Entertainment
Surge in Crypto-Based Betting and Prediction Markets in South Africa
A new wave is sweeping through Africa’s betting landscape, led by the rapid growth of crypto-based betting and prediction markets. This trend was the focus of a recent event hosted by Decentralised News and proudly sponsored by Sportsbet.io at Workshop 17, V&A Waterfront. Attendees, including key industry players, content creators, and local influencers, explored how cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology are transforming the region’s betting market, especially in South Africa.
Crypto Betting Gains Ground in South Africa’s Betting Scene
As a leading hub for sports betting and iGaming on the continent, South Africa is uniquely positioned to embrace the benefits of crypto-based betting. The country’s betting market is experiencing explosive growth, driven by its digitally engaged population and the rising popularity of crypto assets.
“The South African market is ripe for crypto betting. With over 50% of South Africans involved in some form of betting and the market expected to grow to around R35 billion (approximately $2.3 billion USD) by 2025, there’s a significant opportunity for growth,” commented Heath Muchena, founder of Decentralised News. “The increasing adoption of cryptocurrency in South Africa is opening up new, exciting opportunities in the world of betting.”
Prediction Markets: Changing the Game with Blockchain
The event highlighted the transformative potential of crypto-based prediction markets, which leverage blockchain technology to offer a transparent, secure, and decentralized betting experience. These markets allow users to bet on the outcome of a wide range of events, from sports matches to political elections, using smart contracts to ensure fair payouts and eliminate the need for intermediaries.
“Crypto prediction markets are not just a trend; they are a revolutionary step forward in how we bet,” said a Sportsbet.io ambassador who attended the meetup. “They provide bettors with increased transparency, security, and lower fees compared to traditional platforms, making them especially appealing in markets like South Africa, where trust and cost efficiency are critical.”
Mobile Betting: The Heart of Africa’s Betting Boom
One of the key topics of discussion was the surge in mobile betting in South Africa, with nearly 80% of all bets now being placed via mobile devices. This shift reflects broader global trends toward mobile-first experiences and is further fueled by the country’s expanding access to smartphones and mobile internet.
Local gaming influencers provided firsthand insights on how mobile crypto betting is transforming user engagement. “People want convenience and speed, and mobile crypto betting delivers just that, with instant deposits, fast payouts, and access to a global betting community,” said one of the popular local content creators in attendance.
Earning Opportunities: Affiliate Marketing in the Crypto Betting Ecosystem
The event also underscored the lucrative opportunities in affiliate marketing for those promoting crypto betting platforms. Affiliates can earn substantial passive income by referring new users to platforms that offer enticing bonuses and high conversion rates.
“Crypto betting platforms are offering some of the most competitive affiliate deals in the market today,” explained a veteran affiliate marketer. “With the growing interest in crypto betting, content creators and marketers can tap into this trend to build a steady income stream while engaging their audiences with valuable content and offers.”
A Bright Future for Crypto Betting in Africa
As Africa’s digital landscape continues to evolve, the appetite for innovative betting solutions like crypto-based platforms is only expected to grow. The event concluded on a high note, with industry leaders and attendees expressing optimism about the future.
“We’re excited to see how quickly the crypto betting scene is gaining traction in South Africa,” said an attendee. “It’s clear that there is tremendous potential for growth, and we’re thrilled to be part of this journey toward a more decentralized and inclusive betting ecosystem.”
L-R: General Manager, Ebonylife Place, Mr. Michael Williams, Head of the Ebonylife Creative Academy, Mr. Drikus Volschenk, Head Corporate Marketing, LG Electronics, Hari Elluru, Marketing Manager, LG Electronics, Mr. Paul Mba at the LG Electronics and Ebonylife Creative Academy partnership press conference held at Ebonylife Place Victoria Island Lagos today.
LG Electronics (LGE) is proud to announce a strategic partnership with EbonyLife Creative Academy (ELCA), a renowned institution dedicated to nurturing Africa’s next generation of creative talent. This collaboration is designed to support the filmmaking community through state-of-the-art technology and foster the development of world-class cinematic content in Nigeria and across Africa.
Under this exciting partnership, LG Electronics will provide ELCA with top-tier products that will enhance the learning environment and support students in producing high-quality films, leveraging on LG Filmmaker’s mode. The product lineup includes: Several LG OLED TVs, Refrigerator and Microwaves.
At the sign-on ceremony, General Manager, Home Entertainment, TV Division, Mr. Hari Elluru, Head, Corporate Marketing, LG Electronics said, “these products are known for their superior display technology and energy-efficient performance, ensuring that ELCA’s students have access to the best tools to refine their craft, whether they are working on film editing, post-production, or on-set display needs.”
