The mobile gaming industry continues to boom, as the platform takes advantage of ever-more-advanced technology and game development. Sub-Saharan Africa has proved one of the most fertile new markets for mobile gamers, and has also seen iGaming and online gambling expand rapidly. Online engagement on the continent is overwhelmingly driven by the widespread usage of mobile devices — smartphones are more affordable than ever, and ownership far outweighs that of computers. There have been large-scale advances in terms of infrastructure, coverage, and connection speed across Africa, allowing gamers to play online with friends or in competitions.
With ever-increasing mobile penetration across Africa, it’s an exciting time for gaming on the continent — let’s take a look at this continually developing market.
Continued Growth
According to studies by African company Carry1st, the Sub-Saharan African gaming industry looks set to crack $1 billion for the first time in 2024, and the forecast is for continued growth beyond. The mobile gaming market looks set to eclipse the PC, with 10 times the level of engagement. Much of this growth is driven by the adoption of mobile technology that has become more accessible and cheaper at the point of purchase, as well as the overwhelmingly young population of the region who happily embrace new tech.
The two nations that overwhelmingly generate the most gaming revenue are Nigeria ($249 million) and South Africa ($236 million). To put this in context, the third most revenue comes from Kenya — which generates a ‘mere’ $49 million. However, all countries from which data has been collected have reported year-on-year growth that doesn’t look like slowing down.
Improved Infrastructure
Another key driver behind this growth is the efforts being made across Africa to improve mobile infrastructure, both by national and continental organisations. Increased mobile coverage, especially in isolated rural regions, is becoming a priority. And Internet connectivity is becoming much better — although some places still rely on 3G, most regions use 4G/LTE and in some urban areas 5G is being gradually introduced.
Couple this with the adoption of online payment methods and you have a market dominated by young people, with powerful technology at their fingertips, and high-speed internet connectivity — this is the kind of market that will continue to thrive.
iGaming
Online gambling has taken the world by storm, and is another phenomenon spreading through Africa. Millions of players are signing up to enjoy card games, roulette wheels, and slots in online casinos, and although there are many countries without specific legislation, most Africans can find a place to play using VPNs if there are no local operators. Most online casinos offer dedicated apps, and this mobile-first approach makes iGaming accessible right across Africa. Again, Nigeria and South Africa lead the way, and local players will find professional online casino review sites that take into account bonuses, games, reliability, and mobile accessibility.
Mobile technology is a key driver behind the popularity of online casinos, and simple games are being taken to the next level by the capabilities of smartphones and tablets. Players will find ever more immersive options, such as live-dealer blackjack, poker, and roulette, as well as a dizzying array of advanced slot games. Slots now come replete with cutting-edge graphics, immersive sound design, themes, levels, and enhanced gameplay features.
Popular Games in Africa
Africa’s favourite mobile games reflect a diverse and dynamic gaming culture that has been steadily growing in popularity across the continent. In recent years, several titles have gained immense traction. One standout game is Pou, a virtual pet simulator that allows players to care for and interact with their own alien creature.
Generally, global trends are followed in Africa, with huge titles such as Subway Surfers, Candy Crush Saga, Real Car Driving: Race City 3D, and Monopoly Go all wildly popular. Although PC / console use isn’t anywhere near as prevalent in Africa, some console games that have been adapted for mobile are also popular — Call of Duty, FIFA, and Fortnite: Battle Royale, to name a few.
Esports are beginning to take hold in some parts of Africa — mainly the more developed markets such as Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Ghana. Popular Esports games also reflect worldwide trends — Counter-Strike is the most popular game, but DOTA2, League of Legends, Starcraft and Rocket League also have a foothold. Esports in Africa face challenges though — there aren’t as many Internet cafes or other venues that cater for them, compared to other parts of the world. But slowly and surely Esports are becoming more popular, and expect to see the number of Africans participating increase in the coming years.
With a young, tech-savvy, engaged population, powerful yet affordable tech, and improved infrastructure — the gaming market in Africa is perfectly poised to continue to grow. Hitting $1 billion in revenue next year is an important landmark, but really, it’s just the beginning.
