms by Cole and Son which captures the essence of uber chic African style, echoing a sense of international luxury.”

The main gaming floor is one harmonious space that is cleverly divided by gold metal screens that flank the black and white marble stairs. The upper level houses the tables area and a private room, as well as a boutique bar and comfortable seating area. “The Red Room, which is home to the slot machines, is an alluring discovery to the right of the main gaming area, with wood paneling which we painted red imparting a sense of intimacy privacy and good luck.”

Returning visitors will note that there is greater variety in the games on offer in multiple denominations starting from R1.

Mark VII Saturn™ Saturn™Glo

BetConstruct Introduces Android SportsBook App v3

To help partners extend customer lifetime and achieve greater success in the industry, BetConstruct has successfully released the Android SportsBook App v3.

The application is a new version of the sportsbook that allows betting on the go.

The newly developed Sportsbook App provides users with the full range of features which are available on  the desktop version of Sportsbook, like signing up for an account, having live streaming, placing bets, making a deposit or withdrawing funds and participating in promotional offers.

All-in-one sports betting software provides users with over 70K live matches and 140K pre-match events every month, covering 120+ sports types available in 20+ languages, from football betting to tennis to volleyball and hockey. Compared to the previous version, the updated app has a brand new, improved UI/ UX and high stability.  Fresh and improved functionalities have been added to the app with the intention to improve its performance. In

the application, as well as on other platforms, all languages are available, and there is also a translation tool that provides customers the ability to  make text/ content changes of their own. The updated and simplified Android SportsBook Application v3 is designed to improve the usability of the app, increase user satisfaction and make their interaction much easier and more efficient, thus increasing operator revenue.

BetConstruct is a global award-winning technology and services provider for online and land-based gaming industry. BetConstruct’s innovative and proven offerings include Online and Retails Sportsbook, Classic and Virtual Reality RNG & Live Casinos, Poker, Skill Games, Fantasy Sports, Social Gaming Platform, Sports Data Solutions and more – all ready to be launched and managed through SpringBME, its

pioneering Business Management Environment. Within Sports Data Solutions, the AI-powered scouting tool AJNA performs game flow recognition and provides statistics and extremely accurate technical data to create new unique markets to bet on.All partners benefit from the BetConstruct Spring Platform with its powerful back office tools and all-inclusive services. From stand-alone set up to turn-key and white label solutions, BetConstruct offers its partners unparalleled opportunity to succeed.

Graceland First to Market with New Scientific Games Slots

Graceland Casino is the first casino in South Africa to offer Scientific Games’ Jin Ji Bao Xi (JJBX) games available for play on the Matrix cabinet.

“

WeCreated by the same design team which created Duo Fu Duo Cai. It has the look and feel of DFDC but fundamentally a unique and different game family. It introduces the exciting Repeat Win Top-Up mechanic with increased volatility, increased bet options and greater choice of features.

“Here at Graceland Casino, we are proud to add this mix of slot machines on our casino floor, we hope to provide our gamers an enhanced experience when they visit us.” said Graceland Casino Slots Manager, Jeustun Scheepers.

Players at Graceland Casino can choose from Rising Fortunes and Endless Treasure games. All 8 slot machines are multidenomination so players can choose from 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c and R1 denominations. The bank of machines are connected to a linked progressive, Jin Ji Bao Xi (JJBX) which consists of 2 level progressives, level 2 starts at R15 000 and level 1 starts at R100 000.

The bank of machines can be found in the Horseshoe smoking area.

SunBet Signs Multi-country Deal with Sportingtech for African Expansion

Sportingtech, the full-service betting and gaming platform provider, has signed a deal that will see it provide its industry-leading platform to SunBet, one of the highest regarded online bookmakers in Africa.

SunBet, which is owned by the casino and resort giant Sun International (JSE:SUI) , has entrusted Sportingtech with spearheading its move into new African markets, including three well-established territories.

The operator will utilise Sportingtech’s awarding-winning Quantum platform, which includes access to more than 65 sports, 9,000 games and over 1,000 betting markets, to ensure a successful launch in these exciting regulated, established markets. Sportingtech’s

proficiency in this field is well-documented, with a proven product and commitment to localisation that makes Quantum the go-to platform for top-tier operators that aim to dominate new markets.

Sportingtech’s expertise in offering omnichannel experiences will be of considerable benefit to SunBet, giving the company access to award-winning content management tools to create a custom front end that is completely optimised to the demands of local players.

Sun International has a proud legacy in the

gaming, hospitality and entertainment sector.  Its high-quality hotels and resorts profile makes it a recognised premium brand across the globe, with a diverse profile of assets including world class five-star hotels, modern and well-located casinos, and some of the world’s premier resorts.

Simon Gregory, General Manager at SunBet, said: “This collaboration will benefit us massively as we continue to expand.

“Bringing both in-depth expertise and high-quality product offering, Sportingtech is the ideal partner for us in this venture, and look forward to growing these African markets together.”

Mark Schmidt, Director of Sales, Africa, at Sportingtech, said:“Established markets in Africa have significant potential and moving into them alongside SunBet is sure to demonstrate the strength and diversity of Quantum on yet another international stage.

“The backing of such a high-profile operator is testament to the strength of our offering, and we look forward to bringing a superior experience to bettors in these markets.”

For more information on casino chairs and related products, please contact your Key Account Manager at umAfrika Gaming Technologies exclusive distributor of StylGame product to South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and Indian Ocean Islands

Telephone : +27 11 997-4200

Email : sales@umafrika.co.za

New LPM Games for SA Market from Novomatic

NOVOMATIC’s popular FUNMASTER 2.27 has a new set of game mixes specifically approved for the LPM Market in South Africa. Novomatic South Africa is at the forefront of Key Performance Indicators, within the LPM segment in South Africa.

