Meridian Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: MRDN) announced that William Scott, Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, will speak at the 2026 SBC Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, from September 29 to October 1. Scott will participate in the panel "The Africa Advantage: High Growth, Fast Regulation, Huge Potential," which opens the Global & Emerging Markets Stage on Tuesday, September 29 at 13:00 local time. The panel will feature senior operators including Christopher Coyne, CEO of 888Africa; Jason Gibson, Chief Commercial Officer of SportPesa; Aggrey Sayi, CEO of Maybets; and Ronnie Whelan, CEO of Kingmakers. The discussion will examine how player preferences differ across European and African markets, identify the fastest-growing countries, and explore how shifting regulations are moving activity from the grey market to licensed operators.
Africa has emerged as one of the fastest-growing regions in global iGaming. According to iGaming Business, the continent's online betting and gaming market is projected to grow from $12.7 billion in 2026 to $19.4 billion by 2030. This growth is driven by increasing mobile penetration, youthful demographics, and the widespread adoption of mobile money platforms, which are critical for player conversion. The panel will delve into these factors, as well as regulatory developments in key markets such as Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, and Uganda. As regulations evolve, operators that engage proactively with regulators and invest in compliance are poised to capture significant market share.
Meridian Holdings, through its flagship sports betting and gaming subsidiary Meridianbet, maintains an established presence across several African markets. Scott's participation underscores the company's strategic focus on the continent and its commitment to sustainable, compliant growth. "Africa represents one of the most compelling growth stories in our industry right now, and it's an opportunity we've been building toward for years," Scott said. "I'm looking forward to sharing perspective alongside operators who, like Meridian, are working directly with regulators and players across these markets and discussing what it takes to build a sustainable, compliant business as this region continues to mature."
The SBC Summit panel comes at a pivotal time as Africa's iGaming landscape matures. With projections showing a 53% increase in market size by 2030, the continent offers substantial opportunities for operators and technology providers. However, challenges such as varying regulatory frameworks, currency volatility, and infrastructure gaps remain. Scott's insights, drawn from Meridian's experience navigating these complexities, will be valuable for stakeholders looking to enter or expand in the region. Meridian Holdings operates across 25+ international regulated markets, with a B2C division led by Meridianbet Group and a B2B division comprising game developer Expanse Studios and iGaming platform GMAG. The company's software automatically declines gaming or redemption requests originating in the United States, in strict compliance with U.S. law.
For more information, visit www.meridian-holdings.com.
