Africa
World Sports Bodies raise Concern Over Kenya Copyright Bill
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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Africa
Gaming Realms Makes South African Debut in Partnership with Hollywoodbets
Gaming Realms, a top supplier of mobile-centric gaming content, has expanded its global presence following its entry into South Africa with prominent operator Hollywoodbets.
Gaming Realms’ varied collection of Slingo games is now accessible to local gamers, featuring titles created through the provider’s distinctive IP and brand collaborations, including Slingo Lucky Larry’s Lobstermania, Slingo Sweet Bonanza, and Slingo Xxxtreme.
Hollywoodbets ranks among South Africa’s biggest betting and gaming brands, featuring both physical and online operations, along with a loyal customer base. The collaboration with Gaming Realms was executed via Hollywoodbets’ regional aggregation partner Light & Wonder.
The collaboration signifies Gaming Realms’ initial venture into the African market, following other recent market entries that have greatly expanded the company’s global presence. The firm is currently operational in more than 30 regulated markets and intends to grow further in 2026, including in Africa.
Gareth Scott, Chief Commercial Officer at Gaming Realms, said: “Adding new regulated markets is imperative as we continue to cement our position as a leading supplier of unique and engaging content.
“Entering South Africa together with such a prominent partner as Hollywoodbets is a significant signal of intent and we have great ambitions to make the African region a key focus for Gaming Realms, as it offers great potential and an opportunity to reach completely new audiences.”
Wayde Dorkin, Head of Product at Hollywoodbets, said: “Gaming Realms is a provider that truly brings something unique, and we are excited to be the first operator to introduce Slingo and their wider game portfolio to players in South Africa.
“Their Slingo content appeals to a wide player demographic, blending the best from slots and strategy, and we have already seen it really resonate with our customers.”
The post Gaming Realms Makes South African Debut in Partnership with Hollywoodbets appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Africa
Groove Targets Africa’s iGaming Boom at SiGMA Cape Town 2026
Groove Targets Africa’s iGaming Boom at SiGMA Cape Town 2026 , Groove, the defiantly innovative iGaming platform and aggregator, has confirmed its attendance at next week’s SiGMA Africa Summit in Cape Town, signalling the company’s intent to establish a strong presence in the world’s fastest-growing iGaming market.
Africa’s iGaming sector is expanding at unprecedented speed, and Groove is entering not as a spectator, but as a builder, bringing its signature “Unseen Architecture” approach to scalable, compliance-ready aggregation, combined with a commitment to listening before acting.
Leading the company’s presence at the summit will be Yahale Meltzer, Founder and CEO of Groove, whose vision for the continent extends far beyond content delivery.
“Africa is not an emerging market,” Meltzer said. “It is an emerging universe. You feel it in the numbers, the youngest population on earth, mobile engagement that bypasses desktop entirely, fintech leapfrogging traditional banking in ways the West is only beginning to understand. This is not a place where you parachute in with a European playbook and hope it lands. This is a place that demands listening, adaptation, and genuine partnership.”
At Groove, the founding philosophy has always been about rhythm — the pulse that connects operators, providers, and players in sync with seamless iGaming experiences. Africa’s rhythm, Meltzer notes, is distinct.
“It’s mobile-first, payment-adaptive, and hungry for experiences that feel local, not imported. That’s exactly the kind of challenge our architecture was built to solve.”
The structural advantages driving Africa’s iGaming growth are considerable. The median age in multiple key markets is under twenty, smartphone adoption is climbing rapidly, and over ninety percent of iGaming interactions now occur via mobile, bypassing desktop entirely. Fintech integration, through systems like M-Pesa, has brought millions of previously unbanked players into the ecosystem. Regulatory frameworks are also maturing in markets including Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, offering licensed operators clearer paths to compliance.
For an aggregator like Groove, whose platform delivers over 15,000 games from 150+ providers via a single API, these conditions represent not just opportunity, but alignment.
Groove’s presence in Cape Town is built around four core objectives. First, forging meaningful operator partnerships. The summit gathers Africa’s most ambitious operators alongside global players seeking regional entry, and Groove will showcase localised content packages, mobile-optimised experiences, and payment-agnostic infrastructure designed for African realities.