The renowned HOTSPOT game mixes have been forming a substantial part of the asset list of any Route operator licensed in South Africa for the past 2 decades. To add to the success of this market we have received approval for two new game mixes which will be hosted on the FUNMASTER 2.27

The FUNMASTER 2.27 - a top performer featuring a modern game presentation on 27’’ game screens, intriguing LED effects with an ambient glow, and top ergonomic comfort - this piece of engineering excellence has brought hours of entertainment and delight to NOVOMATIC customers on the casino floor and is now available for the LPM market in South Africa featuring everyone’s favorite Gaminator® MY CASH Edition 1T and MAGIC GAMES™ HD Premium (LPM)

The Gaminator® MY CASH Edition 1T supports operators with an unbeatable offer of modern gaming essentials. With 45 exhilarating titles, comprising all the classics, player-favorites, and must-haves – plus 3 Standalone Progressive titles with the popular Lock ‘N’ Win feature: MY CASH - Charming Lady™, MY CASH - Book of Ra™ and MY CASH - Sizzling Hot™. The Gaminator® MY CASH Edition 1T offers never-ending entertainment for customers in the routes or Limited Payout machines market.

But that’s not all, The MAGIC GAMES™ HD Premium will also be available on the FUNMASTER 2.27 cabinet and comprises a high-definition selection of internationally proven NOVOMATIC gaming best sellers – especially adapted for the LPM markets.

deluxe, Galactic Cherry, and gripping graphics make these

The games include all the favorites - Book of Ra deluxe, Diamond Wheel deluxe, Galactic Cherry, and Hold your horses! Attractive gameplay, appealing bonus features, thrilling sounds and gripping graphics make these titles a sure bet for every gaming floor.

Sonya Nikolova, VP of Sales Africa, and CEO NOVOMATIC Africa

“NOVOMATIC understands that top-performing game content is the backbone of every successful gaming operation and consistently offers only products guaranteeing the longevity of the business operations by means of high customers-retention while attracting new fans seeking for novelty inspirations, features, and themes. The winning formula adds value to both route and gambling operators as the 2022 product launches address the trends across all gaming industry segments but smartly tailor the products’ specification to the compliance standards and regulations”

South African Opposition Party Tables Online Gambling Bill

The private members’ bill has been put forward by the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), which wants to establish a legal basis for the regulation, control and licensing of all remote gambling activities in South Africa.

Regulations for interactive gambling were initially supposed to be provided by the National Gambling Amendment Act of 2008; however, the DA said that the amendment act has not yet been brought into operation and interactive/ online gambling is currently not regulated in

South Africa.

“By not regulating this gambling activity, the erosion of the rule of law and criminal activity is being encouraged, while the public is not effectively protected,” the party said.

“Concurrently, a lack of regulation is resulting in revenue and jobs being lost to other gambling jurisdictions.”

The purpose of the Remote Gambling Bill is thus to fill the gap in the law relating to interactive gambling. The Bill addresses the issues faced by the Amendment Act, which is one of the reasons

why it was never brought into effect.

The Remote Gambling Bill also aims to provide for, inter alia, the following:

• Regulating the issuing of licenses to be controlled by the relevant provincial authorities;

• Provide for procedures relating to objections to issuing of licenses;

• Regulating advertising of interactive/ online gambling entities;

• Provide for the protection of minors and vulnerable persons; and

• Ensure that there is compliance with FICA.

South Africa’s opposition party has published the Draft Remote Gambling Bill for public comment, aiming to legalise and regulate online gambling in the country.

Omega Gaming is Evolving

Omega Gaming is 25 years old, and over time we have expanded our product offerings beyond the gaming sector quite considerably. As we have grown, we have realised that our name doesn’t quite fit our new portfolio.

Over recent years we have included security and surveillance, access control, life safety, infrastructure, building management, collaboration systems products and digital signage into the business. Soon we will be announcing a collaboration in Digital Energy Management Systems, which will take us into the green energy sector.

This extension of products and services has paved the way for us to broaden our customer base into new markets such as commercial, heavy industry and defence.

Considering our wider product range and broader customer verticals, we decided to broaden our name to be more apt for the industries we serve. We have dropped “Gaming” from our name and formally renamed

the company to Omega Technology Group (Pty) Ltd.

As of today, our new logo will appear on all company stationery.

All other company information such as registration number, tax numbers, bank accounts and email addresses remain the same. We look forward to sharing this new era with you.

NOVOMATIC Africa’s New Office and VR Showroom

The Team at NOVOMATIC Africa has moved from its old offices in Coventry Park to new premises in Randjespark, Corporate Park North and is excited to welcome clients to its virtual showroom and expand on its full offering of premium games, multiplayer systems, electronic table games, gaming, and casino equipment, slot machines, sport betting terminals, gaming solutions, and systems.

Sonya Nikolova, CEO of NOVOMATIC Africa stated “Our new home aligns to the highest industry standards in manufacturing and supply of high-tech products and services and ticks all boxes related to equipment, technology, quality of construction, capacity, infrastructure, and sustainability. It also affirms the solid inquiry of NOVOMATIC Africa to continue the elaboration on its 360° portfolio of products and impeccable customer care and knowledge-sharing services for customers from South Africa and other African markets “

‘The new offices will host an internal lab and upgraded showroom for all our partners to experience our products and services. In the interim our team has built a unique Virtual

Showroom, to support and empower our partners to make strategic purchasing decisions from anywhere in the world.”

Gaming operators are requested to reach out their Novomatic Africa sales representatives for access to the unique Virtual Showroom.

