

Africa
Dates and new qualification pathway confirmed as Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 looks to inspire a new generation of rugby fans
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 to take place from 9-11 September, 2022; New striking RWC Sevens 2022 brand and RWCSevens.com website unveiled; RWC Sevens 2022 will be contested by 24 men’s and 16 women’s teams; New qualification process will see non-qualified teams qualify only through regional competitions; 16 men’s places and 11 women’s places available for non-qualified teams; South Africa’s women secure automatic qualification as tournament hosts.
World Rugby (www.World.rugby) and hosts South Africa Rugby today confirmed Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in Cape Town will take place from 9-11 September, 2022.
The eighth edition is the first to be hosted in Africa with organisers anticipating a very special and record-breaking event at the iconic 57,654 capacity Cape Town Stadium.
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 will be contested by 24 men’s and 16 women’s teams.
The top eight men’s teams and top four women’s teams from the hugely successful RWC Sevens 2018 in San Francisco, USA, have already secured automatic qualification for the tournament in 2022.
The qualified teams for the men’s event are defending champions New Zealand, England, South Africa Fiji, Argentina, USA, France, Scotland, while defending champions New Zealand, France, Australia and USA have already booked their tickets to the women’s event in Cape Town. South Africa’s women will join them as the host nation.
Teams that have not qualified automatically will do so via their respective regional tournaments held in Europe, Oceania, Asia, North America, South America, and Africa. With 16 places available in the men’s tournament and 11 in the women’s from regional competitions.
The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series will no longer form part of the qualification pathway for Rugby World Cup Sevens. Regional qualification is expected to start in August of this year with further details to be announced at a later stage.
World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “We are delighted to announce the tournament dates for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 alongside the unveiling of a striking new brand that truly captures the unique, fun and carnival spirit of the tournament.
“This is an exciting time for rugby sevens with less than 70 days to go until the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo and now with Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 also on the horizon. South Africa has a rich history in hosting world-class international rugby sevens events, and we anticipate that Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 will once again raise the bar for this unique tournament and be like no other.”
“South African rugby is eager to turn the vibrancy of this new brand into the vibrancy of a packed live event where we can showcase both our country and our passion for the sport,” said Mr Mark Alexander, president of SA Rugby. “This will be the first senior World Cup we have hosted since 1995 and we are determined to make it as special in its own way.
“The HSBC Cape Town Sevens has established itself as a major must-see event on our national sporting calendar, but we will be taking Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 to the next level.”
Alongside confirmation of the dates and new qualification pathway, the bespoke tournament brand, developed by World Rugby and SA Rugby, has also been unveiled.
The striking brand radiates unity, energy and passion and celebrates the spirit of rugby sevens that will ignite Cape Town’s finest rugby stage, as the top men’s and women’s teams from around the world compete to be crowned world champions.
World Rugby Chief Marketing Officer Marissa Pace today said “Our goal is to ignite Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 with a bold event mark, reflecting the fast pace and dynamic play of Sevens, but also the vibrancy of Cape Town and South Africa. With Table Mountain at the heart of the new logo, our team has also included elements within to represent both the event year and the iconic Cape Town Stadium. We look forward to watching the brand come to life via our partners and hosts South Africa Rugby.”
The tournament is expected to build on the massively successful 2018 edition hosted at AT&T Park in San Francisco, which attracted record attendance for a rugby event in the USA with a total attendance of more than 100,000 fans.
In addition, RWC Sevens 2018 attracted cumulative domestic and global broadcast audiences of more than 24 million and 31 million viewers respectively, which included a record-breaking live broadcast audience of 1.7 million on its final day. The tournament also leveraged 22.5 million social media video views on World Rugby channels over the course of the event.
Details of the ticket sales launch will be announced later this year.
Africa
Tanzania Gaming Board Warns Families About Risks Posed by Betting on PlayStation Games

The Gaming Board of Tanzania (GBT) has warned parents about the risks posed by betting on PlayStation games, urging families to take action.
Last week, Daniel Olesumayan, Acting Director General of GBT, addressed the issue during a meeting with media editors organised by the Treasury Registrar’s Office.
The gathering aimed to increase awareness about gambling activities and clarify the GBT’s regulatory responsibilities. Olesumayan stressed the importance of keeping children away from gambling, highlighting that it is primarily the parents’ duty to supervise their children’s gadget usage.
“As parents, we must protect our children. It is important to track how they use gadgets intended to stimulate their minds. PlayStation games turned into gambling must only operate in board-approved locations,” he said.
The growth of Tanzania’s gambling industry is evident, with the GBT registering 62 companies and issuing a remarkable 8549 licenses in the 2024/25 financial year.
This number includes licenses for various activities, such as the National Lottery and sports betting, with some companies holding multiple licenses to operate different types of gambling across various locations.
“The sector’s tax revenue surged by 97 percent, from Sh131.9 billion in 2020/21 to Sh260 billion in 2024/25,” Mr Olesumayan said.
He also noted that the ability to place bets as low as Sh1000 has contributed to the impressive growth.
Even with recent advancements, the GBT still faces significant challenges, particularly with illegal slot machines that operate without registration. These machines often attract children, posing risks not only to minors but also to the integrity of the gambling sector.
To tackle these issues, GBT is looking to the future with plans to utilise technology for better management of the industry and also enhance the skills of staff for more effective oversight. The regulator has also established more zonal offices and recently banned foreigners from operating slot machines.
Additionally, the board is set to launch a nationwide responsible gaming campaign aimed at educating young people about the dangers of problem gambling and promoting safer gaming habits.
The post Tanzania Gaming Board Warns Families About Risks Posed by Betting on PlayStation Games appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Africa
Ghana Gaming Commission Introduces Mandatory Biometric Verification

