SBC and GRAF form a strategic partnership to strengthen regulatory dialogue.
SBC and the Gaming Regulators Africa Forum (GRAF) have formed a new strategic partnership aimed at strengthening regulatory dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collaboration in Africa's rapidly evolving gaming markets.
Within the scope of this partnership, SBC will support the GRAF 2026 Conference , which will take place from September 14 to 17, 2026 at the Joaquim Chissano International Conference Center in Maputo, Mozambique, while GRAF will become an Event Partner of the African Games Forum , which will be held during the SBC 2026 Summit in Lisbon.
As part of its participation in Lisbon, GRAF will play a central role in the African Gaming Forum's regulatory program, hosting a dedicated regulatory panel entitled GRAF: African Gaming Under the Microscope, with the participation of high-level representatives from gaming authorities across the continent.
The African Gaming Forum, taking place from 11:30 am to 19:00 pm on Wednesday, September 30th, at the Myriad Hotel, will bring together regulators, operators, and other industry stakeholders for a day of discussions on the opportunities, challenges, and regulatory developments shaping the gaming sector across Africa.
The partnership brings together two organizations with a shared interest in creating stronger connections between regulatory authorities across the continent and the international gaming industry as a whole.
GRAF offers a dedicated platform for African gaming regulators to collaborate, exchange knowledge, and address common regulatory challenges, while SBC is increasingly emphasizing Africa as a key growth region in its portfolio of international events, creating more opportunities for regulators, operators, suppliers, and other stakeholders from across the continent to connect with the broader global industry.
Rasmus Sojmark, founder and CEO of SBC, stated: “Africa is not a single gaming market. Each jurisdiction is developing at its own pace, with different regulatory frameworks, priorities, and challenges. If we want to have meaningful conversations about the future of gaming across the continent, regulators need to be at the center of them.”
“That’s what makes this partnership with GRAF so important. They bring together the people who really shape gaming regulation across Africa, and through the African Gaming Forum, we can create a space where those perspectives are heard alongside those of operators and the industry at large.”
“We are very pleased to support the GRAF event in Maputo. This is not a one-off collaboration in Lisbon. We see a real opportunity to promote greater knowledge exchange between African jurisdictions and connect these conversations with the international gaming community.”
Reuben Mabutho Zwane, president of GRAF, stated: “This partnership represents an important step in strengthening Africa’s voice in the global debate on gambling. It is essential that African regulators have a solid platform to exchange experiences, participate internationally, and help shape the discussions that increasingly influence the future of our sector.”
“We are particularly pleased that the partnership creates a two-way platform: SBC will support the ongoing development of GRAF’s work in bringing African regulators together, while GRAF will contribute directly to the international dialogue through the African Gaming Forum at the SBC Summit. We look forward to the opportunity to work with SBC and fellow regulators across the continent to advance this shared agenda.”
The African Gaming Forum already has confirmed participation from high-level representatives of regulatory bodies from several key African markets, including Moruntshi Kemorwale, CEO of the Botswana Gaming Authority; Lungile Dukwana, CEO of the South African National Gaming Board; Emmanuel Siisi Quainoo, Acting Commissioner of the Ghana Gaming Commission; Peter Maina Karimi, Director-General of the Kenya Gaming Regulatory Authority; Muchanankhwaie Mpuluka, CEO of the Malawi Gaming and Lottery Authority (MAGLA); and Bashir Are, CEO of the Lagos State Gaming and Lottery Authority. Other representatives from regulatory bodies across the continent are expected to join the Forum.
The debate on regulation will be part of a broader program that will examine some of the most significant developments in the gambling sector in Africa. The sessions will address topics such as market entry and expansion, evolving regulatory frameworks, taxation, responsible gambling, and emerging opportunities in both established and developing jurisdictions.
The African Gaming Forum will take place during the SBC Summit 2026, SBC's main global event, which will host 40.000 industry professionals at the Lisbon International Fair (FIL) and the MEO Arena, from September 29 to October 1.
Access to the African Games Forum is by invitation only. Register your interest here.
