Zona de Azar Nigeria – SBWA+ 2019: Day One & Two Recap

Nigeria.- July 26th 2019 www.zonadeazar.com The highly anticipated Sports Betting West Africa+ 2019 summit kicked off this week, 23 July at the Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos, Nigeria.

On day one, ANB (Association of Nigerian Bookmakers) occupied the stage, opening with a regulatory update on the state of sports betting in Nigeria, presented by Mr Lanre Gbajabiamila, Director General, National Lottery Regulatory Commission. This was followed by a panel discussion on conducting business in the sports betting industry in Nigeria by reviewing current barriers and opportunities.

The latter session was succeeded by a panel focused on operators and regulators, and dealt with encouraging the right legal and regulative framework in the sports betting industry in Nigeria.

Other topics covered included a presentation by Mrs Gbemisola Oduwole as well as a panel discussion on the current tax issues in sports betting in Nigeria.

Day Two consisted of the conference event and exhibition hosted by Eventus International. The event was opened with welcoming remarks by Babatunda Ibidapo-Obe, Partner, Akin Ibidapo-Obe & Co, followed by the opening address on Gaming in West Africa – Where we stand and where we want to be in five years’ time, by Lanre Gbajabiamila, DG, National Lottery Regulatory Commission.

Various panel discussions followed involving Regulatory coorperation: an operator’s guide to risk management (moderated by Yahaya Maikori, Founding Partner, Law Allianz) and A marriage of convenience – improving the working relationship between operators and agents (moderated by Johnson Foye, Managing Consultant, Western Sportsbet Nigeria Limited). Frank Herold, Business Development Director, EMIRAT AG addressed delegates on how to securely grow your business with bigger pay-outs.

During the lunch break a live lottery draw hosted by EMIRAT AG, one very lucky delegate won 40 000 NGN.

The afternoon consisted of three more panels covering a session on mobile payment solutions for operators in West Africa (moderated by Johnson Foye, Managing Consultant, Western Sportsbet Nigeria Limited) and another session on overcoming the technical challenges of operating and capitalising on opportunities in West Africa (moderated by Yahaya Maikori, Founding Partner, Law Allianz). The last session of day two involved a debate around a localised approach to building the ideal platform for the African market (moderated by Devon Dalbock, GM, GLI Africa)

Throughout day one and two, the exhibition floor buzzed with both returning and new visitors.

Today is the last day of SBWA+ and includes the West Africa Gaming Awards during the networking lunch. With so many exciting exhibitors on show and current topics still to be discussed, ensure you make your way to the Eko Hotel & Suites to join in the buzz.

Edited by: @MaiaDigital (Twitter) www.zonadeazar.com