Maputo:African gaming regulators are being encouraged to adopt data-driven monitoring systems to enhance responsible gaming and better protect players.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, this recommendation emerged from the 17th Annual GRAF Compliance Conference held in Maputo, Mozambique, where experts discussed the importance of using non-intrusive technology for enforcing gaming standards without hindering industry growth.
Ms. Ajibola Abdulkadir, Commercial Director at Evidentia AI, emphasized the need for regulators to shift from reactive enforcement to proactive player protection. She advocated for API-based transaction monitoring to be a mandatory pre-licensing criterion for gaming operators, arguing that access to transaction data should be a condition for market entry.
Mr. Didier Bobwa, Head of IT for Gambling and Games Monitoring in the Democratic Republic of Congo, shared that his country is updating its regulatory framework by establishing a Central Monitoring System. This system connects operators, payment providers, and regulators to detect early signs of addiction and unusual financial activities.
In Lagos, Mr. Bashir Are, CEO of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, noted the challenge in assessing player risk with data from a single operator, as players often spread activities across platforms. He likened this to the banking sector, where overall borrowing is assessed across lenders.
Botswana’s Chief Executive Officer of the Gambling Authority, Mr. Moruntshi Kemorwale, highlighted the use of an AI-powered chatbot to help regulators identify consumer concerns that may go unnoticed, providing insight into public sentiment and emerging issues.
The experts at the conference agreed on the necessity of timely access to reliable data for effective oversight, while ensuring privacy and cybersecurity. They also stressed the importance of balancing consumer protection with innovation and sustainable growth in Africa’s digital gaming market.