New physical address and contact details are:

NOVOMATIC Africa (PTY)Ltd.  Corporate Park North , 177 Roan Crescent

Randjespark, Midrand, 1685 Gauteng, South Africa.

NOVOMATIC Africa has had a strong presence in the regulated gaming segment in Africa for over 26 years.With thousands of active machines across Africa, NOVOMATIC’s success story continues with strong confidence in all future business ventures, investments, and initiatives – And now from their new premises in Gauteng, South Africa.

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Assessing the Africa opportunity

Rob Verdia, Head of Products at Nexiux Solutions, says Africa is a region of challenges and opportunities but cutting-edge platforms and tech stacks can help operators unlock the action

Africa is a market of challenges and opportunities but for some operators, the balance seems to weigh more towards the former than it does the latter right now.

In most markets, the legal situation is vague at best while limited infrastructure and high data costs for consumers mean that taking the opportunities on the table is often easier said than done.

This has seen many turn their attention to other regions such as North America, Latin America and Eastern Europe where the going is a little easier, but this is missing a trick.

While Africa presents plenty of unique challenges, they can be overcome so long as operators leverage the power of innovative, modern platforms and technologies.

First up, let’s look at some of the marketspecific challenges operators are facing.

The challenges

Africa is a vast region made up of 54 individual countries, each with its own culture, language, infrastructure, and level of economic development.

Unsurprisingly, these differences extend to gambling, with some having developed land-based industries and even regulated online gambling, while others have banned the activity outright.

Just like the US, this means operators need to take a country-by-country (or state-by-state approach in the US) to Africa rather than seeing it as a single market to target.

Operators must also contend with the prevalence of legacy devices across Africa. Around half of all devices are feature phones and just 40% are smartphones.

This, coupled with the sky-high data costs consumers face, makes it difficult for operators to offer the same “bells and whistles” experience

they would in other markets.

They also need to consider the banking system across Africa. Large swathes of the population remain unbanked and those that tend to use mobile banking methods such as M-PESA.

But these challenges should not deter operators, as the opportunities the market presents far outweigh the hurdles that need to be cleared.

The opportunities

There is tremendous demand for sports betting and even esports betting across the region. Sport is ingrained in the African culture, and so too is wagering and betting.

The continent’s growing population skews towards a much younger demographic, and this is a significant upside for operators, too.

What’s more, regulation is coming to Africa and it’s coming fast.

Kenya and Rwanda are great examples of countries that have already embraced licensed online sports betting with Zimbabwe and Burundi ones to watch.

As with any developing region, infrastructure improvements are on their way. It won’t be long before data availability and cost align more closely with established European markets.

Of course, the operators that enter the market in the early days and leverage the firstmover advantage will be able to engage players and build loyalty ahead of their rivals.

Unlock the action

But to do this they will need to use cutting-edge platforms and technologies to overcome the challenges they face today.

A modular platform is the best approach as it allows operators to go live without delay and

to add third-party providers quickly and easily to their tech stacks.

In markets such as Africa where localisation is key, this means operators can add payment providers, Africa-focussed game studios and even services such as CRM and customer support.

Platforms also need to deliver high levels of customisation.

In Africa, for example, sportsbook operators often have to offer a stripped-back experience that does not consume high volumes of data to compensate for the high data costs players face.

This requires flexibility and customisation to be built into the platform, and that’s why operators must ensure their tech is agile and dynamic.

Agile platforms also enable operators to quickly adapt to new regulations or changing requirements, something that is a given in emerging markets such as Africa.

Africa brands can go global

Africa brands can also use a state-of-the-art platform and tech stack as the foundation for going global, launching into other regulated markets around the world.

That is exactly what we have done with SportPesa, powering the brand’s UK online sportsbook.

Because we have added all of the components an operator needs to our modular platform already, SportPesa was able to enter the UK within an incredibly short turnaround time.

The opportunities in Africa are just too big to ignore, and by using a modern, modular, agile platform, operators can clear any challenges faced today and succeed in the long-term. www.nexiuxsolutions.com

SOME

Khensani Shatters Glass Ceilings with Sun International

Former tables dealer now Resort Gaming Manager

Being a woman in a male dominated environment doesn’t phase Khensani Abigail Mailula – as Sun City Resort’s first women Gaming Manager, she has broken through glass ceilings throughout her career and is fond of telling people she has “balls of steel”.

“No-one can tell me how to do my job, and I can do it better than the guys,” Mailula said of the technical work involved with repairing slot machines.

She began her career as a Tables Dealer at Meropa Casino in 2005, after realising that financial obligations at home meant she could not finish her Engineering and Computer Systems degree at the Vaal University of Technology. After six months, she used the knowledge from her studies to apply for a technician position and began training in the casino environment in earnest, learning how to repair slot machines and tables equipment.

In 2007, she made her first Sun City foray as a Gaming Technician, but coming from a smaller casino, where she had done a wider variety of work meant that her duties were not a challenge, and she was soo promoted to a senior technician. “Many of the machines were heavy and I had to ask for male assistance to carry them and help change the belts.”

Mailula became Sun International’s first female technical manager in 2015 when she joined Flamingo,

as HOD for the technical department. “After reaching what I felt was my ceiling, I took a lower position as Gaming Floor Manager at Time Square because I wanted to learn operations, so it aligned with my vision and goals for myself.”

During the pandemic, she started as Gaming Manager at Meropa where she was once again an HOD, responsible for ensuring business growth and profitability of the gaming operations through product optimisation and employee development as well as creating memorable customer experiences.

Since April, Mailula has been back at Sun City as one of five women serving on the Executive Committee, holding the position as Resort Gaming Manager.

