Enugu regulator urges African collaboration to close digital enforcement gap at EGC 2026

Africa's shift toward electronic gambling is outpacing the regulatory frameworks meant to govern it, and enforcement remains the continent's biggest obstacle to progress, according to Prince Arinze Arum, CEO of the Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission.

Speaking at the Enugu Gaming Conference 2026, Arum said regulators are struggling to contain the influence of black and grey markets as the industry becomes increasingly digital. H2 Gambling Capital's Africa Optimum Market Structure report indicates that only about 15 African countries currently have any form of online-specific gambling regulation, with approaches varying widely and a pronounced focus on tax revenue highlighting the need for stronger stakeholder coordination to improve channelisation.

"The biggest oversight challenge has been trying to regulate a digital industry with frameworks that were largely designed for a physical gaming environment," Arum said. He noted that technology has evolved faster than regulation, allowing illegal operators to exploit cross-border gaps.

Arum pointed to Enugu State's recent launch of a real-time online verification portal as a practical benchmark. The public platform lets anyone check licensed operators, their license categories, validity, approved domains, and even identify outlawed operators. "No single regulator can effectively oversee a borderless digital gaming ecosystem on its own," he added.

Despite the challenges, Arum expressed optimism, saying Africa is making measurable progress at different speeds. "As more regulators embrace digital tools, data sharing, and risk-based supervision, I am confident Africa can move much closer to international best practices over the next few years." The Enugu commission has also implemented broader compliance and enforcement reforms in recent months to tighten sector oversight.