Africa is no stranger to casinos – a lot of major cities throughout the continent, such as Kampala, have at least one physical casino there, and that’s even without touching the fact that a lot of venues, such as bars and hotels, have their own in-house casinos to entertain the guests. With gambling laws which are so lax and allowing, it’s really no wonder that online casino is on its way to becoming a dominant force in the African market. In fact, while it’s generally difficult to estimate just how much it has grown over the last few years, the fact that online casino is set to have its own conference in Lagos, Nigeria, should be extremely telling of its success.

The conference is set to discuss the potential of online gambling on the African continent (specifically in the Nigerian region) and explore just how big the industry could possibly get there. “The region is known for its troubles and government issues, but this market is in its growth stage,” Curtis Roach, the producer of the event, said in an interview. “Nigeria is a leader in this market, and it has a lot of investment dollars. Reforms have happened.” Roach further explained that he has conducted thorough research, and thus far Nigeria has come on top as the absolute leader when it comes to online casino potential, surpassing even casino havens such as Uganda.

The event is expected to target between 150 and 200 guests – a number that is significantly smaller than similar conferences happening in Europe, such as the London Affiliate Conference, which in 2016 attracted over 4,500 delegates from across the globe. Regardless, some people of interest have promised to attend and give talks at the conference, such as Lanre Gbajabiamila, CEO of the Lagos State Lottery Board (LSLB), John Kamara, director of Global Gaming Africa; Tarimba Abbas, director general of the Tanzania Gaming Board; Edward Lalumbe, chief operating officer of the Gauteng Gambling Board; and Matthias Jacek Wojdyla, head of international affairs at FIFA.

“The Nigerian gaming industry is an evolving one and gradually expanding. More states and individuals are becoming more aware of the opportunities that exist in the industry in terms of entertainment, revenue and employment,” Lanre Gbajabiamila said in a press statement regarding the conference. He has a point – if online gambling becomes a major industry within the Nigerian region, it’ll not only create numerous much-needed jobs, but the profits from taxes will definitely aid the government, allowing it to continue its reforms and keep transforming the country in a positive way. While controversial across the world, a decent online gambling industry is generally a win-win-win situation for the government, the business owners and the gamblers in the region.