Gaming for Africa Magazine - Issue 163

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GAMING for AFRICA

Publisher & Editor

Roy Bannister

Executive Publisher

Ingrid Keulder

Editor-at-Large

Bill Healey

ACCOUNTS & Administration

Fax: 086 648 1634

Email: afrogame@mweb.co.za

PUBLISHER & Advertising

Headstart Productions

P.O.Box 607

Langebaan 7357

Fax: 086 648 1634

Cell: 082-468-8622

e-mail: afrogame@mweb.co.za

LAYOUT AND DESIGN

Nicole Cook

Email: nicole.graphicd@gmail.com

PRINTED BY

Headstart Productions

GAMING FOR AFRICA is a bi-monthly magazine focused on casino operators and the manufacturing sector of the African gaming industry. We publish informed comment, and cover developments in legislation, new products, marketing and sales, promotions and general casino resort tourism trends in Africa Information published in GAMING FOR AFRICA or views or opinions expressed by writers are their own and not necessarily endorsed by the owner, publisher or editor of GAMING FOR AFRICA. While reasonable care is taken to report on events and occurrences in an accurate manner, we cannot accept any responsibility for inconveniences arising from misinformation. We welcome unsolicited articles and photographs but cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage. Press releases are published in good faith and the publishers assume that information provided is correct.

Gaming for Africa is a trade publication aimed at the b2b casino and gaming industry in South Africa and across the African continent where legalized gambling is permitted. As such all advertising and editorial in this publication is aimed at professionals within the gambling industry, and not the general gambling public. Gaming for Africa endorses and promotes responsible gambling and proudly subscribes to the aims and initiatives of the legalized gambling industry thorugh the National Responsible Gambling Programme. National Responsible Gambling

Counselling Line – 0800 006 008

From the Editor

Crash Games are all the rage at the moment in Africa, not least because they offer iGaming operators access to a whole new gaming demographic beyond pure sportsbetting, but provide players with different, fun and exciting gaming options beyond traditional slots.

As we explore the latest addition to the Crash Game market, we get a new take on these games and the value-add options they can provide to operators and players alike. The insightful piece from Aviatrix in this issue should lead you as an operator to look at adding Crash Games to your offering... if you are not already... and Aviatrix is a perfect place to start.

Beside the exciting news from Malawi, where a new regulatory structure is set to allow sportsbetting, internet gambling and VLTs (Video Lottery Terminals), Botswana has also made recent moves that will allow Bookmaker and Tote licences.

All of these recent developments tie in perfectly with expanded gaming offerings across the continent and in this issue we also have a great take on how Virtual Game offerings can help operators achieve the Omni-Channel Dream.

In this issue also see how Sun International is rebounding from the pandemic with stunning results, and how operators can access French-speaking markets.

Roy Bannister

2 Sun International Earnings Leap Ten-Fold & Plans African Online Gaming Expansion

2 Botswana Issues Draft RFA for Bookmaker and Tote Licences

4 Zimbabwe Govt Deploys Technology to Monitor Gaming Activities

4 TCSJOHNHUXLEY Installs TCS Jackpot System in Egypt

6 Winsystems Extends African Distribution Deal with Gamesmart

6 Malawi calls for RFP for Casino, WAP and Sportsbetting Licences

8 Court Overturns Kenyan Casino Regulation

9 Introducing DRGT’s Electronic Bingo System

10 Crash Games can Unlock Online Casino in Africa

12 Malawi Merges Gaming Regulators to Allow Sportsbetting and Internet Gambling

14 Fixed Odds Betting Terminals from Red Hot Games and Bitville Gaming are Perfect for African Retail Betting 16

CONTENTS

Sun International Earnings Leap Ten-Fold & Plans African Online Gaming Expansion

• Income for the year up 44% from the prior year to R11.3 billion;

• Adjusted EBITDA up by 96% from the prior year to R3.3 billion;

• Adjusted EBITDA margin at 29.3% from 27.8% in 2019;

• Adjusted headline earnings improved ten-fold from R110 million to earnings of R1.1 billion;

• Adjusted headline earnings of 439 cents per share, up from 44 cents per share in the prior year;

• Record dividend of 329 cents per share for the year representing a 10% yield on current share price

Sun International reported strong fullyear results and a record dividend, recording an exceptional performance in the second half of the year following an excellent showing in the first half of 2022, with income for the year up 44% from the prior year to R11.3 billion.

A combination of market share gains for its urban casinos, turnaround of its Sun City operations and exceptional growth in its alternate gaming businesses plus sustainable cost savings, among others, contributed to the South African adjusted EBITDA being up by 96% to R3.3 billion. Adjusted headline earnings improved from R110 million to earnings of R1.1 billion, with adjusted headline earnings of 439 cents per share, up from 44 cents per share in the prior year. As a result of sustainable cost savings, the South African

operation’s adjusted EBITDA margin improved from 28.2% in 2019 to 29.7%. Without the impact of the net diesel costs of R53 million due to load shedding, the group would have achieved its target 30% adjusted EBITDA margin.

Sun International CE Anthony Leeming said: “This strong performance reflects the resilience of our market, quality of our operating businesses and disciplined execution on our strategy which continues to enhance shareholder value.

Income from urban casinos has proven resilient growing by 43% on 2021 with growth in market share in a number of key provinces. Overall, urban casino operations generated adjusted EBITDA of R2 445 million for the year, while the adjusted EBITDA margin was up 2% on 2019 at 36.4%.

As a result of the significantly improved financial position and strong cash generation, the group resumed dividend payments a total cash dividend to 329 cents per share for the year, which represents a dividend payout of 75% of AHEPS.

“With the significant improvement in earnings and having achieved our long-term target of 2 times net debt to EBITDA the group has set the dividend pay-out at 75% of adjusted headline earnings per share. This equates to a total cash dividend of 329 cents for the year returning R864 million in total back to our shareholder and delivering a cash yield of approximately 10%.”

“We are particularly pleased by the significant progress we are making with our online strategy with SunBet showing strong growth in all key indicators and is ahead of its 5 year growth plan aggressive growth targets for this business. Gaming income from casinos, Sun Slots and SunBet showed a significant recovery with income up 36%“, said Leeming.

Sun Slots continued to deliver organic growth for the group. The Sun Slots business proved remarkably resilient, with a strong recovery in trading. We swiftly reactivated closed sites, resulting in 5 160 of the Limited Payout Machines (LPM) being active for play during the year under review. The group continues to engage with the regulators to increase the roll out of LPMs to the 6 500 LPM positions that have been allocated.

Sun Slots income increased from R1 242 million to R1 491 million, with adjusted EBITDA up from R313 million to R367 million for the year under review.

SunBet continued its strong growth trajectory and remains an exciting prospect, with long-term transformational growth potential for the group. Overall, income was up 86% on the same period in 2021 with growth of 135% in the second half of the financial year. Active players on Sun International’s rapidly expanding online sports betting and gaming platform continued to grow with additional games being offered, and the overall player experience being enhanced.

Continued on Page 8

Botswana Issues Draft RFA for Bookmaker and Tote Licences

The Botswana Gambling Authority has issued a Draft Betting (Bookmaker and Totalisator) RFA (Request for Application) Document and invited public comments on its planned issuance of Betting Licences.

The Botswana Gambling Authority has placed the Draft Betting RFA on its website and interested parties can access and download the RFA.  The Draft Betting RFA will be used by regulators

to provide guidance on the application process and information required from potential applicants.

Comments on the Draft Betting RFA can be made directly to the Authority before the Final

Betting RFA is published.

Public comments on the Draft RFA closed on 27 April 2023 and the industry awaits the final RFP for publication.

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Zimbabwe Govt Deploys Technology to Monitor Gaming Activities

In an effort to effectively monitor all legal gambling and collect taxes, Zimbabwe is harnessing technology are being deployed to monitor all sport betting shops in the country.

Taxes received from the country’s 240 operators received amounted to $320 million last year, with a general feeling in government that this is on the seriously low side considering the scale of the business.

The Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage this week signed a memorandum of understanding with N-Soft , a global technology company, which will see the company set up a pilot deployment of technologies to monitor gaming. The success of the pilot project will lead to the roll-out of the programme to all sport betting shops in the country.

In his remarks at the signing ceremony in Harare, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister, Kazembe Kazembe, said he is optimistic that after the deployment of the technology the revenue from the lotteries and gaming industry will increase.

