Sports
Online Betting in Africa 2026: How the World Cup, Mobile Money and Platforms Like Secretbet Drive a $3 Billion Boom
Africa’s betting numbers were large by 2025, with sports betting getting to $3.08bn, with the total gambling revenue estimated at roughly $17.63bn, according to Statista-based market data, with more than 440M Africans being linked to sports betting in 2025. The market is now driven by mobile betting, mobile money and live football, with the 2026 World Cup expected to increase match-day betting volumes.
Secretbet is among the platforms operating in different African markets. It sits in the middle of Africa’s phone-first betting habit.
How big is Africa’s online betting market in 2026?
The African online betting market size is already above $3bn for sports betting, and sports betting in Africa 2026 is being driven by football, mobile payments and live betting.
– In 2025, Africa’s sports-betting revenue stood at about $3.08bn, based on Statista market data.
– The continent’s full gambling sector was estimated at about $17.63bn in 2025, with growth projected at roughly 4.23% per year through 2029.
– allAfrica put the number of Africans linked to sports betting at more than 440M in 2025.
– GeoPoll’s 2025 survey shows about 91% of bettors placed bets through mobile phones.
– Other forecasts put online betting growth by 17% yearly between 2022 and 2027.
The numbers show how much betting has moved beyond physical betting shops. Most users now meet betting through a phone screen, especially during football fixtures, live matches and major tournaments. Live betting is also changing how people follow matches. Football keeps the activity moving every week. Domestic leagues, European competitions, AFCON fixtures and the 2026 World Cup all create regular betting moments for African users.
Which African countries are leading the betting boom?
Sports betting in Tanzania, betting in Ghana, online betting in Zambia and betting in Nigeria are among the strongest market topics because they combine football demand with mobile-first access. Each market has its own structure, but the pattern is similar: football creates demand, while mobile payments make betting easier to access.
| Country | Top Sport | Main payment method | Quick fact |
| Nigeria | Football (70–75% of betting activity) | OPay / bank transfer / Palmpay | Online sport betting revenue was projected around $500M in 2025, and Nigeria’s wider iGaming market was estimated around $3.6B. |
| Tanzania | Football (63%) | M-pesa / Tigo pesa | Online sports betting was projected around $9.8M in 2025, with football taking the largest share of betting activity. |
| Ghana | Football (60%+) | MTN MoMo / Telecel Cash / AirtelTigo Money | Ghana’s online gambling gross win reached about $903.5M in 2025, after growing 24% year-on-year. |
| Zambia | Football (60%+) | MTN Money / Airtel Money / bank cards | Online betting Zambia continued to grow in 2025, driven by football, mobile access and licensed betting operators. |
| Egypt/ Morocco | Football (60%+) | Vodafone Cash / bank transfer | North African online betting activity remained football-led in 2025, with Egypt and Morocco shaped by local payment access and stricter market rules. |
Why is mobile money the engine of African betting?
Mobile money betting made online betting possible for users who do not rely on bank cards. M-Pesa, Tigo Pesa, MTN Mobile Money, Airtel Money, Vodafone Cash and OPay are now central to betting deposits in Africa, especially as more than 91% of bettors place bets through mobile phones. This matters because many users already trust mobile wallets for daily payments. Mobile money also supports low-stake betting behaviour.
For operators, the payment flow is as important as the odds. A slow deposit process can stop a user before the betslip is confirmed. In this market, convenience is not a side feature; it is one of the main reasons users stay.
What is Secretbet?
Secretbet is an online betting and casino platform for sports betting, live odds and casino games. It is available across several African markets, including Tanzania, Ghana, Zambia, Egypt and Morocco. Players can find pre-match and live football markets, including games from the EPL, AFCON and the World Cup.
The platform fits the wider African betting pattern: one mobile-first account for sports markets, live odds, casino sections and local payment methods. For football bettors, the use is direct.
How do platforms like Secretbet serve African bettors?
Secretbet features are built around mobile access, football coverage, World Cup betting and live betting Africa demand. Platforms in this category serve users who want quick deposits, clear odds, live markets, cash-out options and withdrawals from one phone-based account.
– Mobile-optimised site.
– Mobile-money deposits and withdrawals.
– Football coverage, including the 2026 World Cup and AFCON.
– Live/in-play betting and cash-out.
– Localized markets and decimal odds.