“I love the challenge, my job is different every daymeeting different customers and dealing with different personalities, it keeps you on your toes. It is imperative to keep customers happy while achieving budget targets and making sure standards within the operation are maintained. There is never a dull moment.” She believes she develops those who work under her, connecting with them and imparting the information required to get the job done. “I don’t micro-manage,” she said.

A “situational leader”, Mailula has changed mentors as her career progressed, aligned with what

she requires at the time. “I am currently looking for a new mentor to help me master my current position as I would like to progress to becoming a General Manager.

“Sun City’s Exco has transformed to having many women, but I am not a number, or a BEE status; I am what I deliver and what I bring to the table. We have KPIs to achieve and my numbers speak for themselves.”

A people’s person, Mailula is married to Bongani Ngubo with whom she has an eight-year-old daughter, Olwethu. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking and baking and has adopted her husband’s favourite sport of rugby.

Global Betting Company bwin Launches in Zambia

bwin, A global sports betting platform has launched in Zambia. The launch was held at Radisson Blu Hotel recently, with Zambia becoming the first African country that the company has earmarked to begin operations in.

Entain, the global sports betting, gaming, and interactive entertainment group that owns bwin, was please to announce the African launch of bwin, its leading sports betting brand, in the regulated Zambian market. Customers will now be able to access a wide range of sports betting and casino offers.

Speaking at the launch, bwin’s Africa Chief Marketing Officer Spencer Okach said: “We are thrilled to enter the Zambian market which has one of the most highly regarded regulatory environments on the African continent. It was an obvious destination for our first launch in Africa given its stable economic and regulatory framework, which provide a great platform for growth. We are extremely confident that our new

Zambian customers will love the unparalleled bwin brand experience with its exciting line-up of thousands of betting markets and hundreds of games.”  In addition to enjoying bwin’s incredible portfolio of sports betting and gaming products, customers are promised a smooth user experience thanks to a seamless interaction with the platform’s deposit and pay-out processes – all made straightforward thanks to the integration of the services of local partners Airtel and MTN. bwin also brings to Zambia its rich brand history that has seen it partner with some of the biggest names in world sport. bwin is the Official Partner of both the UEFA Europa League and Europa Conference League as well as the Official Partner of the German Football Association and national team.

bwin Africa Chief Marketing Officer Spencer Okach shakes hands with Hon. Chipoka Mulenga, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry at the bwin launch in Lusaka

Botswana Gambling Authority Appoints New Acting CEO

Emolemo Peter Kesitilwe has been apppointed Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Gambling Authority.

The appointment was announced to stakeholders and the public by the board of directors recently.

The position of CEO comes with the responsibility of overseeing the gambling industry in the country according to the law. This includes licensing operators, regulating the industry, sanctioning operators, entering useful partnerships and more.

The former CEO, Thulisizwe Johnson’s tenure

came to an end after the board refused to renew his contract. Johnson was the founding CEO and he held the role for nearly a decade. He was very instrumental to the development and structuring of the board.

The unwavering commitment of Johnson has left a positive imprint on the board. One of his major achievements was the research organized through his supervision. The study was helpful in battling gambling addiction and educating the public on the importance of responsible gaming.

R1.4-Billion Looted by Former National Lotteries Commission Executives

The head of the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) Andy Mothibi revealed before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry in late-September that more than R1.4 billion was looted through dodgy NPOs and NPCs by former executives of the National Lotteries Commission (NLC).

During his presentation Mothibi said the collapse of systems, including evaluation and monitoring, project management and other shortcomings, syndicates working with people from inside the NLC had contributed to the rot that has been uncovered through three phases of investigations carried by the SIU over the past two years.

Reacting to the rot, the DA’s spokesperson on trade, Mat Cuthbert slammed the ANC and former executives of the NLC for the extent of corruption at the commission.

Cuthbert added that senior officials responsible for the corruption should be brought to book.

In the week prior, the Special Tribunal moved swiftly to freeze more than R2.8 million of former NLC COO Philemon Letwaba’s assets. His pension fund was interdicted by the SIU over his alleged involvement in corruption at the commission.

“The grotesque use of funding on luxury cars and homes, which was actually intended for oldage homes, drug rehabilitation centres and youth upliftment centres, just shows how twisted these individuals are. The next time the ANC tells you are they pro-poor, do yourself a favour and don’t believe

them,” Cuthbert said.

The SIU revealed that approximately R1.4 billion of funding meant for grannies, the marginalised and sick was allegedly looted by former NLC board members and senior officials. According to the SIU, the investigation comprises of three phases, with the first phase having been completed already. The total value of the investigations per phase revealed that phase 1 uncovered R279m, phase 2 uncovered R246m, and that phase 3 uncovered R905m, in fraudulent deals at the NLC which has been referred as evidence implicating 13 individuals to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for possible prosecution.

“We call on the NPA to ensure that they process this evidence speedily and begin the process to prosecute these individuals.The SIU has done an outstanding job in uncovering the industrial-scale looting at the NLC, but it would be a travesty of justice if the NPA doesn’t pursue criminal prosecution,” Cuthbert said.

He said it is not good enough that Minister Ebrahim Patel and his ANC colleagues have heaped praise on the SIU for the work being done, as they contributed to the corruption of the NLC.

“They were the same individuals who shielded former board members from scrutiny.

“They were the same individuals who chastised the opposition and the media for exposing corruption and maladministration, and it was members of the ANC who allegedly used the NLC as their personal piggy bank at the expense of the most vulnerable in society,” he said.

Newly elected chairperson of NLC, Barney Pityana promised to turn the NLC around and improve its image, following a series of damning findings against some of its former executives. He said his team has committed itself to stabilising NLC, having already outlined plans and interventions to improve its image.

“An immediate intervention is the establishment of an anti fraud coordinating team consisting of the SIU, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), and Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), as well as a moratorium on all proactive funding ... Today a renewed pledge has been made, not only to parliament, but to South Africans in general to restore the integrity in the running of NLC,” Pityana said.

