Africa
HYPROP MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience2025: South Africa’s Biggest Gaming Showdown Returns

From qualifiers to finals, EAFC 25 to Beat Saber, Over R250 000 in prizes and two champions to crown – this is South Africa’s ultimate gaming experience!
South Africa’s biggest gaming tournament is back. The 2025 MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience kicks off on 18 May, bringing months of competitive energy, in-centre activations, and serious prize money to malls across the country. This year’s edition raises the stakes with the return of the EAFC 25™ National Football Tournament and the debut of the MTN Beat Saber Challenge – two national titles, one massive celebration of gaming culture.
Over five months, eight Hyprop shopping centres will play host to a mix of online qualifiers and live in-mall events, creating a national stage where gamers of all levels can test their skills, win prizes and join a fast-growing community of South African players. The top contenders will face off in the National Finals at Canal Walk from 17 to 21 September, with R50 000 on the line in the EAFC 25™ Football Final and more prizes up for grabs in the Beat Saber showdown.
Tournament Dates and Venues:
- Rosebank Mall
Online Qualifier: 18 May | In-Centre Event: 23–25 May
- Somerset Mall
Online Qualifier: 25 May | In-Centre Event: 30 May–1 June
- Woodlands
Online Qualifier: 7 June | In-Centre Event: 13–16 June
- The Glen
Online Qualifier: 22 June | In-Centre Event: 27–29 June
- Table Bay Mall
Online Qualifier: 13 July | In-Centre Event: 18–20 July
- Clearwater Mall
Online Qualifier: 3 August | In-Centre Event: 8–10 August
- Capegate Mall
Online Qualifier: 31 August | In-Centre Event: 5–7 September
- Canal Walk (National Finals & Last Qualifier)
Online Qualifier: 7 September | In-Centre Event: 17–21 September
“The SHIFT Gaming Experience is more than a tournament; it’s where South African gamers show up, show off and celebrate what they love,” says Christie Stanbridge, Brand and Campaigns Marketing Manager at Hyprop. “From football simulations to VR rhythm battles, we’ve created something that speaks to every kind of player. Whether you’re competing or just watching, there’s always something happening.”
The format combines online, and in-person play. Qualify online on the ACGL platform, then take on your opponents in-centre across malls in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Pretoria. Each in-mall weekend features the EAFC 25™ tournament, daily Fighting Cups, a PC Gaming Zone powered by PCBuilder, Carry1st COD Mobile and the popular SuperSprint lap challenge presented by the Toyota Gaming Engine.
Gamers can also go head-to-head in Tekken, Street Fighter 6, Brawlhalla, Rocket League, Minecraft and Call of Duty: Mobile, with dozens of R1 000+ gift card prizes on offer each weekend. The Beat Saber Challenge, hosted by MTN and playable both in-mall and on MTN’s Battle+ platform, brings a high-energy VR experience into the mix. Players with the highest Beat Saber scores at each mall qualify for the National Final – and anyone who tries it stands a chance to win a gaming PC worth R50 000.
“We’re creating spaces where South Africans can compete, connect and get rewarded for their passion,” says Jason Probert, General Manager: Digital Services at MTN South Africa. “Whether it’s with Beat Saber or Battle+, we want our community to know that gaming lives here.”
The SHIFT Gaming Experience also makes space for younger players. Friday events feature tournaments designed for schools and under-18 gamers, offering dedicated Minecraft build challenges, EAFC 25™ scholars only tournament and Rocket League face-offs – all with real prizes.
The post HYPROP MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience2025: South Africa’s Biggest Gaming Showdown Returns appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Africa
MulaSport launches Kiron’s data-lite Soccer Game across 5 countries in Africa

MulaSport launches Kiron’s data-lite Soccer Game across 5 countries in Africa.
Kiron has rolled out Mula League on MulaSport, bringing a data-lite virtual football format to one of Africa’s leading sportsbook operators. Mula League delivers the excitement of league soccer in a lightweight design that fits seamlessly into digital platforms and uses very little data.
Mula League captures the feel of real league soccer in a fast, three-minute match format with full season play and familiar betting markets. Its data-lite design ensures quick, reliable access for players and its easy integration has made it perfect for MulaSport.
Steven Spartinos, Co-CEO of Kiron, said: “This launch with MulaSport underlines how virtual football can be both innovative and accessible. Mula League delivers the full league experience in a data-lite format that is scalable for operators and engaging for players.
Desiree Scott, Group Head of Corporate Affairs at MulaSport, said: “Bringing Kiron’s game onto our site strengthens our sportsbook with content that is quick to access and easy to enjoy. The format fits seamlessly into the way our players engage with football, while reflecting our commitment to quality, choice, and responsibility.”
Mula League is now live on the MulaSport platform.
The post MulaSport launches Kiron’s data-lite Soccer Game across 5 countries in Africa appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Africa
Rise & Hustle partners with Altenar to power its new sportsbook offering

