Africa

World Sports Bodies raise Concern Over Kenya Copyright Bill

Published

4 years ago

February 15, 2022

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Kenya’s 2019 Copyright Amendment Bill, incorporates principles from the WIPO Internet Treaties of 1996, aimed at preventing unauthorised access to and use of creative works

A coalition of global sports bodies has written an open letter to the Kenyan government, expressing concern about the Copyright Amendment Bill currently before parliament, and its potential impact on the availability of international sports content in Kenya.

The Sports Rights Owner Coalition (SROC) is an alliance of more than 50 international and national sport bodies, representing some of the world’s leading sport codes and competitions – including the English Premier League, the FA Cup, Wimbledon, MotoGP, and the Rugby World Cup.

In the recent letter, signed by Chairman Mark Lichtenstein, the SROC says its members are “extremely concerned” at changes that will be made to Kenya’s Copyright Act if the Copyright Amendment Bill becomes law.

The SROC is particularly worried about proposals to repeal sections 35B, 35C and 35D of the Copyright Act, which allow for take-down notices issued to internet-based service provider platforms which enable content piracy to flourish.

A take-down notice is a widely used remedy employed by copyright owners worldwide, compelling online platforms to rapidly remove content from their websites if it is suspected that the content infringes copyright.

The Kenya Copyright Board (KeCOBO) champion of the Partners Against Piracy (PAP) initiative, has come out in support of the SROC letter.

“Take-down notices are a critical tool for copyright holders and related rights holders to fight digital content piracy by controlling the distribution and economic viability of their work and how it is accessed online,” says Edward Sigei, KeCOBO Executive Director.

“Across the world, they help to safeguard the intellectual property rights of sports rights owners. If rights owners cannot request that pirated sports content is taken down immediately, that will threaten the future of live sports broadcasts in Kenya. Why would international sports media allow sports broadcasts in Kenya, if they have no way of stopping them from being pirated!”

Kenya’s 2019 Copyright Amendment Bill, incorporates principles from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Internet Treaties of 1996, aimed at preventing unauthorised access to and use of creative works. Takedown notices are among these principles and are necessary tools to enforce copyright protections for rights owners and distributors.

If the Amendment Bill is passed into law, Kenya will be out of step with global trends, the average Kenyan will lose out on great sports entertainment. A further negative consequence of this Amendment Bill passing would be the reputational and economic investment quagmire it would create is jeopardising Kenya’s ability to renew participation in the Africa Growth and Opportunity Agreement (AGOA) program, as one of the additional provisions of renewal requires a demonstrated commitment to copyright protection as a prerequisite to signing. Repealing section 35 of the Copyright Act, would do the exact opposite and threaten investor confidence.

The SROC points out that in Europe, policy makers are strengthening not weakening the effectiveness of take-down notices, particularly regarding live content. New proposals to protect live content more effectively in Europe are expected in the first half of 2022.

“Were the Copyright Amendment Bill to be enacted, it could have devastating consequences for both the Kenyan economy and Kenyan consumers,” says the SROC letter. “Rights holders from sport and other creative industries are extremely unlikely to license their content in a jurisdiction that effectively legitimises piracy. Consumers would therefore be deprived from watching their favourite sports and television shows, and leave Kenya isolated on the global copyright stage.”

The coalition – which includes the English FA, UEFA, the IAAF, and the International Tennis Federation – goes on to ask that the proposed new law be urgently reconsidered “so as not to harm Kenyan consumers and threaten the availability of sports and entertainment content in Kenya.”

Africa

Shacks Evolution Announce Strategic Partnership with Moja Group

Published

1 hour ago

October 15, 2025

Niji Narayan

shacks-evolution-announce-strategic-partnership-with-moja-group

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Shacks Evolution Studios, a leader in mobile-first gaming innovation, has announced a strategic partnership with Moja Group Inc., the parent company of Mojabet, one of Africa’s top online betting platforms.

This collaboration aims to redefine Africa’s iGaming experience through locally inspired, high-performance digital entertainment. As part of this partnership, Shacks Evolution Studios is launching two exclusive instant games: Mojawheel and Moja Citadel fully customised for Mojabet users.

These titles will be accompanied by a broader rollout of Shacks Evolution’s instant games portfolio, now accessible to audiences across multiple African markets.

“At Shacks Evolution Studios, we believe in creating games that resonate with the environment and culture of the people playing them. This partnership with Moja Group allows us to bring cutting-edge gameplay to millions while staying true to the realities of Africa’s digital landscape, including low network availability and diverse cultural tastes,” said Kwame Mensah, CEO of Shacks Evolution Studios.

