The gambling industry's total value is now about 500 billion dollars. Technological developments allow it to grow actively. For example, thanks to online operations, the revenues of land-based betting operators have grown significantly, especially in the UK and the US. Gambling is prevalent in these countries, but such entertainment is popular elsewhere.
But if we talk about the fastest-growing sectors of online gambling, then Africa will take the first place. This is mainly due to the spread of mobile devices. According to expert forecasts, the African gambling market will grow at about 5.81% annually until 2029. Mostly, local players use international betting sites. At the same time, some African countries have a higher market growth rate than the rest.
South Africa
The gambling market here is the largest on the continent, with around 90% of those of legal age participating in gambling activity to some degree. The country's gambling market is regulated by the National Gambling Act of 2004, which prohibits gambling in online casinos but allows licensed online sports and horse racing.
Sports betting in South Africa is most popular, especially regarding soccer and rugby. There are also bets on racing drivers. But still, the most popular in South Africa is cricket. The country is similar to India and several other countries, where cricket surpasses soccer's popularity. This becomes clear after analyzing Google search queries in all these countries. More complete information can be obtained after studying bookmaker review sites. The most complete information is presented on Cricketbettingapps, which describes the best cricket betting apps in India created by famous bookmakers. Similar trends are observed in South Africa, where locals also actively bet on this sport.
Nigeria
Nigeria has the second-largest gambling industry in Africa. The National Lotteries Regulatory Commission regulates gambling operations in the country, where sports betting is also the most popular. Nigeria is home to 230 million people, making it the most populated country on the continent. Despite strict regulations, there are still many illegal gambling operators in the country.
Kenya
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Kenya, the seventh-most populous country in Africa, has the third-largest online gambling market. More than 7 million Kenyans have betting accounts. So, despite a new tax bill increasing the amount consumers pay on winnings from 7.5% to 12.5%, the industry is still in good shape.
Ghana
Despite having a relatively modest population, Ghana ranks fourth in Africa. The key to its growth has been the well-structured gambling industry. Ghana's reputation as having the most regulated gambling industry in Africa is a result of gambling laws that have been in place since the 1960s. The horse racing industry in this country is thriving. Ghanaian players enjoy various betting markets, with the National Lottery and slot machines being the most popular.
In the future, Africa will be recognized as the country with the most significant potential in betting. The main bet is that more and more people on the continent have mobile devices, and mobile internet is almost ubiquitous.