New General Manager for Peermont’s Khoroni

Peermont Resorts’ Khoroni in Thohyandou has announced the appointment of Zukiswa Quagraine to the position of new General Manager.

Quagraine has over 16 years’ experience in the of hospitality and tourism sector,  having previously managed four hotels within the Tsogo Sun and served as Regional General Manager in the food division for Empact group. She has also managed the Business and Industry sector in Gauteng, with a  portfolio consisting of elite clients including Deloitte, Sasol, Sun International, Norton Rose and Siemens, to name a few.

‘I am fanatical about youth and women development in the tourism and catering industry,’ says Quagraine, who has worked closely with the Unisa Business School of Leadership (SBL) and the Department of Tourism to encourage and empower women through executive education training. ‘As part of the first group of women to take part in the Executive Development Program for Women in

Tourism I was honoured to address conferences and spoke at various symposia where I could emphasize people development as a critical focus area for the growth of the industry.’

Quagraine has been actively involved in the hospitality Tourism Industry where she was awarded 2 Lilizela awards by the Department of Tourism to honour individuals in the industry for their contribution in growing South Africa as a global destination. Quagraine was also awarded the Investor in People (2013 and 2014) and The Most Empowered Tourism (2013) awards.

Having joined Peermont, Quagraine brings with her a focus on empowerment of her colleagues, supporting her community, and ensuring that she drives responsible and sustainable business practices across the industry.

ESA Gaming Debuts in Africa with 888Africa

ESA Gaming, the innovative games provider, has entered Africa for the first time after taking its non-traditional content portfolio live with 888Africa.

Founded in March 2022, 888Africa licenses 888 Holdings’ world-class betting and gaming brands with an ambition to expand across Africa’s regulated online markets. Its consumer brand, 888bet, offers a unique betting experience, providing locally relevant products and features for players in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia.

On 888bet’s platform, ESA Gaming will integrate its pioneering EasySwipe™ games portfolio, which is designed to marry up with the wants and needs of local players in Africa through a range of ultralightweight, mobile-first titles.

Its portfolio includes highly popular titles such as Fruitz & Spinz, Basketball Mine and Goal Mine, as well as the World Cup-centred sequel, Goal Mine

World Edition. A range of classic casino content is also available and the recently launched Rocket Racers, ESA Gaming’s first EasySwipe™ crash-style game.

The expansion into Africa comes as ESA Gaming has strengthened its position across Europe and Latin America, signing a number of key deals in Italy in particular, as its offering grows markedly in popularity.

Thomas Smallwood, Head of Marketing at ESA Gaming, said: “888AFRICA is a brand with huge ambitions on the continent. We’re delighted to begin working with the team and are looking forward to playing our role in its exciting growth journey, while showcasing the strength of our highly relevant and adaptable offer.

“We firmly believe that our EasySwipe™ portfolio will enhance 888bet’s existing content and surprise and delight customers that are being introduced to the brand for the first time.”

Christopher Coyne, CEO of 888Africa, said: “We want to create a truly unique betting and gaming experience at 888Africa, and partnering with the very best content suppliers is critical to delivering that.

“We believe that the EasySwipe™ portfolio is perfectly suited to our platform and will strengthen both our sports and casino offer as we look to build market-leading positions across Africa. We look forward to working with the ESA Gaming team in the months ahead.”

The Cape Town casino and leisure complex is the largest in South Africa so customer demand to stay at its existing hotel is high. However, for over 21 years the 4-star boutique hotel has operated at a 99% occupancy with its 39 rooms booked long in advance.

The first phase of the new development will add an additional 68 additional rooms to the Grand Hotel, bringing the total to 103.

A sod-turning ceremony to mark the occasion was officiated by the Mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis and Ndavi Nokeri, Miss South Africa 2022.

Speaking at the event, GrandWest General Manager Mervyn Naidoo said, “Until now we have been unable to market our hotel because it is always fully booked. Having a 99% occupancy would be a happy problem for any hotel, but we look forward to October 2023 when we can welcome even more guests.”

The current Grand Hotel is a recreation of an older hotel that used to grace the corner of Adderley and Strand Street, originally built in 1894 and demolished in 1951. When the existing hotel was constructed, architects used a scaled down version of the first Grand Hotel’s 100-year old plans.

Naidoo said one of the challenge for architects now has been to keep the extension consistent with the original architectural plan and style. “Uniquely, all of GrandWest’s facades are scaled down recreations of old Cape Town buildings - the much-mourned Tivoli Music Hall (demolished in the 1930s) and the even more sorely missed Alhambra Theatre (demolished in 1970); the Old Railway Station (1905 - 1968); and Cartwright’s Corner, that now-vanished Adderley Street landmark.”

Sun International’s Development and Infrastructure Manager, Anton Steenkamp said, “To respect the existing architectural style the design is based on developing two identical three-story wings positioned symmetrically on either side of the existing entrance and porte cochere, which will remain largely unchanged. A new access road will give visitors direct access to the hotel.”

The two new wings will connect the existing hotel on the north and south

Sun International Expands Popular GrandWest Hotel

Sun International has announced it is investing an initial R122-million to increase the size of GrandWest Grand Hotel, currently the busiest in the Group. Sun International’s investment is the first phase of a master plan that envisages developing a separate 250-room, 4-star conference hotel at GrandWest.

corners and the new offering will include presidential suites, ordinary suites, double and twin rooms and inter-leading family rooms. A gym, spa and pool are proposed for the ground floor of the southern wing.