“I am indeed confident that the deployment of appropriate and effective technologies by N-Soft will bolster the revenue streams for the Lotteries and Gaming Board.

“This will undoubtedly ensure that the

board effectively delivers on its obligations as espoused in section 53 of the Lotteries and Gaming Act.”

Minister Kazembe added that looking at the interest by local and foreign companies to venture into the industry versus the money the companies claim to be getting meant that something was not adding up.

“If you look at the number of the outlets that we have and the number of the applications, surely the industry must be paying enough. We even have foreign companies that want licenses. Surely there is something that we are missing hence we are deploying technologies.”

Minister Kazembe also spoke about online gaming:

“I would like the public to know that we are almost there. We are coming up with regulations that online betting will soon become legal in the country.”

At the signing ceremony, N-Soft vice president Prakash Sabunani said he is very confident of the system to help plug loopholes.

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“That’s why we are here for good governance and to help the Minister, enhance whatever he can to make it totally transparent and efficient.”

“We are going to do this job to make sure that we serve the community, government, population and for the betterment of the future, digitalisation and the community. It’s very important to give back to the community,” said Mr Sabunani.

Acting chairperson of the Lotteries and Gaming Board Dr Eugenia Chidhakwa said for a long time they have been grappling with generating respectable revenue from their operators whom they have every reason are doing better than they are declaring. With this solution, as they learnt they will be in a position to monitor their operators in real time. She added that this has been a missing link if as an entity they should demand their space, as indeed is the situation within other jurisdictions where the gaming industry is doing a lot in improving the lives of the citizens through wide ranging projects and programmes.

Winsystems Extends African Distribution Deal with Gamesmart

Winsystems, a leading technology supplier to the gaming and lottery industries has extended a distribution deal South African gaming technology company GameSmart, to distribute Winsystems’ slots gaming machines, electronic roulette and WAP product in South Africa and across the African continent.

CASINO

The deal, which will allow GameSmart to sell and support Winsystems product, includes the latest range of Gold Club Electronic Roulette and Casino Slots.  This includes the latest ST3 and ST cabinets for the casino market, bringing innovative gaming concepts to life with high-definition graphics and superior sound. Featuring 24” and 27” integrated displays, the cabinets bring the next generation game library to life.

ROULETTE

GameSmart will also sell Gold Club Electronic Roulette configurations that feature a modern, compact design, enhanced ergonomics and adaptive illumination technology  - all designed to create an immersive gaming experience.

LPM/ROUTE

Among the products available will be the Rhapsody cabinet, ideal for smaller venues/route operations, with an extensive gaming library and stunning light effects ensuring total player engagement.

WIDE AREA PROGRESSIVE

In terms of the deal GameSmart will also provide sale and support of Gold Club’s Wide Area Progressive product.

“GameSmart is excited to represent Winsystems world class gaming products and game content locally. We look forward to providing both the Casino and LPM markets with superior product at competitive pricing,” said GameSmart’s Ian Mossop.

For additional information visit www.GameSmart.co.za – exclusive distributor and support for Winsystems products in South Africa.

Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR GAMING AND LOTTERY LICENCES

The Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority (MAGLA) is inviting proposals for the following Gaming and Lottery Licences:

i. Casino Licences

ii. Wide Area Progressive (WAP) Gaming Licences

iii. Sports Betting Licences

This call for proposals is in accordance with the provisions of the Gaming and Lotteries Act

(Act No. 34 of 2022).

All procedural requirements for submitting proposals for the licences are stipulated in their respective ‘Request for Proposal’ (RFP) documents. The RFPs have been issued to provide the relevant guidance to applicants and also contain the evaluation criteria that will be applied by MAGLA to award the Licences.

The deadline for the submission of all applications is the 15th of June 2023.

The aforesaid RFPs can be obtained from

the offices of MAGLA at a fee of MK 200,000 (Two hundred Thousand Kwacha) for each licence.

For further details, please contact MAGLA using the contact details provided below:

The Director General

Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority

P. O Box 3062

BLANTYRE, MALAWI

Tel: + (265) 0999985333/0885568533

Email: magla@magla.org.mw

Sun International Earnings Leap Ten-Fold & Plans African Online Gaming Expansion

Continued from Page 2

At the end of the year under review, the group achieved substantial growth in its key performance indicators for SunBet against 2021, which included active players up 50% and deposits up 130%.

“SunBet offers the group significant accelerated growth potential and with this in mind, we continue to invest in people and marketing in order to significantly increase our share of the fast-growing online gaming market, “said Leeming.

“We have built this business organically, on a capital-light basis, leveraging the Sun International brand, presence and loyalty offering to attract and retain high-quality players at low cost of acquisition while positioning SunBet to be the most trusted and responsible gaming operator in our markets. In a highly commoditised online industry, our competitive advantage lies in our differentiated ability to add value to the omni-channel gaming and hospitality offering across the wider Sun International group.

“We are on a focused journey to grow our current operating market and launch into new markets. In this regard, we have concluded a 70% investment in SunBet Africa Holdings , for a consideration of USD3.2 million. The company has online sports betting and casino licenses to operate in Ghana, Zambia and Kenya . We are in the early stages of rolling out the SunBet operating model and brand in these markets, which have attractive long-term growth potential“.

Following a difficult start to the year with the closure of borders due to the Omicron Covid-19 variant, the group experienced a strong recovery in its resorts and hotels business. Domestic leisure, conferencing and sports and events revenues exceed 2019 levels, while international

leisure business recovered strongly in the second half of the year.

Total resorts and hotels revenue was up 65% to R2 571 million on the prior year. Overall, resorts and hotels generated an adjusted EBITDA of R450 million, making a complete turnaround from a loss of R56 million in the prior year and adjusted EBITDA of R300 million in the 2019 year. The adjusted EBITDA margin of 17.5% reflects a substantial improvement from the adjusted EBITDA margin of 11.7% achieved in 2019 and represents meaningful progress towards the group‘s margin targets.

As at the end of 2022, the group acquired 22.6% of the issued share capital (equivalent to 24.7% of issued share capital net of accounting treasury shares) in Grand Parade Investments Limited for R374 million and repurchased 1.9 million of Sun International’s shares for R58 million. Even with these investments, the group is in a strong financial position, with South African debt (excluding IFRS 16 lease liabilities) at R5.9 billion, down from R6.4 billion as at 31 December 2021 debt to adjusted EBITDA at 1.84 times.

Sun International has successfully concluded our de-gearing programme and is well positioned to deliver significant cash returns to our investors. Overall group debt (excluding IFRS 16 lease liabilities) reduced from R7.1 billion at 31 December 2021 to R6.6 billion at 31 December 2022, after allocation of cash generated to capital expenditure, investments, share buybacks and dividends. South African debt to adjusted EBITDA and interest cover of 1.84 times and 6.51 times respectively, was well within the group’s lenders’ covenants of 3.25 times and 3.0 times respectively. The group’s balance sheet is in a strong position, with unutilised facilities of R2.5 billion. The group continues to prioritise increasing free cashflows and disciplined capital allocation to maximise shareholder value, in

line with our revised capital allocation policy to maintain leverage at 2 times net debt to EBITDA and payout 75%of adjusted headline earnings per share in dividends.

“Our balance sheet remains strong, and we are focused on efficiencies and returns as we look to protect and grow our revenue and margins, “said Leeming.

“We anticipate that SunBet will continue with strong revenue growth which will be aided by the introduction of the recently launched slots offering. Our omni-channel offering, with Sun International’s premium hotel and casino portfolio and integrated MVG programme, will assist in increasing our share of the online gaming market.

“With the strong momentum that we have achieved and having the right leadership in place, we will ensure that our strategy will continue to deliver exceptional experiences for our customers and high attractive returns for our investors.”

Sun International also announced that is taking a bet on online gaming in Africa: “In this regard, we have concluded a 70% investment in SunBet Africa Holdings, for a consideration of $3.2 million. The company has online sports betting and casino licences to operate in Ghana, Zambia and Kenya,” he said. “We are in the early stages of rolling out the SunBet operating model and brand in these markets, which have attractive long-term growth potential.”

Leeming said the investment in SunBet was concluded in September 2022. It has the licences and is now getting the operations right. It should be launching the online gaming platform in key African markets early in the second quarter of this year.

Download Full Results Here: https://corporate.suninternational.com/ investors/investors-results-reports/

Court Overturns Kenyan Casino Regulation

At the same time, says Business Daily Africa, it has removed the 7.5 per cent excise duty imposed on cash set aside by punters in their wallets for gaming.

