Only 1 Week Left: West & Francophone Africa’s Premier Gaming Summits Arrive in Dakar

The final seven-day countdown has officially begun for West Africa’s most influential gaming, fintech, and regulatory gatherings: the 11th annual Sports Betting West Africa+ (SBWA+) Summit and the co-located 2nd annual Gaming Event Francophone Africa (GEFA) 2026!

Taking place from 14 – 16 October 2026 at the King Fahd Palace Hôtel in Dakar, Senegal, this landmark three-day event will gather C-suite operators, state lottery executives, financial regulators, legal counsel, and technology innovators from across the continent. Hosted in Senegal’s vibrant capital, the joint summit provides an active deal-closing platform designed to explore multi-jurisdictional licensing frameworks, low-bandwidth game optimisation, mobile money integration, and localised market expansion.

Three-Day Event Highlights at A Glance

Day 1 | Wednesday, 14 October 2026

The summit opens with an exclusive networking reception bringing together international delegates, regulators, and industry pioneers for an evening of executive networking, refreshments, and celebration. Day 1 culminates in the official SBWA+ Eventus Awards 2026 ceremony, honouring companies and leaders driving excellence, technological innovation, and regulatory compliance across the continent.

Day 2 | Thursday, 15 October 2026 | SBWA+ Stream

• Taxing the Game: Balancing Government Revenue and Industry Growth
• Trust by Design: Responsible Gaming and Transparent Operations
• Protecting the Digital Player: Data Security and Platform Integrity
• Ethical Promotion: Marketing and Affiliate Strategies in Regulated Markets

Day 2 | Thursday, 15 October 2026 | GEFA Stream

• Senegal: Africa’s Gaming Capital: Building a Strategic Hub for Innovation, Regulation & Investment
• Francophone Frontier for Operators: Unlocking Growth in French-Speaking Africa
• The Cashless Playbook: Optimising Mobile Money, Instant Payouts, and Payment Security in Francophone Africa
• Unlocking Francophone Africa: Payments, Localisation and the Future of iGaming Growth

Day 3 | Friday, 16 October 2026

• Marketing Intelligence: How AI Is Transforming Player Engagement
• The Social Bet: Harnessing Social Media for Player Growth
• Affiliate Economies: Building High-Performance Partnerships
• Game Changers: The Convergence of Esports, Sports Betting, and the Next Generation

of Players

• The Next Five Years: Strategic Outlook from Africa’s Betting Leaders

Meet the Distinguished Speaker Lineup

The 2026 edition boasts a world-class speaker faculty representing regulatory authorities, state lotteries, operator groups, and legal practices across Africa:

• Adedoyin Oriadetu, Head of Tax Compliance, WYZE
• Ariel AMICHIA, Head of Planning, Foresight, Monitoring and Evaluation Department, Loterie Nationale de Côte d’Ivoire (LONACI)
• Bonny Omara, General Secretary, Uganda Esports and Gaming Federation
• Edward Oluigbo, Founder, CEO, Predict International Limited
• Ekaterina Mayorova, Head of Region – Africa, QTech Games
• Geoffrey Muindi, Managing Director, Gaming NewsByte & Africa Brand Ambassador, Eventus International (SBWA+ 2026 Chairperson)
• Joel Anyaegbu, Sales & Account Manager West Africa, QTech Games
• Kaan Bulakeri, Founder & Strategy Consultant, WekaMawe Advisory
• Kelvin Wilson, Innovator, Product Engineer & Founder, Oddsense
• Dr Kolade Abisoye, Founder/CEO, iGaming WriteNow
• Kolade Olalekan, Country Manager, Predictpro Gaming Limited (PlayNaija)
• Moustapha Camara, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Senegal National Lottery (LONASE)
• Musa Mngadi, Chief Executive Officer, ALGA
• Olubiyi Williams, Head of Sales & Business Development (Africa), MAMBA PLAY
• Oyiza Maleek, Entertainment and Gaming Practice Lead, Matrix Solicitors
• Robert Brassai, Principal Consultant, Sense4Gaming (GEFA 2026 Chairperson)
• Salako Rodolphe, Community Manager, Onlyplay
• Simon Pepper, Chief Product Officer, Tola
• Vera Sherman, Online Manager, Premier Bet Liberia
• Olaitan SAMUEL, Business Development Manager, Dalapay | iBetAfrica
• Julius Fadipe, State Manager, Crystal Gaming Limited (Betano)
• Afolabi Sunday, Head of Operations, Herobet
• Emmanuel Kwasi Gadasu, Cybersecurity, Data Protection & IT Law Consultant, GIT Plus Limited / IIPGH (Institute of ICT Professionals Ghana)
• Lombo Mphande, Director, Bet Chats
• Loukakou Charly Donna, Co-founder & CCO, NIIRPAY
• Nonso Ndumanya, Head of Gaming and Emerging Economy, Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) Nigeria, Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) Nigeria
• Solomon Godwin, Head, Africa, Booming Games
• Olajumoke Odudimu, Legal/ Company Secretary, Velex Advisory Limited
• Iretiayo Bola Obasunloye, Legal and Compliance Officer, KC Gaming Networks Ltd (Bet9ja)
• Rossy KAY-Manzebu, Store Manager, Premierbet Senegal
• KOROBLA DOSSO, Digital and Customer Experience Manager, LONACI
• Annalisa Samuels, VP Africa, CP Games
• Kyarisiima Israel, Chief Executive Officer, Uganda Esports Federation
• Patrick KWAKYE, Deputy Director-Investigations, Inspection, Compliance And Enforcement (IICE), Gaming Commission Of Ghana
• Emily Asava, SA Gaming
• Emeka Enyadike, CEO, EEXSPORT
• Charles Tape, Director of Operations, Marketing, Communication, Loterie Nationale du Bénin

