Non-Standard Betting in Africa 2025: The New Favorites of Generation Z

The iGaming Market in Africa: The Big Picture

While sports betting has historically been the industry's engine, its market share is gradually being diluted by the growth of other verticals.

Market Share by Number of Users (2024 Estimate):

• Sports Betting: ~65%
• Lotteries (including online): ~20%
• Gambling (casino, slots): ~15%

Fantasy Sports: Become a Manager of Your Own Team

The Concept: A user assembles a virtual team of real athletes within a limited "budget." Points are awarded for the real-life performance of these athletes in matches (goals, assists). The winner is the one whose team scores the most points.

• Market Size (Africa, 2024): ~$1.2 billion.
• Why it's Interesting: This is a game of skill, not pure luck. Players value the opportunity to apply their knowledge of sports, making fantasy sports more socially acceptable than traditional betting.
• Regulation: In most countries (including South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya), fantasy sports are classified as a "game of skill" and are regulated more leniently than games of chance.
• 2024 Trend: Growth in the popularity of fantasy cricket and the launch of localized platforms focused on local football leagues.

Esports Betting: Wagering on Virtual Battles

The Concept: Betting on the outcomes of professional video game matches, such as Dota 2, League of Legends, CS:GO, and especially in Africa, mobile games like Free Fire and PUBG Mobile.

• Market Size (Africa, 2024): ~$2.5 billion.
• Growth Forecast: ~12-15% per year.
• Regulation: In most countries, esports fall under the same rules as traditional sports betting. In 2025, South Africa and Nigeria began actively discussing the creation of separate regulatory frameworks.
• 2024 Trend: Explosive growth in betting on mobile esports disciplines. Operators are actively integrating live streams of matches directly into their platforms to retain players.

Prediction Markets: From Politics to Show Business

The Concept: Prediction markets where users bet on the outcome of real-world events: election results, economic indicators (oil prices), music award winners, or even plot twists in popular TV series.

• Market Size (Africa, 2024): The segment is still niche, estimated at ~$150-200 million.
• Growth Forecast: High, up to 20% per year.
• Regulation: Operates in a "grey area." In most countries, it is not classified as gambling but also lacks a clear legal status.
• Features: Attracts a more educated and intellectual audience that wants to "monetize" their knowledge of the world. Key markets are South Africa and Nigeria, where there is high interest in global politics and economics.

Conclusions

Non-standard betting is not just a fad but a long-term trend driven by a generational shift. For operators and affiliates, this means a need to diversify their products. Platforms that can offer quality fantasy sports solutions, a user-friendly interface for esports betting, and interesting prediction markets will gain access to a new, young, and very loyal audience that is not interested in traditional betting.