– Option to bet on the 2026 World Cup through the sports line section when markets are available.
Mobile access matters because betting now sits beside other phone habits. World Cup betting will make this behaviour more visible in 2026. Live betting in Africa demand is also tied to how fans read football.
Is online betting legal in these African markets?
Yes, however, betting regulations are not the same across Africa, but several major markets have legal betting frameworks. Tanzania falls under the Gaming Board of Tanzania, Ghana under the Gaming Commission of Ghana, and Zambia under the Betting Control and Licensing Board.
For users asking is betting legal in Tanzania, they have a regulated gaming structure that covers licensed betting activity.
For users asking if betting is legal in Ghana, betting is allowed under the country’s gaming framework. The Gaming Commission of Ghana oversees betting and gaming activity, and the market is restricted to adults.
For users asking if betting is legal in Zambia, betting is allowed under the country’s betting control framework. Operators must meet local licensing requirements before serving players legally.
Morocco uses state-controlled sports betting, then Egypt applies tighter controls around unlicensed online betting.
Players should only use betting services that are legally available in their country. Betting is for adults aged 18+ and should be treated as paid entertainment, not a source of income.
What’s next for African online betting? (2026 trends)
Betting trends in Africa in 2026 will be shaped by live football, mobile payments, esports, tighter regulation and the World Cup. Football will still lead the market, but more users are also moving between live betting, casino products and newer digital formats.
– AI-powered odds and trading tools.
– Live streaming and faster in-play markets.
– Esports betting and crash-style games.
– Crypto payment experiments in selected markets.
– Higher 2026 World Cup betting volumes.
– Morocco’s AFCON 2025 and 2030 World Cup momentum.
Frequently asked questions
- Is online betting legal in Africa?
Yes, in some African countries, however, the rules are not the same everywhere.
What is the most popular sport to bet on in Africa?
Football is the most popular sport to bet on in Africa.
- How do Africans deposit money to bet online?
Most bettors in Africa deposit money from their phones using mobile money. Deposit options differ from one African market to another. Options include : M-Pesa, MTN MoMo, Airtel Money, Tigo Pesa, Telecel Cash, Vodafone Cash, OPay – or just transfer directly from your bank.
- Which platforms offer betting in Tanzania, Ghana and Zambia?
Betting platforms in Tanzania, Ghana and Zambia include 1xBet, Fansport, Secretbet and Paripesa, among others.
18+, bet responsibly.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
At least for the next four seasons, DStv and GOtv subscribers are guaranteed access to all UEFA men’s club matches on SuperSport.
This is because CANAL+, the parent company of MultiChoice, which owns DStv and GOtv, has secured the exclusive broadcast rights to all UEFA men’s club competitions across Sub-Saharan Africa through 2031, ensuring SuperSport will continue to broadcast the UEFA Champions, Europa and Conference Leagues live to DStv and GOtv subscribers.
The four-season agreement, which begins with the 2027/28 campaign, covers more than 40 countries across the region and includes exclusive rights to the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League.
In English- and Portuguese-speaking Africa, SuperSport will continue as the exclusive broadcaster of UEFA club competitions, bringing the continent’s biggest European club matches to DStv and GOtv subscribers. The agreement also restores full UEFA Champions League coverage on CANAL+ Sport channels in French-speaking Africa, alongside the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League.
The rights deal further strengthens CANAL+’s sports portfolio, which already includes major football competitions such as the Premier League, LALIGA EA SPORTS, Ligue 1, the Betway Premiership and the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026.
The agreement ensures football fans across Sub-Saharan Africa will continue to enjoy live coverage of Europe’s premier club competitions on SuperSport when the new rights cycle begins in 2027.
“We are very proud of this new partnership, which gives us exclusive rights to all UEFA Men’s Club competitions across more than 40 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“For four seasons, until 2031, our subscribers will enjoy the thrill of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League’s biggest matches. Today, CANAL+ offers the most attractive sports line-up across Sub-Saharan Africa, and the acquisition of these rights is a perfect illustration of that.
“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to UC3 and to the teams at Relevent for once again placing their trust in CANAL+, following our recent agreements in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Poland and Austria,” the chief executive of CANAL+, Mr Maxime Saada, stated.
