Only 1 Week Left: West & Francophone Africa’s Premier Gaming Summits Arrive in Dakar

The final seven-day countdown has officially begun for West Africa’s most influential gaming, fintech, and regulatory gatherings: the 11th annual Sports Betting West Africa+ (SBWA+) Summit and the co-located 2nd annual Gaming Event Francophone Africa (GEFA) 2026! Taking place from 14 – 16 October 2026 at the King Fahd Palace Hôtelin Dakar, Senegal, this landmark three-day event will gather C-suite operators, state lottery executives, financial regulators, legal counsel, and technology innovators from across the continent. Hosted in Senegal’s vibrant capital, the joint summit provides an active deal-closing platform designed to explore multi-jurisdictional licensing frameworks, low-bandwidth game optimisation, mobile money integration, and localised market expansion. Three-Day Event Highlights at A Glance Day 1| Wednesday, 14 October 2026 The summit opens with an exclusive networking reception bringing together international delegates, regulators, and industry pioneers for an evening of executive networking, refreshments, and celebration. Day 1 culminates in the official SBWA+ Eventus Awards 2026 ceremony, honouring companies and leaders driving excellence, technological innovation, and regulatory compliance across the continent. Day 2| Thursday, 15 October 2026 | SBWA+ Stream Taxing the Game: Balancing Government Revenue and Industry Growth Trust by Design: Responsible Gaming and Transparent Operations Protecting the Digital Player: Data Security and Platform Integrity Ethical Promotion: Marketing and Affiliate Strategies in Regulated Markets Day 2| Thursday, 15 October 2026 | GEFA Stream Senegal: Africa’s Gaming Capital: Building a Strategic Hub for Innovation, Regulation & Investment Francophone Frontier for Operators: Unlocking Growth in French-Speaking Africa The Cashless Playbook: Optimising Mobile Money, Instant Payouts, and Payment Security in Francophone Africa Unlocking Francophone Africa: Payments, Localisation and the Future of iGaming Growth Day 3| Friday, 16 October 2026 Marketing Intelligence: How AI Is Transforming Player Engagement The Social Bet: Harnessing Social Media for Player Growth Affiliate Economies: Building High-Performance Partnerships Game Changers: The Convergence of Esports, Sports Betting, and the Next Generation of Players The Next Five Years: Strategic Outlook from Africa’s Betting Leaders Meet the Distinguished Speaker Lineup The 2026 edition boasts a world-class speaker faculty representing regulatory authorities, state lotteries, operator groups, and legal practices across Africa: Adedoyin Oriadetu, Head of Tax Compliance, WYZE Ariel AMICHIA, Head of Planning, Foresight, Monitoring and Evaluation Department, Loterie Nationale de Côte d’Ivoire (LONACI) Bonny Omara, General Secretary, Uganda Esports and Gaming Federation Edward Oluigbo, Founder, CEO, Predict International Limited Ekaterina Mayorova, Head of Region – Africa, QTech Games Geoffrey Muindi, Managing Director, Gaming NewsByte & Africa Brand Ambassador, Eventus International (SBWA+ 2026 Chairperson) Joel Anyaegbu, Sales & Account Manager West Africa, QTech Games Kaan Bulakeri, Founder & Strategy Consultant, WekaMawe Advisory Kelvin Wilson, Innovator, Product Engineer & Founder, Oddsense Dr Kolade Abisoye, Founder/CEO, iGaming WriteNow Kolade Olalekan, Country Manager, Predictpro Gaming Limited (PlayNaija) Moustapha Camara, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Senegal National Lottery (LONASE) Musa Mngadi, Chief Executive Officer, ALGA Olubiyi Williams, Head of Sales & Business Development (Africa), MAMBA PLAY Oyiza Maleek, Entertainment and Gaming Practice Lead, Matrix Solicitors Robert Brassai, Principal Consultant, Sense4Gaming (GEFA 2026 Chairperson) Salako Rodolphe, Community Manager, Onlyplay Simon Pepper, Chief Product Officer, Tola Vera Sherman, Online Manager, Premier Bet Liberia Olaitan SAMUEL, Business Development Manager, Dalapay | iBetAfrica Julius Fadipe, State Manager, Crystal Gaming Limited (Betano) Afolabi Sunday, Head of Operations, Herobet Emmanuel Kwasi Gadasu, Cybersecurity, Data Protection & IT Law Consultant, GIT Plus Limited / IIPGH (Institute of ICT Professionals