Nigeria Tops Africa in Online Gambling Regulation Despite $17.8bn Illegal Market

‎Nigeria has emerged as Africa’s leading market for online gambling regulation, outperforming other countries on the continent despite the continued dominance of illegal betting operators, according to a new report by Gaming Compliance International (GCI).

‎The report, described as the first comprehensive assessment of online gambling across all 54 African countries, revealed that Africa’s online gambling Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) reached $23 billion in 2025.

‎However, the study showed that only $5.2 billion, representing 23 per cent, was generated through licensed operators, while the remaining $17.8 billion, or 77 per cent, flowed through unregulated platforms.

‎In West Africa, online gambling revenue increased from $4.3 billion in 2024 to $4.8 billion in 2025. Licensed operators accounted for $1.5 billion (31 per cent) of the total, while $3.3 billion (69 per cent) was generated by unlicensed operators, underscoring the region’s ongoing regulatory and enforcement challenges.

Among West African countries, Nigeria recorded the strongest regulatory performance, with the lowest unregulated market share of 56 per cent.

‎This was significantly below the regional average of 69 per cent and the continental average of 77 per cent, highlighting the country’s relatively stronger oversight of the online gambling sector.

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‎The report also found that participation in online gambling across Africa continued to grow, rising from 198 million people, representing 13 per cent of the continent’s population in 2024, to 215 million people (14 per cent) in 2025.

‎Despite the industry’s rapid expansion, GCI estimated that illegal gambling operators deprived African governments of approximately $3.55 billion in potential tax revenue in 2025.

‎Vanguard report that the number of unlicensed online gambling platforms targeting African consumers also increased from 3,644 in 2024 to 4,129 in 2025.

‎Commenting on the findings, GCI Chief Executive Officer, Matt Holt, said the report provides regulators with the first continent-wide benchmark for assessing online gambling markets and strengthening regulatory oversight and consumer protection.

‎Also speaking, GCI President Ismail Vali urged African governments to establish competitive, transparent and well-regulated gambling markets that encourage consumers to patronise licensed operators, improve tax revenues and attract greater investment into the sector.

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