Crypto Casino
Torrent Gear
How gambling is regulated in Africa and South Africa
1) Panorama of Africa: who regulates how
Nigeria (federation of "two floors").
There is a federal regulator of the NLRC under the Lotteries Act 2005 (national licences) and strong regional bodies such as Lagos State Lotteries & Gaming Authority (LSLGA) operating under the Lagos State Law 2021 (retail and online casino, betting, bingo, etc.). Such a "two-loop" system requires the operator to coordinate permissions and reporting at two levels at once.
Ghana (centralized model).
Gaming Commission of Ghana licenses online and offline operators (casinos, bets, promo games), conducts inspections and collects fees; online gambling is legal with a license. Discussion 2024-2025 - tightening advertising rules and expanding RG requirements.
Kenya (tough enforcement and "advertising strikes").
BCLB (Betting Control & Licensing Board) regularly introduces point restrictions: in April 2025, the regulator suspended all gambling advertising on TV/radio/outdoor/digital/SMS for 30 days due to increased involvement and addiction. This is part of the "advertising under magnifying glass" trend.
Tanzania/Uganda/etc.
National Commissions (Gaming Board Tanzania; National Lotteries & Gaming Regulatory Board Uganda) build modes similar to Ghanaian: mandatory licenses, local payment gateways and separate advertising/responsible play guides. (To start, it is critical for the operator to check local payments and KYC/AML using FATF logic.)
2) South Africa: developed offline, strict online and "textbook federalism"
2. 1. Framework and institutions
South Africa regulates gambling through the National Gambling Act 2004 (NGA) and the provincial laws of nine provinces. National level (ex. The National Gambling Board/now the national regulator) sets norms and standards, and provincial licensing authorities issue licenses and conduct oversight, with the national body overseeing their work and uniformity of practice.
2. 2. What's allowed and what's not (especially online)
Casino, bingo, horse racing/sports betting (offline) - allowed under provincial licenses.
Online casinos (interactive gambling) - prohibited: the legislative framework for their legalization has not been adopted; the courts additionally secured the ban even for offshore sites addressing South Africa. Online sports betting and horse racing are allowed, but only at provincially licensed betting operators.
Bottom line: If you are a bookmaker with a provincial license, you can legally work online. If you are an online casino (slots/roulette/blackjack, etc.), the South African market is closed for B2C online.
2. 3. Licenses, Vendors, and Human Resources
In addition to B2C licenses, there is a licensing regime for suppliers and key employees. Content and technology providers require registration/certification, as well as platform compliance with technical requirements and audits.
2. 4. Enforcement 2024-2025
National and provincial regulators have stepped up campaigns against illegal online (blocking, information campaigns, raids) and are issuing public warnings against "playing for money." This is important for marketing and affiliates: gray landing and cloaking are high risk.
3) Payments, KYC/AML and Responsible Gaming: The overall Asian-African trend for white outlines
Payments.
In all the described jurisdictions, the role of local payment gateways and bank routing is growing; regulators expect white PSPs, chargeback/alerts logs, and a clear return procedure.
KYC/AML.
Basic set: age/personality (IDV), sanctions/PEP screening, transaction monitoring, SoF/SoW by triggers, reporting on suspicious transactions (SAR/STR). South Africa focuses on online traceability and local account/device geography.
Responsible Gaming.
Regulators require deposit/time/loss limits, reality checks, self-exclusion tools, and staff training; Kenya and Ghana add to this tight ad control, which is noticeable in the latest decisions.
4) Advertising and affiliates: "brakes" included
Kenya: Precedent With 30-Day Stop of All Advertising - Indicator for Entire Region: Regulator Ready to Quickly "Stop the Airwaves" If It Sees Spike in Vulnerable Demand Set up a marketing matrix without "quick money," with age filters and an affiliate registry.
Ghana: 2025 Discussions Around Ad Guide Compaction (Explicit RG Warnings, Site Limits/Tonalities).
South Africa: public campaigns against illegal online and warnings to the public are a signal to brands: avoid "borderline" creatives and gray offers.
5) Practical conclusions for operator and provider
1. SOUTH AFRICA.
Online: Sports/horse racing only at provincially licensed bookmakers; online casinos - it is impossible.
Need provider/employee licenses, content/platform certification, change logs and audits.
Coordinate entry plans with the provincial regulator (license, server location/PoR, payments).
2. Nigeria.
Check the "double circuit": NLRC (federal) + state (e.g. Lagos/LSLGA).
Ensure that license and reporting terms do not conflict at the levels.
3. Ghana.
Direct central licensing of Gaming Commission of Ghana for online and offline; prepare "clean" marketing and RG screen.
4. Kenya.
Lay down the "emergency mode" of marketing (up to a complete pause of advertising); prepare affiliate traceability and creative library.
6) Short compliance checklist (1 page)
Legal structure and "fit & proper" of beneficiaries and key employees.
KYC/AML/RG: IDV + liveness, sanctions/PEP, SoF/SoW, limits/self-exclusion, reality checks, staff training.
Technique: RNG/RTP certification (where applicable), immutable logs (WORM), version control, DR/BCP plans.
Payments: white-listed PSP, SCA/3DS, anti-fraud/chargeback monitoring, geolocation.
Marketing: age filters, honest bonuses, register of affiliates; readiness for "stop-switch" at the regulator's request.
Reporting: GGR verticals, incident reports, SAR/STR, provider audits.
Africa is rapidly moving away from the "grey area" and towards regulated markets: Nigeria is building a complex "federation" of licences, Ghana is centralising entry and cleaning advertising, Kenya is showing a decisiveness in enforcement. South Africa is the most mature but demanding case: strong provincial authorities, a clear vertical of norms and a ban on online casinos with legal online betting. A successful strategy on the continent is local license + white payments + pedantic RG/KYC/AML, otherwise 2024-2025 enforcement will quickly turn any "fast start" into an expensive pause.