Second, deepening regional intelligence. Meltzer emphasises: “The regulatory picture in Africa is not a monolith. What works in Lagos requires adaptation in Nairobi, and something entirely different in Johannesburg. You don’t learn those nuances just from a report, even with Groove Command, our data-driven game matching system. You learn them by sitting in the room with the people who live them.”
Third, offering African operators clear pathways to growth. Fourth, positioning for the long term: attendance at SiGMA Africa is not a checkbox exercise — it signals that Groove views the continent as integral to its global strategy.
“We’re not coming to Cape Town to hand out brochures and fly home,” Meltzer said. “We’re coming to listen, to learn, and to find the partners who see what we see: a region on the cusp of something extraordinary. Groove’s job is to provide the infrastructure and games that turn that ‘something’ into sustainable, thrilling player experiences, whether that’s in Lagos, Nairobi, Johannesburg, or beyond.”
He added: “Africa’s rhythm is rising. We’re here to Groove with it.”
The post Groove Targets Africa’s iGaming Boom at SiGMA Cape Town 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Africa
GR8 Tech to Spotlight Platform for Champions During SiGMA Africa 2026
GR8 Tech is entering SiGMA Africa 2026 with Platform for Champions—an ecosystem designed for operators who thrive under pressure, grow with precision, and reject anything mediocre. From March 3–5 in Cape Town, the team will be present on the show floor at booth 169, prepared to demonstrate how its platform enables brands to succeed consistently throughout Africa. GR8 Tech has also emerged as a top contender for Best Online Sportsbook Provider at the SiGMA Africa Awards 2026—a acknowledgment that showcases the impact the platform is already making throughout the region.
Live Demonstrations Throughout the Platform for Champions Collection
GR8 Tech will conduct practical demonstrations of Platform for Champions, illustrating how its sportsbook, casino, affiliate, and turnkey solutions collaborate across operator situations, from acquisition to cross-vertical interaction and localization. The complete portfolio will be showcased, featuring Crypto Turnkey, ULTIM8 Sportsbook, Infinite Casino Aggregation, and Aff.Tech, designed to assist teams in launching more quickly and enhancing performance.
Twilight Wine Journey by GR8 Tech
In addition to the conference, GR8 Tech is organizing the Sunset Wine Experience—an exclusive event aimed at fostering engaging discussions with quality wine in a historic venue. The occasion is scheduled for March 4, 2026 (18:30–late) in Stellenbosch at Quoin Rock Wine Estate. To obtain a private invitation, sign up on GR8 Tech’s website.
GR8 Tech CSO Participates in Discussion on Conversion Rates in South Africa
Player acquisition in South Africa is advancing rapidly, making it increasingly difficult to manage CAC effectively. This is the reason Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech, will participate in the essential panel “Player Acquisition in South Africa: What Converts and What Doesn’t” on Thursday, March 5 (14:25–14:50). Marketing executives will analyze what is effective (and what isn’t) in paid media, influencers, retail interactions, and community-driven growth, emphasizing CAC discipline, channel exhaustion, and sustainable conversion tactics in a rapidly mobile environment.
Creating iGaming Leaders in Africa
GR8 Tech will be present at the event to engage with industry leaders, share actionable growth tactics, and showcase how Platform for Champions facilitates intelligent acquisition, enhanced engagement, and scalable operations in competitive settings.
“Across Africa, we’ve already helped operators like Mojabet and BongoBongo accelerate their business: moving faster in-market, sharpening performance, and achieving significant revenue growth,” said Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech. “Now, we’re only pushing harder in the region. So if you’re an operator who wants to perform like a champion, with a platform built for speed, control, and scale, let’s sit down at SiGMA Africa and talk about what winning looks like in your market.”
Meet GR8 Tech at SiGMA Africa 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa (March 3–5), at The Grand Arena at GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World. Book a meeting in advance, see the platform in action, and explore what it takes to scale like a champion in one of Africa’s most exciting iGaming hubs.
The post GR8 Tech to Spotlight Platform for Champions During SiGMA Africa 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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