ECGB CEO Calls For Stronger African Regulatory Cooperation as He Concludes GRAF Presidency
Eastern Cape Gambling Board (ECGB) Chief Executive Officer and President of the Gaming Regulators Africa Forum (GRAF), Mabutho Zwane, has called on African gambling regulators to strengthen cooperation, embrace technological change and place consumer protection at the centre of regulation as the continent’s gambling industry continues to evolve.
Delivering his Presidential Reflections at the conclusion of the GRAF Conference in Maputo, Mozambique, Zwane reflected on GRAF’s development while outlining priorities for the organisation’s next phase. The address also marked the approaching conclusion of his term as GRAF President.
Zwane said the rapid growth of digital platforms, online gambling, new payment systems and cross-border operations had fundamentally changed the regulatory environment. These developments presented opportunities but also created risks extending beyond national borders, making cooperation between African regulators increasingly important.
He emphasised that GRAF’s success should not be measured solely by growing membership, but by its ability to facilitate knowledge exchange, build regulatory capacity and collectively address regulatory challenges. He further called for African regulators to play an active role in shaping international conversations about the future of gaming.
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Looking ahead, Zwane identified technology readiness, cross-border intelligence sharing, responsible gambling, consumer protection, and investment in the next generation of African regulatory leaders as critical priorities.
He described the required evolution of GRAF as a transition “from conversation to coordination,” “from information sharing to collective capability,” and “from reacting to change to governing it.”
As he prepares to conclude his tenure as GRAF President, Zwane reflected on an organisation that has developed a stronger continental presence, growing membership, and expanding international partnerships. He stressed that this progress represented the collective contribution of regulators, trustees, members, and partners rather than the achievement of any single leader.
Zwane concluded with three priorities for GRAF’s future: Protect. Strengthen. Transform. He urged members to protect the public and regulatory independence, strengthen governance and cooperation, and transform GRAF into a continental institution capable of regulation in Africa
