Features
The growth of Blue Bloods in Africa
Globally, internet adoption has steadily increased over theyears, and Africa has not been left out. Quite the opposite. Thegrowing young population of the continent and uptake ofinternet and smartphone technology have driven the growthof various industries. According to the Global System forMobile Communications Association (GMSA), Africa will have120 million new mobile subscribers by 2023, reaching newheights of a total of 615 million, corresponding to 50 percentof the region’s population. This digital movement is openingup new possibilities that are giving new forms ofentertainment a chance to thrive, one of which is online sportsbetting. It is fair to say that in the past ten years, sportsbetting has emerged all over Africa, and is expected to growwith the digital economy of the world.
Picking up on trends popular in Europe and North America,and with Africa’s love for sports, it is fast becoming an onlinegaming continent. With accessibility increasing, the questionarises: what’s available and which companies are trusted topave the way for wins for the users?
BetKing’s Entry
No matter their culture, language, political persuasion, socialstatus, or race, people across the African continent have onething in common. The shared love for sports – especiallyFootball. Combine that with a population of 1.3billion people,of which around 70% are youths, and you get a highlydesirable market for sports betting operators. In February2018, BetKing launched in Africa, with its first office in Lagos,Nigeria with a solid mission – to create an efficient systemthat enables the quests of its Kings and Kingmakers byproviding the right technology, radical innovation, anduncompromising service to all customers while at the sametime drive as much impact within communities as possible.
BetKing believes everyone is a king and this is reflected ineverything that makes up the brand; from the colours thatsymbolize royalty and wealth, to its excellent service deliverythat is specially designed for Kings and most importantly, anobjective to grow the Kingdom – one King at a time.
Within four years of operating in Africa, the company hasspread its tentacles to other countries in Africa includingEthiopia, Kenya, and just recently, Ghana. Currently servingmillions of customers across Africa, BetKing fast has become afavourite among punters across Africa – despite having accessto a plethora of other bookmakers.
So, what then, has accounted for BetKing’s success acrossAfrica, and to be the platform of choice?
Transforming lives through sports entertainment
A look at the company’s activities would send a clear message–BetKing Cares. Across all markets, BetKing, unlike anyother business, is known as a company that providesentertainment for individuals but is also known forempowerment, transforming lives, and the positive impact thebrand brings to individuals and communities. The company’sgoal is to change the face of sports betting in Africa and indoing so, BetKing remains committed to initiatives thatimprove the conditions of the societies they operate. This hascome to life through various initiatives that cut across –entrepreneurship and employment, sports development, andenvironmental sustainability, to mention a few.
Under the company’s CSR initiative BetKing Cares, whichserves as the cornerstone of the organization’s commitment topositively affecting lives both within and outside of thecommunities it operates in over the past four years, BetKinghas made significant contributions to the socio-economictransformation of Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia. In Nigeria, thecompany rolled out a ‘Month of Good’ initiative designed topositively impact communities. Through collaborations withtwo well-known non-governmental organizations (NGOs) -Market Doctors and the African Clean-Up Initiative (ACI), thecampaign supported medical outreach impacting hundreds ofpeople in significant cities like Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Benin,Enugu, Port Harcourt, and Anambra, as well as beachfrontand drainage clean-up initiatives in some of these cities.
In 2020, the Ethiopian Premier League heralded a new era inEthiopian football with the backing of BetKing andMultiChoice. The investment and partnership aimed toprovide international exposure to the league by givingEthiopian football players a platform through which to putEthiopia on the world football map. In Kenya, BetKinginvested in the renovation of Dagoretti Youth CommunityCentre based in Nairobi’s Kawangware slums.
The Making of ‘Kings’ and ‘Kingmakers’
BetKing’s agent network has enabled thousands of individualsto own their businesses and become their own boss. Theenterprise has enabled the youth amongst these fans to viewsports betting as a business rather than just a game. Thisopportunity creates direct & indirect employment incommunities and the ripple effect leaves a positive impact onthe economy. The agent network has proven invaluable for theyouths involved and most individuals have gone further totestify that the business has a positive impact on theirstandard of living, and soci0- economic well-being. Asidefrom giving thousands of youths the chance to work forthemselves, the company invests in ability building for itsnetwork of agents. A recent collaboration between BetKingand DSTV would offer new agents complimentary DSTVequipment and subscription which reduces setup costs anddrives customer engagement.
BetKing’s unique approach to customer experience and CSRefforts combined with its offer of the biggest odds-on majorleagues with exciting markets across several sports and virtualgames has powered its rapid growth in Africa in just fouryears.
The expansion to Ghana
BetKing’s agenda is not for Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia alone.BetKing is dedicated to changing the face of sports betting inthe whole of Africa – including Ghana. On August 6, 2022,BetKing officially launched in Ghana with a high-levelstakeholder event that presented an opportunity for the brandto reiterate its plans for the Ghanaian market. The Head ofPolicy for the Sports Ministry, Mohammed Sannie Adams, theCommissioner of the Gaming Commission of Ghana, PeterMireku, former Black Stars – Asamoah Gyan, John Paintsiland Samuel Kaffour; the media, and key players from thesports industry were all present at the event, which was heldat MultiChoice Ghana Limited.
As seen in recent years, there is a unique opportunity andtalent in the country to grow Ghana into a world-class sportsecosystem and BetKing hopes to play a major role in thisjourney – with a more dedicated focus on youth. Sincedifferent markets, regions, and communities have differentneeds as opposed to a one size fits all approach, the company’sstrategy is to gain insights into communities in Ghana tounderstand what they need and how BetKing can supportthem. BetKing aims to reach underserved communities toguarantee inclusion for all. As part of the company’s plans,BetKing aims to develop entertainment centres while cateringto their needs and overall ensure value is delivered in animpactful and sustainable way.