The two laws, said Justice Anthony Mrima, were not subjected to public participation in breach of the Kenyan Constitution that demands community input

before major decisions are taken.

The ruling overturns the Nairobi City County Betting, Lotteries and Gaming (Amendment) Act of 2021.

The High Court in Nairobi has quashed regulations that restrict gambling in the city to five-star hotels with casinos.

Crash Games can Unlock Online Casino in Africa

Online casino fans across Africa are calling out for a new type of gaming experience which provides something more than traditional slots and table games. It’s little wonder that crash games are quickly becoming popular in the region, says Aviatrix CEO Vladislav Artemyev

Over the past few years, Africa has quietly become one of iGaming’s most exciting regions. Most of the attention has been focused on sports betting, where innovative mobile payment solutions are opening access to people in countries across the continent for the first time.

This growing appetite is also beginning to expand into online casino, helped by rapidly expanding mobile infrastructure. While much of Africa’s online sportsbook industry transacts over SMS and 3G connections, wider adoption of smartphones and 4G/5G connections is creating a new market for online casino games.

For us at Aviatrix, serving this emerging market of casino players will require more than simply producing the same type of experience players in Europe or the Americas are used to. Without a history of online slots and table games, we see an opportunity to engage audiences in Africa with a new breed of games that both challenge and thrill players.

Vladislav Artemyev is CEO and co-founder of Aviatrix and ZingBrain. ai, where he leverages blockchain, AI and other cutting-edge technology to help operators grow their businesses.

Aviatrix Crash Game is an ideal introduction for the first-wave of African online casino players.

Anything less, and the journey towards a bright online casino future for Africa will stall before it even gets going.

Crash the scene

We see crash games as the perfect match for this first-wave of African online casino players. For those who don’t know, a crash game challenges players to hold their nerve as they watch a plane take-off and fly. The longer it goes without crashing, the more the player’s stake multiplies. They can cash out at any time and take their winnings, but wait too long and the plane will crash, meaning they win nothing.

The game originated in cryptocurrency communities around ten years ago, and quickly became popular with players who wanted the excitement of a casino game to come with a greater sense of control.

We see it as an ideal gateway product for markets across Africa for a number of reasons. Firstly, the mechanic is simple and intuitive in a way that complicated slot machines or tables are not. There are no complex rules to understand, and winnings scale in a way that simply makes sense. In markets where slots have never been part of the gaming culture, these types of games are surely a better match.

Secondly, the game’s origins in the world of crypto means it is already familiar with many Africans who themselves have turned to cryptocurrencies for greater financial freedom. Millions of Africans have embraced crypto wholeheartedly over the last few years. Three African countries - Nigeria, Morocco and Kenya - featured in the top 20 of Chainalysis’ Global Crypto Adoption Index last year. Meanwhile, some of Africa’s biggest stars - including King Kaka and Tekno - have been vocal supporters of crypto.

This all adds up to a significant opportunity, and we’re focused on bringing Aviatrix to a wider audience across the region.

We think it will succeed because Aviatrix is a completely unique type of online casino game, in that it rewards loyalty and encourages greater engagement by allowing players to personalise their experience.

We allow players to compete in the game with their own aircraft - which are also NFTsthat can be updated and customised over time. In the future, these NFTs will even be tradeable on an exchange, adding another level of intrigue. In short, these NFTs are a truly revolutionary form of engagement mechanic.

We also support our operator partners

with leaderboard-style competitions; the most recent, the ‘Spring Skirmish’, is distributing 500,000 euros to players in what is our largest tournament to date.

The game is being embraced by thousands of players around the world. In the last six months alone, around 200,000 NFT aircraft have been created. The blockchain upon which our game sites, Scorum, is the seventh most active in the world.

Aviatrix is also already an award-winning title, being named a ‘Hackathon Winner’ by Binance Smart Chain, as well as picking up the ‘Unique Selling Point’ title at the SiGMA Balkans & CIS Awards and being named NFT Community of the Year at the AIBC Eurasia 2023 Summit.

We are constantly updating the game to ensure the experience is improved, both for players and our operator partners.

Ultimately, if we as an industry are going to unlock the obvious potential of online casino in Africa, and provide players in the region with a product that provides the genuinely entertaining gaming experience they deserve, we are going to have to look beyond slots and to something new. Crash games are the perfect place to start.

We’re ready for takeoff, and we think Africa is too.

Malawi Merges Gaming Regulators to Allow Sportsbetting and Internet Gambling

The Malawian government, having identified an overlap in functions and responsibilities of its Gaming Board and Lottery Authority, has merged the two regulatory bodies and formed the Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority (MAGLA) in order to streamline gaming oversight in the country.

This move consolidates oversight and also intoduces new forms of regulated gambling to the country via sportsbetting licences, internet gambling licences and and VLT (Video Lottery Terminal) licences.

The old Gaming Act and the Lotteries Acts were enacted in 1996 and 2003 respectively in order to regulate gaming and lotteries. The Lotteries act established the National Lotteries Board (NLB) and the Gaming act set up the Malawi Gaming Board (MGB) as regulatory bodies.  The existing Gaming Act and the Lotteries Act were therefore repealed and replaced with the new Gaming and Lotteries Act, 2022.

The Gaming and Lotteries Act was passed by Parliament in in August 2022. It was assented to by His Excellency, the President, Dr Lazarus Chakwera on the 6th of October 2022 and subject to enactment on the 17th of November 2022.

Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority

The Gaming and Lotteries Act (‘the Act’) establishes the Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority (‘the Authority’) as the regulatory body and prescribe its functions and powers. The Act also makes detailed provision for the licensing and monitoring of all gaming and lotteries in Malawi.

National Lottery

The Act has introduced a totally new concept as regards the licensing of the National Lottery. The Act provides for multiple licences for the National Lottery as compared to the exclusivity that was previously attached to a National Lottery licence.

Electronic Monitoring System

Furthermore, the Act requires the Authority to establish, install, and maintain an electronic monitoring system to monitor the activities of licensees to ensure and enforce compliance with the Act and licences issued by the Authority.

Gaming and Lotteries Fund

The Authority is mandated to set up a fund called the Gaming and Lotteries fund under the Act. The Fund shall be administered by the Authority and shall be used to finance a number of social causes such as the development and marketing of tourism related activities.

Penalties

The penalties in the Act now range from MK 4m to MK 30m. New offences such as the failure to pay winners have been introduced in the Act. Making a false declaration in an application for licence is now an offence under the Act.

Administrative Penalties

In addition to criminal penalties, the act mandates the Authority to impose administrative penalties when a licensee contravenes licence conditions or a directive issued by the Authority. Where the administrative penalty is not complied with it becomes a criminal offence.

Further issues incorporated in the Act

In conclusion, the Act introduces a number of issues that had not been legislated in the two previous Acts. The new developments are as follows:

- The introduction of Sports Betting licences, Internet Gaming licences and Video lottery terminal gaming licences.

- The imposition of a Risk-based approach to the conduct of gaming and lottery operations. (To prevent or mitigate the risk of licensed operations being used as a financing base for Money laundering and terrorist finance activities).

- Restrictions on the nature/ content of advertisements aired by licensees.

Fixed Odds Betting Terminals from Red Hot Games and Bitville Gaming are Perfect for African Gambling Retail Market

Red Hot Games and Bitville Gaming are about to stir things up in the fixed-odds betting market with game changing retail technology in Africa.

“We are introducing affordable state of the art technology which brings the initial capital outlay to the bare minimum, thus removing the barrier to entry in the gambling sector”, said Hosea Malope, Managing Director of Red Hot Games.

Red Hot Games has partnered with Bitville Technologies to offer games on a terminal in retail outlets. Bitville is passionate about bridging the product offering between retail and online. Basically growing both markets at the same exponential rate with the same product exposure. Its IFrame solution is so much more than just an aggregated solution as it has the flexibility to plug into its retail cashier system and through the Fixed Odds Betting Terminal (FOBT) hardware makes online games available to players in retail across Africa. Currently there are over twenty five (25) suppliers available on the Bitville Iframe.

Amongst the suppliers available are Apollo Games, Vivo Gaming, One Touch Gaming, Pragmatic Play, 3 Oaks, Endorphinia, Hacksaw Gaming, Kiron, Spribe (Aviator), 7777 Gaming, Gamzix, Pin Projekt, etc.

