Africa
Pronet Gaming enlists Mark Schmidt to spearhead African expansion

Pronet Gaming has recruited Mark Schmidt as Director of Sales for Africa as it looks to accelerate growth across the region with its fully-customisable sportsbook, casino and omni – channel platform.
Schmidt, who has more than 11 years’ experience in the continent’s sports betting industry having held senior roles with leading regional B2C and B2B brands, will spearhead business development in the African region as Pronet Gaming look to accelerate their expansion into emerging markets.
Bringing a thorough understanding of the local market requirements and operating conditions, Schmidt joins Pronet Gaming from IMG Arena. In his role as Business Development Manager for MEA there he signed some of the region’s top tier names over the last three and a half years.
His CV also includes a stint as Sportsbook Manager for Hollywood Bets, which he held for four years. He was then appointed as Sales Manager for Betradar, playing an incremental role in the company’s regional growth.
Having sharpened its focus on emerging markets, Pronet Gaming has significantly extended its reach into Africa in recent months, signing several high-profile deals with major sportsbook and casino brands.
Mark Schmidt said: “Pronet Gaming is quickly making a name for itself across Africa with a local approach to doing business and products that meet the nuanced needs of individual markets. It is an exciting time to join the company as a result and I look forward to being a part of the next phase of its journey.
Bobby Longhurst, Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Given our fast-growing presence in Africa it’s fantastic to now have Mark at the helm of our regional expansion to bring in new commercial opportunities.
“Having people on the ground is extremely important in these markets and with his track record of growing businesses in the region I’m confident he’ll play an incremental part in our future.”
Colin McDonagh, Chief Sales Officer at Pronet Gaming, added: “I am delighted to have Mark as our new Director of Sales for Africa and am in no doubt that he will take us to the next level of success in the region.
“He brings with him a wealth of local industry expertise and has built up a reputable profile over the last 10 years in the industry through his professional, consultative and trustworthy approach to partnerships.”
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Africa
SOFTSWISS Launches First South African Project with Mzansibet

SOFTSWISS, a global tech provider with over 15 years of iGaming expertise, proudly announces the launch of its major South African project with Mzansibet. It marks the first project in the country to utilise both the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook and the SOFTSWISS Casino Platform.
According to the recently released South Africa: iGaming Market Overview 2025 by SOFTSWISS, the country’s iGaming sector is growing at an impressive annual rate of 20–25%, driven by increasing mobile penetration. In line with this trend and evolving player needs, SOFTSWISS strongly focuses on mobile optimisation across its platforms, enabling seamless and enjoyable gaming experiences for Mzansibet players.
The launch in South Africa, ensuring full compliance with local technical standards, required meticulous preparation. SOFTSWISS products – including its sports betting software and online casino platform – underwent rigorous certification with Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), one of the most reputable and globally recognised independent testing laboratories in the iGaming industry. Following this process, the solutions were officially approved for local operation by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board – a respected and influential regulator in the region – affirming the high quality and compliance of SOFTSWISS software.
Max Trafimovich, International Non-Executive Director at SOFTSWISS, shares: “Mzansibet entered the market with a bold ambition to become a top-tier brand – and we are not only proud to support that vision from day one, but also well-equipped to ensure its sustainable growth. Leveraging our global and local expertise, we provide the technical, business, and service tools necessary for a smooth launch and scalable development. This is made possible thanks to our robust and stable architecture with 99.999% uptime and a flexible platform ecosystem. In addition, the brand launched a nationwide TV advertising campaign and has already attracted tens of thousands of players across the country – a powerful testament to its growing presence and trust.”
In addition to backend certification, the SOFTSWISS team invested heavily in frontend localisation to align with the partner’s vision and market requirements. The Mzansibet project has been fully adapted to meet South African player behaviour and betting patterns.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 35,000 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team counts over 2,000 employees.
The post SOFTSWISS Launches First South African Project with Mzansibet appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Africa
Rise & Hustle launches tap-to-earn street game platform in Nigeria with real-world rewards

