By Yinka Kolawole Nigeria has emerged as one of Africa’s most regulated online gambling markets, even as illegal operators continue to dominate the continent’s fast-growing betting industry, 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 the continent’s online gambling Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) reached $23 billion in 2025. However, only $5.2 billion (23 per cent) of the revenue came from licensed operators, while $17.8 billion (77 per cent) was generated through unregulated platforms, highlighting the scale of illegal gambling activities across Africa.
In West Africa, online gambling revenue increased to $4.8 billion in 2025, up from $4.3 billion in 2024. Of the 2025 figure, licensed operators accounted for $1.5 billion (31 per cent), while unlicensed platforms controlled $3.3 billion (69 per cent) of the market. The report identified Nigeria as the region’s strongest performer in regulatory oversight, recording the lowest share of unregulated online gambling activity in West Africa at 56 per cent.
This compares with the regional average of 69 per cent and the continental average of 77 per cent. GCI also found that participation in online gambling across Africa rose from 198 million people (13 per cent of the population) in 2024 to 215 million (14 per cent) in 2025, reflecting the rapid expansion of digital betting platforms. Despite the growth of the industry, the report estimated that illegal gambling operators deprived African governments of about $3.55 billion in tax revenue in 2025.
It added that the number of unlicensed gambling platforms targeting African consumers increased to 4,129 in 2025, from 3,644 in 2024. Commenting on the findings, GCI Chief Executive Officer, Matt Holt, said the report provides regulators with the first continent-wide benchmark for improving oversight, strengthening enforcement and protecting consumers. GCI President, Ismail Vali, called on African governments to build competitive and well-regulated gambling markets that would encourage consumers to patronise licensed operators, increase public revenue and attract more investment into the sector.
The post Nigeria leads Africa in online gambling regulation as illegal market hits $17.8bn appeared first on Vanguard News. The report, the first comprehensive assessment of online gambling across all 54 African countries, showed that Africa’s online gambling Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) reached $23 billion in 2025. However, only $5.2 billion (23 per cent) was generated by licensed operators, while $17.8 billion (77 per cent) remained in the unregulated market.In West Africa, total online gambling revenue rose to $4.8 billion in 2025 from $4.3 billion in 2024.
Of the 2025 figure, regulated operators accounted for $1.5 billion (31 per cent), while $3.3 billion (69 per cent) flowed to unlicensed platforms, highlighting the region’s persistent enforcement challenges. Nigeria stood out as the region’s strongest performer, recording the lowest unregulated market share at 56 per cent, compared with the West African average of 69 per cent and the African average of 77 per cent. The study also found that online gambling participation across Africa increased from 198 million people (13 per cent of the population) in 2024 to 215 million (14 per cent) in 2025.
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