GRAF 2026 Puts AI, Real-Time Monitoring and Safer Gambling at Centre of African Regulation

Gaming regulators from across Africa have gathered in Maputo for GRAF 2026, where artificial intelligence, real-time monitoring, cybersecurity and player protection have emerged as central themes in the push to modernise gambling supervision across the continent.

The 17th annual Gaming Regulators Africa Forum (GRAF) Conference is taking place in Maputo, Mozambique, from September 14 to 17, bringing together regulators, policymakers and industry representatives to discuss the rapidly changing African gambling market. The event is being held under the theme “Regulation for Transformation. Safer Gambling. Smarter Regulation. Stronger African Collaboration.”

Technology has dominated the discussions. Regulators are increasingly concerned that traditional supervision methods are struggling to keep pace with online betting, mobile payments, new gambling products and increasingly sophisticated digital platforms. Artificial intelligence, reliable data and real-time monitoring are therefore being presented as important tools for identifying risks and improving enforcement.

Mozambique used the conference to highlight its own move toward more technology-driven oversight. In the opening programme, government representatives said the country is implementing new systems for monitoring gambling activity and stressed that regulatory decisions should increasingly rely on verifiable data rather than traditional reporting alone.

South Africa's National Gambling Board also focused on the scale of the digital shift. Acting CEO Lungile Dukwana told delegates that approximately 95% of bets in South Africa are now placed through digital platforms, arguing that regulators must adopt technology capable of following an industry that has largely moved online.

Cybersecurity and artificial intelligence have formed another major part of the agenda. Sessions examined the risks created by AI, the need for independent testing of gaming systems and the importance of technical standards capable of verifying whether platforms remain secure and compliant. Speakers also warned that technological development is moving faster than regulation in many jurisdictions.

However, the debate has not focused only on enforcement. Responsible gambling and player protection are also central to GRAF 2026. Discussions have examined how AI and behavioural data could identify signs of gambling harm earlier, while emphasising that technology should support rather than replace human intervention for players experiencing problems.

Cross-border cooperation has emerged as another recurring issue. Online gambling operators, payments and technology providers increasingly work across several African countries, while regulation generally remains national. GRAF participants have therefore called for greater information sharing, regulatory alignment and cooperation against illegal gambling, particularly where operators or financial flows cross jurisdictional boundaries.

The conference also marks the introduction of the GRAF Regulatory Excellence Awards, covering areas including regulatory innovation, responsible gambling, African regulatory cooperation and industry contribution. Winners are scheduled to be recognised at the closing gala in Mozambique on September 17.

The central message from GRAF 2026 is that African gambling regulation is increasingly becoming a technology issue as much as a legal one. As betting shifts toward smartphones, digital payments and cross-border platforms, regulators are looking beyond licences and periodic inspections toward continuous monitoring, shared data and faster intervention. The challenge after Maputo will be turning those discussions into systems that regulators across very different African markets can realistically implement.