What will fuel the growth of card games in online casinos in Africa
Industry experts Dmitry Starostenkov, Evenbet Gaming, and Gali Hartuv, CEO & Co-founder at WarriorLab, discussed what can fuel the growth of card games in online casinos in Africa. In a webinar with iGaming AFRIKA, Dmitry and Gali expressed their thoughts on what factors would prove to be favourable for the African market.
Game variants, design, language, and payment strategies for Africa
Africa is not a single market; it comprises 50+ countries, so the solutions have to consider social relations and local interests. Having lingual options from Swahili, Yoruba, Zulu, and Arabic languages is very important to having products in English only.
When it comes to payment systems, it is essential to remember that mobile money is quite popular in Africa. Operators should also focus on low-deposit and microtransactional payment options.
When it comes to design and UX, the games should be rethought entirely to be suitable for the African market. The onboarding process, complexity of the games, and training should be different and built from the ground up.
How operators can adapt to connectivity challenges
When we talk about mobile-first, we refer to the fact that between 70-90% of African users are dependent on mobile services. “Mobile connectivity in Africa is also the only means of accessing online gaming. So success highly depends on having a fast and light game, which makes it easily accessible to the market.
In these instances, operators will prioritise speed and simplicity,” says Gali. “This would mean small app sizes, fast table loading, and potentially offline or low-data mode. The player experience must factor in for network disruption to avoid player experiences being interrupted,” he added. Operators should also take it upon themselves to collaborate with local networks.
Overall, it is about meeting the player where they are and not waiting for them to adapt to the nature of the games.
“Innovation should not outpace accessibility”
-Dmitry Starostenkov, Evenbet Gaming
The role of emerging technology in differentiating card game offerings
The most significant emerging technology trend at the moment is Artificial Intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML). “Card games are mainly player vs player experiences, and it is important to utilise technology like AI to employ adaptive match making. This technology will help pair players with similar levels of experience for optimal user experience,” Dmitry points out.
AI/ML also helps detect fraudulent activity, which has become more prominent within the industry. Such technology can also be applied to give players a personalised experience. By looking at the player’s history and experience, AI can tailor-make the best offerings to players.
Blockchain is another emerging technology operators can use to optimise user experience, especially since Africa is a mobile-first continent. This will simplify and speed up payments between the operators and players. “Innovation should not outpace accessibility,” Dmitry added.
Structuring of tournaments and loyalty programmes to drive retention
“In my opinion, retention is not about keeping players playing longer; rather, it is about ensuring they come back,” Gali says. More often than not, there is a misconstrued understanding of what loyalty is with players.
If operators are going to build tournaments that feel alive and inclusive, the objective has to be centred on what card games are trying to drive, which is a sense of community. “Just like any other loyalty programme, you want players to feel a sense of belonging,” Gali points out.
In card games, players love seeing familiar faces, recognisable nicknames, and avatars. When operators couple this aspect with regular tournaments, it goes a long way. Loyalty programmes need to move beyond deposit-based rewards. Recognising that these are games of time and skill shows appreciation of the players behind the screen.
When players feel appreciated, you will notice things like referrals hiking, especially since Africa has a word-of-mouth culture. Community and belonging are the main aspects that drive monetisation because they are organic and not transactional.
Africa’s card game growth depends on localisation, accessibility, and community-led engagement. Ultimately, sustainable growth will come from building inclusive ecosystems that prioritise community, trust, and long-term player value over short-term monetisation.
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