Stakeholders in the gaming industry in Africa are determined to tackle the issue of underage gaming in the sector.

Chairman, Federation of State Gaming Regulation of Nigeria, Bashir Are, said this on Friday in Lagos.

Mr Are, who is also the chief executive officer, Lagos State Lottery and Gaming Authority, said underage gaming was one of the challenges facing the sector.

He said that there was the need to address and curb underage gaming because of the psycho-social impacts it had on the young bettors.

According to him, this is one of the issues revolving around ‘responsible gaming,’ that stakeholders will discuss and resolve at the “Africa Gaming Expo (AGE), Lagos 2024.’’

He said the challenges facing the industry were both on the sides of the operators and the regulators.

Mr Are said the challenges included multiple taxation and licencing and gaming standards.

Mr Are said stakeholders in the industry were resolved to ensure that Africa did not become a dumping ground for gaming machines and gaming products.

“So we want to make sure among the regulators across the continent, we have standardisation in terms of gaming equipment. Additionally, we also want to have a kind of reciprocity enforcement to deal with illegal operators in the continent. When we have reciprocity enforcement and agreement among regulators on the continent, we will be able to enforce law efficiently.

“That will also help us curb underage gambling and improve responsible gambling. Those are two issues – one is underage gambling and the other is responsible gambling,” he said.

The chairman said the maiden Africa Gaming Expo would be a veritable avenue for industry leaders, regulators, stakeholders from allied industries, and interested participants to discuss ways to sustain the growth.

He said they would also find ways to seek options to develop and export African gaming platforms globally.

Mr Are said the expo was put together to discuss and examine the regulatory frameworks; emerging trends; challenges; opportunities; and prospects in the Africa gaming market.

According to him, the gaming industry has not only become a major economic activity, but also a strong thrust in the financial technology (FinTech) evolution globally.

He said the expo, with the theme: “Exploring the future of Africa’s gaming market: Emerging trends, prospects and opportunities,” would hold in Lagos from March 12 to 15.

”This inaugural edition of the expo is coming at a time when the gaming sector in Africa is facing exponential growth,” he said.

Also speaking, the Project Coordinator, AGE Lagos 2024, Adenike Oyebamiji, said the expo was put in place to bring together different industries to discuss issues that were operating in the industry.

Mrs Oyebamiji said the inaugural edition of the expo was coming at a time when the gaming industry in Africa was witnessing exponential growth.

 (NAN)