Lasha Gogiberidze, Parimatch Africa CEO, has described this year’s ICE Africa as “an unmissable opportunity for the entire industry to build a solid, sustainable foundation for the future of gaming."
Gogiberidze spoke ahead of his panel debate on taking advantage of digital space, mobile betting and how customer data can be effectively collected and utilised.
He said: “Africa is unique in that its reliance on mobile is absolute. From the age of 18, a mobile phone is a person’s ID and in some African countries they will even be able to go to the polls and vote using it.
“As an industry this puts us in a brilliant position as it allows for regulatory boards and businesses to create an ecosystem where data is regulated in the safest manner. Not only does this provide an incredible leap for responsible gambling with self-exclusion and other initiatives but also allows for development in terms of KYC and using customer data in the right way.”
ICE Africa is set to provide a sharp focus on consumer protection delivering conference streams dealing directly with the issue of socially responsible gambling, something which Gogiberidze supports wholeheartedly.
“A meeting place like ICE Africa is absolutely fundamental to the industry’s future,” he said. “The biggest problem for regulated markets is not to run before they can walk. Africa’s legislation is in its infancy. So despite 80 per cent of the market being regulated there is a lack of common understanding of the full 360 scope of what gambling is on the part of players, regulators and I would say even some operators.”
