Africa's Gaming Market in Focus: SBC and GRAF Form Strategic Alliance

The global gaming world is increasingly focusing on the African continent, which stands out due to its enormous momentum and technological progress. In this context, SBC and the Gaming Regulators Africa Forum (GRAF) have announced a far-reaching strategic partnership. This alliance is designed not only to improve but to elevate the dialogue between regulatory authorities and the global industry to a completely new level. The primary focus is on knowledge exchange and the harmonization of regulatory approaches in a market that is often incorrectly perceived as a monolithic block.

Through this collaboration, SBC will support the GRAF 2026 Conference, taking place from 14-17 September 2026 at the Joaquim Chissano International Conference Centre in Maputo, Mozambique. In return, GRAF will act as an event partner for the African Gaming Forum, held during the major SBC Summit 2026 in Lisbon. This close integration ensures that the specific requirements and perspectives of African regulatory authorities are carried directly into the heart of the international gaming industry. In Lisbon, GRAF will play a central role in the regulatory program, including leading a panel that puts African markets under the microscope.

Numbers and facts

The scale of the partnership is particularly evident in the key data for SBC Summit 2026. Organizers expect around 40,000 professional visitors at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa (FIL) and the MEO Arena. The period for this global industry event is set from 29 September to 1 October 2026. The specific African Gaming Forum, which is accessible by invitation only, will take place on Wednesday, 30 September, from 11:30 to 19:00 at the Myriad Hotel. Here, high-ranking representatives such as Moruntshi Kemorwale (CEO of the Gambling Authority Botswana) and Lungile Dukwana (CEO of South Africa’s National Gambling Board) will meet to discuss topics like market entry, taxation, and player protection.

"Africa is not one gaming market. Every jurisdiction is developing at its own pace, with different regulatory frameworks, priorities and challenges. If we want to have meaningful conversations about the future of gaming across the continent, regulators need to be at the centre of them." - Rasmus Sojmark, Founder and CEO of SBC

Additionally, Emmanuel Siisi Quainoo (Gaming Commission of Ghana), Peter Maina Karimi (Kenya’s Gaming Regulatory Authority), Muchanankhwaye Mpuluka (Malawi Gaming & Lotteries Authority), and Bashir Are (Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority) have already confirmed their participation. This underscores the broad acceptance of the initiative across the continent.

Background

GRAF provides a dedicated platform for African regulators to address shared challenges. As the continent often makes technological leaps, especially in the field of mobile payments, authorities face complex tasks. Reuben Mabutho Zwane, President of GRAF, emphasizes that the partnership is an important step in strengthening Africa’s voice within the global conversation. It is about sharing experiences and influencing the discussions that shape the future of the industry internationally. SBC, in turn, sees Africa as a key region for its international portfolio and aims to build bridges between local actors and global providers through this cooperation.

Why it matters for German players

For German players, a cooperation in Africa might initially seem far away, but the global networking of regulators has direct impacts on the standards we experience here at home. The exchange of knowledge regarding player protection, money laundering prevention, and technical supervision between continents often leads to the establishment of best practices. In Germany, extremely strict rules apply due to the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021), such as the 1 Euro per spin limit for virtual slots or the monthly deposit limit of 1,000 Euros across all providers. The monitoring of these limits is carried out via the central LUGAS system. When African authorities now learn from the experiences of international partners, they often orient themselves towards these strict European models. Players from Germany should ensure they play exclusively with providers listed on the official whitelist of the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL), as only there are the high German standards guaranteed.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

For operators holding a German license from the GGL, such international partnerships represent a validation of high regulatory hurdles. While markets like Curacao or partially the MGA (Malta Gaming Authority) often have more liberal rules, the initiative by SBC and GRAF shows that the global trend is moving towards stronger and more transparent supervision. GGL-licensed casinos invest heavily in compliance and technology to meet the strict requirements in Germany. A global dialogue helps to secure these investments in the long term, as regulatory "wild west" conditions in other regions could be contained through such collaborations. The focus on responsible gambling, as planned in the African Gaming Forum program, aligns perfectly with the core objectives of German regulation.