According to Steenkamp another enormous challenge for the development team has been adding a new lift and constructing within an active environment as the Salon Privè and existing hotel operations are ongoing. Impact on customers such as dust, noise and vibration has had to be carefully managed. Naidoo said, “We apologise to all of our hotel and casino guests for the inconvenience, but a year from now when the new hotel is complete, we are sure they will agree that it was worth it.”

Bringing a new choice to the table

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Not only is it simple to use and easy to maintain, it is unquestionably reliable and can be setup for all kinds of can easily increase game speed, hand rate, utilization and ultimately revenue from almost any casino card game.

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AFRICAN GAMBLING NEWS SNIPPETS

Liberia Opposition Seeks

Legalised Sportsbetting

Liberian opposition polictican Yekeh Kolubah plans to introduce a bill in the Legislature to legalize sports betting in the country. According to the opposition lawmaker, the proposed bill will seek to regulate gambling in Liberia by legalizing every aspect of the market, noting that would be nice for the country that is already struggling in poverty under the George Weah administration. According to local media the country’s soccer-crazy population have gravitated to sports gambling, which has attracted several international sports betting companies to set up shops in Liberia.

‘They gather at these betting parlors to gamble on televised soccer matches. Some say it is a good source of income and occupation, but others are not so sure,” say local pundits. As sports betting’s popularity grows, the opposition seeks to regulate this burgeoning activity.

Pragmatic Play Extends South African Reach via World Sports Betting Partnership

Pragmatic Play, a leading content provider to the iGaming industry, has extended its reach in South Africa through its latest partnership withWorld Sports Betting.

10bet Launches in South Africa

10bet has launched its online sportsbook and games offering in South Africa. With 20 years of experience in international markets, this latest move highlights the sportsbook’s commitment to expanding further into Africa, one country at a time.

The premium sportsbook features a userfriendly interface, offers over 2000 betting markets, more than 25 000 live events per month, as well as industry competitive odds.

Boasting a pool of over 300 exciting games from the world’s best gaming providers including NetEnt, Evolution and Yggdrasil, 10bet provides a mix of exciting instant and live games.

Zanele Nhlapo, 10bet Africa PR and CSR Manager, said: “We are focused on investing considerably into the market to ensure we serve the South African betting consumer with a world class product, using globally recognized technology as well as local partnerships and integrations with key players in the market to build a platform that best serves our customers here.”

its already impressive presence on the continent.

Commenting on the partnership, Milda Mikelioniene, Chief Commercial Officer at Superlotto Games, said: “We are thrilled to bring our high-quality games to GOAT Interactive’s players in Africa. With a strong presence in 20 countries and a number of sites live in the region, they represent the perfect partner for us to exhibit our next-level portfolio to an even wider audience.

Karen Hope, Director of Casino at GOAT Interactive, added: “We are always on the lookout for top-tier games to add to our market-leading sites, and Superlotto Games’ portfolio fits the bill.

“We want to provide players in Africa with only the best the industry has to offer, and Superlotto’s attention to detail in the realm of games development is second to none.”

Superlotto has become renowned as one of the fastest-rising stars in the industry, with an extensive portfolio of more than 80 online games and a number of high-profile partners that includes the Lithuanian Lottery, Latvian Lottery, Georgian Lottery, Betsson Group, Parimatch, Slotegrator, and BtoBet.

Nigeria to Capture Gaming Duty at Source with New Tech

This latest agreement encompasses an array of Pragmatic Play verticals that will be delivered simultaneously including its award-winning slot titles. Additionally, Live Casino titles will be available to World Sports Betting, including classics such as Roulette and Blackjack.

This deal highlights Pragmatic Play’s further expansion in the African Market as it continues to grow its brand exposure across the region.

Superlotto Games Boosts pan-African Reach with GOAT Interactive Superlotto Games, an innovative developer of online live lottery, instant games and slots, has taken its product portfolio live with GOAT Interactive, a leading operator group servicing the African continent.

This new and exciting partnership will see Superlotto Games deliver its product suite to GOAT Interactive’s multiple operator brands, including Premier Bet, one of Africa’s most successful operators.

This collaboration is the latest in a series of positive developments for Superlotto, having recently received BMM certification for South Africa, with extensive plans to continue building on

The Federal Inland Revenue Service of Nigeria has signed an agreement with fintech company E-Technologies Global to help modernise its tax collection system as part of a wider move to attract gaming operators. As part of the project, a managed service through E-Tech’s Sentinal National Payment Gateway will instruct integrated payment service providers to deduct taxes or charges at the point of transaction and remit funds in real-time to the government’s treasury accounts. It is part of a new initiative by the National Lottery Regulatory Commission of Nigeria to attract tier one offshore global gaming operators to apply for a five year permit to offer all gaming and sportsbetting services to Nigerian players. Operators must comply with full risk-based AML screening and pass the “fit and proper” test to demonstrate responsible gaming practices before being granted a Remote Operator Permit. All approved operators will then connect to Sentinal where gaming duty will be deducted from player deposits and remitted directly to the government in real-time. The permit

has the advantage of allowing global operators to legitimately offer online gaming services to Nigerian players without the need to incorporate locally in-country and is subject to their continuing compliance.

OnAir Entertainment to launch in South Africa

OnAir Entertainment is to launch in South Africa by December 2022 following a surge in demand for its content and solutions. Just weeks after announcing a new studio in Spain in early 2023, OnAir Entertainment will go live later this year with a portfolio of games including Standard Roulette, Standard Blackjack, Auto Roulette, Speed Roulette, Eclipse Blackjack, and Lotus Speed Baccarat. It will offer major brands a range of exclusive live casino content and dedicated digital branding environments that can be customized to suit any operator’s needs, look and feel, and designs.OnAir Entertainment’s services and solutions have been approved with a Certificate of Suitability that has been issued by the country’s Western Cape regulator. South Africa will be the provider’s 10th new market in just 12 months.

