Botswana Backs Nigeria’s Push to Transform GRAF into PACoGR

Botswana has expressed support for Nigeria’s proposal to transform the Gaming Regulators Africa Forum (GRAF) into a formal Pan-African Council of Gaming Regulators (PACoGR), a move aimed at strengthening regulatory cooperation across Africa’s gaming markets.

The proposal, championed by Nigeria through the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) and the Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria, seeks to develop GRAF from a voluntary forum into a formal continental regulatory council.

Under the proposed framework, regulators would work toward greater alignment on areas including licensing, consumer protection, anti-money laundering (AML), responsible gaming and enforcement.

Botswana’s Gambling Authority, led by Chief Executive Officer Moruntshi Kemorwale, said the proposed transformation comes at a time when Africa’s gaming industry is expanding rapidly, particularly across mobile and online platforms. Botswana has been a member of GRAF since its establishment and hosted the forum’s 14th conference in Gaborone in 2023.

Established in 2003, GRAF provides a platform for African gaming regulators to collaborate, exchange regulatory knowledge and address shared industry challenges, including the growth of online betting and consumer protection.

Nigeria’s delegation, led by LSLGA Chief Executive Officer Bashir Are, has argued that a formal Pan-African council could strengthen the continent’s collective response to illegal and offshore gaming operators.

Are previously said regulators across African markets face similar challenges and would benefit from greater cooperation and a coordinated regulatory approach.

Botswana also linked the proposed PACoGR framework to recent continental initiatives, including Africa Safer Gambling Week and the GRAF Conference 2026 in Maputo, Mozambique. The proposal is expected to be presented for formal consideration and adoption at GRAF’s Annual General Meeting scheduled for December 2026.

If adopted, the initiative would establish a more formal structure for regulatory cooperation among African gaming authorities, although the scope and implementation of any new council would depend on the outcome of the formal adoption process.