Booming Games, a leading provider of premium gaming content, is thrilled to announce its collaboration with prominent operator Hollywoodbets for the upcoming Hollywoodbets Durban July, taking place on 5 July 2025 in Durban, South Africa. Together, the companies will collaborate as activation partners on the course, showcasing their shared commitment to delivering top-tier entertainment.

The race day widely celebrated as Africa’s Greatest Horse Racing and Social Event, draws tens of thousands of racing enthusiasts, celebrities, and industry leaders each year to the Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse. Known for its vibrant atmosphere and action-packed horse racing the festival has become a staple in South Africa’s sporting calendar, celebrating the culture and heritage of Durban while delivering a premium entertainment experience.

As part of this exciting partnership, Booming Games and Hollywoodbets will host a joint stand at the event, giving attendees the opportunity to try out Booming Games’ latest titles, win exclusive prizes, and experience world-class gaming in a dynamic environment.

“We are excited to partner with Hollywoodbets for this prestigious event that celebrates sport, entertainment, and community,” said Max Niehusen, CEO of Booming Games. “Booming Games has always been committed to delivering exceptional entertainment experiences, and this collaboration allows us to connect with players in a vibrant setting while showcasing our innovative portfolio.”

Solomon Godwin, Head of Africa at Booming Games, added: “Durban Horse Racing is more than a sporting event; it’s a cultural celebration in Africa, and we are proud to be part of it alongside Hollywoodbets. This partnership underscores our commitment to the African market as we continue to expand our footprint on the continent.”

Wayde Dorkin, Head of Product at Hollywoodbets, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Booming Games as a partner for the Hollywoodbets Durban July. As South Africa’s leading sports betting operator, we value partnerships that enhance our customer experience and bring fresh, engaging content to our audience. This collaboration aligns with our mission of innovation and entertainment while celebrating the spirit of racing in our home city.”

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ministry of Sports and Leisure announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding for a public-private partnership with Burundi’s East African General Trade Company (EAGT). This partnership aims to modernise the oversight of the gambling and sports betting sector, a rapidly expanding field in the country.

According to the Ministry, EAGT will implement a centralised digital monitoring system. This system will connect operators’ platforms to transmit real-time reports to the Congolese state. The initiative seeks to bolster sector transparency, enhance tax collection (especially the 10% tax on bettors’ winnings) and combat tax fraud.

While no specific timeline has been set for implementation, a pilot phase is planned for Kinshasa. An interministerial commission will rigorously supervise this pilot to ensure robust oversight by public authorities. EAGT will fully cover the project’s initial funding, with repayment staggered based on generated revenues, thereby avoiding any immediate pressure on state finances.

This project is part of a broader push to regulate the sector. In 2023, during a Council of Ministers meeting, former Finance Minister Nicolas Kazadi revealed that 139 illegal operators were active in 2022, with no available data on their revenues. Tax collections that same year reached only one billion Congolese francs, a level deemed very low compared to the sector’s real potential.

Faced with this situation, the government had considered creating a regulatory authority equipped with a digital tracking system. Projections at the time suggested such a reform could generate over $100 million annually (280 billion Congolese francs at the current dollar value), solely from the tax applied to bettors’ stakes.

Burundi offers a successful example. In June 2024, N-Soft introduced a similar system there. According to the Director General of Burundi’s National Lottery, this system led to a dramatic 552% increase in the sector’s tax revenues.

The African Lotteries Association (ALA) has convened two major gatherings in Abidjan from June 23 to 25, 2025, bringing together Directors General of African lotteries and their delegations for a pivotal week of dialogue, training and strategic alignment.

On June 24, ALA hosted a high-level seminar at the Azalaï Hotel in Marcory, themed “Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity.” This timely session explored the evolving role of AI in the gaming and lottery industries, while spotlighting strategies to combat rising cybersecurity threats. Leaders from across the continent shared insights on innovation, operational efficiency and risk mitigation in an increasingly digital landscape.

The seminar was opened by Mr. Doumbia Fassery, Vice President of ALA and Director General of PMU Mali, representing Mr. Dramane Coulibaly, President of ALA and Director General of LONACI. The event also saw strong participation from ALA member executives, including Mr. Abdoulkarim Ouattara, Deputy Director General of LONACI, along with members of the ALA Board of Directors.

The week’s activities culminated on June 25 with ALA’s Annual General Assembly—also at the Azalaï Hotel—where members reviewed key achievements, adopted new resolutions and strengthen inter-member collaboration to advance the Association’s mission across the continent.