Nigeria leads in online gambling regulation

•As illegal market reaches $17.8 billion

By Yinka Kolawole

Nigeria has surfaced as one of the most supervised online gambling sectors in Africa, even as illicit operators continue to prevail throughout the continent, according to a recent analysis by Gaming Compliance International (GCI).

This analysis, characterized as the inaugural detailed evaluation of online gambling throughout all 54 African nations, indicated that the Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) from online betting in Africa hit $23 billion by 2025.

Nevertheless, merely $5.2 billion (23 percent) resulted from certified operators, while $17.8 billion (77 percent) remained within the unregulated sector.

In West Africa, the total earnings from online gambling increased to $4.8 billion in 2025, up from $4.3 billion in 2024. From the 2025 total, licensed operators represented $1.5 billion (31 percent), while $3.3 billion (69 percent) went to unapproved platforms, underlining the ongoing difficulty of enforcement in the region.

Nigeria distinguished itself as the top performer in West Africa, exhibiting the smallest share of unregulated market at 56 percent, in contrast to the West African average of 69 percent and the overall African average of 77 percent.

The research also indicated that engagement in online gambling across Africa grew from 198 million individuals (13 percent of the population) in 2024 to 215 million (14 percent) in 2025.

Despite this increase, GCI estimated that unlawful operators cost African governments around $3.55 billion in tax revenues in 2025. The number of unlicensed gambling sites aimed at African players climbed to 4,129, an increase from 3,644 in 2024.

In response to the results, GCI Chief Executive Officer, Matt Holt, stated that the report offers regulators their first continent-wide reference point for improving oversight and safeguarding consumers.

GCI President, Ismail Vali, called on governments to establish competitive and well-regulated industries that motivate consumers to support licensed providers, enhance public income, and draw in more investment.