“We are excited to expand our strategic partnership with LG,” said Mr. Drikus Volschenk, Head of The EbonyLife Creative Academy. “This collaboration underscores EbonyLife Creative Academy’s commitment to being at the forefront of delivering filmmakers who can service both the local and international film and television market, and produce content that introduces our unique style of Nigerian story-telling to the world.
This collaboration between LG Electronics and EbonyLife Creative Academy exemplifies a shared commitment to empowering Africa’s creative industry and providing the best-in-class technology to aspiring filmmakers. By leveraging LG’s state-of-the-art products and ELCA’s creative expertise, this partnership is set to revolutionize the filmmaking experience for students and professionals alike.
The ‘FILMMAKER MODE’ on LG’s premium smart TVs, already a favorite among movie directors worldwide, showcases the director’s intent and preserves the artistic vision and creative nuances of every film. With unparalleled picture quality, impressive contrast, and vibrant colors, LG OLED TVs ensure an immersive cinematic experience.
LG OLED TVs, LG’s premium Smart TV offer, are the ideal choice for playing first person shooters, real-time strategy titles and racing games as they ensure immaculate HDR picture quality, deep blacks and precise colors courtesy of self-lit pixels. What’s more, LG OLED’s ultra-fast 0.1 millisecond response time and extremely low input lag without picture quality loss gives gamers the edge they need to win every time.
The second edition of the Entertainment, Media, Technology and Arts (EMTA) Conference and Awards 2024 curated by BAO Live, an event division of leading media and brand consulting company, Business Africa Online (BAO) concluded on a high note. EMTA 2024 brought together industry leaders, innovators, and creatives for a day of insightful discussions, networking, and celebration. The pivotal event was held on Friday 30th August at The Wheatbaker Hotel Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria.
This year’s EMTA conference and awards themed ‘Redefining Entertainment and Media Business In A World of AI’ kicked off with a welcome address from Joy Harrison Abiola, BAO Board Advisor. The event featured a keynote address from Victoria Abiola Ajayi, Group CEO TVC Communications. Victoria shared her insights on the topic; Unlocking New Growth in Media and Entertainment Business.
Joy Harrison-Abiola (BAO Board Advisor).
Victoria Abiola Ajayi (Group CEO, TVC Communications)
The interactive panel sessions featured notable speakers; as Mary Ephraim-Egbas of Homelands Films, Ike Nnaebue of LP House of Creatives, Judith Audu of Judith Audu Productions, Dr. Bada Akintunde-Johnson of Paramount Africa, Ladun Awobokun of FilmOne, Israel Obatunde of Ideas Origin Media and Ebele The Flutist (Nigeria’s Foremost Female Flutist). The panel topics discussed were Beyond the screen: Unraveling the prospects in the film industry and Storytelling: Reimaging media and content production.
L-R: Joy Harrison Abiola, Dr. Bada Akintunde-Johnson, Ayomide Idogun, Ladun Awobokun, Israel Obatunde and Ebele The Flutist.
L-R: Joy Harrison-Abiola, Moses Agochuckwu, Alaba Ayinuola, Mary Ephraim-Egbas, Judith Audu and Ike Nnaebue.
The panel hosts; Moses Agochukwu of Silverbird Film Distribution and Ayomide Idogun of Lightning Sports were excellent moderators. The Showcase experience featured Michael Odiong of Premier Records Limited as he shared his insight on talent development, marketing and the impact of Premier Records in The African music industry. Attendees gained valuable insights into the latest trends and innovations shaping the entertainment and media landscape.
The awards ceremony honored outstanding achievements with six (6) winners announced. Notable winners; Obi Asika (Director General/CEO of National Council for Arts & Culture, Nigeria) and Victoria Abiola Ajayi (Group CEO of TVC Communications) took home the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award and Exemplary Leadership Award (Media) respectively, recognizing their exceptional contributions to the industry. Other winners are; Mary Ephraim-Egbas (Industry Champion Award – Film), LG NIGERIA ELECTRONICS (Smart Tech & Innovation Leadership Award), Ideas Origin Media (Design & Creative Excellence Award) and Premier Records Limited (Recording Legacy Company Award).
“We’re thrilled with the success of this year’s conference and awards. It was a fantastic opportunity for professionals to connect, learn, and celebrate the best in entertainment, media, technology and arts. Preparations are in gear to make EMTA 2025 even much more a bigger success.” said Alaba Ayinuola, Publisher & CEO at BAO.
