Sports Betting West Africa has completed their recent industry summit with resounding success. The 3rd annual event was held at the Federal Palace Hotel & Casino in Lagos, Nigeria from July 17 to 19 and was attended by a record number of delegates. The event also marks an industry first as it was attended by regulators from four African nations who agreed on a future framework of cooperation.

Nigeria’s National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Ghana’s Gaming Commission, The Sierra Leone State Lottery Company, and Liberia’s National Lottery Authority met together for the first time and clarified their roles for delegates as they outlined ways they would work to create a harmonized regulatory framework across all of West Africa.

After presenting highlights of their regulatory missions, much of their work was similar. Ms. Christina Thakor Rankin, the discussion’s moderator then asked them all if they would be willing to formalize a Western African Regulatory Forum. They all agreed to open communications and agreed to work together to formalize a forum.

A press release from event organizer Eventus International stated: “It is truly magical to see how our hard work and passion for bringing people together has united four entire nations.”

The forum is expected to help regulators in growing each other’s markets and to allow operators to become licensed across borders easier. A common blacklist of operators who have had their licenses revoked will be another benefit of the cooperative regulatory forum.

The media handout went on to state: “Africa is uniting to become a powerful force in the market, and its only through unity that we truly make the most of all the opportunities that this continent has to offer.”

Organizers of the event were assisted on the first day by the Association of Nigerian Bookmakers. Eventus International also thanked sponsors and exhibitors for their support and participation. They invited all delegates who were on hand to help them make history in Lago to attend the next big event, The BiG Africa Supershow. That event will be held 7 & 8 November 2017, at the Emperors Palace in Johannesburg, South Africa.