Africa
Why your next million players are in MEA and Turkey, and how to access them
Onur Ergüney – Director of Global Partnerships for Gaming & e-Sports, TPAY MOBILE
COVID 19 has been the catalyst for the biggest transformation to people’s lives in recent history. Little else has brought on such seismic shifts in the way people work, play, communicate and live, since the creation of smartphones themselves.
The fourth industrial revolution has arrived faster than anyone could have predicted, especially in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) and Turkey. This combined region has a population of over 1.6 billion people, a fast-expanding middle class, and, through the power of mobile technology, is more connected than ever.
A long-standing barrier for scaled-up mobile games distribution in the region – the lack of access to banking infrastructure for subscriptions and the purchasing of games and in-app-purchases (IAPs) – is falling fast. By 2025, 834 million people across MEA will be mobile internet users, and through direct carrier billing (DCB) technology and eMoney wallets, they will have the freedom to spend on gaming like never before.
Untapped opportunity
A relatively untapped marketplace of a billion+ potential players is powering up and set to flip your revenue forecasts upside down if you play your cards right. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for instance, the games industry is currently valued at $4.5 billion according to Frost & Sullivan. That may be just 4% of the global total, but, it is the world’s fastest-growing region, with a year-on-year growth rate of 25%. On a grander scale, MENA makes up 80% of this growth whilst the other 20% is amassed in Sub Saharan Africa. According to one prediction from GSMA, the region will count for 709 million individual SIM connections by 2025.
In other words, Mobile is everything across the MEA and Turkey, and this should be explored as your next frontier of growth. However, you need to know how to access it.
Access is key, and access is different
Accessing these new markets isn’t simply a case of re-branding what has worked in the past. Your games may well be attractive in these new markets but the systems and processes that power them, and importantly, monetise them, won’t be the same. There are different rules and regulations for advertising, for example, and variations on what purchases or transactions do and don’t constitute gambling. Direct debits for app stores or card payments for IAPs are not common practice in these territories. Across the 20+ countries that make up MEA and Turkey, there is a rich tapestry of cultural differences that result in different ways of purchasing digital goods like games.
Establish partnerships to access these players
To turn your players into payers, the best advice I can give is to establish strategic partnerships – find experts on the ground that can work with you. You are no longer just a games publisher, with your partner network you become a FinTech, a games publisher, a games developer and even an evangelist for a new world of mobile gaming. Ecosystems are everything.
The global language is APIs, not Esperanto
Each territory has its quirks and opportunities, and only by having knowledgeable inside help will you be able to truly navigate the differences in approaching sales and distributions of your titles. Understanding the common services in territories is key for traction, an example being that the Middle East has widely adopted DCB (Direct Carrier Billing) for mobile payments and subscriptions in recent years, whereas mobile wallets are the transaction tool of choice in Subsaharan Africa.
Games developers want simple integrations that cover the back-end systems. If you find the team that can provide that, they will keep up with evolving regulations in new territories, keeping your games online. This allows you to do what you do best: making high quality, desirable games.
Games publishers expect great user flows. What makes games more interesting than other e-commerce platforms is that they are live systems. The user makes purchase decisions in real-time, while remaining within the game. This is also what creates complexity when it comes to transactions, but there is an answer. The key is to integrate a seamless payment flow within the game, minimising player disruption.
Find an ecosystem that works across borders. One thing that is global is the API. If you want to successfully break into these emerging markets, you need to build a partnership network that understands the intricacies of these technologies.
Should you wait?
Simply put, no.
Sub-Saharan Africa is the fastest-growing market of all for mobile-penetration, it would be an oversight to not properly explore the MEA and Turkey as a key element of future games monetisation for the future.
MEA and Turkey host a relatively untapped market for games publishing and eSports monetisation, not to mention a fast-growing pool of local influencers – now is the time to make inroads into the gaming sector in such markets. It has been said that the early bird catches the worm – this wisdom is just as true today.
The previously non-existent infrastructure required to sell and monetise mobile games has been replaced. Suddenly, the opportunity is there for the taking. Venture into these new territories, and the partnerships you form now will help grow your company and its market share exponentially, by creating opportunities to engage new gamers. Whilst boosting your business into the next 50 years, you have an opportunity to entertain many millions of people who are fast to become your next loyal, player base.
SOFTSWISS, a global tech expert with over 15 years of experience providing innovative iGaming solutions, has announced the integration of a Horse Racing Module into its Sportsbook software. The module will enhance the SOFTSWISS offering, initially available in South Africa.
Horse racing has long been a traditional and significant sector of the betting industry, particularly in regions with strong ties to the UK, such as South Africa, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand. According to the research, the global horse betting market is projected to reach 82.6 billion euro by 2032, registering a CAGR of 7.6% from 2023 to 2032. With its rich history and expected growth, the Horse Racing Module provides operators with additional business opportunities, monthly covering, on average, 320 local races and 2,150 international races from 14 different countries.
Originally developed by Turfsport, a prominent South African software provider with 35 years of experience in the iGaming industry acquired by SOFTSWISS, the Horse Racing Module allows players to place fixed-odds bets on multiple markets. Key features of the Horse Racing module include race cards, silks, and multiple bet types. The solution is designed with flexibility, offering unique skins and configurations to align with various brand identities.
