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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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Africa

QTech adds Split The Pot games to boost Africa and LatAm offering

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QTech has signed a content deal with Swedish supplier Split The Pot to add new games to its aggregation platform for African and Latin American markets. The agreement was announced on 10 June 2026.

Under the deal, QTech will roll out Split The Pot’s mobile-optimised “light games”, including Comet Crash Deluxe, Wheel of Fortune and the Zama Big 5 series. The supplier says its titles are designed to support a range of volatility profiles and include “the ability to cashout at every level”.

The companies positioned the partnership around performance in emerging markets where players can face device and connectivity constraints, including lower-spec handsets, limited network access and higher data costs.

Philip Doftvik, QTech’s CEO, said: “Split The Pot offers a welcome breath of fresh air in the sector, especially with their creative cashout functionality working seamlessly even in territories where network connectivity remains a challenge. The games are therefore very well suited for the African markets, in particular, which aligns with our increased focus on the region. Locally adapted content is regularly requested from our clients in Africa, hence we are excited to release Split The Pot’s games to our partners there.”

Christian Rajter, CEO of Split The Pot, added: “We’re thrilled to join forces with QTech. This partnership means even more players in our core markets, like Africa and Latin America, will have access to our engaging games. We’ve designed them to work seamlessly, even on less powerful devices and with limited internet, ensuring everyone can enjoy the experience.”

The post QTech adds Split The Pot games to boost Africa and LatAm offering appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Playson launches online casino games in Nigeria via BetKing deal

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Playson has partnered with KingMakers to launch a selection of its online casino titles in Nigeria through the operator group’s sportsbook and gaming brand, BetKing.

Under the agreement, Playson will distribute a portfolio of games to BetKing players via the EveryMatrix aggregation platform. The supplier said the games have been rebuilt and optimised for African audiences.

First titles live include Coin Strike: Hold and Win, Energy Coins: Hold and Win, and Sevens & Fruits: 20 lines.

Conor Jenner, Senior Sales Manager at Playson, said: “Partnering with KingMakers is another exciting step in our expansion across Africa, a region that continues to present significant opportunities for growth and innovation.

“BetKing has built a formidable reputation and loyal player base in Nigeria and beyond, making them an ideal partner for our content. We are particularly pleased to launch with a selection of games optimised specifically for African markets, ensuring players receive a highly engaging entertainment experience from day one.”

Nick Baker at KingMakers, said: “Playson’s portfolio features a strong mix of proven-performing content and engaging gameplay, making this partnership an excellent addition to our casino offering.

“We are committed to delivering first-class entertainment experiences for our players, and integrating games tailored for our markets supports that ambition while strengthening the quality of content available through BetKing.”

The post Playson launches online casino games in Nigeria via BetKing deal appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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WorldGaming Enters into Partnership with African iGaming Alliance

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WorldGaming has entered into a partnership with the African iGaming Alliance. The first major initiative delivered through the partnership will be the launch of the Africa Summit at iGB L!VE London, taking place on July 1. The business-critical Summit brings together African regulators, international operators, suppliers and industry stakeholders to explore market development and market entry, regulatory cooperation, investment opportunities and sustainable growth across the continent.

Sponsored by SmartSoft Gaming, the Africa Summit will bring together local regulators and operators for direct insight into the regulatory priorities, commercial opportunities and market dynamics shaping gaming in African markets.

Peter Emolemo Kesitilwe, former Botswana gambling regulator and CEO of the African iGaming Alliance, said the partnership would help position African markets to play a more active role in shaping the global gaming conversation.

“Africa is one of the most dynamic and strategically important regions in global gaming. Through our partnership with WorldGaming, we want to ensure African regulators, policymakers and industry leaders are not just part of the global conversation, but helping to shape it.

“The Africa Summit at iGB L!VE will be the first expression of that partnership, creating a platform for practical collaboration, knowledge exchange and sustainable market growth.”

Stuart Hunter, Managing Director of WorldGaming, said the partnership reflected the company’s commitment to supporting operators and suppliers looking to understand and enter high-growth markets.

“We are delighted to be working with the African iGaming Alliance to launch the Africa Summit at iGB L!VE.

“Africa represents one of the most important growth opportunities in global gaming, but success depends on market knowledge, regulatory understanding and trusted local engagement. The Summit has been created to give delegates exactly that.”

The Africa Summit agenda will cover a wide range of business-critical topics including regulatory cooperation, growth through best practice, the future of taxation, adapting global products for local audiences, sports betting, responsible gaming, player protection and integrity, AML, mobile money, KYC and player acquisition.

The programme will also include region-specific roundtables focused on markets across west, east and southern Africa.

The post WorldGaming Enters into Partnership with African iGaming Alliance appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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