BetGames Expands South African Presence with LulaBet

Innovative live dealer and betting games studio BetGames has signed its latest deal in South Africa, by agreeing to supply newly launched operator LulaBet.

As part of the latest collaboration, BetGames has supplied its popular product portfolio to LulaBet’s platform, giving the operator access to the studio’s renowned live dealer and betting titles, as well as its captivating Wheel of Fortune game. Based in Cape Town, LulaBet is an emerging sports and digital entertainment provider, with a focus on delivering world-class betting products, highlighting the significance of this recent deal as BetGames’ titles enhance the company’s offering. With an impressive foothold across regulated African markets, this deal sees BetGames maintain its continental dominance, as well as expanding further in the ever-growing South African market.

BetGames’ content is already live on LulaBet’s website, giving more players across South Africa the chance to play some of the country’s most popular live games and betting content.

Bet365 launches in Ghana

Bet365 has launched in Ghana, allowing fans to play on the dedicated website or app. New and eligible Ghanaian customers will have access to a wide range of betting markets from sporting events across the world. Upon joining, players can also take advantage of a sign-up offer and promotions, features and bonuses. Bet365 also offers in-play sports betting in over 75 different guises for over 600,000 events annually.

New and eligible customers in Ghana will receive access to live streaming of thousands of sporting events from around the world, including the Bundesliga – Germany’s top football division – and the Spanish La Liga, as well as NBA, NHL and baseball in the US. The launch came ahead ahead of Ghana’s first World Cup group stage match.

Decreasing Connectivity Costs Drive Growth of South African Online Gaming

Play.co.za: New Online Entertainment Platform to Disrupt the South African Gaming Market

Propelled forward by the pandemic and mandated lockdown restrictions, South African gaming and gambling industries are growing at an exponential pace.

South Africa’s booming gambling market ranks above its African peers, with financial experts predicting a gross revenue of over $2.3 billion by the end of 2022 and a further annual growth of around 6%,[1] while the number of active gamers in the country has been reported as 11 million.[2]

Drivers of investment into the region are seen as the country’s young population as well as the increasing adoption of smartphones and rising digital connectivity amid decreasing costs.

Riding the wave of this surging popularity is serial entrepreneur JP van der Spuy, who has announced the September 2022 launch of his latest venture, Play. co.za. “We are excited to launch Play.co.za, a premium online sports betting and gaming platform for the South African market, which offers users the latest in eSports and other interactive gaming experiences. As a community-driven a business with a tongue-in-cheek stance, we are looking to shake up South Africa’s burgeoning online gaming industry,” says van der Spuy. By no means a newcomer to the tech industry, van der Spuy is well-known as one of the co-founders of leading online payment platform Callpay, which was sold internationally in 2021 for $6.8 million. He says that his new gaming business draws on his deep understanding of digital platforms, as well as his passion for sport, using creativity and a good sense of humour to bring it all together into a seamless online gaming experience.

In South Africa, research indicates that one in 10 citizens engage in gambling for entertainment. Yet, as the cost of internet connectivity comes down and the number of smartphone users goes up - statistics suggest that between 20 and 22 million (or one third of the population) use a smartphone –the popularity of online casinos and gaming is also on the rise

Even before its official launch, Play.co.za has attracted big sport and lifestyle brand partners, including ESPN Africa, Tropika Island of Treasure, Winelands 10s, Cape Town 10s and the World Swimsuit Model Search. “I have long recognised the growth potential of a well-engineered online marketplace, and I am fortunate to have developed partnerships with several leading South African brands, which will enable strategic market placement of the business to drive future growth and perhaps give some of the bigger corporate players a run for their money,” he adds.

Despite his financial success to date, van der Spuy insists he does not do it only for the money. “Thanks to my father, entrepreneurship has always run through my veins. I have always jumped headfirst into a challenge and I enjoy putting my knowledge and skills to the test to develop innovative solutions that service a public need. Play.co.za is a stellar example of this, one that has also allowed me to show off my playful side.”

[1] https://mg.co.za/special-reports/2022-08-16-betting-is-gaining-popularity-in-africa/ [2] https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/africa-gaming-market

MALAWI GAMING BOARD/ NATIONAL LOTTERIES BOARD

INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB) FOR THE PROVISION (SUPPLY, INSTALLATION, INTEGRATION, MANAGEMENT, TECHNICAL SUPPORT, AND TRAINING) OF AN ELECTRONIC MONITORING SYSTEM FOR MONITORING BETTING, GAMING AND LOTTERIES TRANSACTIONS THROUGH INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVE BIDDING (ICB)

ISSUE DATE: 17TH JUNE 2022

PROCUREMENT REFERENCE: MGB/IPDC/22/06/005

1. Background information

a. The Malawi Gaming Board/National Lotteries Board (MGB/NLB) is a public enterprise established by the Gaming Act and Lotteries Act (Cap 47:3 and 47:04 of the Laws of Malawi) for the regulation and monitoring of all gaming and lotteries activities in Malawi and providing for matters connected with or incidental to the foregoing.

b. The MGB/NLB allocated funds in its budget for the procurement of an Electronic Monitoring System (EMS), and therefore invites bids from eligible and qualified bidders for the provision of an EMS.

2. Scope of Work

Bidders should supply both hardware and software, install, integrate an EMS and provide technical support and training for managing Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Transactions.

3. Eligibility Requirements:

a. Current Business Registration Certificate from jurisdiction in which firm is registered/licensed to do business;

b. Articles of Incorporation/Partnership Agreement/Shareholders Agreement;

c. Current audited Financial Statements/bank statement/proof of financial viability;

d. References/evidence of experience in providing betting, gaming and lotteries transactions monitoring system;

e. Relevant system/software certification from accredited testing laboratories;

f. Ability to begin services within 30 days of contract signing.