“We are excited to be associated with Bitville who are clearly driven to dominate the African Market by delivering contemporary and up-to-date products”, added Malope.

Our solution is a Retail Solution for the Sport Betting Market when Fixed Odds RNG Contingencies are approved. It can also be utilized by Slots Operators in jurisdictions which permit the use of online slots.

“The solution is currently voucher based, that is a player purchases a voucher from the cashier, scans it on the terminal to load credits and play. At the end of play, the player will cash out the voucher and go to the cashier with the same voucher to collect the payout in case of a win.

We are currently in the process of integrating with mobile money, especially for the East African market where this method of transacting is popular. We are also integrating with the Bill Validator, allowing players to insert notes (bills) should operators choose to go that route”, added Malope.

Terminals are available to the market, with prices ranging between $900 to $3800. They come with a Touch Screen, Scanner, Printer and Bill Validator. The games are provided on a revenue share model (pricing to be provided on request).

At these prices, the operators can afford to replace the bulk of the aged gambling machines on the continent and provide players with new exciting games. New entrants can also afford to set up operations at a reasonable cost.

For more information, contact Red Hot Games through any of the communication means below: Landline: +2711 894-3699 | Mobile No: +2782 338-0340 |Email: maketsem@redhotgames.co.za

Some of the games available on the solution.

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SA Lotto Boss wins Woman of the Year Award

ITHUBA Group CEO, Charmaine Mabuza has once again shone in the business spotlight as an entrepreneur, as she has recently won the Businesswoman of the Year Award, at the 19th Annual Premier Black Business Quarterly Awards (BBQ Awards) held at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg recently.

The Business Woman of the Year award category recognised a female business leader who displays elements of original entrepreneurship and leadership evident by diversification and innovation. Furthermore, finalists needed to demonstrate involvement in socio-economic development initiatives. These qualities resonate very much with Mabuza, based on her accolades over the years.

Alluding to the BBQ awards, ITHUBA recognizes Charmaine Mabuza, as a formidable black female leader making a difference in South Africa. As the first black female CEO to be awarded the license to operate the National Lottery in South Africa in June 2015, Mabuza has been leading ITHUBA, shaping new realities and futures through an innovative and highly responsive business that mirrors the aspirations of society. Mabuza’s humble origins, entrepreneurial roots, and passion for helping South Africans are the driving force behind ITHUBA’s culture and purpose.

Mabuza co-founded Zamani Holdings, which includes subsidiaries such as ITHUBA, each with independent management teams. ITHUBA is South Africa’s National Lottery operator since being awarded the license in June 2015, with the mandate to operate the National Lottery and drive sales to create revenue on behalf of the National Lotteries Commission (NLC). The National Lotteries Commission manages the distribution and allocation of funds towards good causes. As the licensed operator of the National Lottery, Mabuza’s drive and leadership has helped change countless lives as players of the National Lottery games win cash prizes, and many became multimillionaires overnight.

ITHUBA has successfully transformed a traditional retailer-dominated business model with fixed terminals in-tore into a digitally-driven organisation by implementing an integrated solution across multiple platforms. First National Bank was one of the only banks selling

National Lottery tickets back in 2015; during the last several years of ITHUBA’s tenure, it has expanded its digital playing platforms to include several banking partners with the addition of ABSA, Standard Bank, Nedbank, FNB, Capitec, TymeBank, and more recently, African Bank. ITHUBA is also the first operator to introduce a National Lottery Mobile App offering players a seamless playing solution across the website, USSD, and Mobile App.

Charmaine Mabuza has over the years, also received numerous prestigious awards, including the Vision 2030 Top Woman in Education Award, Forbes Africa Social Impact Award (2020), CEO of the Year, Outstanding Women Leadership Award at the Africa Leadership Awards 2021, and was selected as one of the Top 10 Influential Women in the global iGaming Business (IGB) list. Her story highlights the power of opportunity, support, hard work, resilience, creativity, and feminine energy.

Her passion lies in the gaming sector and spills over to areas such as socio-economic development. As a philanthropist, she has independently set up a series of social corporate responsibility projects. ITHUBA’s socio-economic development initiatives reflect Mabuza’s deep appreciation for shared values, linking business sustainable growth to community investment that transcends profit and creates educational and entrepreneurial opportunities for others. Some of these include two housing projects where she built houses in a village in Mpumalanga for staff members back in 2018, and more recently, she built another 15 houses in KwaZulu-Natal, the North West, and Gauteng for families that were affected by the KZN floods last year and other natural disasters.

She also initiated food parcel distribution drives nationwide, including Limpopo, Western Cape, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, and KwaZuluNatal. To date, thousands of communities have received food parcels from ITHUBA. Another

passion project she has is the ITHUBA Bursary which caters to students from underprivileged backgrounds that want to study in the fields of Marketing, Information Technology, and Commerce. The Bursary’s main objective is to bridge the social and economic divides in the education sector.

“I believe that education is a critical contributing factor to economic growth; therefore, bursary programmes play a crucial role in increasing opportunities for those unable to afford tertiary education,” says Mabuza.

Other programmes she established at ITHUBA included the Supplier Enterprise Development programme (SED) , a funding programme that was designed to alleviate the impact of COVID- 19 on SMEs. As well as the Female Retailer Development programmes is also one of the initiatives designed to empower women in business.

As Mabuza’s success is evident from hard work, determination, and boldness to break the ceiling, Mabuza concludes by saying that her journey will not stop here; the Group CEO of ITHUBA, she plans to grow as an entrepreneur and an internationally recognised businesswoman.

GameSmart Enters Bingo Market with Mag-stripe Cashless Bingo Management Solution

Gamesmart’s entry into the Bingo market with its mag-stripe based Cashless Bingo Management system has seen the succesful recent install in Klerksdorp, that includes Gamesmart’s latest Pi-based player tracking technology.

The solution’s comprehensive system reporting allows for easy management of day-to-day operations including reconciliation with server-based bingo solutions from Ainsworth, Aristocrat, IGT and Scientific Gaming.

GameSmart’s casino solution is installed in 10 sites to date around South Africa and been cashless since 2006.

Our comprehensive Gaming Management Solution offers:

• Mag Stripe cashless. Both slots and tables operations,

• Jackpot Key-to-Card. Quick conversion from win to play,

• Mystery Jackpots and SAS Progressives. Incentivise loyalty membership and focus customer spend/reward with the points-based.

• Bonussing. Create your own to increase revenue on special days, or off-peak times on the gaming floor.

• Floor Plan Viewer. Stay informed of current floor occupation on a per slot/table basis, including active/hot player information.

• Touch screen tables. Cashless functionality means efficient tables operations, cashless buy-in and walk, reduced fills and credits, view real time tables play, feed table events to surveillance, accurately reward customers for play.

• Machine Accounting Module. Set up your gaming machines and events to monitor, manage play, capture floor configuration, manage machine supplier information, record machine set-up, perform machine moves with ease, choose cash drop or metered revenue reporting, accurately report on all in’s, out’s and Jackpot’s, integrate significant events to surveillance.

• Treasury Module. Configure your casino accounting for success, control all your cashiering functions, integrated to gaming machines, tables and vault, create and manage your transactions, double entry accounting record keeping allows for ease of integration into accounting packages.

• Gaming Administration. Establish your operating parameters and monitor play to maximise gaming activity, set /manage your casino operational/

system defaults, configure your gaming floor for accurate accounting/reporting, establish/ maintain drop schedules slots, configure users, authority levels and access rights, pre-set the base operational parameters for your operation, audit changes to users and their access rights.

• Loyalty Program. Know your No. 1 asset, Your Customers, when their birthday is, where they reside, choose how to communicate with them, what their interests are, what their account status is.

• Bonussing. Reward and retain customer interest with our configurable bonussing functionality. Configure loyalty levels on points earning, create bonuses, manage promotional product, view live play on the floor with our Floor plan Viewer, turn points into credits for play at machine.

• Player Tracking Hardware. Cashless gaming, track play, move between denominations with ease and earn loyalty, key off jackpots to player card, view

balances, machine pay-outs, change your PIN. • Software Upgrades. Remote/online support and upgrades drive efficiencies.

G-VISION. Our Meta Data Designed, server-based solution provides for remote monitoring and management reporting of gaming activity in 7 Swaziland slots operations totalling 207 machines. BI based reporting allows for dashboard solutions giving near real-time management information on play and revenues with drilldown capabilities.

