iGB@ICE 2026: KingMakers’ vision of the African Market with Ronnie Whelan
Written by admin on January 20, 2026
At ICE Barcelona 2026, Olga Resiga, chief business development officer at SOFTSWISS, was joined by Ronnie Whelan, CEO of KingMakers, for a fireside chat exploring the operator’s strategy and ambitions across Africa.
The African market’s long-term growth potential
Whelan described Africa as a dynamic, high-growth region underpinned by rising smartphone penetration, improving mobile data infrastructure and a young, expanding population. “Those two things combined really give the platform for it to be a successful market,” Whelan says. While many large global operators have historically stayed out of the region, he suggested attention is increasing as growth metrics become harder to ignore.
Why operators must think market by market in Africa
Whelan stressed that Africa is not a single market but a collection of very different jurisdictions. “There should be a customized approach to each market,” Whelan adds. A one-size-fits-all strategy would not be effective. For instance, the South African market is more slot-led, while sports betting dominates in Nigeria.
Looking ahead, Whelan advises peers to enter fewer markets, execute well and avoid burning capital without understanding local demand. He also describes crypto and stablecoins as potentially valuable tools the company is monitoring, but only if adopted responsibly within regulated frameworks.
Watch the iGB@ICE Studio live on the iGB YouTube channel for more interviews and insights.
