Overview of Day One
The 7th annual edition of Sports Betting West Africa + (SBWA+) was held in Lagos on the 4th and 5th of August, 2022. The cheerful event took place at the Federal Palace Hotel and Casino, Lagos, marking an opportunity-laden gathering for the African sub-region. Organised by Eventus International, the summit had been halted for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was a two day summit which had a very welcoming and enthusiastic atmosphere, this report accounts for only the first day of the summit.
The event was attended by regulators, operators, et cetera of the gaming industry in West Africa and the world. Notable operators like MELBET, STARBET, BetBonanza, BetKing, were present at the event. Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, and Oyo State Gaming and Lottery Board were some of the regulators present. The essence of the summit is to converge regulators, operators, potential investors, industry leaders and enthusiasts alike.
The host of the event, Zzihi Ekeh took her wonderful time to get the opinions of attendees. Through her interviews, the attendees expressed their plans about the future and opportunities of iGaming in West Africa and Africa at large.
The summit is a symbol of hope and advancement for gaming in West Africa. Mr. Bashir Are, the CEO for Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority opined that the future of West Africa iGaming is auspicious. He spoke about future endeavours like investing in Esports, which will create employment for the youths.
Furthermore, the summit was a stage for operators to present their ideas and latest innovations. Gossy Ukanwoke, managing director of kingmakers and BetKing, presented his plan on the establishment of his company in more African countries. He stressed the importance of investing in the people, product and customer trust.
Lastly, some of the debilitating issues plaguing the industry were addressed. Gamble Alert is an advocate for responsible gaming, established to ensure that betting activities are monitored. The Head of operations of Gamble Alert, Oyindamola Michaels advised operators to adopt the proper measures in making sure illegal betting is eradicated.
He also stressed the need for operators to be concerned about the mental and psychological health of their customers. Operators should create platforms where gamers can seek help for any betting related psychological problems.
In conclusion, the SBWA+ is a very essential event to the industry. It brings nothing but hope, advancement and ideas that help transform the industry to an invaluable part of society. Most importantly, with such a powerful gathering of industry veterans, more opportunities will be opened up for gambling businesses to thrive.