Africa
Football legend Michael Owens joins SunBet as a Brand Ambassador

In a stunning coup, former Liverpool, Manchester United, and England star Michael Owen is to spearhead Sun International’s online betting platform SunBet’s attack as brand ambassador.
Leading online betting platform SunBet, part of the Sun International group, has signed footballing superstar and world-renowned pundit Michael Owen as its brand ambassador.
Owen has signed an exclusive deal from June 2023 as part of the betting platform’s 13th birthday celebrations, heralding a new era for the business.
SunBet CEO Simon Gregory said: “We are absolutely delighted to have Michael on board as a brand ambassador to provide and share his deep insights of the game of football with SunBet customers.
“Anyone who loves the English Premier League and football in general will appreciate his deep knowledge of the game, coupled with his articulate and insightful commentary and analysis which have made him one of the most sought-after football media personalities in the world.
“As a former player at the highest level, he knows exactly what goes through the minds of players and managers at key points in a match and during the course of an arduous season and brings this to bear in his commentary and analysis.”
The 2001 Ballon d’Or winner will provide score predictions, expert tips and insights, weekly football betting odds, and signed memorabilia, among other duties. Owen, who is also an accomplished racehorse owner and trainer, will also be relied on to give periodic and fascinating insights into the horseracing industry.
“I have come to know South Africa very well over the years in my various roles as a football analyst and I know the deep and incredible passion there is for football in this country. From the PSL, to the Premier League and I cannot wait to share my knowledge and passion with SunBet fans. I am thrilled to be joining one of South Africa’s leading brands and one which shares my passion and enthusiasm for football, horse racing and other pursuits,” said Owen.
Owen burst onto the football scene with English giants Liverpool in 1997 as a 17-year-old, becoming the club’s youngest player as well as goal scorer. In a footballing career that took him from the Reds to bitter rivals Manchester United and Newcastle United, via Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid, Owen scored over 220 goals in nearly 500 appearances at the club level. His exploits at international level were equally impressive, as he netted 40 goals in 89 appearances for England.
From strength to strength
In 13 short years, SunBet has grown from a platform that began with the main sporting codes of football, rugby, cricket, golf, horseracing major events such as world cups and more.
The SunBet platform has further evolved into offering fixed odd bets on the outcome of slots and tables games such as roulette, blackjack and baccarat.
In 2022, SunBet paid out well over R1-billion as online entertainment continues to show impressive growth. “We are predicting another great year for SunBet as our customer numbers are up and we are predicting record revenues for the 2023 financial year.
“However, without a doubt, football remains our biggest ticket item and SunBet is able to provide soccer betting offerings with literally thousands of markets and competitive odds,” explained Gregory.
The installation of a pundit of the stature of Michael Owen is a sign of things to come as SunBet lines up another record-breaking year.
Africa
African iGaming Alliance Appoints Former Botswana Regulator Peter Kesitilwe as CEO

The African iGaming Alliance (AIA) announced the appointment of Peter Kesitilwe, former CEO of the Botswana Gambling Authority, as its first Chief Executive Officer.
The Alliance – founded by betPawa, Betway, 888Africa and Sportybet – was established to promote a responsible, well-regulated online betting and gaming industry across Africa. Its mission is to advance fair competition, consumer protection and sustainable regulatory and tax frameworks that support both growth and responsibility.
“I am deeply honoured to be appointed as the AIA’s first CEO. I look forward to working with regulators and policymakers to build a vibrant, sustainable & competitive industry that upholds the highest standards of responsible gambling and consumer protection,” said Kesitilwe.
Board members welcomed Kesitilwe’s appointment:
Anthony Prissman, Betway Africa : “Peter’s strong regulatory background and leadership experience bring immediate credibility to the AIA. We are excited to work with him to help shape a responsible industry across the continent.”
Dan Thomson, betPawa : “Peter’s appointment reflects the strength of the AIA and our mission to build a vibrant, well-regulated sector throughout Africa.”
Gregory Parsons, SportyBet: “The AIA was created to support balanced regulation and raise standards for responsible gambling. Peter’s leadership marks the beginning of this journey.”
Christopher Coyne, 888Africa: “Following a rigorous recruitment process, Peter’s vision for the future of iGaming in Africa stood out. We look forward to working with him and engaging stakeholders to deliver that vision.”
The AIA aims to be the voice of the online gaming industry in Africa, fostering collaboration between operators, regulators and governments to create a transparent, responsible and commercially sustainable sector.
The post African iGaming Alliance Appoints Former Botswana Regulator Peter Kesitilwe as CEO appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Africa
Racing1 is exhibiting for the first time at the Grand Prix D’Afrique

