Africa’s gaming industry stepped onto the football pitch for a cause this weekend, as the iGaming AFRIKA Summit 2026 hosted its inaugural Charity Football Tournament at Goan Gymkhana in partnership with Choplife Gaming.
The event brought together six teams from across the gaming and sports ecosystem, including participants from Mayfair Casino Nairobi and former Harambee Stars players. Over the course of the afternoon, matches blended competitive grassroots football with corporate participation, as teams competed in support of a sanitation-focused fundraising drive.
Organisers say the event aims to raise USD 10,000 (approximately Sh1.2 million) to support the construction of sanitation facilities in informal settlements across Africa, with Kenya serving as the initial focus market.
While one team ultimately lifted the winner’s prize of USD 1,000 (approximately Sh129,000) and runners-up received USD 500 (Approximately Sh65,000), organisers stressed that the financial awards were secondary to the wider purpose of the tournament.
“Football has always been the language of the streets. It belongs to the young people who grow up with a ball at their feet and a dream in their hearts,” said Jeremiah Maangi of iGaming AFRIKA. “Every contribution raised here goes toward improving the communities that produce this talent. If we are building an industry on this continent, we must build the communities around it.”
Choplife Gaming, the headline partner for the initiative, described the tournament as part of its broader commitment to social investment within the markets where it operates. The company, which runs licensed gaming and sports betting operations across East Africa, said sanitation remains a critical but often overlooked development issue.
“Sanitation is not a luxury. It is a basic human right,” said Choplife Gaming CEO Oluwatosin Ajibade. “Many informal settlements still lack access to proper toilets, and that reality cannot be ignored. This partnership connects our industry with a cause that has real, measurable impact.”
The tournament also marked the formal launch of iGaming AFRIKA’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme. The initiative will focus on community infrastructure, youth empowerment, and talent development across Africa, with plans to expand the charity football format to other cities in East and West Africa.
Organisers say the CSR arm will become a permanent feature of the annual iGaming AFRIKA conference calendar, positioning social impact alongside industry networking and business development.
The move comes as Africa’s gaming sector continues to grow rapidly, attracting increased investment and regulatory attention. Industry stakeholders say initiatives like this reflect a broader push to demonstrate that the sector can contribute beyond commercial growth.
According to organisers, the long-term goal is to scale similar community-driven projects across the continent, linking industry events with tangible local development outcomes.