The African Lottery and Gambling Association (ALGA) intends to establish a continental ombudsman for dispute resolution within the lottery and gambling sector on the continent.
This was announced by ALGA Board Chair Sebina Khlapolos during the CEOs Forum in KwaZulu-Natal. The proposed ombudsman will provide an independent mechanism for reviewing industry disagreements and issues.
Sebina Khlapolos presented this initiative at the association's forum, known as The Black Table, which took place from September 1 to 4 at the Zimbali Coastal Resort & Conference Centre in KwaZulu-Natal.
The proposed Continental Dispute Resolution Ombudsman will offer an impartial and independent channel for examining relevant industry matters and disputes, with a focus on fairness, accountability, and institutional integrity.
ALGA emphasized that this ombudsman will complement existing regulators and dispute resolution mechanisms in African jurisdictions, rather than replacing or duplicating their established functions.
This initiative comes amid rapid changes in Africa's lottery and gambling sector, driven by digitalization, technological innovations, cross-border participation, and market expansion. These changes have also strengthened oversight regarding consumer protection, governance, accountability, and regulatory cooperation.
The association stated that industry institutions and accountability mechanisms must evolve in parallel with these transformations. ALGA believes that sustainable industry growth should be supported not only by investment and innovation but also by responsible governance, consumer trust, and mechanisms allowing stakeholders to raise concerns and objectively review disputes.
The proposed ombudsman will become part of this accountability system and is intended to strengthen confidence in the integrity and responsible development of the sector. ALGA noted that this initiative reflects the central theme of the current CEOs Forum—closer collaboration between regulators, operators, industry associations, technology providers, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders.
Currently, the association has not disclosed details about the ombudsman's operation, including the scope of its jurisdiction or the types of disputes it will be authorized to handle. ALGA reported that the mandate, governance structure, jurisdiction, operational model, and implementation plans will be announced as the initiative develops.
The creation of the ombudsman became one of the institutional commitments declared at the 2026 CEOs Forum, which ALGA positions as a platform for developing practical solutions to issues affecting the lottery and gambling sector across Africa.