Full-service hub, uniting four content leaders of racing in 1/ST CONTENT, ARC, RMG and Tabcorp, is set to reinforce its existing racing alliance with SOREC at key Casablanca summit
Racing1, the brand name for the newly formed Strategic Alliance between 1/ST CONTENT, Arena Racing Company (ARC), Racecourse Media Group (RMG) and Tabcorp, is making its conference debut at the Grand Prix D’Afrique (11-13 September, Casablanca), thanks to its partners at SOREC (Société Royale d’Encouragement du Cheval).
The Grand Prix D’Afrique (GPA) has quickly become a must-attend annual event for African lotteries, organized by SOREC and run in conjunction with the African Lotteries Association (ALA). After three successful editions in Marrakesh, the GPA has now moved to Casablanca, Morocco’s economic capital, for this upcoming renewal.
Racing1’s compelling daily timetable of engaging racing action from around the world (UK, North and South America, Turkey, Morocco, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa) boasts a 24/7 chronology to seamlessly complement any lottery or sportsbook programme across any time-zone, supplying global partners with a reliable source of fast-settling betting content at varied viewing windows throughout diverse territories.
Via the Racing1 brand, 1/ST CONTENT, ARC, RMG and Tabcorp are deploying their combined expertise to deliver targeted, localised solutions that appeal to assorted audiences, whether they’re already familiar with racing, or new to the sport and in need of more educational content.
Simon Fraser, spokesperson for Racing1, said: “It’s great to welcome industry delegates to our new stand, where we are demonstrating how Racing1 has conveniently crystallised a once-entangled worldwide web of racing rights into one package, enabling simpler consumption which is crucial in emerging markets.
“Via Racing1’s subsidiary product, Racing1 Markets, we can also demonstrate our one-stop-shop 24/7 racing solution, available in one simple contract and integration via our new iFrame, or existing API solution.
“Racing can be complicated, particularly for those unfamiliar with the space, and a key driver behind Racing1 is to simplify integration and contractual efforts for customers, whilst offering a fully outsourced 24/7 industry-leading offering direct to platforms and operators. It also signals Racing1’s wider intent to return better value to racing’s key stakeholders through more international deals, not merely through the domestic operators where racing is seen as a more traditionally consumed sport.
“Stop by our stand to see how Racing1 benefits consumers and operators alike – with a complete racing package via one contract and one integration.”
The post Racing1 is exhibiting for the first time at the Grand Prix D’Afrique appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Africa
BetKing Renews Ikorodu City FC Partnership for 2025/26 NPFL Season

BetKing, Nigeria’s leading sports betting and digital entertainment brand under KingMakers, has renewed its official partnership with Ikorodu City Football Club for the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.
This marks the third consecutive year of collaboration between both organisations, highlighting a shared commitment to grassroots development, youth empowerment and the growth of Nigerian football.
Since the partnership began in 2023, Ikorodu City FC, popularly known as the Oga Boys, has risen rapidly through the ranks, earning promotion to the NPFL in 2024 and finishing an impressive fourth place in their debut 2024/25 campaign.
Their season was highlighted by a record-breaking 6–0 victory over Katsina United, one of the most dominant results in NPFL history.
BetKing’s support for Nigerian sports extends far beyond football. The company recently commissioned a modern mini sports complex at Ifako Ijaiye, already serving over 400,000 community members, including neighbouring communities.
The post BetKing Renews Ikorodu City FC Partnership for 2025/26 NPFL Season appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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