Action against operators in Malawi that facilitate underage gambling is set to be escalated as part of the latest action from the country’s regulatory body.
Announced by the Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority (MAGLA) during a recent gambling regulations workshop, operators in the country will be hit with a $11,500 fine if a minor under the age of 18 is found to have used their platform.
On the new regulation, Rachel Mijiga, Director General of MAGLA, spoke about the need to protect Malawi’s youth from “the serious social and psychological risks that gambling poses”.
Malawi’s clampdown on underage gambling comes as global operators continue to intensify their focus on the untapped potential of the African continent.
Earlier this year, 888Bets confirmed its expansion into Malawi, marking its seventh market in the region.
Further underlining its commitment to African success, the group previously acquired the multinational African online bookmaker BetLion, which it described as “a critical step” in its African expansion.
Alongside the appetite for operators to enter the African market increasing, regulation in the region has continued to mature and become an increasing focus for lawmakers.
Last week, The Gaming Authority in Ghana emphasised its intentions to intensify its efforts around regulation, with a specific focus on the location of the gambling venues.
Commissioner Emmanuel Siisi Quainoo spoke at a recent meeting about its aims to tackle the level of gambling venues in areas that could see an increased impact of the most vulnerable corners of society.
This was also a sentiment shared by MAGLA’s Director of Operations, Lawrence Chikoko, during the announcement of Malawi’s new rules, who spoke about the need for gambling to be viewed solely as a leisure activity.
He said: “We’ve noticed that especially among the youth, due to unemployment and lack of activities, they spend too much time gambling. Everyone should know there are limits to how much one can gamble.”
Evolving player trends in Africa
Tekkorp’s Conor O’Donovan recently spoke to iGaming Expert about the current state of Africa’s often fragmented market, especially focusing on the need for operators to follow the changing trends in mobile money.
He said: “If mobile money is starting to proliferate or it’s showing early signs of prosperity, you know, that’s a market with real potential to ride out over the next couple of years, because once mobile money grows, so does the betting industry. They go hand in hand, essentially. There’s just a slight lag.
“Africa has always been a cash economy. And I guess it evolved towards mobile money, mainly driven in the Kenyan market. And mobile money is essentially an extension of cash.”
