iGaming AFRIKA SUMMIT 2026 OPENS IN NAIROBI,CHARTING AFRICA’S GAMING FUTURE Through opportunity, REGULATION & TAXATION

NAIROBI, KENYA -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 today 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 harmonization, 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.” Jeremiah Maangi, CEO, iGaming AFRIKAMaangi 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 modernizing 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 harmonized 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 incentivize 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.