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World Sports Bodies raise Concern Over Kenya Copyright Bill

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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.”

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EveryMatrix gains South Africa licence with customer launch pipeline on the rise

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EveryMatrix has obtained official licensing consent to provide its complete platform technology in South Africa, with its client pipeline quickly expanding throughout the continent and significant customer launches approaching.

EveryMatrix South Africa (EMSA) has obtained a manufacturer’s license from the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board and is now permitted to offer its modular and turnkey platform solutions in sports, casino, player account management (PAM), payments, and affiliate management to top local and international operators.

The tier-1 technology provider has achieved considerable progress throughout Africa recently, collaborating with numerous local brands and finalizing agreements with several others set to launch in the upcoming months.

The purchase of FSB Technology has also given it additional access to South Africa and various other developed and developing iGaming markets on the continent.

An increasing number of major local and global tier-1 operators, as well as World Lottery Association member organizations in essential regulated markets, are choosing EveryMatrix’s turnkey platform technology.

Mark Schmidt, Managing Director, Africa, EveryMatrix, said: “Bringing our full suite of turnkey platform products into South Africa under our new licence is enabling us to power some of the biggest brands here, giving them access to technology that will instantly unlock their potential and drive market growth. In the coming weeks and months, we’ll be announcing some major deals so watch this space.

“Our casino, sports, PAM, payments, games and content aggregation and affiliate management solutions, supported by our local experts who understand their needs and challenges are providing an offering no one else has been able to offer so far in South Africa and across the continent.”

The post EveryMatrix gains South Africa licence with customer launch pipeline on the rise appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Meridianbet Marks 17 Years in Tanzania with Over 500 Community Initiatives

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When Meridianbet’s Tanzania operations spoke at the American Chamber of Commerce Appreciation Dinner last week, the presentation opened with a single number: 500.

That’s how many community initiatives the sports entertainment company has completed across Tanzania since 2009. Education programmes. Small business training. Youth sports sponsorship. Public health awareness campaigns. Local infrastructure support.

For a gaming company operating under a NASDAQ-listed parent, sustained community investment at this scale is unusual. The industry has a reputation for extracting value. Meridianbet’s seventeen-year presence in Tanzania tells a different story.

The Social Model

“We’re in the business of friends gathering at local clubs to watch matches, share a drink, and place small stakes on the outcome. The betting is part of the experience. The gathering is the real value,” a company representative said at the event.

The framing matters because it shapes operational decisions. Meridianbet Tanzania, as is the case worldwide, structures its platform to encourage many customers placing small amounts. The alternative would be concentrating revenue among high-stakes players. That model creates problems. Problem gambling. Revenue volatility. Regulatory scrutiny.

Small-stake betting spread across many customers creates different dynamics. Lower risk per individual. More stable revenue. Better alignment with Tanzania’s consumer protection regulations.

The company’s responsible gaming protocols reflect this approach. Early intervention when betting patterns suggest trouble. Support resources in Swahili and English. Limits designed to keep stakes small and entertainment value high.

Community Ambassadors

The scale of Meridianbet’s community programmes drew attention at the AmCham dinner. What got people talking was who runs them.

The company built a network of “community ambassadors.” These are customers who participate in CSR initiatives as partners. They identify needs in their neighbourhoods. They volunteer in education programmes. They mentor local entrepreneurs. They organise school supply drives and coach youth sports teams.

This shifts how corporate social responsibility works. Traditional CSR runs top-down. Companies donate money. Communities receive it. The relationship is transactional.

Meridianbet’s model distributes responsibility. Customers become patrons of community development. The company provides platform and resources. The customers craft the donation policy.

“When a customer helps fund a school program or mentors a young business owner, they’re building their own community. We make it possible,” the representative said.

Seventeen years and 500 initiatives suggest the model works. Whether it scales beyond Tanzania remains to be seen. For now, it appears to have created genuine community ties rather than performative charity.

The Gender Metric

One data point from the presentation got repeated in conversations after the event: 70% of managerial positions across Meridianbet’s African operations are held by women.

The gaming industry globally runs around 30% women in leadership roles. East African businesses average 35%. Meridianbet’s 70% is an outlier.

The company implements a performance-based hiring and promotion. No quotas. Just competence rewarded. Whether that’s the full story or not, the outcome is measurable. Management teams reflect the communities they serve. Diversity intentions are easy to state. Diversity outcomes are harder to deliver. The Company’s numbers show outcome.

Seventeen Years

Tanzania’s gaming market has grown considerably since 2009. Mobile penetration increased. Disposable incomes rose among the middle class. International operators entered. Some stayed. Many left when margins compressed or regulations tightened.

Meridianbet stayed. Seventeen years. 200 employees. Hundreds of local retail partnerships. That longevity suggests the company views Tanzania as infrastructure, not opportunity.

American companies face pressure to demonstrate ESG commitments in emerging markets. Words are easy. Execution is hard. Meridianbet’s Tanzania operations show what seventeen years of execution looks like.

The post Meridianbet Marks 17 Years in Tanzania with Over 500 Community Initiatives appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Amusnet Announces Strategic Partnership with Betway

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Amusnet has announced a new strategic partnership with Betway in South Africa, one of the leading brands in the industry. This collaboration significantly strengthens the provider’s presence in South Africa, as its top-notch casino content is now live and available on both betway.co.za and Jackpotcity.co.za. Betway is a market leader not only in South Africa, its largest operation, but also across the UK, LATAM, Spain, Italy and other key African markets.

“This project has been a long time in the making – one that required dedication, teamwork, and persistence across every stage, from negotiation to launch. Having our content now on both Betway and JackpotCity in South Africa reinforces our position as a trusted partner and paves the way for even greater growth across the region,” said David McBryne, Senior Commercial Account Manager at Amusnet.

The new collaboration enables Amusnet to showcase its commitment to delivering high-quality entertainment through an exciting selection of titles. South African players can now enjoy slots such as Shining Crown, 40 Burning Hot, 100 Super Hot and Burning Hot 6 Reels. The launch also includes other fan-favourite titles, such as 20 Golden Coins, 100 Bulky Fruits, Candy Palace and the popular Virtual Roulette.

Candy Palace – it provides special features, such as the Toppling Reels, candy-jar multipliers, Free Spins and the chance to win progressive jackpots.

20 Golden Coins – the slot game captivates with its impressive visuals, elegant design and vibrant animations. It features 20 paylines and 5 reels, along with special bonus features such as Bonus Coins and Mystery Nudge.

This strategic partnership is a testament to Amusnet’s commitment to expanding its global footprint in regulated markets. The company is poised to deliver its high-performing portfolio to a broader audience in the African market.

The post Amusnet Announces Strategic Partnership with Betway appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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