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South Africa’s Top Gamers Crowned at 2025 MTN SHIFT Gaming Grand Finals at Canal Walk

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Massive wins, standout talent and a showdown wrapped up five months of fierce competition across the country.

After months of qualifiers and regional heats at eight Hyprop malls across South Africa, the MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience reached its electrifying conclusion at Canal Walk Shopping Centre. With hundreds of spectators and players packing the gaming arena, the national finals brought the heat and crowned South Africa’s best in EAFC 25™, Beat Saber, Call of Duty and more.

In the EAFC National Final, Hamza Moosa (17) from Sandton, proved why he’s one of the country’s most exciting young talents. A professional esports player for Goliath Gaming, Moosa outplayed the competition to take top honours. A familiar name on the international stage, he recently represented South Africa at the Esports World Cup qualifier in Saudi Arabia. Hamza left the MTN SHIFT Gaming national finals with prize money of R25000.

Beat Saber fans saw a fast-paced, high-score battle won by Michael Prange (17) from Pretoria and Garsfontein High School. Ranked #2 nationally, Prange is also a two-time Beat Saber World Cup competitor and has helped shape South Africa’s competitive VR rhythm community through coaching, mentorship, and global participation. As the 2025 MTN SHIFT Gaming Beat Saber national champion, Michael won a Gaming PC valued at R50000.

In the schools division, Ridhaa April, 15, from Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs, took the EAFC title. A prodigious talent who’s been competing since the age of 12, Ridhaa plays professionally for Goliath Gaming and already holds multiple top finishes, including 1st place at the 2025 ASL.

In the Rocket League school tournament, Curro took top spot, followed by Edgemead High in second place.

Meanwhile, Call of Duty Mobile closed out the finals with serious intensity as returning champions Nixuh held onto their title. The dominant team of Magicz (Raees Ismail), Adnaan (Adnaan Bhamjee), Raz (Rahil Bux) and Enigma (Jameen Essa) walked away with a R30 000 cash prize.

“The atmosphere at this year’s finals was absolutely electric,” said Vanessa Herbst, Marketing Manager at Canal Walk Shopping Centre. “The level of skill on display was unreal, and the crowd brought their energy every day. The bar has been set very high for the 2026 edition.”

The MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience is South Africa’s biggest mall-based gaming tournament, played over five months across Gauteng and the Western Cape. Regional heats were hosted at Rosebank Mall, Clearwater Mall, The Glen, Woodlands, Table Bay Mall, Somerset Mall and Capegate Shopping Centre, with the final week of competition culminating at Canal Walk. The tournament drew thousands of players across all skill levels, offering more than R250 000 in prizes and a platform to compete in front of live audiences.

“The SHIFT Gaming Experience is about bringing high-level competition into public spaces and giving players of all ages the opportunity to compete, connect and grow,” said Christie Stanbridge, Brand and Campaigns Marketing Manager at Hyprop. “From pros representing South Africa on global stages to young players discovering their potential, far more than being entertaining, this year highlighted gaming as a space for learning, discipline and community.”

With the 2025 tournament wrapped, planning is already underway for an even bigger return in 2026.

The post South Africa’s Top Gamers Crowned at 2025 MTN SHIFT Gaming Grand Finals at Canal Walk appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

40 Sparkling Crown

TaDa Gaming Enters South Africa via Strategic Betway Partnership

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TaDa Gaming marks its entry into the South African iGaming market through a landmark partnership with Betway, bringing premium casino content to local players.

With slots tailored for the SA market, Betway players will have immediate access to releases including Crazy 777, Coin Tree, 40 Sparkling Crown, Devil Fire 2 and Rapid Gems 777 as well as the Fortune Gems series. Distribution is through Light & Wonder Inc.

TaDa is renowned for attracting new and younger demographics with its immersive content. As winner of the SiGMA Africa Slot Newcomer of the Year, 2025, all games are expertly localised and mobile first for lightweight deployment and swift loading times, a critical factor for success.

Taking a glocalised approach has enabled TaDa to build a transnational brand across the continent for delivering scalable, regulated business success in emerging and high growth countries.

This experience gained from operating in over 15 countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania makes TaDa a valuable partner in South Africa, a key destination for the ambitious content provider.

Ray Lee, Director of Business Development at TaDa Gaming, said: “Building our brand for immersive and tailored gaming in South Africa has been enhanced through securing collaborations with key operators like Betway. We are delighted to be working together to deliver new and exciting experiences for players across the SA market.”

The post TaDa Gaming Enters South Africa via Strategic Betway Partnership appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Africa

TaDa Gaming Officially Enters the Regulated South African Market

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TaDa Gaming has reinforced its presence and brand in African iGaming through its latest entry to the regulated South African market.

SA is currently considered the most mature market in Africa with strong internet penetration, high smartphone usage and higher disposable income per capita.

With potential regulation change under debate, new laws would enable a regulated market model to be in place within the next few years. Reputable industry sources have projected approximately €3.9 billion ($4.2 billion or around R80 billion) in annual gambling revenue by 2030, making it a significant growth market.

