5G network Launch in Senegal and other African countries a great boost for the igaming industry

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Senegal’s telecommunications regulator (L’Autorite de Regulation des Telecommunications et des Postes, or ARTP) issued a call for applications for 5G licenses earlier this month. The call came as the regulator was keeping its promise to launch commercial ultra-broadband in the country in 2023, furthermore, requesting that interested investors must submit their applications by July 14, 2023.

In May 2023, the regulator announced that it would allocate 5G licenses to telecom operators by the end of July.

“Only companies incorporated under local law can apply and they should also have a valid license authorizing them to establish and operate a network open to the public and to provide electronic communications services as of the application submission date,” the regulator said in a statement.

The country’s 5G launch is in line with the country’s drive to strengthen high-speed connectivity and digital use in the country. This is also linked to the Digital Economy Acceleration Project (PAEN), which the World Bank is funding for US$150 million.

Senegal’s telecommunications regulator said interested parties have until July 14, 2023, to apply for a 5G license. That financing agreement was signed by Senegal’s Minister of Finance and Budget, Mamadou Moustapha Ba, and the Keiko Miwa World Bank’s Country Director for Cabo Verde, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Senegal.

Senegal’s 5G plans

Senegalese telecom operators have been planning for 5G since 2020 with local operator Sonatel testing the service in November 2020 and running a second 5G trial in December 2021.

Free Senegal also launched an experimental phase of the fifth-generation technology in June 2022.

Furthermore, in July 2022, Sonatel, along with its parent company Orange, opened a 5G Lab in the capital, Dakar. However, ARTP instructed Sonatel and Free to halt their network trials and submit a progress report to the regulator in March 2023.

Africa’s 5G progression

The announcement by the Senegalese regulator comes at a time when many other countries have also been announcing their 5G plans.

A few weeks ago, the Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) invited applicants for its planned sale of the 5G spectrum, and the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) also announced it will auction the 5G spectrum in October 2023.

Malawi also joined a growing list of 5G-enabled African countries after Telekom Networks Malawi (TNM) became the first mobile operator to make 5G services available in the country, on a pilot basis.

The recent 5G African progression is in line with GSMA’s predictions that many African countries will launch 5G services by 2025.

Source: Connecting Africa

She Cranes “Uganda netball national team” secures Shs68 Million Sponsorship from Gals Sports Betting

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The Uganda Netball National Team, the She Cranes, has secured a Shs68 million sponsorship deal from Gals Sports Betting. The sponsorship will run for one year and will cover the She Cranes’ participation in the 2023 Netball World Cup and the Africa Netball Championship.

The sponsorship was announced by Daniel Ntale, the Federation head of Marketing, who expressed his excitement at the new partnership.

“We are really excited to have another family member on board in the name of Gals Sports Betting Uganda,” said Ntale.

“They have come at a time when we need them the most. We have been lacking funding, and we have expressed a drought due to negativity that has been running around in media and other channels.” “But to put that aside, we are grateful that even amidst all this, there are still people who have trust in us,” he added.

The sponsorship is a major boost for the She Cranes, who are looking to build on their seventh-place finish at the 2019 Netball World Cup. The 2023 Netball World Cup will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, from July 28 to August 6.

Ntale on how She Cranes will use the sponsorship

“As marketing, we bring in money, then the federation decides what to use it for,” said Ntale.

“But of course, the players are the main objective, so they have to take their portion. Money comes into the game because of them, money comes because of the people working the federation, money comes because of good leadership, so all those have to share the cake.”

Gals Sports Betting joins Uganda Airlines and Plascon Uganda as official partners of the Uganda Netball Federation.

The sponsorship is a significant vote of confidence in the She Cranes and their potential to achieve success on the world stage. With the right support, the She Cranes could be a force to be reckoned with at the 2023 Netball World Cup.

