Second Annual African Gambling Conference Wraps Up
The second annual BiG Africa Summit gambling meeting wrapped up in Johannesburg this week, bringing to a close three days of interesting events and discussions issues pertaining to the gambling industry in Africa. The summit opened on Monday morning with the discussion of regulatory issues in the market. A keynote address was given by MacDonland Netshitenzhe, the chief director of policy and legislation in South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry.
The subject of online gambling in South Africa and Africa in general was one of the hottest subjects under discussion, especially in the panel talk named “Insight Room: the Front lines of Online Gambling in Africa.” This panel not only discussed the state of igaming on the continent but also looked at other markets as models for lessons to be learned.
On Tuesday morning, participants continued to discuss and learn about online gambling in Africa from a local and international perspective, especially when dealing with operators hoping to enter future African markets. The shadow minister at South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry, Geordin Hill-Lewis gave a headline keynote address on this subject. Also discussed on Tuesday were issues regarding payment options, Bitcoin and other financial factors.
On Wednesday, participants in the BiG Africa Summit took part in a number of workshops. One of two master classes was run by Qlik’s Gary Jackson and discussed data consumers in gaming. The second class was run by Whitesmans Attorney’s Garron Whitesman and discussed the legal steps involved in the establishment of online gaming partnerships.
The Summit took place at the Emperors Palace in Johannesburg and included, according to the BiG Summit 2014 website, “high level presentations and discussions on key issues related to the DTI action plan for remote gaming regulation in South Africa, exploring the future development of legal remote gaming and betting in Africa, insights on how can land-based casinos prepare themselves for remote gaming, assessing the opportunities and challenges in South Africa’s/Africa’s sports betting industry, future technology in mobile gaming, what gaming start-ups need to know about venture capital funding and more…”
Organized by Eventus International, the summit was sponsored by Beconstruct and Goldbet. Other speakers included chief economist and investment strategist, Prof. Brian Kantor, Samantha McMutrie, the general manager of BetFlash and Alpheus Matsebula, the compliance product manager of Bally Technologies.
