888AFRICA CEO: We can be “a real player on the African continent”
Christopher Coyne remains bullish and resolute on the JV’s chances of success with 888bet in regulated African markets
Christopher Coyne, the CEO of 888AFRICA, has claimed the JV operator has the makings to become “a real player on the African continent” as it enters its second year of operations since the business was formed in March 2022.
888AFRICA – a JV business between industry veterans and FTSE 250 operator 888 – officially launched 888bet just over six months afterwards, in October 2022, across four African markets.
The localised 888bet product debuted in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia and is available in Swahili, Portuguese and English. It also launched with a casino, free-to-play games and had 85% coverage of mobile network operator payments in its markets.
888AFRICA’s leadership team also includes Voxbet chairman and former MD of The Stars Group’s (TSG) sportsbook Andrew Lee, as well as ex-TSG sportsbook trading director Ian Marmion.
Taking to LinkedIn, former TSG CMO Coyne insisted he remains just as bullish on his expectations for the JV and the 888bet brand.
Coyne wrote: “I’ve never been more fired up or excited about my work at any point in my career.
“I know that we can build up a tremendous company over the next four years that will be a real player on the African continent. We’ve [got] great momentum and the parts in place to have a brilliant [second year].”
Looking back over the initial launch, Coyne said the group had seen growth across core KPIs in its short life so far.
He added: “What an awesome year it has been [with] so many highlights, including the build out of the incredible team I work with every day, the foundation and set up in Africa, the new licences work for markets, rolling out our brand to customers in Africa, and the strong growth in customer volumes and revenues that have come.”
When 888bet was rolled out in October, the JV highlighted how the continent’s gambling market is forecast to reach $5.6bn by 20230.
In December, then 888 CEO Itai Pazner said 888AFRICA required independence from the wider group before a potential future integration.
888AFRICA faces a battle in Africa as it goes up against local operators, while the likes of Entain and Betway are both growing in presence in this part of the world.