Source: Nnalubaale Sports

Uganda Gaming Licence Requirements and Costs

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  1. Proof of payment of Application fees as stated under Lotteries and Gaming (fees) regulations 2017 schedule as attached here under.
  2. Duly filled Licence application form
  3. A cover letter
  4. Certified copy of Certificate of Incorporation/or Registration where the applicant is a company
  1. Certified copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association where the applicant is a company
  1. Certified copies of Company forms 18 and 20 where the applicant is a company
  2. Where the applicant is an individual, police clearances from Interpol, proof of citizenship, work permits if foreigner and resident here.
  3. Tax Identification number for the applicant
  4. Tax clearance Certificate from Uganda Revenue Authority
  5. Proof of capital adequacy as required by Section 39 of the Act and Regulation 3 of the Lotteries and Gaming (Minimum Capital Requirements) Regulations. See the minimum capital requirement below;
ItemType of LicenceAmount of minimum capital required (UGX)
1.Sports Betting250,000,000
2.Slot Machines250,000,000
3.Manufacture, supply or installation of gaming or betting machines250,000,000
4.Casino operating Licence1,000,000,000
5.National Lottery5,000,000,000
6.Public Lottery250,000,000
7.Pool betting250,000,000
8.Bingo250,000,000
9.Betting intermediary operating licence250,000,000

  1. List of Games rules and equipment that the applicant intends to operate.
  2. Details of premises both principal location and operational premises.
  3. Business plan for the year of business with a Corporate Social Responsibility component.
  4. Details of key employees; CVs, police clearances, proof of citizenship and work permits if foreigners and residents here.
  5. Bank account details
  6. Corporate Social Responsibility plan.
  7. Bank Guarantee of 500,000,000/- in favour of the Board.
  8. Proof of payment of Licence fees upon approval of the application

                                                      SCHEDULE FEES

ItemType of Licence, registration or other matters under the ACT or RegulationsFees Payable (UGX)
1.Application fee to conduct a national or public lottery: (a) foreigners

(b) nationals

 

50,000,000

20,000,000

2.Licence fee to conduct a national lottery100,000,000
3.Application fee to conduct a public lottery

(a) foreigners

(b) nationals

 

20,000,000

10,000,000

4.Licence fee to conduct a public lottery10,000,000
5.Application fee to operate a casino or a casino operating licence;

(a) foreigners

(b) nationals

 

 

50,000,000

20,000,000

6.Licence fee to operate a casino or a casino operating licence15,000,000
7.Application fee for a licence to provide facilities for pool betting or a pool betting operating licence;

(a) foreigners

(b) nationals

 

 

 

20,000,000

10,000,000

8.A pool betting or a pool betting operating licence.10,000,000
9.Application fee for a licence to provide facilities for playing bingo, or a bingo operating licence;

(a) foreigners

(b) nationals

 

 

20,000,000

10,000,000

10.Licence to provide facilities for playing bingo, or a bingo operating licence;10,000,000
11.Application fee for a licence to provide facilities for betting or a general betting operating licence;

(a) foreigners

(b) nationals

 

 

20,000,000

10,000,000

12.Licence fee to provide facilities for betting or a general betting operating licence;10,000,000
13.Application for a licence to act as a betting intermediary or a betting intermediary operating licence; (a) foreigners

(b) nationals

 

 

20,000,000

10,000,000

14.Licence to act as a betting intermediary or a betting intermediary operating licence.10,000,000
15.Licence fee to supply gaming machines available for use in a gaming centre or gambling software operating licence. (a) foreigners

(b) nationals

 

 

20,000,000

10,000,000

15.Application for renewal of licence where the previous licence has not expired in accordance with section 47 of the ActNil
16.An application for a special employee licence50,000
17.Registration of gaming or betting machine or device50,000 per machine
18.Transfer of registered ownership of gaming or betting machine or device50,000
19.Approval to lease or transfer possession of a gaming or betting machine50,000
20.Inspection and approval fee for establishing a branch of a casino or any other gaming or betting facility1,000,000

M-pesa a key mobile money payment provider in Africa acquired licence to operate in Ethiopia.  

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Safaricom Ethiopia through its newly established and wholly owned subsidiary; Safaricom M-PESA Mobile Financial Services PLC (Private Limited Company) received the Payment Instrument Issuer License from the National Bank of Ethiopia that enables it to avail mobile financial services to its customers under the trademark M-PESA.

Prior to issuing the license, The National Bank of Ethiopia amended the National Payment Systems Proclamation to provide the necessary regulatory framework for foreign-owned telecom operators to provide Mobile Financial Services (MFS) in Ethiopia, done in consultation with the industry players in the country.

