Gaming Regulation Africa Forum - GRAF
- Founded
- 2003-01-01
The Gaming Regulators Africa Forum (GRAF) is a pan-African non-profit organisation founded in February 2003, composed of national and regional gambling regulatory authorities. It serves as the principal platform for cooperation, dialogue, and capacity-building among African gaming regulators, aiming to foster collaboration, exchange best practices, promote responsible gambling, and support sustainable economic growth in the continent's gaming sector. Headquartered in an undisclosed African location, its membership includes regulators from Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and others. GRAF convenes annual conferences and regulatory forums that bring together senior regulators, policymakers, industry stakeholders, and international partners to address money laundering, cybercrime, illegal gambling, and consumer protection. The forum has partnered with global events platforms like SiGMA World and secured sponsorship from operators such as 1XBET to amplify its reach. It maintains a repository of research publications and presentations from members to support evidence-based regulation. As of 2026, GRAF is preparing for its next major conference in Mozambique, having received early speaker submissions from multiple African markets.
Detailed Review
History and Evolution
GRAF was launched in February 2003 as a direct response to the growing need for coordinated gambling regulation in Africa. The founding members were regulators from Namibia and Botswana, later joined by South Africa’s National Gambling Board and other jurisdictions. Over the years, GRAF has expanded its membership and programme scope, evolving from a small forum into a recognised continental voice on gaming regulation. It has consistently focused on three thematic pillars: money laundering prevention, regulation of new forms of gambling (including online), and combating cybercrime in the gaming sector.
Activities and Impact
The flagship event is the annual GRAF Conference, which rotates among member countries. In 2026, the conference is scheduled for Mozambique, with a preliminary Regulatory Forum held in Cape Town in March 2026 in partnership with SiGMA World. GRAF also awards recognition through its Regulatory Excellence Awards, established to honour outstanding achievement and innovation in African gaming regulation. The forum’s research library includes presentations on topics such as the future landscape of gambling regulation (by the National Gambling Board of South Africa) and anti-money laundering (by the Botswana Gambling Authority).
Governance and Structure
GRAF is governed by its member regulators. Day-to-day operations are managed by a secretariat or executive committee, though public-facing leadership roles (e.g., Chairperson, Executive Director) have not been consistently documented in accessible sources. The organisation uses a dedicated website and a LinkedIn presence to communicate with stakeholders.
Challenges and Opportunities
Key challenges include the rapid digitisation of gambling across Africa, disparate legal frameworks among member states, and the need to combat illegal operations and money laundering. GRAF’s role in shaping a unified regulatory landscape is increasingly critical as online casinos and sports betting expand continent-wide. The forum’s partnerships with global events brands and operators provide financial stability and visibility, but also raise questions about independence from industry sponsorship.
Licensing and Jurisdiction
GRAF itself holds no gambling license; it is an association of licensed regulators. It operates as a non-profit under the laws of its host country (likely one of the member states, but not publicly specified). The organisation does not offer any consumer-facing products or platforms.
Key Products
Collaboration & Intelligence Sharing Network
The core function: facilitating informal and formal intelligence exchange among member regulators to combat illegal gambling and harmonise enforcement.
Annual GRAF Conference
The flagship event for African gambling regulators, featuring workshops, panel discussions, and networking. Rotates among member countries.
GRAF Regulatory Forum
A high-level invitational forum held in partnership with SiGMA World and sponsored by 1XBET, focused on practical regulatory collaboration. Held in Cape Town (2026 edition).
Research Publications Repository
An online library of presentations, research papers, and reports contributed by member regulators on topics such as money laundering, cybercrime, and regulation of new gambling forms.
GRAF Regulatory Excellence Awards
An awards programme established to recognise achievement, innovation, and leadership in gaming regulation across Africa.