Uganda’s vibrant capital transformed into a hub of innovation as Day One of the 8th Annual Edition of Sports Betting East Africa+ Summit unfolded. With a spotlight on groundbreaking ideas and transformative business strategies, sports betting leaders converged, aiming to propel East Africa's betting and iGaming landscape into uncharted territories.
Thomas Buckley Opar Owuor, Chairperson of SBEA+ 2023, extended a warm welcome to esteemed local and international sports betting leaders, expressing anticipation for the enriching experience that lay ahead during the two-day summit. Discussions commenced with an expertly delivered keynote address by Denis Mudene, the acting CEO of the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board of Uganda. Mudene provided valuable insights into the gambling tax hike in Uganda, shedding light on its implications and rationale.
30% tax will not apply to sports betting, only slots and online casinos.
Denis Mudene, Ag. CEO, National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board of Uganda
Najib Balinda, Chief Business Development Officer of Genius Gaming Consult, opened up the summit’s panel discussions, moderating a conversation comparing markets in Africa and Europe and how to appeal to respective player demographics. Panellists Emily Asava, Alessandro Pizzolotto and Gregg Rathbone shared their valuable insights on payment methods, localisation and how to adjust to player behaviour prevalent in East Africa.
It will take some time to embody the card system. I would say that mobile money is working, so why go into the card system? When you discover what is working, maximise that and move forward.
Emily Asava, Sales Manager, TVBET
Bet with 1xBetYou don’t need any specific knowledge to play them [crash games]. I would say for Africa, it is the new casinos, whereas in Europe you have Evolution, TVBet or older casinos. In Africa, crash games are the best.
Alessandro Pizzolotto, Co-founder and CEO, Stm Gaming
In and around networking breaks, participants enthusiastically navigated a captivating exhibition floor. The space hummed with conversations centred around securing potential business deals and acquiring products to enhance operations in East Africa. Local experts offered valuable insights on localisation, catering to the unique needs of the East African market. Meanwhile, international sportsbooks showcased their offerings, providing a global perspective and expanding the range of service provider options available.
The summit’s audience reconvened for a panel discussion focusing on how to improve player protection and responsible gaming. James Mpiirwe, senior consultant from Genius Gaming Consult, expertly moderated the session as panellists Purity Wahiu, Duncan Ndegwa, Weldon Koros and Denis Mudene delved into strategies for improved awareness surrounding responsible gaming.
If you go to most of these websites or shops, you will find that responsible gambling information or the prompts to self-exclude are in very tiny print, you can hardly find it. I think some of these initiatives have to be coming from the regulators.
James Mpiirwe, Senior Consultant - Regulatory Frameworks, East Africa, Genius Gaming Consult
The afternoon sessions surged forward with an intriguing topic exploring successful affiliate marketing channels. Oyindamola Michaels helped navigate the discussion as moderator, whilst Emily Asava and Benard Musinguzi provided valuable insights on affiliate promotion strategies in Africa’s gaming industry.
After an enjoyable networking lunch break, attendees had the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations and glean standout knowledge and insights. Following lunch, Nelson Bwire, Founder of Gamawareness254 and Program Officer at the Responsible Gaming Federation of Kenya addressed the subject of social responsibility in the iGaming industry and focused on the importance of balancing regulatory compliance and business accountability.
The summit’s honoured Chairperson, Thomas Buckley Opar Owuor proceeded to take the spotlight as moderator, guiding a discussion on innovative ways for gaming companies to succeed in the market. Edwin Tarrus, Brian Ondieki, and Samuel Ogechi contributed with their takes on business growth in the evolving gaming and betting industry. The final panel discussion of the day addressed the critical topic of match-fixing and illegal sports betting sites. Moderated by Tayebwa Didas Kabumbuza, Operations Manager at Buffalo Consultants Ltd, and together with John Kamau Kungu, Jean Claude Mushimire and Emily Asava, they explored the underlying factors of match-fixing and discussed effective measures to combat illegal betting sites.
As Day One of SBEA+ 2023 came to an end, Chairperson, Thomas Buckley Opar Owuor, delivered closing remarks, where he eloquently summarised the key highlights of the day and expressed heartfelt appreciation to all the participants and speakers. To cap off the day’s success, attendees were treated to a networking drinks session sponsored by EI Networking. With a melting pot of participants from all walks of life, this relaxed atmosphere provided the perfect setting to foster connections and exchange ideas amongst a vibrant community of industry professionals.