The Ghana Gaming Commission has introduced a significant change to the gambling industry by mandating biometric identification for every bet placed within the country. This new rule applies to all forms of gambling including online and physical sportsbooks, casinos and promotional games. Alongside recent tax reforms, this measure represents a strong move toward modernising and securing the gambling landscape in Ghana.
Gambling operators are now required to integrate their platforms with the National Identification Authority’s (NIA) database. Every player must verify their identity using fingerprint or facial recognition technology both at the point of placing bets and when claiming winnings. The only acceptable form of identification will be the Ghana Card, issued by the NIA.
According to Emmanuel Siki Quainoo, the acting commissioner of the Gaming Commission, this initiative aims to protect the industry from criminal misuse and enforce stricter responsible gambling measures. It is designed to slow down betting activities, allowing players to make more thoughtful decisions regarding their gambling behaviour.
Operators have a strict timeline of just one month to fully implement and test these biometric verification systems. Non-compliance could result in suspension of licenses or refusal of renewals, as the Commission has pledged to enforce these regulations rigorously without exceptions.
The primary goals behind these updated regulations are to prevent fraud and stop underage gambling. Additionally, these measures aim to increase transparency in the gambling industry, which has been scrutinised over possible money laundering and unmonitored cash flows. By associating all gambling transactions with verified biometric data, authorities can more effectively monitor and identify irregular activities.
The mandatory biometric checks also enhance responsible gambling protections. Regulatory bodies can monitor dangerous betting behaviors, impose limits on spending, and provide exclusion options for self-excluded players. This policy is part of a larger national digital initiative that uses identity-based verification across multiple regulated sectors.
The post Ghana Gaming Commission Introduces Mandatory Biometric Verification appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Africa
QTech Games recruits Agatha Wanjugu as Sales Manager for East Africa

Leading distributor for emerging markets announces the fulfilment of its new dedicated role for East Africa, based in Kenya
QTech Games, the leading game aggregator for all emerging markets, has recruited Agatha Wanjugu for the new role of Sales Manager for East Africa, as it continues its concerted push into the African market.
Based in Kenya, Agatha joins QTech Games after successful stints at iGaming Afrika, where she served with distinction as Business Development Manager – and, more recently, Pragmatic Play where she spent several years as Account Manager for Africa. In this previous position, she routinely proved herself in both account management and business development capacities, building and maintaining enduring client relationships, collaborating with sales forces and technical departments to optimise the overall customer experience.
This experience has seen Agatha establish a reputation as a natural leader with a communicative and consultative approach. Her igaming insights and recommendations for the region have helped deliver on revenue targets and inform strategic guidance, advancing the sales cycle and populating its pipeline with new leads.
Now Agatha brings those transferable skills to bear at the sector’s leading aggregator for developing markets, where she will be responsible for managing and growing QTech’s existing partners in East Africa.
QTech Games CEO, Philip Doftvik, said: “We’re thrilled that Agatha is already underway in her new role at QTech Games, as we train our sights and broaden our scope across East Africa. She is a precocious and natural sales lead and account manager, with the ability to develop client growth or retention strategies.
“She’ll be a true asset to both QTech Games and all our clients, as we grow in Africa to make it a substantial part of our total revenue mix. We have high growth ambitions here in the coming years. Ultimately, we want to dominate and build a stellar and agile brand in the region.”
Agatha Wanjugu added: “I’m excited to be starting at QTech Games, and really feel they have given me the support to put my shoulder to the wheel for expansion in this bubbling and evolving marketplace.
“I’ll be responsible for managing QTech’s existing East African partners, alongside stewarding our expansion into neighbouring local territories. I’ve always based my business relationships on the ability to add value. Working with QTech, I’ve not only found a string of products that complement the different igaming verticals but also a strong, experienced team who are client-focused and always eager to make it work for the client.”
The post QTech Games recruits Agatha Wanjugu as Sales Manager for East Africa appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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