Rise & Hustle, Africa’s next-gen tap-to-earn gaming operator, has launched its reward-based mobile street game series in the Nigerian market. Running on its proprietary platform, Rise & Hustle gives players the opportunity to rise from Hustler to Kingpin, earning Bucks during the grind to unlock real-world rewards.
Created for Africa’s mobile-first generation, Rise & Hustle enables taps and achievements to be redeemed for mobile airtime, tangible rewards & Rise Tokens – all without spending a cent. The portfolio of free-to-play games and lottery products is designed in-house, giving Rise & Hustle the ability to deliver energetic and competitive experiences that appeal to players.
The company was co-founded by Anthony Broadhurst, a key player in Africa’s gaming and crypto world, and Josh Jones, an experienced iGaming entrepreneur with a stellar record of building successful platforms.
Rise Tokens are crypto-backed rewards on the Binance Smart Chain and power a real economy that rewards loyalty. Squads and community are central to gameplay with leaderboards, status, and real-time tournaments making each session count.
Embracing AI technology, local partnerships, and sharp design, Rise & Hustle is on the path to becoming Africa’s most culturally relevant gaming operator. A full Real Money Gaming offering is due for launch imminently.
Beyond Nigeria, expansion plans include Kenya and Ghana, with launches scheduled for completion by the close of 2025. As Rise & Hustle scales, it will strengthen collaborations with mobile networks, pioneering brands, and influencers to accelerate mass adoption. With its bold brand, crypto-powered rewards, and laser focus on mobile-first entertainment, Rise & Hustle’s platform is the future.
Rise & Hustle CEO and co-founder Josh Jones commented: “Rise & Hustle is flipping the script on how value is created for an entire generation’s time and talent spent on mobile games. We’re here to turn everyday entertainment into real-world rewards. This isn’t just a game – we’re building a cultural movement where players grind together to reach the top through ambition and hustle.”
The post Rise & Hustle launches tap-to-earn street game platform in Nigeria with real-world rewards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Africa
Shaden Dre Shabalala (Captain of the MSSA Protea Esports Team for MLBB) will lead his brave, and dedicated, team against Madagascar on 23 July 2025 at 19H00)

With the South African Protea Esports Team for the Mobile Legends Bang Bang title having laid waste to all its opponents in its group (Namibia and Congo), the Proteas now have to do battle against Madagascar.
Madagascar has also won all its matches in its group having beaten both Mauritius and Zimbabwe.
Thus to see which country earns its place to represent Southern Africa at the prestigious IESF World Esports Championships – WEC25 – the two titans will meet on the field of battle.
The winner of this clash on 23 July 2025 will see only one country emerge to represent Southern Africa at IESF’s WEC25.
Thus, there is much at stake, honour, prestige, and a nation’s pride!
The match is a thrilling best-of-five games in which, all MSSA is confident that the Proteas will emerge victorious!
As usual the dedicated team from Waylander Gaming will stream the match on https://youtube.com/@waylander_gaming at 19H00.
The battle hardened veteran team of Protea athletes for the Mobile Legends Bang Bang esports title are:
Name | Club | Nick | Province |
Shaden Dre Shabalala (Capt.) | King of the Hill | SUPER Shady | Gauteng |
Mogamat Junaid Ismail | King of the Hill | JụjuMC.♡ | Western Cape |
Slindokuhle Ndlovu | King of the Hill | lindo | Gauteng |
Umer Ali Khan | King of the Hill | VeloTzy. | Gauteng |
Schalk Rademeyer | Paradox | SUPER Light | Eastern Cape |
The post Shaden Dre Shabalala (Captain of the MSSA Protea Esports Team for MLBB) will lead his brave, and dedicated, team against Madagascar on 23 July 2025 at 19H00) appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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