GambleAware NG: "Meaningful progress in responsible gaming does not always require significant funding

GambleAware Nigeria has won the Rising Star in Responsible Gambling category at the Casino Guru Awards, with the organisation demonstrating that meaningful progress in player protection does not require deep pockets. In this interview, the charity reflects on what it has built, the challenges that remain, and what it hopes to achieve next.

Q: GambleAware Nigeria recently won the Casino Guru Awards’ Rising Star in Responsible Gaming accolade. How does that recognition feel?

It feels immensely rewarding. For us, the recognition is not just about the organisation, it is about the vulnerable communities we serve and the belief that player protection should always come first.

This award validates that approach. It shows that meaningful progress in responsible gaming does not always require significant funding, but rather a deep understanding of the problem, proximity to affected communities, and a willingness to act quickly and consistently.

Q: In your view, what should a true "rising star" in responsible gaming stand for, and how should organisations in this space approach their work?

A true rising star should stand for real impact, not just awareness. It should be measured by people it has helped and whether interventions are grounded in the lived realities of players.

We believe organisations should move beyond campaigns into practical support systems. That includes peer-led recovery models, real-time intervention, and tools that give players control, such as self-exclusion support and financial management solutions.

It is also important to meet people where they are. Most affected players in our network are young people between 18 and 25 year, so our work is built around digital communities, social platforms, and campus-based volunteers who can intervene early and locally relevant contexts.

Q: GambleAware Nigeria has built Africa’s largest gambling addiction recovery network and now supports more than 8,000 people. How do you plan to scale those efforts further?

Scaling for us is about deepening access and strengthening systems, not just increasing numbers.

We are already expanding through a distributed volunteer model, with trained responders across Nigerian states and several African countries.

The next phase includes:

• Expanding readership of our Safer Gaming for Africa newsletter. A monthly editorial which spotlights safer gaming activities and news across Africa.
• Successfully deliver our Safer Gaming for Africa online conference which will hold in September of this year. Last year we had over 117 attendees from 12 countries. This year we will have an even more diverse speaker panel and attendees. We wouldn’t mind having Casino Guru join as partners of the event.
• Expanding student-led interventions across universities to catch early-stage addiction and provide first-line support.
• Scaling digital tools including our AI-powered recovery app (MINAKI) and the Spendora money control app, which help users manage urges and limit financial exposure.
• Strengthening partnerships with regulators, health agencies and organisations to integrate responsible gaming within broader systems.

We are also seeing steady growth with new cases coming in daily which highlights the need to scale sustainably.

Q: The judges praised your ability to strengthen player protection in an emerging market despite limited resources. Was this the result of long-term strategic planning, or did some elements of success surprise even you?

It is a mix of both.

We made an intentional decision from the start to remain self-sustaining and close to the community, which allows us to move quickly and focus on what actually works.

At the same time, some of the scale we have reached, particularly the speed of community growth and the level of engagement across platforms, has exceeded our expectations. For example, weekly group therapy sessions now attract thousands of participants, and our peer-to-peer model has proven far more effective than traditional approaches in engaging young people.

What this shows is that when solutions are built with people who have lived experience, they tend to be more practical.

Q: How would you describe your experience with the Casino Guru Awards judging process, and is there anything you feel you could improve on going forward?

The judging process was very encouraging because it focused on evidence, innovation and measurable impact, which aligns closely with how we work. Although we were a bit nervous to be in a room field with some of the most prominent names in gaming, even though it was virtually!

It gave us the opportunity to reflect on what we have built in a relatively short time, especially the therapy networks and partnerships and digital tools.

Looking forward, we would like to improve how we measure and present impact, particularly around long-term outcomes and player recovery journeys. While we already track outcomes such as recovery rates and engagement, we want to continue improving our data systems and evidence base to support scaling and policy influence.

Q: Do you think categories such as Rising Star in Responsible Gaming help promote safer gambling standards across the industry? What more could operators and stakeholders do to better protect players?

Yes, these categories play an important role because they highlight what is actually working and encourage others to adopt similar approaches.

They also show that innovation can come from emerging markets and smaller organisations, not just established institutions.

However, more needs to be done across the ecosystem:

• Operators should invest more in early detection and intervention and not just compliance. It helps where more organisations invest in bringing on board responsible gaming managers as part of their team.
• There needs to be stronger collaboration between health systems, regulators and industry.
• Practical tools such as self-exclusion, financial controls and accessible counselling must be expanded.
• More attention should be given to young and vulnerable players who are disproportionately affected.

We also see emerging risks, such as the role of fintech / banking platforms in enabling gambling behaviours, and this requires broader stakeholder engagement and policy action.

Q: Finally, what are GambleAware Nigeria’s main priorities for the remainder of 2026?

Our priorities are focused on expanding access, strengthening protection, and influencing the system. Delivering training for regulators / operators to better identify and support at-risk players. Continuing development and rollout of digital recovery and financial tools and hosting the Safer Gaming for Africa online conference to deepen collaboration across the continent.

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