Illegal Operators Take 77% Of Africa’s Online Gambling GGR

Illegal Operators Take 77% Of Africa’s Online Gambling GGR

GCI Maps A Continent-Wide Market

Gaming Compliance International, GCI, has released a 2024 to 2025 review of Africa’s online gambling market, covering all 54 countries for the first time. The company estimates total online gambling GGR across the continent at $23 billion in 2025.

According to the review, licensed operators account for $5.2 billion, or 23% of GGR. Illegal operators account for $17.8 billion, or 77%. That marks a slight improvement from the previous year, when the licensed share stood at 22%, yet the illegal segment still expanded faster in absolute terms.

Illegal Growth Still Outpaces The Licensed Channel

GCI says the illegal market added $2.2 billion year on year, while the licensed segment grew by $0.8 billion. The number of illegal online operators targeting African audiences rose to 4,129 from 3,644, an increase of 13%.

The report estimates that 215 million people, around 14% of Africa’s population, took part in online gambling in 2025. That is up from 198 million, or 13%, a year earlier. For operators and regulators, the signal is clear: player demand is already established, but legal channelisation remains weak.

Regional Gaps Show Where Regulation Is Working

North Africa records the highest illegal share at 99.7%, making it the weakest region for licensed capture. East Africa follows at 85%, Central Africa at 78%, and Southern Africa at 72%.

West Africa posts the strongest licensed share on the continent. GCI estimates licensed operators generated $1.5 billion out of the region’s $4.8 billion GGR, equal to 31%. Nigeria stands out within the region, with an illegal share of 56%, well below the West African average of 69% and the continental average of 77%.

Regulatory Quality Remains Low

GCI gives African gambling markets an average regulatory score of 10 out of 100 under its own methodology. Ghana leads with 38 points, followed by Nigeria with 32. These figures suggest that even the stronger markets still have substantial room to improve enforcement, licensing design, payments oversight, and consumer protection controls.

For suppliers, this matters because market access alone does not guarantee sustainable revenue. Weak supervision often creates an uneven field where licensed brands carry compliance costs while illegal competitors operate without equivalent restrictions.

Broadcast Piracy And Football Fuel Illegal Reach

One of the strongest drivers of the illegal segment is media exposure. GCI links more than 83% of illegal sports broadcasts in Africa to advertising for unlicensed operators. Major football events, from domestic leagues to the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA World Cup, are associated with spikes in illegal activity.

This creates a difficult operating environment for licensed brands. Illegal operators can acquire traffic through pirated streams and aggressive promotion, while regulated businesses must follow advertising rules, tax obligations, and safer gambling standards.

Why The Market Opportunity Still Matters

GCI’s chief executive said the licensed segment is growing and gaining share in some countries. The company’s president added that the core problem is not a lack of demand, but converting demand into the legal market. That is the central commercial issue across Africa.

If GCI’s estimates are accurate, African governments are missing about $3.55 billion in annual tax revenue, based on 20% of illegal GGR. For B2B providers, the opportunity lies in tools that improve monitoring, enforcement, identity checks, payment control, and market intelligence. Better channelisation would not only lift tax receipts, it would also give compliant operators a fairer route to growth.

Important Context Around The Data

The report is based on GCI’s own estimates and has not undergone independent audit. GCI also sells monitoring and anti-illegal gambling solutions to regulators and operators. That does not invalidate the findings, but it is an important context for anyone using the figures in market planning or policy work.

Source: iGaming News Telegram

🌐 Source: iGaming News Telegram