Altenar Joins Forces with IBIA to Tackle Betting Fraud in Africa

The African betting landscape is currently undergoing a massive transformation, presenting both immense economic opportunities and significant risks to sports integrity. Altenar, a leading provider of sportsbook technology, has entered into a strategic partnership with the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA). The primary goal of this cooperation is to strengthen monitoring standards across the continent's rapidly expanding markets. As more African nations adapt their legislation, collaboration between platform operators and integrity watchdogs is becoming a decisive factor for sustainable growth.

The high level of digitalization in countries such as Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda is particularly striking. Research by GeoPoll from 2026 shows that 95 percent of bettors already place their wagers via mobile devices. Football remains the primary focus, accounting for 67 percent of all bets. This strong concentration on mobile channels and popular sports makes the market attractive but also vulnerable to cross-border manipulation. IBIA acts as a global safety net, monitoring more than 1.5 million sporting events worldwide.

Numbers and facts

The economic dimensions are impressive. According to IBIA’s 2025 Sports Betting Integrity Report, based on data from H2 Gambling Capital, total Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) in Africa is projected to grow from US$3.5 billion in 2021 to US$19.4 billion by 2030. The share of online betting is estimated at US$16.4 billion. Between 2020 and the third quarter of 2025, 131 suspicious betting alerts were recorded in Africa, including 64 in football and 62 in tennis. IBIA now represents over 90 companies and 200 betting brands worldwide, analyzing over US$300 billion in betting turnover annually.

„Africa is a market with significant potential, but sustainable growth depends on building trust alongside strong technology and commercial propositions. Integrity is a shared responsibility across the industry." - Jacob Portelli, Sales Manager at Altenar

Background

The challenge in Africa lies in the varying speeds of regulation. While some regions are already creating advanced frameworks, others are lagging behind. Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, emphasized that while the African sector offers opportunities, the dangers from unregulated operators and match-fixers could derail progress. Compared to world-leading jurisdictions such as Ontario or Alberta, many African states still have gaps in integrity measures. Altenar’s membership in IBIA is intended to help close these gaps through the exchange of data and best practices.

Through IBIA’s Global Monitoring & Alert Platform (Global MAP), suspicious bets can be detected in real-time and reported to the authorities. This is particularly important as markets become increasingly interconnected. The partnership with the African iGaming Alliance (AIA), also formalized in November 2025, underscores the effort to link local expertise with international know-how.

Why it matters for German players

Although this news primarily concerns the African market, it illustrates a global trend: the growing importance of integrity and monitoring. For German players who strictly adhere to the Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021), this is a positive signal. In Germany, the Joint Gambling Authority of the States (GGL) ensures an extremely secure environment through the LUGAS system and the whitelist. German players already benefit from strict rules, such as the 1-euro limit per spin for slots or the monthly deposit limit of 1,000 euros across all providers. The efforts in Africa show that the German path of strict monitoring serves as an international model for preventing manipulation and money laundering.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

German providers with a GGL license can indirectly benefit from such global alliances as the one between Altenar and IBIA. Since Altenar also provides technology for the European market, the expertise gained in fraud detection flows directly into their software products. Casinos on the official whitelist must meet the highest security standards. When technology partners like Altenar sharpen their integrity systems worldwide, the risk decreases for German operators to unknowingly become part of manipulation networks. This strengthens the long-term stability of the legal German market against black market offers from overseas.