“We are delighted to receive the license to establish M-Pesa and start providing Mobile Financial Services to our customers. M-Pesa comes with a tested and proven track record of enabling financial inclusion in Africa, provides services to more than 51 million customers across seven countries in Africa with a safe, secure, and affordable way to send and receive money, top-up airtime, make bill payments, get short-term loans and much more. We would like to extend our gratitude to the Government of Ethiopia, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Bank of Ethiopia for the support and guidance which will allow us to contribute our share to the efforts of the Government of Ethiopia fast tracking Digital Inclusion and promote innovation outlined in the Digital payments Strategy 2025.” says Anwar Soussa, CEO of Safaricom Ethiopia.

M-Pesa is Africa’s most successful mobile money service and the region’s largest fintech platform both for the banked and unbanked due to its safety and convenience.  It also provides financial services to millions of people who have mobile phones, but do not have bank accounts, or only have limited access to banking services.

In compliance with the applicable legislation in Ethiopia, the subsidiary of Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia was set up with a 50 million Birr initial capital and will offer mobile financial services under the brand M-PESA by the second half of 2023.

This is great for the Ethiopian igaming industry accessing the most known mobile money provider across sub-Saharan Africa to its sports betting facet.

Source: Safaricom Ethiopia

The Evolution and Future of Africa’s gambling industry

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Africa has always been an epicenter for innovation and resilience, and one industry exemplifying its dynamism in recent years is gambling. Amid rapid economic development and technological expansion, Africans have enthusiastically taken up this form of entertainment as it thrives amid their regulatory environment—something the US market may offer guidance on.

The African gambling market is soaring with growth potential.

Gambling’s presence in Africa is far from new, yet recent years have witnessed an exponential surge in its popularity. Traditional forms like bingo and slot gaming remain popular, but what has truly revolutionized gambling on this continent has been sports betting.

Football, the beloved game of Africans, lies at the core of this expansion. Replicating the excitement of Premier League or African Cup of Nations games, high-profile individuals like Emmanuel Makandiwa of Zimbabwe and Oluwaseun “Shizzle” Ajayi from Nigeria serve as inspiring examples proving gambling can bring positive changes within communities.

Regulatory Landscape in Continental Settings

African nations’ rich cultural, political, and economic fabric has led to a varied regulatory environment for gambling industries. While some nations offer open gambling environments with established legal frameworks in place, others hold more conservative viewpoints with more stringent views and restrictions in place.

South Africa, known for its progressive nature, has regulated gambling since 1996 with the National Gambling Act. This comprehensive legislation offers a well-structured system for licensing, monitoring, and ensuring responsible gambling practices.

Kenya, known as one of Africa’s thriving betting markets, has experienced an ongoing tussle between government officials and betting operators over taxation and regulation issues. However, Kenya’s Betting, Lotteries, and Gaming Act provides the basis for sector operations, with efforts underway to amend legislation accordingly.

Nigeria’s National Lottery Regulatory Commission oversees its gambling industry under the National Lottery Act 2005 and is moving toward adopting more liberal approaches to regulation that take advantage of its potential.

Uganda presents a more conservative landscape, wherein its government issued an overall ban on sports gambling in 2019, citing negative social impacts as justification. 

Understanding the American Model for Success

An examination of the US gambling industry provides Africa with valuable lessons. This developed market boasts advanced regulations, strong consumer protections, and advanced technological infrastructure.

One lesson Africa could glean from this experience is the value of clear and comprehensive legislation. Every state has comprehensive regulations for online casinos and online and in-person betting. Similar approaches could help Africa balance economic growth, consumer protection, and social responsibility more efficiently.

Markets like the US also make the most of the integration of technology and digital infrastructure. where, cutting-edge technologies like blockchain and AI are used to provide secure, user-friendly platforms. As Africa continues its digital revolution, adopting these advanced technologies could propel its industry even further forward.

Mobile Revolution

Thanks to rising smartphone penetration and better internet access, mobile betting is poised to take off across Africa, mirroring trends seen in the US, where mobile sports betting and casino gaming have seen significant growth. African operators can capitalize on this trend by developing comprehensive mobile platforms with seamless user experiences that meet customers’ expectations.

The Future of Gambling in Africa

Drawing inspiration from its US counterpart, Africa’s gambling industry shows signs of great promise. As digital developments expand and mature markets mature, many trends and developments will likely shape this sector over the coming years.

Source: Business Insider Africa