Nnanna Chigozie Ewuzie, Compliance
Manager at 1xBet Nigeria, took part in the Responsible Gaming Symposium, where
he focused on one of the biggest challenges for safer gambling in Africa:
players need to understand protection tools before they can use them
effectively.
At the Symposium, Nnanna presented 1xBet’s
view on player education as a core part of responsible gambling. His remarks
were built around insights from 1xBet’s research - Independently Commissioned
Player Protection Index, which shows that in many African markets betting is
still often seen not only as entertainment, but as a possible source of income.
Education before warnings
Nnanna stressed that responsible gambling
tools remain important, but they are not enough on their own. Deposit limits,
self-exclusion and time-outs can only work when players understand why these
tools exist and how they can help.
“If we want safer play, we must teach,
not only warn the players. A tool only works when a player understands it. A
limit means nothing if a player does not know why it helps,” Nnanna said.
This was the central idea of his
contribution: education turns responsible gambling from formal messaging into a
practical choice. When players understand the risks, odds, limits and available
protection tools, they are more likely to stay in control.
“Education turns a warning into a
choice. It helps a player move from betting for hope to betting with control,”
he added.
What the data shows
The Player Protection Index research by
1xBet also points to a wider shift in the industry. According to the findings
referenced by 1xBet, 69% of operators now agree that a safer player is more
profitable over time. This suggests that player protection is increasingly
being seen not only as a regulatory requirement, but as part of long-term
business sustainability.
The research also shows that 84% of
respondents believe player education is the foundation of safer gambling.
At the same time, Simon Westbury, Strategic Advisor to 1xBet, has highlighted
that only a small share of operators strongly believe players fully understand
what “Positive Play” means.
For Simon, this shows a clear gap between
the tools available and the way players understand them.
“Player education was the foundation
of safer gambling. Positive play is when the player is educated and informed of
their decisions,” Simon said.
He also connected safer gambling with
long-term trust between operators and players.
“If you can retain a player and give a
player a safe, fun environment to gamble, then they are going to stay with you
longer,” he said.
Africa needs local and practical solutions
The discussion also reflected the
specific realities of African markets. Regulation, payment habits, languages,
digital access and retail betting culture differ across countries. This means
safer gambling standards cannot simply be copied from other regions.
The Player Protection Index by 1xBet
points to a 56% / 44% split in views on how consistent player protection
standards are across markets. For Nnanna, this reinforces the need for a common
base that can be adapted locally.
That base should be simple: set limits,
understand odds, take breaks and ask for help when needed. Each market can then
adapt the language, examples and delivery channels to its own context.
In markets where many players rely on
cash or in-person betting, education may need to come through voice, video,
visual formats, local languages and shop staff, not only through long text or
formal disclaimers.
“Simple words and pictures travel
further than long text,” Nnanna noted.
From compliance to real understanding
Both Nnanna and Simon pointed to the same
conclusion: safer gambling in Africa must move beyond small print and generic
warnings.
The industry still faces real barriers.
Simon has noted that 49% of respondents see commercial considerations as a
blocker to player protection, while 67% of players are apathetic towards
safer gambling and player protection tools. This is why education matters:
many players do not use protection tools because they do not see how those
tools apply to them.
For Nnanna, operators and regulators need
to agree on what good player education looks like. He pointed to three
practical steps: a shared standard for education, room to test what works and
honest data-sharing.
“We cannot build trust if we only show
the good numbers,” Nnanna said.
For Simon, collaboration is also
essential. The research shows that 96% of respondents believe safe gambling
is only possible through cooperation between operators and regulators. This
cooperation should help turn player protection from a compliance requirement
into something players can understand and use.
1xBalance and the next step
1xBet’s responsible gambling work also
includes 1xBalance, a dedicated project and website focused on
education, self-checking and helping players better understand their betting
behaviour.
Through the 1xBalance website, players
can access simple educational materials, take a self-assessment
test and use a budget calculator to better understand their
spending habits. The idea is to make player protection softer, clearer and less
intrusive.
Instead of treating responsible gambling
as a clinical or distant topic, 1xBalance presents it as something practical: a
way for players to check themselves, understand their behaviour and make more
informed decisions.
This reflects the main message of the
Responsible Gaming Symposium: safer gambling will depend on education,
cooperation and tools that players can actually understand.
For 1xBet
Nigeria, Nnanna Chigozie Ewuzie’s participation showed that responsible
gambling in Africa is not only a regulatory issue. It is also a communication
challenge, an education challenge and a trust challenge.
The next step is clear: teach better,
explain earlier and help players turn protection tools into real choices.
0 Comments