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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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Jogabets migrates to VeliTech iGaming platform for Mozambique operations

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Jogabets, a licensed online betting operator in Mozambique, has migrated its operations to VeliTech’s iGaming core platform, the B2B supplier said.

VeliTech said the rollout is part of Jogabets’ growth strategy and is intended to strengthen its digital operations. Darren Calvia, Chief Product Officer at VeliTech, said Jogabets will use “the integrated VeliTech product suite, including the iGaming core system with built-in CRM, sportsbook platform, game aggregation capabilities, and exclusive crash and instant games.”

Calvia added: “Launching a brand like Jogabets isn’t just about going live — it’s about getting the fundamentals right from day one. The early performance and positive feedback from the Jogabets team confirm that when product, technology, and delivery are fully aligned, even complex migrations feel seamless. With the VeliTech platform at its core and a tailored mix of content and tools, the client is now well-positioned to deliver a high-performing player experience and rapid growth.”

Vasco Jafar, Marketing Manager at Jogabets, said the supplier supported local requirements: “We were particularly impressed by the VeliTech adeptness in navigating our intricate local compliance and payment provider requirements, given our specific operations in Africa. We have witnessed their exceptional professionalism and problem-solving capabilities firsthand.”

Mariam Mchedlishvili, Implementation Manager at VeliTech, said the launch is already showing early traction: “The successful launch of Jogabets in Mozambique is already delivering strong early results, with stable performance from day one and positive player engagement trends that confirm we’ve built the right foundation for growth. When an operator comes out of a launch confident and ready to scale, you know the work behind the scenes was done right. That’s what we aim for every time.”

The post Jogabets migrates to VeliTech iGaming platform for Mozambique operations appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Springbok Casino Presents “Wild Galaxy Month” with 25 Free Spins on Prosperity Pots

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This May, SpringbokCasino.co.za celebrates Star Wars Day with Wild Galaxy Month, a cosmic new feature reimagining the savanna’s creatures as space-faring legends. May the 4th be with you and your 25 Free Spins on Prosperity Pots slot, available all month.

In Wild Galaxy Month, Springbok Casino compares five famous character types from the classic space-opera world to South African animals that carry the same energy in the bush. From bold young lions to wise old tortoises, each one brings its own style to survival—and the same is true for smart slot play. Knowing when to take a risk like a lion, when to wait like a leopard, or when to play the long game like a tortoise can make all the difference between a quick spin and a legendary win!

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The post Springbok Casino Presents “Wild Galaxy Month” with 25 Free Spins on Prosperity Pots appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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BetConstruct AI to present World Cup 2026 sportsbook offer at iGaming Afrika

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Supplier takes Stand A05 in Nairobi on May 4–5, pitching pre-built tournament betting tools and discounted onboarding for new partners.

BetConstruct AI said it will exhibit at iGaming Afrika on May 4–5 in Nairobi, Kenya, at Stand A05.

The company said its main focus at the event will be a “Best Sportsbook for the World Cup 2026” package, supported by “Special Bets, Powerfull and Bet on League.” BetConstruct AI said the tools are designed to help operators run World Cup activations “with zero additional development required.”

For the World Cup activation, the supplier is also advertising commercial incentives for new partners. BetConstruct AI said new partners receive a 65% platform setup discount “applied immediately,” plus “100% Core Suite Access” for the first three months, followed by “65% off for 4-12 months.” It added that third-party tools are “51% off for 3 months.”

Beyond the tournament pitch, BetConstruct AI said it will present its wider iGaming ecosystem, including Sportsbook Platform, Casino Platform, Affiliate Ecosystem, Retail Solutions, and its AI suite. The company said its Sportsbook Platform provides “over 140,000 pre-match events and 12,000+ monthly esports live events,” and that its Casino Platform integrates “350+ providers via a unified aggregation API.”

BetConstruct AI said its AI suite includes CRM AI, Umbrella AI, AI Game Recommendation System, and Betting Mate AI, covering functions such as churn prediction, risk management, real-time personalisation, and conversational betting. It also said its Retail Solutions show how operators can connect land-based and digital channels for an omnichannel setup.

More relevant data as follows:

The post BetConstruct AI to present World Cup 2026 sportsbook offer at iGaming Afrika appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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