

Africa
Dambe promotion, African Warriors Fighting Championship, announces sponsorship deal with crypto betting leader, Stake.com
The African Warriors Fighting Championship (AWFC), the biggest promoter of Dambe, traditional Nigerian boxing, has signed a landmark sponsorship deal with Stake, the worldwide leader in crypto betting. Already a sponsor of the UFC and Nigerian UFC Champion Israel Adesanya, the partnership is Stake’s first sponsorship deal in Africa.
As part of the deal, Stake branding will be integrated into AWFC events through high visibility logo placements on athlete and official uniforms and the fight arena. The partnership will also offer Stake exposure across AWFC’s digital channels, where Stake branding will be integrated into AWFC’s exciting Dambe content.
Founded in 2019 by Maxwell Kalu, The African Warriors Fighting Championship aims to raise global interest and awareness in Dambe, traditional Nigerian boxing. Hugely popular in Nigeria, Dambe has built a large international following and has secured hundreds of millions online views.
In Dambe matches, athletes are permitted to strike with one hand which is wrapped tightly in knotted cord and known as “the spear”. The other hand is used defensively and is known as “the shield”. Athletes can also kick with both legs. AWFC Dambe matches are contested over three rounds, and victory is secured by knocking out an opponent or causing his hand, knee or back to touch the ground.
Discussing the partnership between AWFC and Stake, CEO of AWFC, Maxwell Kalu, added: “The first of its kind, our partnership with Stake is a huge moment for African combat sports and an exciting step in our mission of taking Dambe global.
“Ancient, intense, and steeped in tradition, Dambe is unlike any other combat sport in the world. Partnering with Stake highlights the impressive growth of AWFC and demonstrates that Dambe is making a real impact in the minds of combat sports fans around the world.
“We’re proud to be Stake’s first partner in Africa and look forward to assisting the brand in raising awareness and expanding its user base across the Continent.”
Akhil Sarin, Director of Acquisition at Stake, said: “AWFC is a young brand with exciting plans, and we see huge potential for the sport of Dambe. Stake has built a reputation with our combat sports partnerships and adding this to our portfolio is a huge step forward as we seek to expand in the African market.”
Africa
SOFTSWISS Launches First South African Project with Mzansibet

SOFTSWISS, a global tech provider with over 15 years of iGaming expertise, proudly announces the launch of its major South African project with Mzansibet. It marks the first project in the country to utilise both the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook and the SOFTSWISS Casino Platform.
According to the recently released South Africa: iGaming Market Overview 2025 by SOFTSWISS, the country’s iGaming sector is growing at an impressive annual rate of 20–25%, driven by increasing mobile penetration. In line with this trend and evolving player needs, SOFTSWISS strongly focuses on mobile optimisation across its platforms, enabling seamless and enjoyable gaming experiences for Mzansibet players.
The launch in South Africa, ensuring full compliance with local technical standards, required meticulous preparation. SOFTSWISS products – including its sports betting software and online casino platform – underwent rigorous certification with Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), one of the most reputable and globally recognised independent testing laboratories in the iGaming industry. Following this process, the solutions were officially approved for local operation by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board – a respected and influential regulator in the region – affirming the high quality and compliance of SOFTSWISS software.
Max Trafimovich, International Non-Executive Director at SOFTSWISS, shares: “Mzansibet entered the market with a bold ambition to become a top-tier brand – and we are not only proud to support that vision from day one, but also well-equipped to ensure its sustainable growth. Leveraging our global and local expertise, we provide the technical, business, and service tools necessary for a smooth launch and scalable development. This is made possible thanks to our robust and stable architecture with 99.999% uptime and a flexible platform ecosystem. In addition, the brand launched a nationwide TV advertising campaign and has already attracted tens of thousands of players across the country – a powerful testament to its growing presence and trust.”
In addition to backend certification, the SOFTSWISS team invested heavily in frontend localisation to align with the partner’s vision and market requirements. The Mzansibet project has been fully adapted to meet South African player behaviour and betting patterns.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 35,000 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team counts over 2,000 employees.
The post SOFTSWISS Launches First South African Project with Mzansibet appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Africa
Rise & Hustle launches tap-to-earn street game platform in Nigeria with real-world rewards