Nationally licensed. GameSmart provides both hardware and software technology enabling casino operators to electronically manage, monitor and control the entire on-floor gaming activity and back-office administration.

For a comprehensive gaming management solution supported by customer satisfaction and committed support contact GameSmart on +27 12 663 2273 or sales@gamesmart.co.za

In recent years, Africa has become the global hub for iGaming growth and adoption. Kiron headquarters are in Johannesburg, giving them the advantage of having boots firmly on the ground in this flourishing market. Through its innate knowledge of the region and extensive market experience, Kiron Interactive has become the undoubted expert for this continent of opportunity.

Despite the exciting rise in online gaming in many African countries, the dominant influence of retail betting across the continent is still very present and won’t be going anytime soon. Kiron have been developing market leading retail environments since the sector’s inception. Providing operators throughout the region with localised, cost-effective, and most importantly, scalable solutions.

Kiron’s internet-based, retail focused render solution provides operators with the industry’s largest choice of virtual sports games, presented via high-resolution displays. Professionally produced channels with engaging audio commentary, all focused around the most popular sports and number games are now readily available in live and pre-recorded formats. Via a simple plug-and-play installation operators and their customers can instantly take advantage of 24/7 game content and market data.

The same user-friendly set-up can also be enjoyed with Kiron’s satellite solution, delivering the same market leading content but without the high bandwidth charges as no internet connection is needed. Making it perfect for those regions in Africa that still lack the sufficient online infrastructure to fully support an online

African Virtual Sports: Achieving the Omni-Channel Dream!

Being a pioneer in the global development of virtual sports betting, since the turn of the Century, means that Kiron Interactive has been able to firmly establish itself as the sector’s benchmark of quality and service. Enabling Kiron to create an unparalleled brand and market offering, recognised throughout the sector.

product at scale.

Although retail has remained the preferred betting channel for African based players, who have traditionally enjoyed the physical in-shop experience and social aspect, the Covid-19 lockdowns were a major catalyst for change. They helped to boost the exposure and highlight the many benefits of online play, providing the perfect introduction to bettors across the continent.

The increasing trend towards online betting is only getting larger as developing countries in Africa continue to make key improvements to their infrastructure, allowing for cheaper and easier access to online services or products. The now heightened levels of technical capabilities means that betting markets are available 24/7 in most territories, creating more opportunities

than ever for operators to expand within the continent, driving the impressive levels of growth we’ve witnessed across Africa in recent times.

As a result of this, Africa has gained a taste for new ways of betting, plus an exciting new range of fun products to bet on. Kiron’s market leading HTML solution is the perfect product to leverage and take advantage of this growing consumer trend. Delivered without hardware in the same high-quality definition while enjoying the benefits of being mobile and data light, Kiron’s simple play offering makes games available at any time and brings the entertainment enjoyed in retail closer to home.

With the steady evolution across Africa in mobile infrastructures and data-friendly user options, it is only a matter of time before we see the continent catch-up with the rest of the world where mobile is the dominant betting channel.

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Players instantly benefit from seeing winning numbers clearly highlighted and with the improved visibility of these sections gaming staff can easily monitor game procedures from a distance.

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Sun International Extends Sportsbook Deal with Kambi

Sports betting supplier Kambi Group has signed an extension to its multi-channel sportsbook partnership with South African operator Sun International.

Under the multi-year deal, Kambi will continue to provide Sun International with its sports betting technology and services across online and retail.

Kambi and Sun International have been working together across both channels in the South African market since November 2017.

Listed on the Johannesburg stock exchange, Sun International operates online betting brand SunBet and also owns a number

of major casinos and hotel resorts.

“Sun International is delighted to continue its successful sports betting partnership with Kambi and to continue leveraging the company’s award-winning technology and services,” SunBet chief executive Simon Gregory said.

“We have ambitious plans for the SunBet brand over the coming years and I am thrilled we will continue to do this with the support of a world-leading B2B sportsbook like Kambi.”

Sisal Obtains Morocco’s Sportsbetting Concession

Kambi chief executive Kristian Nylén added: “We are pleased to have extended our sportsbook partnership with Sun International, one of the continent’s premier gaming and hospitality groups.

“Since we first partnered in 2017, Sun International has become a valuable partner to Kambi and we look forward to seeing the company’s SunBet online betting brand continue to go from strength to strength.”

Flutter Entertainment-owned Sisal has been awarded Morocco’s sports betting concession licence for an eight-year term.

The Italy-facing online operator, which launched Morocco’s lotteries licence in 2019, obtained the betting concession from La Marocaine des Jeux et des Sports (MDJS). The deal, which sees Sisal replace Intralot from January 2024, also includes the possibility of a two-year extension.

The offering, which includes fixed-odds and mutual betting, will be exclusively distributed by Sisal Jeux Maroc through a network of retail outlets and online. Sisal Jeux Maroc is a joint venture between Sisal and Paddy Power, another Flutter division.

The award comes a year after the beginning of the tender process, and six months after Sisal was acquired by Flutter in a €1.91bn deal.

Marco Caccavale, chief executive of Sisal Jeux Maroc and international managing director

of Sisal, said: “We are extremely pleased to announce the consolidation of our offering in Morocco. The decision by MDJS is testament to the quality of our work and how much we have achieved in the last three years, in a country with a strong growth trajectory and great potential.

“This is our fourth successful international tender, all of which have been highly competitive, recognising the commitment, investment and know-how that make us unique in the market. Being part of Flutter enhances our value proposition and enables us to develop joint products and services for different market segments.”

The licence in Morocco is part of the business’ strategy for international expansion into emerging markets. It comes soon after

Sisal’s contract win in neighbouring Tunisia with Sisal having also been awarded licences in Spain and Turkey.

Younes El Mechrafi, director-general of the MDJS , said: “We are delighted to have been able to conclude with Sisal Jeux Maroc, the winner of our call for tenders on sports betting, an agreement which puts in place a highly responsible and forward-looking framework and which offers the National Fund for the Development of Sport (FNDS) growing resources. This agreement marks a real quantum leap for the MDJS, and strengthens its position in a constantly evolving sector.” Intralot announced in 2021 that its eight-year betting licence, signed in 2019, would instead end in December 2022. The expiry of the contract was later extended to December 2023.

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TCSJOHNHUXLEY Receives Landmark Award for 50th Anniversary

ICE 2023 saw Clarion Gaming inaugurate the ICE Landmark Awards to recognise milestone achievements and successes of organisations and individuals in international gaming.

The recipients of these awards are industry nominated and approved by the ICE stakeholder management team.TCSJOHNHUXLEY, celebrating its Golden Anniversary this year, was presented with an ICE Landmark Award 2023 in recognition of its services to the gaming industry over an incredible 50 years.

The award was presented on the TCSJOHNHUXLEY stand by Clarion’s Alex Pratt and Stuart Hunter, to Executive Chairman, Tristan Sjöberg and Director, Michael Knutsson.

Tristan Sjöberg said: “Myself and Michael

are extremely proud and honored to receive this ICE Landmark Award on behalf of the company. Celebrating 50 years is a significant milestone which we could not have achieved without our

most valued customers, partners, and exceptional team. We are humbled to receive the award and it seemed most fitting it should be presented at this show, as we were one of the first casino companies to exhibit more than 30 years ago. Both the show and TCSJOHNHUXLEY has grown substantially and seen many successes… we look forward to both celebrating many more years!”

The award ceremony coincided with an informal reception celebration on the stand, attended by new and old friends of the company, including Jeff and Linda Lindsay, the original owners of John Huxley Casino Equipment Ltd.

Destination Africa ... s’il vous plaît

Christophe Casanova, COO at Honoré Gaming, says that Africa provides huge potential for operators seeking international expansion and especially for those that can localise their offering for French-speaking markets

New market expansion is one of the most effective ways online sportsbook operators can drive growth with many constantly evaluating the potential on the table in jurisdictions across the globe. But launching into new markets is always a balancing act between the challenges and opportunities that each presents, and ensuring they come out on the right side of the equation.

Take the US as an example. It is considered by many to be the biggest online sportsbook market opportunity in the world but the challenges that operators must overcome just to be able to launch their brand in a single state are significant, to say the least. Just look at the number of operators that have pulled down the shutters on their US-facing brands in recent months.