Ghana) Lombo Mphande, Director, Bet Chats Loukakou Charly Donna, Co-founder & CCO, NIIRPAY Nonso Ndumanya, Head of Gaming and Emerging Economy, Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) Nigeria, Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) Nigeria Solomon Godwin, Head, Africa, Booming Games Olajumoke Odudimu, Legal/ Company Secretary, Velex Advisory Limited Iretiayo Bola Obasunloye, Legal and Compliance Officer, KC Gaming Networks Ltd (Bet9ja) Rossy KAY-Manzebu, Store Manager, Premierbet Senegal KOROBLA DOSSO, Digital and Customer Experience Manager, LONACI Annalisa Samuels, VP Africa, CP Games Kyarisiima Israel, Chief Executive Officer, Uganda Esports Federation Patrick KWAKYE, Deputy Director-Investigations, Inspection, Compliance And Enforcement (IICE), Gaming Commission Of Ghana Emily Asava, SA Gaming Emeka Enyadike, CEO, EEXSPORT Charles Tape, Director of Operations, Marketing, Communication, Loterie Nationale du Bénin AND MANY MORE! SBWA+ Eventus Awards: Official Shortlist to Be Released This Wednesday! Following the successful close of nominations on 2 October 2026, anticipation is building across the regional gaming community. The official SBWA+ Eventus Awards 2026 shortlist will be publicly released on Wednesday, 7 October 2026. The official 2026 award categories feature: 1. SBWA+ Supplier of the Year Award 2026 pays tribute to the top B2B supplier of the year, focusing on overall commercial success, technical reliability, and innovative thinking. 2. SBWA+ Innovation of the Year Award 2026 acknowledges a standout concept or technological advancement that has made a measurable impact, assessed on market performance, originality, user experience, and design quality. 3. SBWA+ Operator of the Year Award 2026 honours the leading consumer-facing operator, evaluating commercial growth, innovative market strategy, and overall user experience quality. 4. SBWA+ Leader in Virtual Sports Award 2026 recognises the most innovative virtual sports gaming experience of the year, focusing on concept originality, engagement mechanics, and commercial success. 5. SBWA+ Leader in Online Casino Award 2026 pays tribute to the premier online casino platform for innovation, user engagement, quality lead generation, and sustained growth. 6. SBWA+ Leader in Responsible Gambling Award 2026 honours an organisation demonstrating exceptional commitment and execution in responsible gambling awareness, harm minimisation, and brand trust. 7. SBWA+ Leader in Sports Betting Award 2026 commends the primary frontrunner in sports betting technology and service delivery, focusing on originality, execution, and commercial performance. 8. SBWA+ Outstanding Industry Influencer Award 2026 recognises outstanding individual contributions through strategic advice, research input, industry collaborations, and sector growth. 9. SBWA+ Outstanding Consultant Award 2026 acknowledges exceptional achievements, market guidance, and strategic value provided by an industry consultant or advisory firm. 10. SBWA+ Outstanding Speaker Award 2026 recognises the top presenter at SBWA+ 2026, evaluated across the summit and announced at the conclusion of day three. Special Spotlight Celebrating Women in Gaming Categories: 1. SBWA+ Innovation Queen of West Africa 2026 honours an innovative female leader transforming business practices and promoting diversity within the West African gaming sector. 2. SBWA+ West Africa’s Rising Star in Leadership 2026 recognises an emerging leader who has demonstrated exceptional management skills and significant operational impact. Last Chance to Register – Secure A Pass Today With only seven days remaining, delegate passes, VIP upgrades, and exhibition spaces are rapidly filling. Licensed Operators and Affiliates: Qualified African operators and affiliates may apply for complimentary passes, subject to approval and availability. Delegates and C-Level Executives: Standard and VIP delegate passes grant access to all conference streams, daily networking luncheons, refreshment breaks, and the official Welcoming Evening. Sponsors and Exhibitors: Custom branding and exhibition packages remain available to position products and services directly before senior decision-makers and regional regulators.