Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has charged game operators in Africa to imbibe international best practices through a responsible gaming system.
The governor gave the charge while speaking at the maiden edition of the Africa Gaming Expo (AGE), with the theme: ‘Exploring the Future of the Africa Gaming Market: Emerging Trends, Prospects and Opportunities’.
Sanwo-Olu who was the keynote speaker at the event, said his administration has re-calibrated the thrust of tourism through the development of a Tourism Master Plan and Tourism Policy designed to make the sector not only a huge revenue earner but also a model for economic regeneration as seen in cities such as Zanzibar, Johannesburg and Cape Town.
He said part of his administration’s commitment and renewed determination in line with the THEMES+ economic agenda is to leverage the potentialities of the gaming, entertainment and tourism sectors.
Sanwo-Olu said the initiative was targeted at increasing Lagos share of the African gaming market to at least 30 percent and solidifying the status of State as a key player in the gaming industry, largely being propelled through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
The governor stated that he believed the Africa Gaming Expo would provide a unique opportunity to review the present industry practices against global best standards and chart a new course for the future of the gaming market in Africa, which is currently estimated at $7.8 billion.
Earlier the Chief Executive Officer, of Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, Mr. Bashir Are, commended Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration for its unwavering commitment to revolutionise the gaming industry through effective regulation, by leveraging modern technological innovation and global best practices.
He said the Africa Gaming Expo was to exchange ideas and share valuable insights that would change the face of gaming while harmonising the standard and regulations in Africa.
In his welcome address, the Chief Executive Officer of Africa Gaming Expo Limited, Dr. Charles Ekundayo, said “the aim of organising the expo is rooted in promoting the Africa Gaming Market while fostering collaboration among industry professionals and addressing the challenges faced in the industry.”
The chief executive officer, of Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, Mr. Bashir Are, commended Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration for its unwavering commitment to revolutionise the gaming industry through effective regulation, by leveraging modern technological innovation and global best practices.
He said the Africa Gaming Expo was to exchange ideas and share valuable insights that would change the face of gaming while harmonising the standard and regulations in Africa.
The 2024 Africa Gaming Expo attracts over 35 speakers in the industry and hundreds of delegates from different countries in Africa and outside of the continent.