4. Bidding Documents

a. Bidding Documents in English Language may be purchased by interested bidders from MGB/NLB upon payment of a nonrefundable fee of MK100,000 or its equivalent in Malawi Kwacha. The method of payment shall be Malawi Kwacha, either in cash or a bank certified cheque or any convertible currency.

b. Bidding documents and further information may be obtained from the address below from Monday to Friday between the hours of 09:00hrs. and 16:00hrs.

5. Submission Guidelines

a. Bidding will be conducted through International Competitive Bidding (ICB) procedures as specified in the amended Republic of Malawi’s Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act No. 27 of 2017.

b. Quality Cost Based Selection (QC BS) procedures and therefore bidders are expected to submit Technical and Financial Proposals in two separate sealed envelopes clearly marked “(IFB No. MGB/IPDC/22/06/005) Confidential Bid for the Provision of Electronic Monitoring System – Technical” and “(IFB No. MGB/ IPDC/22/06/005) Confidential Bid for the Provision of Electronic Monitoring System – Financial.” Bids must be deposited in the Tender Box at the address below on or before 1st August 2022 at 15:00 hrs. local time. Late bids will be rejected.

c. Evaluation shall be carried out in two stages; on Technical and Financial Proposals. Bidders that will not pass the Technical Evaluation will have their Financial Proposals returned unopened.

d. Technical proposal envelopes will be opened in the presence of bidders’ representatives who choose to attend bid opening on 4th August 2022 at 15:00 hrs. local time at the address below.

e. The MGB reserves the right to reject or accept any bid submitted and to annul the entire process for reasons to be communicated to Bidders without incurring any liability thereof.

f. Addresses for inspection, purchase, collection, submission and opening of bids:

LIST OF S.A. GAMING LEGISLATORS & ASSOCIATIONS

Province Contact

NATIONAL Gambling BOARD

LOTTERIES BOARD

EASTERN CAPE

NORTHERN CAPE

WESTERN CAPE

NORTHWEST

MPUMALANGA

LIMPOPO

GAUTENG

KWAZULU-NATAL

FREE STATE

Ms Caroline Kongwa (Accounting Authority)

Ms Charlotte Mampane (CEO)

Adv. Ncumisa Mayosi (Chairperson)

Telephone Fax Website

010 003 3475

0866185729

www.ngb.org.za

012 432 1300 012 362 2591 www.nlb.org.za

043 702 8300 043 748 2218 www.ecgbb.co.za

Mr. Mabutho Zwane (CEO) 0437 028 300 0437 482 218

Mr Oompy Goeieman (Acting CEO) 053 832 0490 053 830 4838 www.ncgb.co.za

Mr Dali Mjila (Chairperson) 053 832 0490 053 830 4838

Mr Primo Abrahams (CEO)

021 480 7400 021 422 2603 www.wcgrb.co.za

Ms. Althea Lapoorta (Chairperson) 021 480 7400 021 422 2603

Mr Tiego Kgomo (Chairperson)

018 381 3215 018 381 4421

Mr. Nathan Oliphant (CEO) 018 381 3215 018 381 4421 www.nwgb.co.za

Mr Bheki Mlambo (CEO)

013 750 8000 013 750 8099 www.mer.org.za

Mr. Mdoda Eric Mbhele (Chairperson) (013) 750 8000 013 750 8099

Mr. Elijah Tijane (Chairperson)

015 230 2300 015 295 3566 www.lgb.org.za

Mr Gregory Makoko (CEO) 015 230 2300 015 295 3566

Mr Mxolisi Zwane (Chairperson) 011 581 4800 011 581 4900 www.ggb.org.za

Mr Steven Ngubeni (Chief Executive Officer) 011 581 4800 011 581 4900 www.ggb.org.za

Ms Sibusisiwe Ngubane (Chairperson)

033 345 2714 086 501 8126 www.kzngbb.co.za

Ms Portia Baloyi (CEO) 033 345 2714 086 501 8126

Mr Dhilosen Pillay (CEO) 051 404 0300 051 404 0322 www.fsgb.co.za

Mr Dhilosen Pillay (Chairperson) 051 405 5483 051 875 2460

CASINO ASSOCIATION OF SA Adv. Themba Ngobese CEO 011 011 9032 +27(0)11 011 9091 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

Malawi Gaming Board www.gamingboard.org.mw

Tanzania Gaming Board www.gbt.go.tz

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

COMPANY

TELEPHONE FAX

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

Bergmann Automaten GmbH (011) 887 0553 (011) 786 4720

Biddcom Software (National Licence) (010) 221 1371 +27 86 649 4210

Bingo Vision (Pty) Ltd (011) 608 0335 (011) 608 0328

Casino Specialised Services (Pty) Ltd (National Licence) +27 83 255 7545 0862243463

Coin Security (011) 315 2711 (011) 315 2722

Cotswold Micro Systems Ltd (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

Money Autotech (Pty) Ltd (011) 466 2821 (011) 466 2822

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

Paul-Son Gaming Supplies Inc +1 702 384 2425 +1 702 384 1965

Playmeter Leisure Services (Pty) Ltd (National Licence) 083 448 4444 (011) 728 0231

Red Hot Games +27 10 444 0184

Route Gaming Solutions (Pty) Ltd (National Licence) (011) 787 7744 (011) 781 8649

SA Gaming (011) 887 6035 (011) 887 5641

TCS John Huxley (National Licence) (011) 315 7910 (011) 315 7912

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

WMS Gaming Africa (National Licence) (011) 542 2760 (011) 314 6969