In an exclusive interview with iGaming AFRIKA, Curtis Roach, Head of Content and Co-Founder of iGamingFuture, shared insights into how iGFEA26 builds on lessons from its inaugural 2025 event, with a stronger focus on operator-supplier collaboration, evolving regulations, affiliate marketing, and women’s leadership in iGaming.

He also explores how a community-first, operator-centric approach can drive tangible, long-term development across East Africa.

iGaming AFRIKA: Building on the success of the first iGamingFuture East Africa event in 2025, what did the inaugural edition reveal about the industry’s priorities, gaps, and expectations that have directly influenced iGFEA26?

Curtis Roach: The successes of last year’s event revealed a few key insights for us that we hope to build on for this year’s upcoming show. Firstly, we gained a greater appreciation for the value of connecting East African operators with the leading international iGaming suppliers. Traditionally, the relationship between these two key stakeholders has been strained due to poor communication, a lack of understanding, and flexibility from suppliers who fail to sufficiently adapt their products to the East African environment.

That’s why, this year, we have ensured to bring even more of the biggest content and platform providers in the industry to the show. Companies such as BetConstruct, Amusement, EGT, BetGenius, SOFTSWISS, Aviatrix, plus many more will all be present at the show with hopes of connecting with ambitious operators and strategising best ways to collaborate and ensure growth for the future.

Another key element that was revealed from last year’s show was the importance of community.

Up until very recently, the East African iGaming leaders have been starved of high-level events and real opportunities to come together as an industry. Now with events like iGF East Africa and iGaming Afrika Summit, there are finally places specifically tailored for this. We have created a unique business hub for those shaping the future of East African iGaming. Our event offers free entry, free lunch, opening and closing parties with top-tier live entertainment. It really is the ‘ place to be’ for industry peers to connect and build together!

iGaming AFRIKA: East Africa’s iGaming market has continued to develop since the first event. Which changes in the market have most influenced the conversations being brought to iGFEA26 this year?

Curtis Roach: The regulatory landscape in East Africa is always evolving. Being able to understand the changes being made to iGaming legislation and prepare for what’s coming next will always be pivotal in securing an operators’ success in the market. To help shed light on this, we have brought together a panel of regulatory leaders from Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. They will be sharing their perspectives on key industry issues and equip the audience of operators with the knowledge needed to successfully navigate the regulatory landscape well into the future.

Since last year, we’ve also seen the rise of affiliate marketing. An acquisition model that has completely shaped and driven the growth of some of the most mature markets in Europe. Traditionally, this has not been a very popular strategy on the Continent but it seems operators are now realising the exponential value affiliates can bring, as increasing levels of online traffic are being driven this way. However, there are still many who remain cautious of affiliate marketing, so we have gathered some of the leading affiliates and operators on a panel to discuss the realities of using this acquisition technique, helping the audience to create a successful affiliate programme, increasing their customer base sustainably.

Be sure to check the agenda now and see the full list of high-level industry sessions taking place at iGFEA26.

iGaming AFRIKA: The programme also puts the spotlight on women in iGaming. Where do you see the biggest untapped opportunity for greater female participation and leadership across East Africa’s gaming industry?

Curtis Roach: The iGaming industry is renowned for being a male-dominated industry. However, as the market continues to develop and mature, the power of successful women in iGaming is increasingly driving more industry growth every day. I don’t think it’s for me to say exactly how women should participate in the industry because I think they bring value, regardless of the specific role being occupied.

I do, however, think that there is a distinct lack of female presence in the majority of leadership roles, this is definitely something that’s changing for the better. This is why we have a fantastic panel session on the agenda titled ‘Leveraging the Power of Women in iGaming’. This will be an opportunity for the audience to hear from some of the top female leaders in the iGaming industry, gaining key insights into the path of success for women in our sector and, most importantly, highlighting the benefits of working together to empower and encourage this even more going forward!

iGaming AFRIKA: iGFEA26 is heavily operator-focused. Why was it important to put the operator community at the centre of the conversation?

Curtis Roach: iGFEA26 is completely free for operators to attend. Historically, too many iGaming events are often full to the brim with sales people and opportunists, whose only real reason for being there is to extract value rather than adding it to the community. The operators are the ones who are really on the ground with lived experience of the market. This is where, I believe, the true value of an event comes from. Through exchanging ideas and experiences amongst each other, they will be able to enhance their own operations and push the industry forward as a whole.

For too long operators have been taken advantage of, being asked to pay to attend and to learn. At iGFEA we believe that the operators are the real value, hence why admission for them is completely free, resulting in a high-level audience with 90% operator attendance. The other 10% is made up of the leading, international suppliers who will be attending, again, just to add value and help attendees achieve sustainable market growth.

iGaming AFRIKA : Lastly, what would you consider a meaningful outcome from iGFEA26 that will demonstrate the event has contributed something tangible to the development of East African iGaming?

Curtis Roach: The sole driving purpose of iGamingFuture East Africa is to help build a better, more sustainable future for the industry. It would mean the world to us to see big deals being made between our tier-one exhibitors and attending operators. We want to see new, long-term working relationships being created and new, innovative ideas being exchanged.

But equally important to us is what attendees take away from the event. We want people to leave iGFEA26 with practical knowledge, meaningful connections, and actionable ideas that they can take back to their businesses and use to scale, improve, and operate more effectively. Positive feedback from across the industry would be a hugely important indicator that we have delivered genuine value.

There is also enormous value in simply bringing the leaders of the East African iGaming community together under one roof. Creating an environment where operators, suppliers, regulators, and other industry stakeholders can openly share ideas, challenges, and opportunities is invaluable to the long-term development of the market.

Ultimately, I think the true value of events like iGFEA26 will only really be seen in the years that follow. If we can look back in five or ten years and see an East African iGaming industry that has continued to flourish, become more sustainable, professionalise and reach its full potential. With valuable industry partnerships that were conceived at events like ours having played a part in that journey. That would be the most meaningful outcome we could ask for. That’s what we want to see.

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