Some are incredibly developed, offering sprawling cities and a plethora of modern technology. Others are more traditional and appear more natural—untouched by extensive development that sometimes does a disservice to the beauty of nature.
However, something has recently spread across the continent, landing in many countries and enthralling the locals with thrilling entertainment: online gambling.
Legal Gambling
When many people consider the spread of online casinos in Africa, they might first wonder if the pastime on the continent is even legal. There is no clear answer to this question, as legality varies heavily from one country to the next.
Of the 54 countries in Africa, less than ten have formal laws regulating online gambling. Almost the same number have laws strictly prohibiting online and land-based gambling due to religious or traditional beliefs.
This leaves the majority of African countries with no direction on whether or not online gambling is legal. In many cases, this lack of a legal answer extends beyond online gambling, and there is little to no direction relating to physical gambling either.
Due to this grey area of the law, many online offshore websites eagerly welcome players from African countries. These players, without any indication of whether accessing these services is even legal, register accounts and begin betting with the hopes of a significant win.
Accessibility
At the same time that operators are accepting more players, internet penetration in Africa is expanding at an ever-increasing rate. This allows players from across the continent to access and benefit from multipliers and a ton of other features common to online casino games.
In 2014, it was estimated that only 181 million African users had internet access. By 2024, this had jumped to around 646 million—almost half of the continent’s population. Countries like Morocco, Libya, and Seychelles (rated the most developed country) are leading the way, with penetration of 90.7%, 88.4%, and 86.7%, respectively.
Less developed countries are also experiencing massive internet growth. Cameroon, Kenya, and the Gambia have grown to feature penetration levels of 43.9%, 40.8%, and 54.2%, respectively. Only three countries have less than 15% penetration: South Sudan (12.1%), Burundi (11.3%), and Central African Republic (10.6%).
Popularity
Thanks to easy internet access and a plethora of online gambling options, many Africans are taking to online casinos. These have grown massively in popularity over recent years, urging more operators to launch services in various African countries with large, untapped markets and little regulation.
Behind this popularity, however, is a stark reality that many believe is not only the driving force behind the surge in gambling activity but also a reason that operators should be slower to engage with players.
Many countries in Africa have high levels of unemployment and poverty. Recent estimates calculate that, across the continent, almost 429 million people live below the extreme poverty line, which is set at just $2.15 per day.
Underdevelopment, slowing economic growth with impending economic doom (like in Nigeria), and high unemployment contribute to this poverty. In South Africa, the latest government statistics show that unemployment is currently at 32.9%, while Congo has an unemployment rate of 21.6%.
Despite some countries having relatively low unemployment rates, like Chad (1.28%) and Cameroon (3.98%), these rates do little to improve the region’s low economic activity. Despite the high employment, 37.1% of Chad residents and 43.6% of Cameroon residents live in poverty.
Multiple studies undertaken internationally have shown that bettors living in poverty are almost twice as likely to engage in gambling activity regularly. Moreover, they are more likely to develop problem gambling symptoms and addictions.
For the impoverished and unemployed, the promise of extensive jackpots and the allure of welcome bonuses can be enough to keep them coming back for more. This has resulted in the industry spreading like wildfire, particularly among players lucky enough to win small amounts who think they can hit it big with successive wins.
Culture
Aside from the incentive of a better life, another aspect fuelling the spread of online casinos across the African landscape is the ever-reaching spread of Western culture. This arrives hand in hand with greater internet access, exposing African locals to Western ideas and cultures.
African cultures have always been more traditional and reserved than their Western counterparts. Many argue that this is why some African countries are underdeveloped, while others reason that this is why the continent has fewer social problems.
However, many African countries have begun to adopt Western cultures due to their exposure to them. South Africa, which features high adoption rates of Western habits and a strong presence of pop culture influenced by American and European countries, is a prime example.
A large part of this culture reaching Africa from other nations is the pastime of gambling. In countries like the UK, gambling has been a regular part of life for many people for a long time. The spread of this ideology reaching Africa is enforcing and validating the idea of gambling despite some African cultures condemning the act.
Conclusion
Looking at Africa’s ever-changing landscape, one thing is certain: online casinos and other gambling methods (like sports betting) are spreading and seem almost unstoppable in their reach across the continent.
Fuelled by multiple factors, such as greater connectivity and the spread of Western ideas, native Africans in search of a better life are clinging to the pastime to have fun and escape the realities of their living situations.
Whether the iGaming industry is being thoughtful of the potential damage it is causing by tapping into the region remains to be seen. Until the actual effects of accelerating gambling reveal themselves, however, African residents are free to enjoy (where not prohibited) the thrill and enticing rewards of gambling online.
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