TaDa began its African journey in 2024 with betPawa, the largest gaming platform on the continent. This gave TaDa access to over 15 countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania.

Furthermore, TaDa honed its knowledge of individual African countries’ regulations, cultural mores and player behaviours alongside a dedicated programme to reduce size and loading times for mobile first games in line with local infrastructure limitations and player device types but with no adverse effect on quality or entertainment value.

Enhanced by its roster of international gaming licences, TaDa is known for its expert “glocalisation” or global core mechanics/local content strategic approach to new markets. With a significant Crash portfolio and award-winning gamification tools, TaDa has quickly built a name for innovative and immersive gaming experiences among African players.

In 2025, SiGMA Africa voted TaDa as Best Slot Newcomer through games such as the renowned Fortune Gems series; Crazy 777, Coin Tree and global hit Devil Fire 2. Subsequent hit releases certified for SA also include 40 Sparkling Crown and Rapid Gems 777.

Armed with this know-how and brand awareness, TaDa is a valuable partner and the regulated South African market has responded positively. With leading operator and platform collaborations and partnerships in place, TaDa has begun to build its brand for immersive gaming across SA.

As the largest and most established iGaming ecosystem on the continent, SA continues to be a key destination for TaDa across 2026 and beyond. In anticipation that South Africa will follow the UK and Ontario’s lead in regulations in the long-term, providers like TaDa who hold both UKGC and AGCO licences are expected to be in demand with operators and players alike.

Ray Lee, Director of Business Development at TaDa Gaming, said: “Having polished our skills and know-how across multiple emerging African markets over the last year, we are confident that our localised and certified content will quickly resonate with players in South Africa. Launching with market leaders enhances our credibility for delivering visibly fair and high quality gaming experiences while our regulated approach will stand us in good stead for the future.”

The post TaDa Gaming Officially Enters the Regulated South African Market appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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BetConstruct AI Fuels Global Innovation Strategy Across Latin America, Asia and Africa

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BetConstruct AI is excited to reveal its significant involvement in several top industry events this March: SAGSE LatAm in Buenos Aires, Argentina, GAT Expo in Cartagena, Colombia, SPiCE South Asia in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and the Africa Gaming Expo in Lagos, Nigeria. As a worldwide leader in iGaming technology, BetConstruct AI is leveraging these platforms to strengthen its dedication to local development and support operators with the 2026 idea of “The Choice.”

Throughout all three continents, our focus is on a vision of technological empowerment. In a more complex regulatory environment, BetConstruct AI surpasses conventional offerings to provide strategic independence. We think the future of international iGaming relies on the operator’s ability to select the most adaptable, insightful, and scalable technology to propel their distinct vision ahead.

During every event, attendees will discover a complete range of solutions designed to cater to the varied needs of local communities. At the core of our presentation are the top-tier Sportsbook and Casino Platforms, designed for optimal stability and fast scalability.

In addition to the primary platforms, we deliver the fundamental framework for a leading online brand. This encompasses CMS Pro for centralized hub administration, SpringBuilder X for mobile-oriented website development, and BetChain AI, which offers an innovative approach to create and design iGaming websites more quickly and intelligently.

The exhibitions will highlight the BetConstruct AI Suite, a set of advanced tools aimed at enhancing and streamlining the operator’s experience:

● CRM AI: Delivering deep behavioral insights to drive player retention.
● Umbrella AI: Providing real-time risk management and automated player protection.
● AI Game Recommendation System: Ensuring personalized content delivery.
● Betting Mate: An intuitive AI companion that elevates the player experience.

Reiterating its commitment to partner success, BetConstruct AI will present The Last Battle Universe, the first B2B loyalty system in the industry designed to recognize performance. Operators reaching a GGR growth rate exceeding 12% (determined by comparing the third month of the current quarter to the third month of the prior quarter) gain access to unique rewards. This comprises a 51% reduction on invoices for Nebula Badge holders, a 50% setup discount for Zenith Badge holders, and complete setup fee refunds to enable direct reinvestment into the platform.

BetConstruct AI encourages all industry stakeholders, operators, and media personnel to engage with our team of specialists at these locations:

● SAGSE LatAm (Buenos Aires, Argentina): March 18 – 19 | Stand 134
● SPiCE South Asia (Colombo, Sri Lanka): March 24 – 25 | Stand 1017
● GAT Expo (Cartagena, Colombia): March 25 – 26 | Stand A31
● Africa Gaming Expo (Lagos, Nigeria): March 25 – 26 | Stand E17

To foster deeper connections beyond the exhibition floor, we are hosting a series of exclusive Harmony Dinners. These invitation-only meetups offer a unique space for BetConstruct AI leaders and our valued partners to align visions in an atmosphere of world-class hospitality:

1. Buenos Aires: March 18 | Hilton Buenos Aires
2. Colombo: March 24 | Shangri-La, Colombo
3. Cartagena: March 25 | Cartagena, Colombia
4. Lagos: March 25 | Lagos, Nigeria

The post BetConstruct AI Fuels Global Innovation Strategy Across Latin America, Asia and Africa appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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