Positively affecting communities and bringing excellentresponsible gaming & compliance standards stays BetKing’scollective commitment to sports fans across Ghana andbeyond – and helps ensure sports betting continues to be anexciting, engaging, entertaining, but most of all, impactful ifnot a life-changing experience.
By Gossy Ukanwoke, Managing Director forKingmakers
THE typical itinerant salesman in Sikaman is a herbalist. He is normally a slim macho with the capacity to perambulate the expanse of area covering the triangle of Accra-Tema-Ashiaman. In short, he can walk a total of 60 miles a day, marketing a product that cures every disease, including poverty. 
The door-to-door herbal pharmacist advertises his product by word of mouth. He has nothing to do with the Food and Drugs Board (FDB). After all, his concoctions do not feature on FM stations.
Those herbalists who cannot walk to propagate the herbal gospel, liaise with drivers of mass transportation and their mates. They are, therefore, given the chance to sell their products on Benz buses that ply the routes.
Normally, the herbalist starts his sales message with a prayer and Bible study. He asks the passengers to bow down their heads in supplication to God the father, the son, the Holy Spirit.
When a herbalist asks the passengers to close their eyes and bow their heads, Moslems on board naturally feel offended. They feel that the herbalist has no right to assume that every passenger is a Christian. They think such an assumption is an affront to Islam.
So a Moslem on board will raise the hand for a point of order. He’ll remind the herbalist that it would be in his own interest to mind his language.
“Be careful the way you address people in a public place. Not every person here is a Christian,” he’d state assertively.
Of course, the herbalist will promptly ignore him, but would all the same “watch” his tongue. Who knows whether or not the Moslem brother is inspired by Quoranic zeal to defend the tenets of Islam to the hilt?
When he starts saying, “Wallahi!” and “Inshallah!” it could be the beginning of proclaiming Islam as supreme, a point which must be driven home with talibanic precision.
So the herbalist must tread carefully lest he steps on fire.
The herbalist could even add a measure of mirth to it all, by announcing that Christians on board today have very interesting company on the journey, but that should not detract from the business of the day.
The Moslem brother will weigh the words carefully and offer a wry smile.
He must be careful the occasion does not degenerate into the use of semantics and proverbial oration to deride his conviction that public utterances must be mindful of religious sensibilities. He has made his point very clear and expects that it is taken in good faith in the interest of a peaceful journey.
The herbalist will now open the New Testament and preach salvation, stating clearly that salvation can come only through Jesus Christ and NOBODY else.
The Moslem brother will now start twitching his moustache. The visible and almost revolutionary reflexes of his upper lip can be an indication that sentiments have begun superseding reason, and the outcome could well be tragic now shift uneasily in his seat.
The time has come for him to also express his right to the religion of his fore-bears. He’ll put his hand into his pocket and rise to his feet. The time has indeed come!
This article was first published on Saturday, September 9, 2006
When the cause of a particular problem like sickness, disease, sudden illness, a social issue etc. are not known, it stands to reason that resolving it becomes a huge challenge.
Citizens would understand the government when public announcements are made to the effect that government is trying to find a solution to the issue, even though it is taking a while for it to be resolved because citizens are rational beings.
On the other hand, if the solution to a particular issue is known to everybody but the government for whatever reason, is dragging its feet in resolving it, citizens become frustrated and begin to lose trust in their leaders.
One such issue is the heavy traffic along a section of the Kasoa – Odokor road. A short stretch of bad road between the traffic light at the Weija Government Hospital and the entrance to the entrance of the overhead that leads to the N1, is the cause of the problem but nothing is being done about it, day after day, week after week, month after month. Thus is clearly unacceptable.
Another issue that requires urgent attention is the lack of pavements along a lot of streets in parts of the various Municipal Assemblies. Exercise is a prerequisite for long life and healthy living and for those of us who it has become a way of life, this issue of people putting up structures right to the edge of the drains beside the roads, are making life difficult for us.
We are compelled to walk along the roads, putting our lives at serious risk. Pedestrians should never be compelled to compete with vehicles on our streets and roads. Roads and streets are made for vehicles and pavements are made for pedestrians. That is the norm. Any attempt to normalise a situation where pedestrians are mingling with vehicles is insanity.
It is the road regulations that makes it so and therefore district or municipal assemblies are to take responsibility and ensure that spaces for pavements are not encroached upon. Citizens have rights that must be protected by their leaders and making pavements available to pedestrians, is one of them.
When we hear of teachers having sex with students, it appears it is something recent. It is not a new phenomenon. It has been there since Adam. Perhaps this issue is getting much attention due to the proliferation of social media. It was an open secret in times past when Teachers were in relationships with female students and some married them immediately after completion of school.
Some teachers were also known to be having unholy interactions with female pupils but due to the times that these acts occurred, human rights issues and the awareness around it, allowed such unscrupulous teachers to get away with their crimes.
Now we are in a different era and so a Headmaster is now in hot waters. He is alleged to have raped about 19 female students and as usual, some officials tried to cover it up and are also in hot waters and their actions or inactions in the matter are under investigation.
Why the man has been allowed to roam freely without being arrested is simply mind boggling. It appears that the law applies differently, depending on who you are. This issue came to public attention sometime in August this year, yet the police had not arrested or invited this man for question regarding the rape allegation.
It has come out that he is a Constituency Secretary of the ruling party and the question in the public domain is that, is it because he is a political figure that is why he is still walking around without questioning? I believe in the rule of law so let us hold our breadth and let the proper thing be done.
The police must however be seen to be active in this matter. God bless.
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