That’s why it’s important for operators to take a considered approach to new market expansion, and to identify the jurisdictions that offer the greatest potential for their business. Michigan might be an ideal market for an operator with the clout (and financial firepower) of DraftKings or BetMGM, but might not be as well suited to a mid-tier organisation with a finite budget.

Africa is a market that has been on the radar of operators for many years, but until recently most have been hesitant to make their move. That has changed with the likes of Entain, bet365 and 888 finally getting in on the action, but the market is still very much finding its feet with plenty of opportunities for operators to explore.

While operators might not be subject to the same regulatory scrutiny, nor have to find hundreds of millions of dollars to fund marketing activity, they still need to ensure the sports betting experience they offer to players across the region not only meets but exceeds expectations. And make no

mistake about it, those expectations are just as high as in European and North American markets.

This requires high levels of localisation and one of the key areas operators must get right is language –Africa is incredibly diverse with a wide range of languages and dialects spoken. This can provide a hurdle for operators to clear, but for those that can clear it, there’s a significant opportunity to launch into niche markets based on language and serve players a compelling sportsbook experience.

This is certainly the case for French-speaking African countries such as Senegal where there is a huge interest in sports such as horse racing and football, as well as an appetite for betting.

These are fast-moving markets. As recently as 2013 there were very few betting brands serving French-speaking African countries and even fewer that were offering a properly localised product. Fast forward to today and the landscape has changed somewhat with a growing number of operators serving French-speaking African countries.

But regulations are still a little chaotic with additional challenges around payments and data. That said, these challenges can be overcome so let’s first take a closer look at what they are.

Continued on Page 34

SIS and Kiron Interactive Strike Deal for New Numbers Channel in Africa

New partnership to boost penetration of supplier’s product in growing markets

SIS (Sports Information Services), the leading multi-channel supplier of 24/7 live betting services, has partnered with Kiron Interactive to develop an all-new bespoke 24/7 channel to deliver a select mix of both companies’ market-leading Numbers products across Africa.

The agreement will see SIS collaborate with the established global technology and software company. Leveraging its expertise and insight across the many burgeoning markets in the continent to deliver the channel tailored for African markets, expanding the profile of both companies’ high-quality, enhanced Numbers content.

African operators and players will have greater access to SIS’ world-famous 49’s Original Live Draw, alongside the new high-margin 39’s draw that features high-frequency, live draws every five minutes. The company’s numbers content is already hugely popular with bettors across Africa, who enjoy the opportunity to win big from small stakes.

This agreement is the latest in a string of similar commercial announcements in Africa for SIS, highlighting the growing demand for its 24/7 live

betting offering and strengthening its presence across the potential-rich regulated markets.

Joe Andrews, Head of Sales for Africa at SIS, said: “Having the right partners in regions with a disparate makeup such as in Africa is essential to ensuring we continue growing our brand and products there.

“Kiron’s heritage across the continent provides us with a hugely valuable advantage in developing and launching this new channel, which will be a significant boost to our commercial ambitions in the region.

“Our content is renowned for driving incremental revenue as the high-frequency, 24/7 nature of our

Numbers games is popular among African bettors.”

Steven Spartinos, Co-CEO of Kiron Interactive, said: “As we continue to expand the reach of Kiron and broaden the scope of the services we offer and the number of partners we work with, collaborating with a leading brand such as SIS is key.

“While we operate globally, Africa is where our roots lie, and as such, we offer unrivalled insight into the many diverse markets here. We’re delighted to work with SIS and look forward to working together to bring the combination of our respective revenue-boosting content to an even wider audience.”

The Role of Sustainable Hospitality in Africa

By Jan Van Der Putten, Vice President, Operations, Africa and Indian Ocean, Hilton.

They are thinking critically about how and where they spend their money during their trips, opting to stay at hotels that prioritise sustainability, and often choosing experiences that benefit local communities.

The hospitality industry has a unique opportunity to take the lead on sustainability across all dimensions of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles by building it into how it operates.

Hotels can have a powerful impact in their communities by sourcing products locally and empowering local artisans, farmers, and small businesses. In Africa and the Indian Ocean region for example, Hilton recently launched the ‘Wild Spirit Wines of Africa’ Beverage Conservation Programme as part of its ‘Travel with Purpose’

strategy focusing on local sourcing, water stewardship and wildlife protection. In collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) South Africa and ‘Under the Influence’, Hilton included wines and spirits on the menus of eleven hotels in the region. The wines and spirits are sourced from farms and distilleries in South Africa that champion biodynamic and regenerative farming practices, environmental conservation, and protection of water catchment areas.

The initiative was born out of Hilton’s ‘Big Five’ commitment launched in 2018 to drive sustainable travel and tourism in Africa and support the implementation of youth opportunities, water stewardship, anti-human trafficking, local sourcing, and wildlife protection on the continent.

While initiatives to reduce waste, conserve

water, and lower energy consumption have topped management agendas across the industry, there are still barriers to the overall sustainability agenda across the region. Supply chain localisation, diversity in management structures, youth empowerment and reliance on imported foods are key considerations industry leaders need to prioritise. Furthermore, transporting goods across the world does not only come with a hefty price tag, it also significantly increases a hotel’s supply chain carbon footprint.

To curb transport costs therefore, it is important that hotels have a strong network of local suppliers and producers who are critical to the long-term development of the sector. In Seychelles for example, most of our hotels offer

Continued on Page 36

With global awareness around climate change and sustainability increasing, consumers are travelling more thoughtfully and making conscious choices across the entire travel experience.

Pragmatic Play Launches Spaceman Crash Game in South Africa

Pragmatic Play, a leading content provider to the iGaming industry, has debuted its popular crash game, Spaceman®, in South Africa with 10bet.

The deal sees 10bet become the launchpad for Spaceman® to be played in the country for the very first time.

In Spaceman®, fortune favours the brave – and the fast! Launching himself into space alongside a multiplier that grows in tandem with his ascent, the spaceman is destined to crash in every game. The question is when. Aiming to cash out before he crashes out, players can make quick decisions before the spaceman’s journey randomly ends to collect whatever multiplier was on display at the time, or they can hold out for astronomical wins up to 5,000x their bet.

With captivating graphics, engaging mechanics,

and fast, intuitive gameplay, Spaceman® is a unique offering in the South African iGaming market. The game also includes active social features, such as leaderboards and a chat function, to increase player engagement even further.

The agreement with 10bet sees Pragmatic Play strengthen its foothold in key regulated markets in Africa, following similar expansions in Europe and LATAM.

Irina Cornides, Chief Operating Officer at Pragmatic Play, said: “Spaceman® is a beautiful game with uniquely engaging mechanics and hugely appealing social features. Pragmatic Play is committed to bringing its diverse range of player-

Ugandan Authorities Clamp Down on Illegal Gaming Operators

Uganda’s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board is currently conducting a series of successful enforcement exercises aimed at ridding communities of illegal slot machines, and comes after a series of investigations by the Board, spanning several months.

“We have been conducting random spot checks across the country in order to identify and eliminate illegal gambling activities. During these checks, our officers have been visiting various locations, including pubs, clubs, and other places where slot machines are often found. The checks have been conducted without prior notice, and we have been able to catch several unscrupulous people in the act,” said a Board spokesman.

“These machines are reprogrammed to make a punter’s odds of winning, next to nothing.  The machines operate with zero oversight, regulation, or safeguards for underage or problem gamblers. And unlike licensed and authorized operators illegal slot machines are not located in controlled gaming

facilities where minors are not permitted, not monitored by the NLGRB, and not taxed on earnings.”

The gaming industry directly contributes more than UGX110billion (approx. US$30m) to the government annually, funding education, infrastructure projects, thousands of charitable organizations and more. “So, when illegal gambling machines skirt the law, they also skirt taxes, contributing nothing to the initiatives supporting Ugandans and the country’s economy.”

“They also present another problem. Players sitting at a gaming machine in a licensed premises will see signage marked with a hotline number where they can seek help for problem gambling or addiction.

The gaming industry in Uganda is heavily

favourite games to regulated markets across the world, including in South Africa, where we expect Spaceman® to take off with 10bet players.”

Michelle Colborne, Chief Revenue Officer at 10bet South Africa, said: “We are thrilled to be the first sportsbook and games operator to offer our players this exciting Spaceman game from Pragmatic Play.

