Current & upcoming tax policies in African gaming- GTSA Day 3
The Gaming Tech Summits Day 3 panel convened industry stakeholders to discuss current and upcoming tax policies affecting gaming and fintech in Africa. Representatives from regulators, operators, and consultants explored how legal uncertainties, communication gaps, and outdated frameworks are hindering growth and what can be done to transform taxes into enablers rather than hurdles.
Tax policy landscape in the continent
Panel members opened by noting that while interest in online gaming and fintech is surging across the continent, tax regimes have not kept pace. Without clear, harmonised rules, investors face unpredictability, and operators struggle to comply with them.
Legal uncertainties and regional disparities
In Tanzania, panellists highlighted that the uncertainty of legal frameworks in some countries make tax regimes hinderances. Businesses cannot chart long-term strategies when laws shift without warning or when multiple agencies claim overlapping authority. The lack of a unified approach also makes cross-border operations more costly and complex.
Communication challenges in tax collection
Ghana presents its headaches. All gaming-related levies are collected through the , but coordination remains inadequate. According to participants, this tends to come between a seamless mode of communication preventing the industry from having the best outcome. Operators report delays in approvals and mismatched data requests, which can stall new product launches and undermine investor confidence.
The impact of tax on industry growth
Tax policy has real consequences for market expansion. We have also seen tax affect the growth of the industry, especially with the introduction and eventually the scrapping of the 10% tax, said Gifty-Ritah Amoah, Assistant Director at the . The 10% levyintended to raise public revenues, ultimately drove some operators to exit or limit service offerings. Its quick reversal illustrates how poorly designed taxes can backfire, hurting both state coffers and private investment.
Calls for incentives and global perspective
Many panellists agreed that current African tax regimes lack incentives to promote compliance and growth. The African tax regimes do not have any incentives to encourage compliance, said Aaron Markowitz, CFO of Pawapay. Without credits, lower initial rates or relief tied to investment in local infrastructure and training, operators see little benefit in formalising or expanding their activities.
Tax consultants urged regulators to adopt a global perspective on gaming. Gaming needs to be looked at as a business, not a social vice, said Meshack Mutuku, Tax Consultant. By recognising gaming as a legitimate economic sectoron par with banking, telecoms or tourism, policymakers can develop nuanced regulations that support responsible play, protect consumers and foster innovation.
Leveraging fintech for efficient regulation
Africas fintech scene is already decades ahead in certain respects. Mobile money, blockchain trial deployments, and digital identity solutions have leapfrogged legacy systems in many countries. Panel speakers argued that revenue authorities should harness these technologies to streamline tax administration and strengthen compliance.
Real-time reporting, automated withholding and data-driven risk profiling can reduce fraud and lower audit costs. By integrating tax collection tools into existing payment rails, regulators could simplify filings for operators while capturing dues more reliably. This, in turn, frees resources for enforcement and oversight, creating a virtuous cycle of trust and transparency.
Collaboration and simplification
An exchange of ideas and collaborative working groups were identified as crucial to positioning Africa as a global leader in gaming fintech. Industry associations, regulators and technology providers must co-create standards, share best practices and pilot new models regionally before scaling them continent-wide.
More simplified policies will pave the way for Africa to move a step up. This will ease compliance from operators, said Peter Mshikilwa, President of Tanzania Esports Association. Simplification could take the form of uniform tax definitions, clear exemptions for small-scale developers or phased compliance timelines for new entrants. By reducing red tape, governments can boost revenue collection and foster a competitive environment that attracts foreign and domestic investment alike.
The importance of a structured framework
A proper framework is the foundation for governments to make informed decisions, said one of the panellists. With clear objectives, such as revenue targets, consumer protection goals and innovation benchmarkspolicymakers can design tax systems that balance public interest with industry vitality. Strong legal bases, supported by dedicated enforcement units and stakeholder feedback loops, will ensure taxes remain fair, predictable and adaptable as markets evolve.
The delegates agreed that East-to-West collaboration is the next step. Aligning tax codes, sharing technological solutions and building regional oversight bodies could transform the continents gaming sector. By transforming tax policy from a roadblock into a strategic asset, African nations can lead the world in responsible, high-growth gaming and fintech innovation.