“This collaboration is about more than just gaming, it’s about celebrating African creativity and delivering world-class entertainment with a local touch. By working closely with Shacks Evolution Studios, we are offering our Mojabet users something truly unique, games that feel like they were made just for them,” said Amina Diallo, Chief Marketing Officer at Moja Group Inc.

The post Shacks Evolution Announce Strategic Partnership with Moja Group appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Africa

BongoBongo Partnership Boosts GR8 Tech’s Expansion in Africa

Published

1 day ago

October 14, 2025

George Miller

bongobongo-partnership-boosts-gr8-tech’s-expansion-in-africa

Reading Time: 2 minutes

GR8 Tech has joined forces with East African iGaming brand BongoBongo. Active across Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, and Kenya, BongoBongo is known for its bold growth strategy and sharp market focus. Now, that momentum continues with the launch of GR8 Tech’s ULTIM8 Sportsbook—a high-performance solution built for ultimate speed, scale, and competitive edge.

While the iFrame integration already powers live operations, BongoBongo is also one of the first brands to leverage GR8 Tech’s robust backend integration via API. This will enable BongoBongo to take full control of the front end, tailoring the player experience to its brand vision while relying on GR8 Tech’s infrastructure under the hood. It’s a heavyweight blend of freedom and firepower, built for operators ready to differentiate and dominate.

“As we continue to grow across Africa and expand our local teams, having a high-performance sportsbook that complements our casino-first strategy is key. GR8 Tech gives us exactly that: the freedom to shape our frontend on top of a powerful, scalable engine. With the ULTIM8 solution and API, we’re ready to raise the bar for our players,” said Randy Heyrowsky, CEO at BongoBongo.

GR8 Tech’s Proven Success in Africa

GR8 Tech has already demonstrated strong traction in Africa by delivering a custom light sportsbook frontend for a regional operator in 2024. Designed for real-world conditions typical for the region, such as slow networks, older devices, and limited bandwidth, the solution prioritized speed and performance. The results were striking: conversion from registration to first deposit rose by 12% and user retention more than doubled, from 10% to 25%.

It was a strategic localization. GR8 Tech’s ability to blend performance engineering with market-specific UX shows what’s possible when products are built to meet the moment. In Africa and beyond, this is how heavyweight platforms win.

“Every market has its own demands, and success comes from listening closely and building accordingly. With Africa, we’ve proven that smart technical decisions drive long-term value. Now, with BongoBongo, we’re doubling down on that principle. They have bold plans and deep market insight, and we’re excited to support their next phase with tech that’s fast, flexible, and built to scale with their vision,” said Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech.

Connect with GR8 Tech at the upcoming SiGMA Central Europe to discover new developments and explore opportunities.

The post BongoBongo Partnership Boosts GR8 Tech’s Expansion in Africa appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Africa

LEON Celebrates One Year in Tanzania by Announcing Partnership with Brand Ambassador Simon Msuva

Published

6 days ago

October 9, 2025

Zoltan Tundik

Reading Time: < 1 minute

LEON, an international sports betting and casino brand, proudly announces the signing of Tanzanian football star Simon Msuva as its official brand ambassador in Tanzania. The partnership marks a milestone as LEON celebrates its first anniversary of operations in the country.

Simon Msuva, one of Tanzania’s most recognized players, has represented the national team for more than a decade. Known for his speed, technical skills, and consistency, he has earned over 70 international caps and remains a key striker for the Taifa Stars, celebrated by fans both at home and abroad

As part of the partnership, Simon Msuva will be the face of LEON national campaigns — from fan meet-and-greets and press conferences to autograph sessions and sporting events. His charisma and energy embody the spirit of the brand: just as a lion rules the jungle, LEON has claimed its place in the world of betting. Through these campaigns, the brand and the player connect with fans on the same wavelength, sharing anticipation, the joy of victory, and pride.

Jerome Dufourg, Regional Director of Operations at LEON, added:

“Tanzania was our first African project, where we learned to adapt to the local context. After major marketing campaigns to build brand awareness, we’re now focusing on our sportsbook with the signing of the Tanzanian national team captain. His dedication and humility reflect our vision at Leonbet Tanzania, in a country preparing for AFCON 2027 and competing in this year’s tournament.”

This collaboration reinforces LEON commitment to supporting sports culture in Tanzania and strengthening its bond with local communities through football.

The post LEON Celebrates One Year in Tanzania by Announcing Partnership with Brand Ambassador Simon Msuva appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.