iSolutions and Malawi's MAGLA drive a secure gambling industry
Malawi’s betting industry is undergoing a revolution in sports betting. At the forefront of this transformation are the Malawi Gaming & Lotteries Authority (MAGLA) and iSolutions, whose collaborative efforts have guided in a new time characterised by increased regulation, transparency, and responsible gaming. By leveraging technology strategically, Malawi is leading the way for other African countries looking to make their betting environment safer and more investor-friendly.
MAGLA envisions a transparent market
MAGLA’s remit is more than securing the mere licensing of operators. Its primary goal is to protect players, ensure tax returns, and reinforce public trust in the gaming industry. Against a fast-growing market, the authority anticipated early on that traditional manual control mechanisms would fall short of ensuring effective regulation. By opening an international tender, the sought to identify a partner with the expertise to build a robust digital architecture. The outcome was a choice that would go a great way in shaping the future of regulation in Malawi.
iSTrust: The digital backbone
Selected through a competitive selection process, iSolutions—an Italy-based company headquartered in Parma- “brought in over 25 years of gaming regulation and data infrastructure experience.” The outcome is thus iSTrust, a centralised monitoring system designed to track each online transaction in real-time. With iSTrust at its core, MAGLA can authorise, monitor, and log gambling activity across the country, ensuring operators meet regulatory standards at all times.
Real-time tracking and tax automation
The most striking feature of iSTrust is perhaps the automatic tax calculation module. As bets are accepted and winnings paid out, the system automatically computes the tax payable by each operator. It offers two key advantages: it simplifies reporting for companies, and it ensures maximum revenue for the government in the form of accurate, timely revenue. Automation of tax reporting not only enhances compliance but also enables regulators to concentrate on strategic priorities like identifying suspicious activity and enhancing consumer protections.
Establishing a standard for responsible gaming
The collaboration between Malawi’s MAGLA and iSolutions is being celebrated as a model case in Africa, promising technology as a means to enable responsible gambling. By minimising criminal activity and promoting regulated gaming, iSTrust helps protect vulnerable players and enhances stakeholder trust. Further, the transparent and data-driven regulatory framework renders the Malawian market increasingly appealing to international investors, who favour clear-cut regulatory frameworks and safe operating conditions.
Safeguarding players and development
The evolution of sports betting throughout Africa poses a twin challenge to the industry: to capitalise on the market while protecting consumers against harm. It is essential that responsible gambling practices such as self-exclusion mechanisms, age verification, and deposit limits be incorporated within the regulatory framework. The use of real-time data by Malawi’s MAGLA not only discourages illegal operators but also enables the authority to identify erratic patterns that could signal problem gambling.
Education campaigns, alongside industry partnerships, serve to strengthen player protections further, thereby ensuring that growth does not occur at the expense of public health.
An active participant in responsible gaming
Nairobi will host the from June 2 to June 6, 2025, and iSolutions will serve as an official sponsor. The company will present the Malawi case study, reflecting “on the results achieved one year after the full rollout of iSTrust.”
Malawi’s embrace of regulatory technology is a landmark in African gaming regulation. Through the partnership with iSolutions, MAGLA has set an example of how to balance industry growth with consumer protection. Other nations will adopt Malawi’s experience—especially its focus on transparency, automated compliance, and responsible gaming as a blueprint for sustained development. The success of iSTrust proves that innovation, when put to its best use by progressive regulators, can make a safer, fairer, and more successful betting industry.
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