Casinos in Central and East Africa: New Operators

Introduction: "mobile + offline" as a growth engine

Central and East Africa are fast-growing consumer markets with high penetration of mobile communications and mobile money, an active sports calendar, and growing tourism. Against this background, offline casinos and betting networks are expanding, and new licensed brands and local aggregators appear online. Three factors become decisive: an understandable license, mobile money/bank transfers and strict but predictable compliance.

1) Map of markets: what can and where "beginners" appear

Kenya (East Africa) - a mature betting market (online/mobile) with strict taxes and advertising; casino - offline under license. New players enter through partnerships with payment providers and local content (football, virtual leagues).

Tanzania - offline casinos and betting networks; online betting is available from licensed operators. New brands build omni (items + apps) and are friends with Tigo Pesa/Airtel Money/M-Pesa.

Uganda - Casinos, bingo, betting shops and online betting from licensed companies are allowed; the entry of new operators through the purchase of existing licenses and AML reform is noticeable.

Rwanda is a small but disciplined market: licensed rates (including digital), offline lounges are strictly controlled; for new players - an emphasis on RG and local payments.

Ethiopia - offline bookmakers and lottery formats; casinos and online casinos are regulated conservatively. Newcomers go through partnerships with terrestrial networks and technological B2Bs.

DR Congo (Central Africa) - an emerging offline segment (casinos/lounges/betting) in major cities; online products are introduced gradually and pointwise, often together with telecom operators.

Cameroon/Gabon/Republic of Congo - offline casinos and betting networks with careful digitalization; entry to new brands is more convenient through franchises and joint ventures with local license holders.

The idea for the reader: to say "new operators" in the region are more often locally registered companies with a strong B2B-technological "dorsal bone," and not "clean offshore."

2) Licenses and access: how new brands come in

Typical route:

1. Local structure (registration/joint venture).

2. Vertical license (offline casino, betting activity, slot machines/LPM, bingo; online - where allowed).

3. Platform and content certification (RNG/live, reporting).

4. Mobile money and banks: integrations with M-Pesa, Airtel Money, MTN MoMo and local EFTs.

5. Responsible Gaming (RG): limits, self-exclusion, hotlines, reporting.

What speeds up the process: purchase of a valid license/portfolio of items, white-label from a local tech provider, proven by AML/KYC stack (screening, audit log, sanction filters).

3) Online vs Offline: Balance 2025

Offline remains an anchor: resort and city casinos, betting points, LPM halls give recognition and stable cash flow.

Online grows where allowed: mobile sites/applications, USSD scripts, live bets and "virtual leagues." For new operators, this is a cheap distribution if KYC and white payments are met.

Hybrid - the player's "subscription" to the brand: the card/account works both in the item and in the application; bonuses and cashback are synchronized.

4) Payments: mobile money as standard

Kenya: M-Pesa Dominates, Fast Cashouts Key to NPS.

Tanzania: M-Pesa/Tigo Pesa/Airtel Money + bank EFTs; "number wallets" are popular.

Uganda/Rwanda/DRC: MTN MoMo/Airtel Money as main rail; Internet banking and cards are growing in cities.

Practice: Wallet owner's name must match profile; public SLAs for output (e.g. 80% ≤ 2 hours; 95% ≤ 24 hours); minimum of two PSP channels + backup route.

5) Advertising and responsibility: what "beginners" learn

Advertising: age barrier 18 +, ban on "fast money," restriction on placement at schools/in prime time, registers of creatives and affiliates.

Responsible play: deposit/loss limits, timeout, self-exclusion, behavioral "nooji."

Support service: local languages/messengers, training of RG operators, transparent bonus rules (vager/deadlines/limits).

6) Risks and red flags

Illegal mirrors and offshore sites: there are no guarantees of payments, blocking, "tough" rules for bonuses and confiscation during withdrawal are possible.

Gray payments (P2P/exchangers): risk of wallet/card locks and claims to the source of funds.

Crypt: Does not legalise the game, adds AML/sanction risks

Unreliable KYC: multiaccounting, high chargeback, fines from the regulator.

7) Key criteria comparison (simplified)

Criterion	Kenya	Tanzania	Uganda	Rwanda	Ethiopia	DR Congo
Offline casino	Yes (licensed)	Yes	Yes	Restrictedly	Conservatively	Yes (major cities)
Online rates	Allowed (strict)	Are resolved	Are resolved	Allowed (point)	Limited/by resolution	Point/becomes
Online casino	Overall no	Overall no	Overall no	No	No	None/Limited
Payments	M-Pesa, EFT	M-Pesa/Tigo/Airtel	MoMo/Airtel	MoMo/EFT	Banks/wallets	MoMo/wallets
Advertizing	Rigid framework	Rigid framework	Rigid framework	Strict control	Conservatively	Control intensifies

(The table is indicative of the types of tolerances; specifics are always determined by current licenses/regulations.)

8) Playbook for new operator

Start

Local company/partnership; audit of beneficiaries; contract with a certified content provider.

Payment "zipper": 2-3 mobile wallets + bank-2-bank; instant deposit, quick cashout.

KYC/AML stack: age/identity verification, sanctions/PEP screens, transaction monitoring.

Product

Mobile-first UX, easy onboarding (<10 minutes before the first deposit), live markets, virtual machines between matches.

Transparent bonuses: moderate vager, visible limits and deadlines, "honest text" before clicking "Accept."

Growth

CRM: segmentation by value/risk, cashback instead of "high-profile" bonuses, personal limits.

Offline omni: the player's card works in the point and in the application; cross-activation and event promo - priority.

Public service: SLA for cashouts, percentage of timely payments, share of closed complaints - on the site.

9) Memo to player

1. Choose a licensed brand (license number and regulator are indicated on the site).

2. Check protection tools: limits, timeout, self-exclusion.

3. Pay only in your name: the wallet/account must match the profile.

4. Avoid "mirrors," P2P exchangers and "instant" crypto outputs - this is about risk, not convenience.

5. Read the terms of bonuses before activation: vager, terms, withdrawal limits.

10) Until 2030: which is almost inevitable

Mobile money → instant payments: cashout speed will be the main factor in NPS.

More "omni": betting points and applications will be combined into a single wallet/status.

RG 2. 0: Personal limits and behavioral prompts will become the license standard.

Strengthening the control of advertising and affiliates: less "noisy" offers, more service.

Technological localization: local content studios, focus on football/rugby/athletics and regional tournaments.

Central and East Africa is an opportunity market where operators with a local license, fast "white" payments and respect for the rules win. Offline casinos and points - recognition base; online betting is a scaling engine where it is allowed. For players, the formula is simple: license, transparent rules, bankroll control. For new operators - a local structure, mobile money, RG-by default and a service that is measured not by the size of the bonus, but by the speed and predictability of payments.