SBWA+ Eventus Awards: Official Shortlist to Be Released This Wednesday!

Following the successful close of nominations on 2 October 2026, anticipation is building across the regional gaming community.

The official SBWA+ Eventus Awards 2026 shortlist will be publicly released on Wednesday, 7 October 2026.

The official 2026 award categories feature:

1. SBWA+ Supplier of the Year Award 2026 pays tribute to the top B2B supplier of the year, focusing on overall commercial success, technical reliability, and innovative thinking.
2. SBWA+ Innovation of the Year Award 2026 acknowledges a standout concept or technological advancement that has made a measurable impact, assessed on market performance, originality, user experience, and design quality.
3. SBWA+ Operator of the Year Award 2026 honours the leading consumer-facing operator, evaluating commercial growth, innovative market strategy, and overall user experience quality.
4. SBWA+ Leader in Virtual Sports Award 2026 recognises the most innovative virtual sports gaming experience of the year, focusing on concept originality, engagement mechanics, and commercial success.
5. SBWA+ Leader in Online Casino Award 2026 pays tribute to the premier online casino platform for innovation, user engagement, quality lead generation, and sustained growth.
6. SBWA+ Leader in Responsible Gambling Award 2026 honours an organisation demonstrating exceptional commitment and execution in responsible gambling awareness, harm minimisation, and brand trust.
7. SBWA+ Leader in Sports Betting Award 2026 commends the primary frontrunner in sports betting technology and service delivery, focusing on originality, execution, and commercial performance.
8. SBWA+ Outstanding Industry Influencer Award 2026 recognises outstanding individual contributions through strategic advice, research input, industry collaborations, and sector growth.
9. SBWA+ Outstanding Consultant Award 2026 acknowledges exceptional achievements, market guidance, and strategic value provided by an industry consultant or advisory firm.
10. SBWA+ Outstanding Speaker Award 2026 recognises the top presenter at SBWA+ 2026, evaluated across the summit and announced at the conclusion of day three.

Special Spotlight Celebrating Women in Gaming Categories:

1. SBWA+ Innovation Queen of West Africa 2026 honours an innovative female leader transforming business practices and promoting diversity within the West African gaming sector.
2. SBWA+ West Africa’s Rising Star in Leadership 2026 recognises an emerging leader who has demonstrated exceptional management skills and significant operational impact.

Last Chance to Register – Secure A Pass Today

With only seven days remaining, delegate passes, VIP upgrades, and exhibition spaces are rapidly filling.

• Licensed Operators and Affiliates: Qualified African operators and affiliates may apply for complimentary passes, subject to approval and availability.
• Delegates and C-Level Executives: Standard and VIP delegate passes grant access to all conference streams, daily networking luncheons, refreshment breaks, and the official Welcoming Evening.
• Sponsors and Exhibitors: Custom branding and exhibition packages remain available to position products and services directly before senior decision-makers and regional regulators.

For sponsorship or exhibition enquiries, contact:

Lou-Mari Burnett, Chief Operating Officer, Eventus International

loumari@eventus-international.com

+27 82 907 5850

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