West Africa Gaming Summit and Francophone Event to Co-Locate in Dakar This October
2026-07-15
Source: Yogonet
The SBWA+ Summit and GEFA event will be held jointly in Dakar from October 14-16, featuring the Eventus Awards and a focus on regulatory reform, technology, and investment across Africa's gaming sector.
For the first time, two major gaming industry gatherings—the 11th annual Sports Betting West Africa+ (SBWA+) Summit and the 2nd annual Gaming Event Francophone Africa (GEFA)—will run side by side in Dakar, Senegal, from October 14 to 16. Organizers say the co-located events are designed to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and business development as regulatory shifts, tech advances, and rising investment reshape the region’s gaming landscape.
The summit will draw a broad cross-section of the industry, including regulators, operators, legal advisors, affiliates, suppliers, technology vendors, and payment specialists from both English- and French-speaking African markets. The three-day program kicks off on October 14 with the SBWA+ Welcoming & Eventus Awards Evening, which combines networking sessions with the presentation of the SBWA+ Eventus Awards.
The Eventus Awards recognize excellence, innovation, and leadership across Africa’s gaming sector, with categories spanning suppliers, operators, innovation, virtual sports, online casinos, responsible gambling, sports betting, consultants, speakers, and industry influencers. Two special categories—Innovation Queen of West Africa and West Africa’s Rising Star in Leadership—celebrate women in the industry. Award nominations are open until October 2, with the shortlist scheduled for release on October 7, and winners announced during the ceremony on October 14.
Event organizers have called on industry professionals to submit nominations and join the summit, which aims to spotlight key developments, create networking opportunities, and open new business avenues across the African gaming market.