Next-gen operator launches sport betting with award-winning platform provider
Rise & Hustle, Africa’s next-gen tap-to-earn gaming operator, has launched sports betting within its street game platform through a new partnership with leading sportsbook platform provider Altenar.
As part of the deal, Altenar is delivering thousands of daily pre-match events and live in-play betting with fast markets and cash out, alongside extensive esports coverage and a full range of traditional sports to Rise & Hustle’s players in Nigeria.
Popular sports such as football and the English Premier League will form the foundation, complemented by comprehensive coverage of local competitions to satisfy regional betting interests. Players will benefit from being able to use local currency (Naira), ensuring a familiar end-to-end experience.
The agreement sees Rise & Hustle’s users benefit from personalised bet recommendations, and seamless wallet integration across casino, free-to-play and sportsbook. An optimised UI/UX with intuitive navigation across both mobile and desktop simplifies the betting process, while the free-to-play element awards players with free bets to drive engagement and retain loyalty.
Altenar’s customisable, mobile-first front end aligns seamlessly with Rise & Hustle’s brand, while its advanced risk management tools protect profitability and fraud prevention. Operators can now benefit from real-time, competitively priced odds and 24/7 access to Altenar’s trading team, highlighting its commitment to customer care.
The partnership follows a strong year for Altenar on the African continent, after it gained its South Africa licence back in December 2024 and appointed Brendon Jeacocks as Regional Director.
Tassos Theocharidis, Senior Sales Executive at Altenar, said: “We’re delighted to team up with Rise & Hustle to deliver a new sports betting experience to its players. We firmly believe in the operator’s potential in the fiercely competitive Nigerian market.
“We look forward to enhancing their existing offering with the addition of our award-winning sports betting technology.”
Josh Jones, CEO & Co-Founder of Rise & Hustle, commented: “Our collaboration with Altenar enables us to deliver a world-class betting experience tailored to Nigerian players’ interests.
“The onboarding process and speed-to-market were two key factors in choosing Altenar and rolling out a sportsbook solution will help us attract demographics as we evolve our business.”
The post Rise & Hustle partners with Altenar to power its new sportsbook offering appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Africa
Ghana’s NLA Introduces New Sticker to Clamp Down on Illegal Lotto Operators

The fight against illegal lotto operations in Ghana continues unabated with a major push led by the Director-General and Management of the National Lottery Authority (NLA).
On August 26, the Authority organised a press conference at Brennan Hall to re-emphasise the ongoing registration exercise for Lotto Writers under registered Private Lotto Operators, a process initially launched on September 18, 2024, under the previous leadership.
As part of the initiative, unique identification stickers are being introduced for all Writers and Agents of Private Lotto Operators (PLOs). This measure is expected to reduce illegal activities in the industry and significantly boost the Authority’s revenue.
Addressing the press, the Director-General, Mr. Mohammed Abdul-Salam, noted the growing difficulty distinguishing legitimate writers from illegal ones. He explained that the introduction of the new sticker system would firmly establish the Authority’s regulatory role. Supported by the Operations and Compliance teams, this initiative will be enforced from September 1, 2025, to clamp down on unlicensed operators.
The Executive Secretary of the Concerned Lotto Agents and Writers Association (CLAAG), Mr. Kwaku Duah, welcomed the development, stressing that it was time for Registered Operators to benefit from the fees they had paid. He further cautioned that any Agent or Writer who fails to comply with the new regulations would not receive their support when caught by the law.
The sticker will display the Agent or Writer’s name, location, phone number and payment details, among other information. A QR code generated upon payment will allow the compliance team to easily verify duly licensed operators during their visits.
Mr. Andrew Tuah, Head of Operations, added that the registration fee of GHC 250 for Lotto Writers was to be renewed annually. In addition to the sticker’s robust security features, which cannot be duplicated, he announced a nationwide sensitisation exercise for the Lotto Writers to familiarise themselves with this app.
The press conference was also attended by the Deputy Director-General, Mr. Eric Yeboah Wadie, the Public Relations Officer of CLAAG, Mr. David Agbeviadeh, members of the Executive Management, Management and Staff of the Authority.
The post Ghana’s NLA Introduces New Sticker to Clamp Down on Illegal Lotto Operators appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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