Excitement is reaching new heights as the 10th Annual Sports Betting East Africa+ Summit approaches – now just six weeks away from uniting top iGaming leaders in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania!
Set for 20 – 21 May 2025 at the prestigious Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel, this milestone event will catalyze industry breakthroughs and will shape the future of iGaming in the region.
Betting has long been woven into Tanzania’s cultural landscape—well before the rise of regulated sportsbooks and casinos. Over time, the industry has evolved, with land-based betting igniting public interest and laying the groundwork for today’s flourishing online market. As of now, Tanzania stands at the forefront of East Africa’s iGaming revolution, offering vast opportunities for innovation and expansion.
Thomas, Founder of Owuor Law and Chairperson of SBEA+ Summit 2025, mentioned:
The main reason it’s such an important market for the industry is that Tanzania is a trailblazer in many areas of gaming in Africa. [For instance], it was the first country in East Africa to establish written sports betting regulations. Ultimately, I think the Tanzanian gaming ecosystem makes it very easy for an operator or investor to have an impact on society, and there is also a lot of cross-governmental support for gaming operations.
Thomas has expressed his opinion concerning the terms of technological developments the industry should be paying attention to.
More than anything, what’s interesting for me is the AI component, specifically regarding customer centricity and system efficiency. We’re looking at how it should make customer support easier – how AI can help operators attend to customer needs 24/7 and provide better answers consistently. Also, I see crypto, which is still a hot topic, being further integrated into sports betting.
Given the political and regulatory attention sports betting is receiving in East Africa, Thomas has also elaborated on the situation and its wider implications.
We’re seeing a lot of political and policing interventions coming through after the explosion of sports betting in East Africa. There tends to always be an increase in taxes and the argument that there are negative social consequences of sports betting that need to be mitigated, but I beg to differ. I believe that the problem the government tends to see is broader than that. I think both sports operators and regulators need to be in the room where these policies are being discussed.
Thomas also believes it’s important for governments, for example, to realise that many young people turn to sports betting because they don’t have many economic opportunities. He also believes that if the government continues to increase taxes, as they do in Kenya, it will only push the industry underground, leading to more offshore betting and money going overseas. There needs to be a balance.
The Sports Betting East Africa+ Summit 2025 isn’t just about insightful discussions and networking – it’s also a stage for recognising visionaries and game-changers! On 20 May 2025, during Day One of the summit, we will host the prestigious SBEA+ Summit Eventus Awards Ceremony, where we will honour companies and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the gaming industry.
Know someone who deserves recognition? Submit your nomination now.
With just six weeks remaining until the SBEA+ Summit 2025, now is the perfect time to secure your spot. Join the conversations that are shaping East Africa’s iGaming future and connect with the industry’s most influential leaders. Register now.
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