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.
