- 31/03/2025
- Posted by: flore.demaigret
- Categories: Gambling & betting, Online services, SagaCube
Gaming and betting in Africa are gaining significant popularity, driven by increasing smartphone penetration and the expansion of digital platforms across the continent. With data from SagaCube, Africa’s largest consumption tracking platform covering 26 African countries, here are some key insights on the latest trends in gambling in Africa.
Participation in gambling and betting in Africa: penetration by country
According to recent SagaCube consumer data, 34% of Africans have participated in money-related games or bets over the past four weeks. This highlights how widespread gambling has become across the continent.
The highest levels of participation in money-related games or bets were observed in Western African countries such as Guinea (58%), Angola (51%), Burkina Faso (51%), and Côte d’Ivoire (49%). Other countries with high engagement include Congo (45%), the Democratic Republic of Congo (45%) and Mozambique (45%). Notably, South Africa, with 43% penetration, is emerging as a rising power in Africa’s iGaming trends for 2025.
In contrast, lower levels of reported gambling activity were found in Morocco (11%), Egypt (5%), and Algeria (4%), largely due to religious restrictions on gambling in Muslim-majority countries.
Gambling and betting in Africa: insights into usage and profiles
Gambling in Africa remains a predominantly male activity: 43% of men reported gambling recently, compared to 19% of women.
The majority of gamblers are young — 74% are aged between 18 and 35 — highlighting the strong presence of young adults in the gambling landscape.
Online betting dominates in Africa, with 80% of gamblers placing bets via apps or websites. Driven by rising smartphone penetration and digital adoption, mobile betting is becoming a key choice for gamblers across the continent.
Our survey indicates that convenience and security are the main driving factors.
Sports dominate betting activity, with 65% of people placing bets on them. Among sport betting, football stands out, accounting for an overwhelming 97% of online sports wagers.
Major betting companies like Betway, SportPesa, 1xBet, Bet9ja (Nigeria) and Hollywoodbets (South Africa) are driving the rapid growth of Africa’s betting industry, catering to millions of gamblers across the continent.
More insights on the gambling and betting market in Africa
Our SagaCube pan-African consumption tracking platform offers valuable insights into the gambling and betting market, both at the continent and country level. With the SagaCube syndicated data tool, you can access data from 26 countries, providing a comprehensive view of consumer behaviour and enabling cross-market comparisons.
For more insights on gambling consumer behaviour and market trends in Africa, get in touch with our team on contact@sagaciresearch.com or by clicking below.
Methodology
SagaCube, the syndicated category consumption tool across the African continent leveraging our online panel in Africa.
Questions:
- In the last 4 weeks have you gambled or participated in money betting? Base: 12,610
- Where do you place your bets most often? Base: 4,294
- What do you like about betting on an app/online? Base: 3,430
- What have you bet on in the last 4 weeks? Base: 3,430
Population: adults over 18 years in 26 African countries (eg. Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, etc)
Period: 15 March 2025