The event was made possible through the support of sponsors and partners. Ideas Origin Media and LG ELECTRONICS NIGERIA as the Gold sponsors. And TVC Communications, Premier Records Limited, Olokpo App and GAIA Africa as partners. The event compere Segun Akinola (MC SHEGAZY) was exceptional.
For more information, please visit BAO Live. Join the conversation on social media using #EMTA2024 #BAOEMTA2024.
The LG K-POP Grand Finale concluded with a flourish, igniting the stage with electrifying performances, jaw-dropping special effects, and the immense talent of the winners. The highly anticipated event, brought to you by LG Electronics, saw some of the biggest names in K-POP compete fervently for the ultimate prize. The energy inside the venue was palpable as an enthusiastic audience cheered on their favorite groups during this unforgettable grand finale.
The competition, held today, showcased a stellar lineup of 80 incredibly talented performers since April who left no stone unturned in their pursuit of glory. This unique event marked a milestone starting from Ibadan, Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt where the hearts and souls of the passionate youths went into giving so much to display their innate talents. For LG Electronics, combining the love for cutting-edge technology with the immense popularity of K-POP music was the main gain. The journey culminated in the semi-finals held in these cities, where 18 exceptionally talented teams earned their place in the grand finale.
‘femmeforce’, 1st runner-up in the dance category of the lg k- pop 2024 grand finale held at eko hotel and suites, victoria island, Lagos, today.
‘movematics’, 2nd runner-up in the dance category of the lg k- pop 2024 grand finale held at eko hotel and suites, victoria island, lagos
Expressing his delight at the grand success of the event, the Managing Director, LG Electronics West Africa, Mr. Hyoung Sub Ji, “The LG K-POP Fiesta 2024 is a celebration of not only incredibly talented K-POP enthusiasts but also the rich tapestry of global culture. Building on our brand identity, which transcends generations, we would like to develop deeper relations with Gen Z by making their lives better through innovative products like LG XBOOM for immersive sound experiences and meaningful integrated marketing campaigns. With K-POP, we bring them a great multi-dimensional platform that combines the best of audio-visual entertainment and power-packed performances.”
“We are immensely proud to have brought this exhilarating event to life. It was an incredible showcase of talent, passion, and the harmonious blending of innovation and entertainment. LG Electronics remains committed to supporting the K-POP culture and nurturing the talents of tomorrow, most especially our ability to bring to life the bond between Korea and Nigeria.” He added.
L-r: mr. Hyoung sub ji, managing director, lg electronics west africa, hassan fouani, head of marketing, fouani, presenting the cheque to ohwodiasa omamuyovwi ” mamus” 1st prize winner in the music category of the lg k- pop 2024 grand finale held at eko hotel and suites, victoria island, lagos.
Twelve million naira was awarded to the winners – three million naira apiece for placing first in singing and dance. The first and second runners-up in each category received two and one million naira, respectively.
‘Mamus’ of Port Harcourt won first place in the vocal category, while the dance category was won by the group ‘Limitless Supreme 6’ from Port Harcourt. The finalists in the dance category included ‘Femmeforce’ from Lagos, 1st runner up, and ‘Movematics’ from Lagos 2nd runner up. “In the vocal category, the 1st runner and 2nd runner up included ‘Kcee’ from Port Harcourt and ‘Shammah’ from Port Harcourt.
In his remark, Mr. Hari Elluru, Head of Corporate Marketing said, “We are grateful to the youth & Gen Z for making the event a grand success. Through our recent global campaign of Life’s Good, we are encouraging customers to have a positive outlook on life & music certainly plays a significant role in uplifting the human spirit. We are deeply grateful for the tremendous interest and love shown by all the participants in the K-POP contest and the enthusiastic audience who attended. K-POP has transcended boundaries, becoming a powerful means of cultural exchange not only within Korea but also with people around the world. We aspire to offer dreams and hope to the youth of Nigeria through the magic of K-POP.
‘kcee’, 1st runner-up in the music category of the lg k- pop 2024 grand finale held at eko hotel and suites, victoria island, lagos
shammah’, 2nd runner-up in the music category of the lg k- pop 2024 grand finale held at eko hotel and suites, victoria island, lagos
The event was seamlessly hosted by V J Adams, an emcee with extensive experience, and was graced by the esteemed presence of Nollywood actors Ruth Kadiri and Susan Peters and judging by Nigerian singer and songwriter Ric Hassani and renowned award-winning dancer Kaffy.
The LG K-POP will forever remain etched in the memories of those present, as a testament to the boundless creativity, talent, and technological excellence that LG Electronics consistently delivers.
All the performances were met with thunderous applause and praise from the judges, solidifying their position as one of the most talented and popular K-POP artists right now.