“At 10bet South Africa, we’re trendsetters and committed to providing our players with the best gaming experience possible. Spaceman is a perfect example of the high-quality games that we have to offer.”

regulated and gaming operators undergo an intense licensing and testing process to ensure games are fair and consumers are protected. Therefore, this initiative is in line with our commitment to creating a safe and fair gambling atmosphere for all members of the public, and we are delighted with the outcome of these exercises,” said the Board spokesman. The latest move comes on the heels of the Uganda Gaming Board’s drive to register all legal gambling and betting devices on a single database in order to implement a National Electronic Monitoring System to effectively monitor and control legal gambling in the country and efficiently collect gambling taxes.

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Online Gaming Industry could make Africa Global Technology Hub

Given Africa’s innovative approach to leapfrogging legacy tecnologies in order to create workable and accessable solutions for Africa across various industries, could the online gaming play a major role propelling the continent to becoming a leading tech hub? We’ve already seen some ground-breaking innovations across fintech, payment technology and other industries.

Online casinos are growing in popularity

The casino industry has undergone one of the most significant transformations this century, as new online casinos have appeared all over the world. For the moment, many of the casinos that operate here are based offshore and work under licences from other parts of the world, such as the UK and Curacao. However, moves such as South Africa’s issuing of new legislation to cover the licenses for new gambling sites could help to move the industry forward.

In terms of opening new sites, operators tend to use casino software to immediately gain access to thousands of games in one place. This gives them the opportunity to create a customised site with a game lobby where they pin their favorite games, together with all of the tools needed to run a successful casino. In this way, they can quickly launch their site in the relevant countries and then market it.

Africa may lead the way in fintech

The fast-growing fintech industry is currently one of the world’s key industries, and there are signs that Africa could soon be leading the way in it. Indeed, the figures from 2021 show that 63% of all tech funding was in the fintech sector and that Africa is a major player right now. Part of the reason for this could be that it fills a gap in the market that exists here, helping the unbanked to open accounts and making it easier to

send money abroad.

Figures from 2022 show the best-funded fintech companies on the continent include OPay ($570 million), Interswitch ($321 million) and Wave ($290 million). In 2020 and 2021, the rate of new tech start-ups being created in Africa tripled until it reached over 5 000 a year.

A report by McKinsey suggests the financial services market on the continent could have an annual

growth rate of 10%, taking it up to a revenue level of $230 billion by 2025, with $80 billion of that coming from South Africa.

Crypto-currencies may continue to flourish

Although there is potentially some crossover with the fintech sector, the crypto-currency industry is now big enough to warrant its own section. Interestingly, Africa is classed as the smallest but fastest-growing crypto market in the world, with the highest figure for transactions coming in 2021 when $20 billion was bought and sold.

The emergence of new legislation in this area could prove to be the key factor that determines whether crypto-currency companies can flourish. In Sub-Saharan Africa, only a few countries regulate digital tokens, including South Africa, and some have completely banned their use. Their usefulness in helping Africans to send money and invest means this sector could be hugely influential if given the chance, while the potential introduction of central bank digital currencies could be crucial too.

These are three of the technology sectors that could prove to be among the most important for Africa in the next few years, but it’s worth keeping an eye on other industries, such as gaming, telecommunications and agritech.

(source: itweb & Mckinsey)

New GM for the Palace at Sun City

Sun International stalwart Nico Myburgh is set on catapulting the iconic The Palace into a new stratosphere of success.

Freshly installed General Manager Nico Myburgh has earmarked ushering The Palace into a new era as his primary business target. Myburgh is no stranger to Sun International’s premier property, having been part of the team for 12 years[1]. He returns as general manager with a clear brief: to reposition The Palace as a deluxe six-star hotel.

Myburgh’s mission will be made somewhat simpler as the icon of African luxury is in excellent health after extensive refurbishments. The addition of the world-class Royal Spa and Salon, with its six individual treatment rooms and three palatial suites, a comprehensive refresh of its 326 rooms and suites, and a new gym, equipped with free weights, resistance machines, treadmills, and stationary cycles, has already resulted in higher occupancy rates.

Before this assignment, he was part of the team, as Hotel Manager, leading The Table Bay hotel through the pandemic during great uncertainty. Myburgh believes he has the right combination of passion and a strong work ethic to succeed in the role.

‘Passionate about the property’

“Given my history with The Palace, I’m passionate about the property and its people. I love dealing with customers. I always say I may not be able to travel 365 days a year, but I’m living vicariously through the people who come through our doors and share their

experiences,” says Myburgh.

The Palace was an easy sell for him, owing to the resort’s rich history that has put it on the bucket lists of guests from all over the globe. Sun City Resort has played host to the biggest events in the world, from international musical performances and Hollywood movie productions to the glittering Miss World pageant, as well as spectacular conferences.

The iconic hotel, with its trademark minarets, appeals to guests across different age groups, he explains. There is something for everyone, from small children and young couples to grandparents, to see and do at The Palace, he says. His team’s job is to ensure they live up to and go beyond the expectations of every traveller who makes the trip to Sun City and stays at its most luxurious of hotels.

“The Palace is an iconic hotel. It’s always been a flagship, not only for Sun International, but for the country as well. It is known worldwide as a spectacular hotel. I have a soft spot for the property. When people walk into the lobby, they are amazed as they look up at the beautiful architecture and hand-painted ceilings. It is a stunning property in an even more amazing location, and I am happy to be back.”

His leadership comes at a time when the business is working hard to recover from the pandemic. When borders closed, South African leisure and business travellers went back to the resort in droves, making it

Destination Africa

Continued from Page 26

Regulation is a cause for concern across African markets in general, but especially in French-speaking countries. While progress has been made over the past ten years, we are still a long way from a cohesive regulatory environment where operators fully understand what is expected of them – this is one of the reasons why brands have hesitated to date.

Senegal is the most advanced in this regard. There are around ten licensed betting operators in the market and all deposits and withdrawals must pass through a regulatory platform that monitors all of the funds going into and out of the betting platforms.

Another concern is payments. The banking infrastructure in some French-speaking African countries is simply not as advanced as it is in other markets such as Europe and North America. Operators also need to consider the prevalence of mobile banking and the need to stock their payment gateways with

providers such as M-PESA.

Data is another challenge. Due to the high cost of mobile data to consumers across Africa, online/mobile casinos and sportsbooks must be super light and stripped back. This is equally important for the UX as the majority of players in French-speaking African countries are new to mobile betting and are accessing sites from feature phones, not smartphones.

This ultimately means that European operators looking to target the region can’t use their usual front ends. This is because they are too feature-rich for the mobile data available to African bettors as well as being too complex for new players to understand and use.

Of course, operators that are able to launch lite versions of their sportsbooks and casinos that have also been fully localised – language, currency, etc – for Frenchspeaking African markets will be in a position to gain traction among bettors. And this simply requires using a platform that has been developed for the African market.

The good news is that betting behaviours in French-

the local travel destination of choice.

Despite the difficulties, Sun International is convinced that it is on an upward trajectory. International leisure travel and conferencing are also picking up nicely.

Unique guest experience

To ensure a unique experience for each guest, Myburgh’s team works around the clock. It does not matter whether you are a former Miss SA, a billionaire, an Oscar-winning actor or an average Joe – you’re in for a treat at The Palace, he explains. In a hotel that receives thousands of guests each month, this is a huge undertaking. It’s paramount to plan thoroughly and ensure that you are executing against this fool proof plan each day, he explains.

Renowned guests have walked through The Palace doors and experienced its marvel, including Michael Jackson, Elton John, Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, Denzel Washington, Kings of Chaos, Morgan Freeman and Queen – but the list goes on and on.

Continued on Page 36

speaking countries are pretty much the same as in other African markets. Football is big (it accounts for around 95% of the market), with punters wanting to bet on the top European leagues and especially the English Premier League. African bettors love to place 8-leg combos as well as close bets, so these need to be available to them.

But this should not detract from the fact that operators must see each African market as being unique with its own regulatory requirements, data availability and player preferences. There is no magic formula for country-wide success.

Ultimately, Africa is made up of 54 different and distinct countries and operators must fully understand these cultural quirks if they are to provide bettors with an experience that will not only meet but exceed their expectations. For those that do, there is a large market to explore where right now the competition is less fierce than in other emerging jurisdictions.

When it comes to new market expansion, this is just the sort of landscape the operators should be looking to build into.

