The Association of Gaming Regulators in Africa (AGRA) is pursuing a continent-wide effort to harmonise gambling regulation, strengthen cross-border cooperation, and support safer gaming environments as jurisdictions face rapid industry changes.
Speaking exclusively to SiGMA World, AGRA Director of Regulatory Affairs Weldon Koros said the Association's central purpose is to promote alignment among African regulators and build a collective response to industry challenges.
"The main goal of the Association is to promote a unified and well-regulated gambling sector across Africa by developing and harmonising gambling standards to ensure consistency, fairness, and transparency in regulation, certification, and consumer protection across member jurisdictions."
Koros added that the Association aims to strengthen collaboration among gambling regulators to collectively address common challenges such as illegal gambling, money laundering, and gambling addiction, while also building regulatory capacity through training and technical exchange programs.
Through these efforts, AGRA seeks to create a coherent regulatory environment that protects consumers, promotes responsible gambling, attracts investment, and strengthens public confidence.
Technology regulation and testing framework
As African markets adopt new digital tools and platforms, AGRA is pushing for clear standards to ensure innovation evolves within a fair and safe environment.
"The Association supports the adoption of new technology and recognises that innovation drives growth and improves efficiency. At the same time, we are committed to ensuring that these developments uphold the principles of integrity and fairness."
AGRA recommends that all new technologies undergo independent testing and certification before being introduced to the market.
International cooperation
AGRA collaborates with global regulators to strengthen technical capacity and ensure African standards keep pace with international developments.
"The Association collaborates with international regulators and organisations through joint initiatives to exchange information, share best practices, and address cross-border challenges such as illegal gambling, money laundering, and gambling addiction."
These partnerships provide access to technical expertise that strengthens regulatory capacity and ensures alignment with global practices.
Responsible gaming and player protection
AGRA promotes responsible gaming initiatives to mitigate gambling-related harm and protect vulnerable players through guidelines, best practices, and policy support.
Koros said promoting responsible gambling is central to AGRA's mandate.
AGRA works with regulators and operators to implement safer play tools such as self-exclusion programs and helplines for at-risk individuals.
Regulator training and knowledge-sharing
AGRA acts as a hub for cross-border learning, facilitating collaboration, workshops, conferences, and knowledge exchange among regulators.
This helps improve oversight, enhance consumer protection, and develop harmonised standards.
Outlook for Africa's gaming industry
Koros noted that Africa's gambling industry has strong growth potential over the next five to ten years.
He emphasised that growth must be guided by clear regulatory frameworks, responsible gaming, transparency, and collaboration between governments and private operators.