Africa's gaming landscape is evolving rapidly, creating new opportunities and challenges for operators across the continent. In a recent interview with NEXT, Kiron Interactive's Customer Success Manager for Africa, Siphindile Msani, shared her perspective on the trends shaping the market, the importance of meaningful localisation, and why relevance will be a key driver of long term success.

Great to talk to you, Siphindile! Over the past year, how have you seen the African iGaming market evolve, and what opportunities are becoming most important for operators?

Likewise! There's been a real shift from rapid expansion towards more sustainable, long term growth strategies. Operators are placing a much stronger focus on player retention and engagement, as opposed to chasing pure acquisition numbers. Mobile continues to dominate player behaviour across most markets, and alongside that, there's growing demand for localised entertainment experiences rather than models imported from other regions. The operators succeeding are the ones that are building for longevity.

Localisation is one of the biggest themes in African gaming right now. What does true localisation look like in practice?

It goes well beyond language and currency integration. True localisation requires understanding local betting habits, entertainment preferences and player behaviour at a granular level. Mobile first design is absolutely essential too. Smartphone led access means that low data consumption and lightweight platforms are critical, instead of merely being nice to have features. Content should reflect local sports culture and familiar gameplay experiences, while communication and support need to feel culturally authentic and specific to each market. If a player feels like the product wasn't built with them in mind, you've already lost crucial ground.

Africa is often discussed as a single market, but the reality is far more complex. What are some of the biggest differences operators need to understand?

The differences are significant. Regulation, infrastructure and digital maturity vary widely across regions, and player preferences shift depending on local sports culture and entertainment habits. Connectivity and device capabilities are far from consistent, while language and cultural nuances directly impact marketing effectiveness. Some markets are highly competitive and mature, while others are still developing. The bottom line is that operators need market specific strategies rather than a single continental approach.

From your experience working closely with operators, what are the biggest challenges they still face?

Connectivity issues still impact the player experience in certain regions, and platforms have to work effectively across a wide range of mobile devices. High data consumption remains a factor that can directly reduce retention. Competition for player attention is also increasing across digital entertainment more broadly, so operators need to deliver consistent performance and frictionless user journeys simply to stay in the conversation.

How important are mobile optimisation and low data solutions in delivering successful gaming experiences across African markets today?

Mobile is the primary access point for digital entertainment across many of the markets we work in. Fast loading, lightweight experiences directly impact engagement and retention. Players are very aware of factors such as data costs and network performance, so low data solutions improve accessibility for a wider audience. Smooth gameplay under varying connection conditions is foundational, and mobile optimisation now influences both acquisition and long term loyalty.

Customer success has become a much bigger focus across B2B iGaming. How has your role evolved beyond traditional account management?

Customer success has become far more strategic and collaborative. Operators now expect insight, guidance and optimisation support alongside product delivery. There's a much stronger focus on understanding each operator's goals and the dynamics of their local markets. Partnerships today involve ongoing performance analysis and strategic input, and long term collaboration is valued far more than transactional relationships. It's about being a genuine partner in their success, rather than simply being a supplier on the other end of a contract.

Looking ahead, what do you think will define the operators and suppliers that succeed in Africa over the next few years?

Strong localisation strategies will continue to separate the successful brands from the rest. Mobile first thinking will remain essential across all products and experiences. The operators that truly understand local player behaviour will perform more consistently, and lightweight, accessible entertainment experiences will drive stronger engagement. Ultimately, long term success in Africa will come from relevance, adaptability and a consistent player experience, rather than scale alone.