Africacomicade at AGE 2024: Did We Stumble into the Future of African Gaming?

Once we set foot on the foyer mat at the entrance of Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos on March 12, the aura had us buzzing with an electrifying sense of anticipation. Of course, we knew why we were there, but with the sheer energy of the place, it wouldn't have surprised us if the electricity crackled (glad it didn't). From the eclectic mix of guests (ourselves included) to the dazzling settings and ambiance, it was undeniable that we had arrived at Africa's most spectacular gaming event - The Africa Gaming Expo (AGE), Lagos.

For the uninitiated, AGE is a grand gathering of key players in the Gaming, Fintech, Banks, and Allied Industries. For the gaming industry, this translates to the likes of game development, sports betting, lottery, mobile gaming, online gaming, and casino. The event brings together operators, regulators, and other gaming stakeholders from across the globe to engage, deliberate, and explore emerging trends, regulatory frameworks, and prospective opportunities in the African gaming market.

We at Africacomicade represented in our full regalia. We had our booth imbued with a cornucopia of indigenous video games. Studios such as Isanja Boardgame , Dash Studio's Nouns Hunt, Raven Illusion Studio , and Deluxe Creation Studios collectively exhibited in our booth. The smiles and enthusiasm of the guests and participants who engaged with our games were a sight to behold (Seriously, the enthusiasm was contagious!). The image below says it all!

Over the course of three action-packed days, an esteemed lineup of speakers graced the stage, including the Chief Host - the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, who also took the time to interact with our booth. Joining him were industry heavyweights such as Bashir Are, the CEO of Lagos State Lotteries & Gaming Authority; Peter Emolemo Kesitilwe, CEO of the Gambling Authority of Botswana; Caroline Kongwa, Chief Strategic Adviser at the National Gambling Board, South Africa; Gossy Ukanwoke, MD of KingMakers (BetKing) and Chairman of Vend Capital; and Adewale Akande, Head of Legal and Compliance at KC Gaming Networks Ltd (Bet9ja). The list of speakers was extensive, representing a diverse range of backgrounds, including regulation, operations, development, investment, consulting, and media.

The event boasted an impressive attendance of executives from various prominent organizations such as Promatic Games, Paystack, Intelligence and Investigation & CTR Analysis at the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Uganda's National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board, the Association of Gaming Regulators in Africa (AGRA), Premier Lotto (BABA IJEBU), Payaza, SPARKET, the Gaming Commission of Ghana, Palmpay, the Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria, Fincra, the Gambling Authority of Botswana, SteelRose Legal, iGaming AFRIKA, GameStack Ltd, and many more. Then, there were also co-exhibitors from synonymous industries like mobile gaming, online gaming, blockchain, and VR/AR.

Did we forget about our learning experience? Certainly not! African Gaming Expo featured Panel discussions, workshops, roundtables – you name it, AGE had it. We soaked up knowledge like a power bank on topics like regulation, responsible gaming, market trends, and even the impact of 5G on African gaming. We learned about the challenges and opportunities, from data protection to anti-money laundering, and everything in between.

So, did we stumble into the future of African gaming? Absolutely. And let's tell you, the future is looking bright, innovative, and most importantly, incredibly fun.

Written By Fredrick Favour .