How Africa’s gaming sector can power impactful development

AFRICA'S gaming sector is expanding rapidly, attracting attention not just for its entertainment value but for the social and economic opportunities it presents.

- ALEX MABUNDA

AFRICA'S gaming sector is expanding rapidly, attracting attention not just for its entertainment value but for the social and economic opportunities it presents, says the author.

(AFP)

Across the continent, lotteries and gaming operations are already funding community projects, education and infrastructure, showing that revenue from gaming can have a tangible impact.

Yet, Africa continues to face pressing challenges and the sector's potential is far from fully realised. The question is: how can gaming contribute more deliberately to the continent's development?

The statistics speak volumes. Africa is the fastest-growing gaming market in the world. According to a report by Carrylst, an African gaming and digital content publisher and Newzoo, a PC and console gamer research platform, Africa's gaming market experienced significant growth, reaching a revenue of $1.8 billion in 2024.

Last year, South Africa alone recorded more than R1-trillion (approximately $57-billion) in gaming spending.

The African Lotteries & Gaming Association (ALGA) has taken the first step by creating a platform for collaboration across the continent. By bringing together operators, regulators and governments, ALGA can help the sector move beyond fragmentation and focus on measurable impact.