Introducing Ora

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• Extensive range of sizes and designs available to suit every game

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• Adjustable pole with three height options

• Optional integrated USB LED micro-pc board for full control of the LEDs

To find out more visit tcsjohnhuxley.com

Zimbabwe Looks to Revive Tourism Interest in Ailing Lake Kariba after Decades of Neglect

Once a thriving tourist hotspot for international and regional tourists who thronged to the picturesque lake to view game, fish, holiday on luxurious houseboats and visit the casino resort, Lake Kariba has fallen into neglect and disrepair.

Avictim of years of government corruption, ineptitude and hostility to investors and foreign visitors, Zimbabwe’s once-thriving tourism industry relies mainly on regional travellers and a dwindling number of international tourists determined to rough it out in order to experience the wildlife and natural splendour that the country has to offer.

Failing infrastructural and development investment across the country have resulted in deteriorating and virtually impassable roads to the region, along with an economy plagued by inflation, power failures and corruption have seen region become a sad image of its former glory.

The dwindling numbers of visitors to this picturesque corner of Zimbabwe has resulted in the Lake’s premier casino at Caribbea Bay Resort closing down a number of years ago, with only the hotel and some amenities being operational.

Now, finally realising the tourism jewel that it has

squandered while pillaging the economy and scaring off investment while single-handedly destroying Zimababwe’s economy, the Zimababwean government is looking to revive interest in the region, starting with planned upgrades of the roads leading to Lake Kariba, along with plans to increase access to the region via air travel.

The pot-holed narrow Kariba to Harare highway and an absence of an international airport have been identified as areas that need rehabilitation and urgent

construction to improve tourism in the resort town, said Tourism Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu at a recent launch of the Kariba Regional Tourism Development and Marketing Strategy in the tourist destination.

Mangaliso, who was guest of honour at the event, said the poor road network was a major setback which he will be working to address.

“Kariba is such a powerful tourism magnet that deserves an international airport with the capacity to handle direct international flights,” said Ndlovu.

Air Zimbabwe is also planning to introduce flights to Kariba according to Ndlovu. “The good news is that both Air Zimbabwe and FastJet have plans to service Kariba. We will also continue advocating for more airlines to fly into the destination. l am confident this marks a giant step towards the revival and growth of tourism in Kariba and Mashonaland West Province at large.”

The Role of Sustainable Hospitality in Africa

Continued from Page 28

an environmentally conscious menu made using locally sourced ingredients in partnership with the island’s farmers. Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa also recently launched its crisp vertical farm providing a choice of truly unique farm-to-table dining experiences for guests which significantly reduces carbon footprint related to importing food supplies.

Creating opportunities for Team Members and communities is also important in driving sustainable tourism and economic development. There are a few industries whose resources, expertise, and career pathways are as relevant to addressing the challenges facing employees and

local communities today, and whose business and expansion relies as heavily on a trained workforce in every region of the world.

At Transcorp Hilton Abuja, we have collaborated with Chanja Datti to launch a Waste Recycling Initiative. In 2022, the hotel collected 15,271kg of recyclable waste and provided full time employment through Chanja Datti to two waste collectors. The revenue generated from the recycling project was donated towards the Bottlesfor-Books Initiative used to pay the school fees for two Out-Of-School Children (OOSC).

Over the past five years, Hilton hotels across Morocco have onboarded over 400 trainees from different schools and academic institutions, such

as the International Youth Foundation (IYF), L’Office de la Formation Professionnelle et de la Promotion du Travail (OFPPT), and L’ Institut Spécialisé en Tourisme et Hôtellerie (ISTH), by providing access to internships, traineeships, development programmes and full-time employment. All partnerships are tailored towards youth development strategies that help young people develop new skills, start hospitality careers, and realise a better future.

For hotels to thrive in the future, it is important to set a benchmark that enhances the cultural context of local communities, creates socioeconomic opportunities across the supply chain, and fosters economic growth while protecting the planet for future generations.

New GM for the Palace at Sun City

Continued from Page 34

“A typical day starts with a meeting with the team. We meet seven days a week, 365 days a year. We look at the daily business arrivals and events and how our in-house guests are enjoying their stay. The team then focuses on daily operational excellence in each department.”

As he charts the path to success, there’s one thing Myburgh is sure of: he can’t do it alone. He has duly empowered his 540-strong team to communicate openly and precisely to ensure faster service and avoid the need for troubleshooting.

To clear his mind and prepare himself for the job at hand, Myburgh exercises on Sun City’s

award-winning golf courses, stays on trend by dining in various restaurants, goes on game drives in the Pilanesberg National Park, and treats himself to some retail therapy.

[1] Previous stints at The Palace include Rooms Division Manager between 2011 and 2014, Hotel Manager between 2015 and 2017 and again in 2021.

5 Treasures, Dancing Drums, 88 Fortunes, Jin Ji Bao Xi Endless Treasure, and many more of South Africa’s leading casino slots are now available in South Africa.

Elk, Reel Play, Blueprint, Gaming Realms, Fantasma, Thunderkick, Lightning Box, Hitsqwad and Authentic Gaming are all available via our single integration, with many more providers to be offered soon.

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Peermont Refreshes Slots Floor Groupwide

Peermont Casinos are bringing even more excitement to the casino floor groupwide, with the recent install of 30 new casino slots products from top games suppliers.

Peermont Casino are starting the year by offering guests a range of new slots products across their various casinos. The new additions add to the already extensive collection of slots products and feature cutting-edge technology and innovative designs that are sure to impress even the most seasoned slot player.

Some of the most highly anticipated new titles are powered by industry giants including Aruze and IGT, which ensure a high-quality gaming experience for all, and offers players unique bonus features and the chance to win big.

‘Peermont is committed to providing our guests with the best gaming experience possible, and these new slot games are just the latest example of that dedication. Whether you are a seasoned slot player or a newcomer to the casino, you’ll find no better excitement, backed by our pledge to offer superior service,’ says Peermont Gaming Executive Billy Gray. With over 30 new titles hitting the various casino floors, there is something for everyone:

The Grand Palm in Gaborone, Botswana –Six new Aruze slots at the casino in the Muso

Triple-27 cabinet with the Coin Collector Theme. These high-tech slots feature a mystery four-level progressive and varied bonus features. The base game is a five-by-four format (five reels, four rows each) available in configurations of 4, 25 or 50 pay lines. Coin Collector comes with 2 game packages: Aussie 5 and 5 Guardians.

Frontier Inn in Bethlehem -

Four new Aruze slots machines: Cai Fu Yun Fortune and Cai Fu Yun Lion, which offer a variety of unique wheels that award multipliers, free games and jackpots. The slots all feature 243 ways to win, a 4 -level progressive jackpots, free games, jackpot wheel feature and bonus wheel feature.

Graceland in Secunda - Four IGT Egyptian Link slots, where fortune and treasure is plentiful. Players can choose from Nefturis Treasure or Ramosis Treasure, and they connected to a link which consists of 2 levels with a top award of R50 000.

Umfolozi in Empangeni - Five IGT Super Wheelmania Link™ Slot machines where four possible jackpot awards are available, and the top Grand Jackpot is linked. The Bonus adds a wheel feature to a traditional hold and respin bonus, bringing plenty of eye-catching fun to any gaming floor.

Emperors Palace, Gauteng -

Fourteen new IGT slots. Six featuring Prosperity Link multi-level progressives Cai Yun Heng Tong™ and Wan Shi Ru Yi™. Each is offered on IGT’s impressive PeakSlant49™ cabinet with a 49-inch HD display.

Eight featuring popular titles Wolf Run Eclipse, Lucky Ox, Samurai 888 Katsumi /Takeo, Mistress Of Egypt, Candy Bars, Prosperity Pearl, Red Hot Joker and Queenie.

‘These new slots products are another way for our Winners Circle Rewards Programme members to earn points and rewards. By playing with your Winners Circle Card, you can accumulate points as you play, which can then be redeemed for a variety of rewards. And not only can using your loyalty card help you earn rewards, but it can also give you access to exclusive promotions and draws,’ concludes Gray.

LIST OF S.A. GAMING LEGISLATORS & ASSOCIATIONS

SOUTH AFRICA DIAL 0927 – PLUS AREA CODE WITHOUT 0)

Botswana Gambling Authority www.gamblingauthority.co.bw

Ghana Gaming Commission www.gamingcommissiongh.com

GRAF Gaming Regulators Africa Forum www.gamingregulatorsafricaforum.com

Malawi

Gaming Board www.magla.org.mw Tanzania Gaming Board www.gbt.go.tz Uganda Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board www.lgrb.go.ug