The start of a football season always tricks people a little. Everything looks fresh. New shirts, new signings, clean tables, confident managers, fans talking themselves into hope again. Then the first few matches arrive, and half the predictions start wobbling. That is what makes early-season betting interesting. It is not tidy yet. Manchester City may still be Manchester City, but that does not mean they are sharp from the first whistle. Arsenal might look strong on paper and still need time to settle. Chelsea can have another summer full of noise and still leave bettors guessing. Real Madrid might have the stars, but even stars need minutes together. The first weeks are not about certainty. They are about spotting who is ready before the market fully catches up.
New Signings Need Time
Transfer excitement can make people rush. A new striker arrives at Arsenal and suddenly every goals market feels tempting. Manchester United sign a defender and people start talking about clean sheets. Chelsea add another expensive player and the same old question comes back: does this actually fix the team, or just add another name? Sometimes a signing changes everything quickly. More often, there is an awkward stage first. A forward needs to learn where the passes come from. A midfielder needs to understand the press. A centre-back needs to build trust with the goalkeeper and full-backs. That is why early-season betting after the Betway app download should not treat a new signing like a finished answer. The name matters, but the fit matters more.
World Cup Legs Will Matter
This season also carries the weight of the World Cup. Some players will come back flying. Some will come back flat. Some may start the season with managed minutes because their clubs cannot afford to burn them out early. That can change player markets fast. A bettor looking through the betway app before a weekend card should not only check the famous names in the lineup. Look at who played deep into the World Cup, who missed pre-season, who came back late, and who is being protected by the manager. A star on the pitch is not always a star at full speed.
Early Tables Can Lie
The first league table always looks more dramatic than it is. One big club drops points, and everyone starts asking if there is a crisis. One promoted side wins at home, and suddenly people talk about momentum. A striker scores twice, and the golden boot conversations begin before anyone has really learned anything. That noise can be useful, but only if bettors do not get swallowed by it. Early results need context. Did the team actually play well, or just finish two chances? Did they control the game, or survive pressure? Was the opponent missing key players? Did the manager rotate because of fitness?
Patience Beats The Big Prediction
The new season will settle. The strong teams will usually rise, the weaker squads will get exposed, and the table will start to make more sense. But the opening weeks are different. They are full of strange fitness levels, overhyped signings, tired stars and teams that are still trying to remember what they are meant to be. That is why betting on the upcoming season should start slowly. Do not fall in love with last season’s form. Do not trust every transfer story. Do not assume every World Cup star is ready to carry club football straight away. The value is often hiding in the messy part, before everyone else agrees what the season really looks like.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federation of the International Football Association (FIFA) will not proceed with its proposal to sell a piece of its business operations to outside investors after the project was met with fierce resistance from some of its member associations.
FIFA’s plan was to raise up to $4.2 billion by selling about a 20 per cent stake in a new unit that would run FIFA events, including the World Cup, valuing it at $20 billion.
The proposal was strongly opposed by the Union of the European Football Associations (UEFA), European football’s governing body, which voted on Thursday to boycott FIFA competitions. There was also opposition from the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the English FA.
In a statement, UEFA said that it was “irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret”.
The Switzerland-based organisation’s statement also accused FIFA of putting the sport’s “soul” up for sale.
“Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement announcing the cancellation.
“Our purpose has always been – and will always be – to unite and improve. As a result, this proposal will not proceed.”
UEFA welcomed the decision to scrap it but said it had lost confidence in FIFA’s current leadership, while AFC, while welcoming the decision, said that it expected any initiative of such magnitude to be discussed with its members in a “timely, transparent and meaningful manner”.
Mr Infantino’s senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro had resigned with immediate effect, calling the plan “a bad deal for football”.
FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer Kevin Lamour said staff were “deceived” by Mr Infantino, describing the proposal as a “project of one person”.
The development has now raised eyebrows against the FIFA President, especially his relationship with US President Donald Trump.
The planned FIFA private investment scheme involved Mr Joshua Kushner, the founder of Thrive Capital, who would lead the proposed venture capital group via a fund called Thrive Eternal. He is the brother of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Trump.
Mr Infantino said in April he would seek a fourth term as FIFA president, with the election scheduled to take place in Morocco on March 18 next year.
The deadline for potential candidates to declare in a presidential vote of the 211 members is November 18.
Observers now wonder if there will be fresh competition to the Swiss’ ambition to lead the world’s football authority for another
