The inaugural iGaming AFRIKA Summit (IGA Summit 2026), East and Central Africa’s most significant convergence of gaming operators, regulators, technology innovators, and investors, officially opened yesterday at the Sarit Expo, Nairobi. Spanning three days from 4–6 May 2026, the summit gathered senior industry voices from across the African continent and beyond to address the most pressing opportunities and challenges defining the region’s rapidly expanding gaming ecosystem.
Themed around sustainable growth, regulatory harmonisation, and the digital transformation of gaming, the IGA Summit 2026 features plenary keynote addresses, high-level panel discussions, exhibition showcases, and networking events designed to foster cross-border collaboration and policy dialogue across Africa’s gaming sector.
OPENING THE DOOR: OPPORTUNITY AT THE FOREFRONT
The Summit was officially opened with a series of high-level keynote addresses that set a confident and forward-looking tone. Jeremiah Maangi, CEO of iGaming AFRIKA, delivered the opening speech, framing Africa’s gaming sector as one of the most compelling investment frontiers of the decade.
“Africa’s gaming industry is no longer a frontier market; it is a growth market. The infrastructure is maturing, the talent is here, and the appetite from both operators and players has never been greater. The IGA Summit exists to ensure that growth is structured, inclusive, and lasting,” said Jeremiah Maangi, CEO, iGaming AFRIKA.
Maangi underscored that the convergence of mobile penetration, a young population, and increasing disposable incomes across the continent presents a generational window of opportunity for operators, investors, and technology providers willing to commit to the African market.
REGULATION AS AN ENABLER
The Summit Keynote Address was delivered by Peter Karimi, Director General of the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) of Kenya. Speaking to a packed main stage, Karimi positioned smart regulation not as a constraint on industry growth but as its most essential enabler, a sentiment that resonated strongly with delegates from across the continent.
“Effective regulation is not the enemy of growth. It is the foundation upon which sustainable growth is built. Our mandate at the GRA is to create a framework that protects players, attracts legitimate operators, and ensures that the benefits of this industry are felt across Kenya’s economy. We are committed to building a regulatory environment that is clear, fair, and responsive to innovation.”
Said Peter Karimi, Director General, Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA)
Karimi highlighted Kenya’s progress in modernising its regulatory architecture, including ongoing efforts to strengthen licensing frameworks, combat illegal operators, and integrate responsible gaming standards into operator compliance requirements. He called on regional regulators to work collaboratively toward harmonised policies that reduce friction for pan-African operators while maintaining consumer protection standards.
“With technology, the pace is continuously changing, and both operators and regulators must evolve very quickly either to catch up or stay ahead. The transition from the Betting Control and Licensing Board to the Gambling Regulatory Authority provides an opportunity via the Gambling Control Act for us to create a brand-new set of regulations to look after the industry, and the player is at the cornerstone of the regulations and the law. So, player safety is at the front and centre of what we are trying to achieve,” Karimi added
GOVERNING FOR THE FUTURE
Joseph Kirui Limo, Chairperson of the Gambling Regulatory Authority, officially opened the Summit with a landmark address focused on the intersection of governance, taxation policy, and industry credibility. His remarks drew significant attention from the assembled regulators, operators, and policymakers.
“Taxation and licensing are not merely revenue instruments; they are statements of intent by governments about what kind of gaming industry they want to build. When tax structures are punitive or unpredictable, they drive operators underground and deprive governments of the very revenues they seek. We must work together regulators, operators, and governments to design tax frameworks that are competitive, transparent, and that incentivise compliance over evasion.”
Joseph Kirui Limo, Chairperson, Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA)
Limo’s address drew applause from industry stakeholders who have long called for greater policy predictability across African markets. He reaffirmed the GRA’s commitment to open dialogue with
the private sector and to benchmarking Kenya’s regulatory approach against global best practices, particularly in the areas of digital gaming taxation and cross-border licensing.
Also in attendance was Mr. Joseph Otieno, Kenya Revenue Authority Chief Manager ICT, Media, Telecommunications, Betting and Gaming Taxpayer Compliance, where he emphasised the critical role of the players adhering to regulations, including taxation, where he also commended the revenue growth in the gaming industry.
“As Kenya Revenue Authority we have been able to grow with the industry. We have transcended revenue collection and as of FY2024/25 we were able to collect Ksh 31 billion from just the betting and gaming sector, and that may have been due to legislation and tax regime that existed at the time ”
The event was also graced by the Nairobi County Director for Gaming, Betting and Lotteries NCCG, Alvin Omuga.
Mr. Omuga remarked on the rapid growth of the gaming industry across Africa and how Kenya and Nairobi, in particular, are at the forefront of things.
“This summit comes at a defining moment for the gaming industry in Africa. Across the continent, we are witnessing rapid growth driven by digital platforms, mobile technology and a young, dynamic population. Conversations around innovation, compliance and responsible gaming and the future of the industry have never been more important. It is therefore fitting that Nairobi, a City at the heart of Africa’s transformation, hosts this dialogue.”
PANEL HIGHLIGHTS: REGULATION, LICENSING & TAXATION IN FOCUS
The event also featured different panel discussions from key industry players from across the content and beyond.
Panellists examined the fragmented nature of gaming regulation across Africa and the urgent need for harmonised licensing frameworks that facilitate legitimate cross-border operations. The discussion surfaced key tension points between national fiscal interests and the competitiveness of individual markets in attracting foreign direct investment.
“The fragmentation of African gaming regulation is one of the industry’s biggest challenges and one of its biggest opportunities. Every country that gets its regulatory and tax framework right becomes a magnet for investment. Those that do not will simply watch that investment and the revenue it generates go elsewhere,” commented Denis Mudene Ngabirano, CEO, National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board, Uganda.
“Harmonisation is not about surrendering national sovereignty; it is about creating the conditions in which African gaming can compete with the world. A unified approach to licensing standards and taxation reporting would dramatically reduce the cost of compliance for operators and dramatically increase the revenues governments can realistically collect,” Peter Emolemo Kesitilwe, CEO, African iGaming Alliance, said.
