Nigeria has emerged as West Africa’s most regulated online gambling market, according to a new continental report, although illegal operators continue to account for more than half of the country’s gambling revenue.
The findings are contained in the first comprehensive assessment of Africa’s online gambling industry by Gaming Compliance International (GCI), which estimates that the continent’s online gambling Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) reached $23 billion in 2025. Despite the sector’s rapid growth, the report found that unlicensed operators still dominate the market, accounting for $17.8 billion, or 77 per cent, of total revenue, while licensed operators generated just $5.2 billion.
In West Africa, online gambling revenue increased from $4.3 billion in 2024 to $4.8 billion in 2025. However, the region continues to face significant regulatory challenges, with 69 per cent of revenue flowing through unlicensed platforms. Licensed operators accounted for the remaining 31 per cent, underscoring the persistence of illegal gambling across the sub-region.
Against this backdrop, Nigeria recorded the strongest regulatory performance in West Africa. The report showed that 56 per cent of the country’s online gambling market remained unregulated, which is well below the regional average of 69 per cent and the continental average of 77 per cent, making Nigeria one of Africa’s most effectively regulated online gambling jurisdictions.
The study also highlighted the sector’s expanding reach across the continent. The number of Africans participating in online gambling rose from 198 million people in 2024 to 215 million in 2025, representing about 14 per cent of the continent’s population.
Despite the industry’s growth, GCI estimated that African governments lost approximately $3.55 billion in potential tax revenue during 2025 because of the dominance of illegal operators. The report also revealed that the number of unlicensed gambling websites targeting African consumers increased from 3,644 in 2024 to 4,129 in 2025, reflecting the growing challenge of enforcement across multiple jurisdictions.
Commenting on the report, GCI Chief Executive Officer Matt Holt described the study as the first continent-wide benchmark for regulators seeking to improve oversight, strengthen consumer protection and better understand the scale of the online gambling industry.
GCI President Ismail Vali said governments should focus on creating competitive and transparent regulatory frameworks capable of attracting consumers to licensed operators. According to him, stronger regulation would not only improve player protection but also increase tax revenues and encourage greater investment in Africa’s fast-growing online gambling market.
The report suggests that while Nigeria has made notable progress in regulating the sector compared with many of its regional peers, the continued dominance of illegal operators across Africa highlights the need for stronger enforcement, improved licensing regimes and greater cross-border cooperation among regulators.