Rise & Hustle, Africa’s next-gen tap-to-earn gaming operator, has launched its reward-based mobile street game series in the Nigerian market. Running on its proprietary platform, Rise & Hustle gives players the opportunity to rise from Hustler to Kingpin, earning Bucks during the grind to unlock real-world rewards.
Created for Africa’s mobile-first generation, Rise & Hustle enables taps and achievements to be redeemed for mobile airtime, tangible rewards & Rise Tokens – all without spending a cent. The portfolio of free-to-play games and lottery products is designed in-house, giving Rise & Hustle the ability to deliver energetic and competitive experiences that appeal to players.
The company was co-founded by Anthony Broadhurst, a key player in Africa’s gaming and crypto world, and Josh Jones, an experienced iGaming entrepreneur with a stellar record of building successful platforms.
Rise Tokens are crypto-backed rewards on the Binance Smart Chain and power a real economy that rewards loyalty. Squads and community are central to gameplay with leaderboards, status, and real-time tournaments making each session count.
Embracing AI technology, local partnerships, and sharp design, Rise & Hustle is on the path to becoming Africa’s most culturally relevant gaming operator. A full Real Money Gaming offering is due for launch imminently.
Beyond Nigeria, expansion plans include Kenya and Ghana, with launches scheduled for completion by the close of 2025. As Rise & Hustle scales, it will strengthen collaborations with mobile networks, pioneering brands, and influencers to accelerate mass adoption. With its bold brand, crypto-powered rewards, and laser focus on mobile-first entertainment, Rise & Hustle’s platform is the future.
Rise & Hustle CEO and co-founder Josh Jones commented: “Rise & Hustle is flipping the script on how value is created for an entire generation’s time and talent spent on mobile games. We’re here to turn everyday entertainment into real-world rewards. This isn’t just a game – we’re building a cultural movement where players grind together to reach the top through ambition and hustle.”
The post Rise & Hustle launches tap-to-earn street game platform in Nigeria with real-world rewards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Africa
Shaden Dre Shabalala (Captain of the MSSA Protea Esports Team for MLBB) will lead his brave, and dedicated, team against Madagascar on 23 July 2025 at 19H00)

With the South African Protea Esports Team for the Mobile Legends Bang Bang title having laid waste to all its opponents in its group (Namibia and Congo), the Proteas now have to do battle against Madagascar.
Madagascar has also won all its matches in its group having beaten both Mauritius and Zimbabwe.
Thus to see which country earns its place to represent Southern Africa at the prestigious IESF World Esports Championships – WEC25 – the two titans will meet on the field of battle.
The winner of this clash on 23 July 2025 will see only one country emerge to represent Southern Africa at IESF’s WEC25.
Thus, there is much at stake, honour, prestige, and a nation’s pride!
The match is a thrilling best-of-five games in which, all MSSA is confident that the Proteas will emerge victorious!
As usual the dedicated team from Waylander Gaming will stream the match on https://youtube.com/@waylander_gaming at 19H00.
The battle hardened veteran team of Protea athletes for the Mobile Legends Bang Bang esports title are:
Name | Club | Nick | Province |
Shaden Dre Shabalala (Capt.) | King of the Hill | SUPER Shady | Gauteng |
Mogamat Junaid Ismail | King of the Hill | JụjuMC.♡ | Western Cape |
Slindokuhle Ndlovu | King of the Hill | lindo | Gauteng |
Umer Ali Khan | King of the Hill | VeloTzy. | Gauteng |
Schalk Rademeyer | Paradox | SUPER Light | Eastern Cape |
The post Shaden Dre Shabalala (Captain of the MSSA Protea Esports Team for MLBB) will lead his brave, and dedicated, team against Madagascar on 23 July 2025 at 19H00) appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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