Alexander Kamenetskyi, Head of SOFTSWISS Sportsbook, comments: “The acquisition of a majority stake in a key South African software provider has enabled us to integrate the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook with the Horse Racing Module by Turfsport, widening our offering. Launching this module in South Africa aligns with our recent expansion into the region, where we have obtained local certifications for our Casino Platform and Sportsbook. Horse racing remains highly popular, particularly in South Africa, but we are confident this product has strong global potential. This integration marks just the first step in the ongoing development of the Horse Racing offering within our Sportsbook.”
Earlier in 2024, SOFTSWISS introduced two new South Africa-related products: the Lotto Software and the Retail Betting Solution. The Lotto Software allows operators to offer a wide range of customisable lottery number betting options independently of traditional lottery organisers. Optimisation for both desktop and mobile ensures players custom and quick-pick betting options. The comprehensive Retail Betting Solution supports a wide range of betting activities like sports betting, lotteries, horse racing, and casino games. It empowers operators to set up offline gambling businesses quickly and legally.
SOFTSWISS will showcase its latest portfolio updates at the SBC Summit Lisbon from 24 to 26 September. Visitors to Stand B160 will have the opportunity to learn more about the recent upgrades of the SOFTSWISS ecosystem.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international tech company supplying software solutions for managing iGaming projects. The expert team, which counts over 2,000 employees, is based in Malta, Poland and Georgia. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides one-stop-shop iGaming software solutions. The company has a vast product portfolio, including the Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with thousands of casino games, the Affilka affiliate platform, the Sportsbook Platform, and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS was the first in the world to introduce a Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution.
The post SOFTSWISS Integrates Horse Racing Module Into Sportsbook appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, is thrilled to announce a landmark partnership with prominent Kenyan operator Betika. This exciting collaboration marks a significant milestone in expanding Play’n GO’s exceptional gaming content throughout Africa.
As part of this partnership, Play’n GO will integrate its extensive portfolio of premium casino games such as Book of Dead, Rise of Olympus, and Gemix into Betika’s platform, delivering a superior gaming experience to players across the continent. This move highlights Play’n GO’s commitment to bringing world-class entertainment to new markets in what is a first for the world-famous supplier and underscores Betika’s dedication to offering diverse and high-quality gaming options.
Play’n GO is live in over 30 jurisdictions worldwide and boasts a portfolio of over 350 active world-class game titles.
Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer at Play’n GO said: “We’re very excited to announce this partnership with Betika, which gives us entry into several new markets for Play’n GO. Betika are one of the leading operators across the entire African continent, and joining forces with an operator of their experience and gravitas is a wonderful opportunity for our business. Betika share our goal of a regulated, sustainable industry, and this announcement marks the beginning of what we believe will be a highly successful partnership.”
Betika has established itself as a major player in the Kenyan betting industry, known for its commitment to providing an outstanding user experience and a wide array of betting options. By incorporating Play’n GO’s renowned games, Betika aims to further enhance its offering and attract a diverse range of players.
“Partnering with Play’n GO is a significant step forward for Betika,” said Peter Stagles, Head of Gaming, Betika. “Play’n GO’s impressive lineup of games is the perfect complement to our platform, and we are confident that this collaboration will set new standards in the African gaming industry. We look forward to working together to deliver exceptional entertainment to our players. This collaboration is expected to bring enhanced gaming opportunities and excitement to players across Africa, marking a new chapter in the continent’s rapidly evolving gaming sector”.
The post Play’n GO announces landmark partnership with African operator Betika appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Playtech announced the introduction of its suite of casino and live casino products with Betway in South Africa.
Catering to the growing demand of South African players for accessible gambling solutions, the collaboration expands Playtech’s presence in South Africa and will see Playtech’s casino and live casino offerings available on the Betway platform in the region.
As part of this partnership, Playtech’s premium casino games and live dealer options will seamlessly integrate into the Betway platform. This not only enhances Betway’s portfolio but also underscores Playtech’s commitment to South Africa – a key market in its global strategy due to its rapid growth and influential position within the African gaming industry.
Diane Crookes, Senior Commercial Director at Playtech, said: “Betway is a brand renowned for delivering an excellent player experience internationally and we are thrilled to extend our successful partnership into the South African market. Our collaborations in multiple key markets have been incredibly successful, and we are confident that South Africa will be no exception. We are confident that Playtech’s innovative products and services will enhance Betway’s player experience even further and we look forward to our continued partnership.”
Phillip Superamonien, Betway Country Manager for South Africa, said: “We are delighted to grow our partnership with Playtech into South Africa. Our already successful partnerships in various markets have provided our players with Playtech’s top-tier gaming content and our superior user experience makes this partnership a perfect fit. We are excited to bring Playtech’s renowned casino and live casino products to our South African customers, expanding our existing suite of games to provide new, exciting, and engaging gaming experiences within a safe and secure environment.”
The post Playtech Launches Casino and Live Casino Products with Betway in South Africa appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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