Jelly Entertainment has taken a major step into the African market through a new partnership with leading operator betPawa.

Jelly is a recognised creator of highly entertaining digital content for betting and gaming companies. Its portfolio of over 25 games – including CleoPatrick, Midas Riches and Witches Go Wild – is delivered to more than 100 operator brands worldwide.

This partnership marks Jelly’s entry into Africa, where it will deliver bespoke crash, instant win and slot content designed for mobile-first, portrait-only play in low-bandwidth environments. In addition, Jelly and betPawa will co-develop locally adapted games for players in the region.

betPawa, one of Africa’s leading online sports betting brands, serves over 10 million users across 17 markets, including Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia.

The integration is powered by Jelly’s RGS platform, enabling partnerships across all global regulated markets where betPawa operates.

This partnership is part of Jelly’s broader global expansion strategy, strengthening its presence in Africa and supporting its continued international growth.

David Newstead, Chief Business Development Officer at Jelly, said: “Joining forces with betPawa is a significant strategic move for us. betPawa’s presence across Africa will help us reach more players than ever before. It’s a partnership that secures us a stronger foothold in an important territory and aligns perfectly with our expansion goals in emerging regulated markets.”

The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) recently held a high-level stakeholder engagement with the Uganda Police Force Officials in Rwizi Region. The engagement, hosted at Lake View Hotel in Mbarara on May 27, 2025, brought together District Police Commanders (DPCs), Officers in Charge of Criminal Investigations (OCIDs), local leaders, the media and other technical stakeholders from across the region.

The engagement focused on aligning enforcement strategies, enhancing compliance and deepening the understanding of Uganda’s gaming laws under the Lotteries and Gaming Act, Cap 334. In his opening remarks, NLGRB CEO Mr. Denis Mudene emphasized the strategic collaboration between the Board and the Uganda Police Force in enforcing gaming law to protect citizens, end underage gaming and maintain public order.

“Gaming is not a money-making venture. It is a leisure activity or entertainment, and we encourage only those of legal age to participate responsibly,” Mr. Mudene said.

Mr. Mudene raised concerns over the growing trend of children using parents’ phones to gamble online. He warned parents against registering SIM cards under their names and passing them on to minors, as this facilitates undetected underage gambling.

“93% of gambling happens online, mostly by corporates. However, when a phone registered in a parent’s name is used by a 15-year-old, they pass all verification checks,” he explained, urging responsible digital parenting.

In response, the Mbarara City Mayor, Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi, commended the Board’s efforts in bringing regulatory oversight closer to communities. He raised alarm over the prevalence of unlicensed betting operations and children misusing school fees or resorting to theft to fund gambling.

“As you enforce the law against illegal operators as well as those with minors in their betting shops, remind them of what the law says and apprehend them. This sets an example to those who think they can break the law and get away with it.”

The Deputy Regional Police Commander Rwizi Region, Senior Superintendent of Police Bosco Bakashaba, reaffirmed the Uganda Police Force’s commitment to upholding the law in partnership with the NLGRB.

“We shall offer total support to reduce offenses and illegal operations. Gaming houses that admit underage individuals or operate without licenses, especially in villages, will face legal consequences,” SSP Bakashaba asserted.

He pointed out that crime intelligence and informants are key tools in detecting and shutting down illegal slot machines and unauthorised betting centres.

“Gaming is like a razorblade, used correctly, it’s useful. Used wrongly, it causes harm,” he concluded.

In a move designed to strengthen their African presence and enhance customer experience, SYNOT Games has announced a strategic cooperation with Codium, an innovative software solutions provider and aggregator in the iGaming industry. 

The partnership, currently active in jurisdictions including Liberia and Nigeria, empowers SYNOT Games to distribute its extensive portfolio of gaming content effortlessly through Codium’s aggregation platform. By utilizing Codium’s advanced technological infrastructure, SYNOT Games is well-positioned to reach a wider African audience, thereby enhancing both efficiency and the quality of customer support.

“Partnering with Codium marks a pivotal step in our strategy to grow within regulated African markets,” said Kristína Ďaďová, Sales Manager at SYNOT Games.

“Codium’s aggregation capabilities and in-depth understanding of the African regulatory landscape allow us to broaden access to our games while maintaining high standards of quality and compliance. This collaboration underscores our commitment to excellence and our ambition to deliver cutting-edge entertainment across diverse regulated markets,” she adds.

Codium specializes in comprehensive iGaming solutions, providing certified platforms that encompass various sports betting and online casino offerings. Their Blue Platform, known for its adaptability and scalability, has been instrumental in enabling SYNOT Games to fit in emerging and established regulated African markets.

Matej Mikunda, Sales Director at Codium, also welcomed the partnership, stating:  “Our collaboration with SYNOT Games demonstrates a shared ambition to raise the bar for iGaming across Africa. By merging our technological expertise with SYNOT’s engaging content, we’re empowering local operators and enhancing the gaming experience for players throughout the region.”

This alliance strengthens SYNOT Games’ foothold in key regulated African jurisdictions and highlights both companies‘ dedication to quality, innovation, and responsible gaming. With increasing demand for premium content and evolving regulatory frameworks across the continent, SYNOT Games and Codium are well-positioned to shape the future of African iGaming standards.