Nnanna Chigozie Ewuzie, Compliance Manager at 1xBet Nigeria, took part in the Responsible Gaming Symposium, where he focused on one of the biggest challenges for safer gambling in Africa: players need to understand protection tools before they can use them effectively.

At the Symposium, Nnanna presented 1xBet’s view on player education as a core part of responsible gambling. His remarks were built around insights from 1xBet’s research – Independently Commissioned Player Protection Index, which shows that in many African markets betting is still often seen not only as entertainment, but as a possible source of income.

Education before warnings

Nnanna stressed that responsible gambling tools remain important, but they are not enough on their own. Deposit limits, self-exclusion and time-outs can only work when players understand why these tools exist and how they can help.

“If we want safer play, we must teach, not only warn the players. A tool only works when a player understands it. A limit means nothing if a player does not know why it helps,” Nnanna said.

This was the central idea of his contribution: education turns responsible gambling from formal messaging into a practical choice. When players understand the risks, odds, limits and available protection tools, they are more likely to stay in control.

“Education turns a warning into a choice. It helps a player move from betting for hope to betting with control,” he added.

What the data shows

The Player Protection Index research by 1xBet also points to a wider shift in the industry. According to the findings referenced by 1xBet, 69% of operators now agree that a safer player is more profitable over time. This suggests that player protection is increasingly being seen not only as a regulatory requirement, but as part of long-term business sustainability.

The research also shows that 84% of respondents believe player education is the foundation of safer gambling. At the same time, Simon Westbury, Strategic Advisor to 1xBet, has highlighted that only a small share of operators strongly believe players fully understand what “Positive Play” means.

For Simon, this shows a clear gap between the tools available and the way players understand them.

“Player education was the foundation of safer gambling. Positive play is when the player is educated and informed of their decisions,” Simon said.

He also connected safer gambling with long-term trust between operators and players.

“If you can retain a player and give a player a safe, fun environment to gamble, then they are going to stay with you longer,” he said.

Africa needs local and practical solutions

The discussion also reflected the specific realities of African markets. Regulation, payment habits, languages, digital access and retail betting culture differ across countries. This means safer gambling standards cannot simply be copied from other regions.

The Player Protection Index by 1xBet points to a 56% / 44% split in views on how consistent player protection standards are across markets. For Nnanna, this reinforces the need for a common base that can be adapted locally.

That base should be simple: set limits, understand odds, take breaks and ask for help when needed. Each market can then adapt the language, examples and delivery channels to its own context.

In markets where many players rely on cash or in-person betting, education may need to come through voice, video, visual formats, local languages and shop staff, not only through long text or formal disclaimers.

“Simple words and pictures travel further than long text,” Nnanna noted.

From compliance to real understanding

Both Nnanna and Simon pointed to the same conclusion: safer gambling in Africa must move beyond small print and generic warnings.

The industry still faces real barriers. Simon has noted that 49% of respondents see commercial considerations as a blocker to player protection, while 67% of players are apathetic towards safer gambling and player protection tools. This is why education matters: many players do not use protection tools because they do not see how those tools apply to them.

For Nnanna, operators and regulators need to agree on what good player education looks like. He pointed to three practical steps: a shared standard for education, room to test what works and honest data-sharing.

“We cannot build trust if we only show the good numbers,” Nnanna said.

For Simon, collaboration is also essential. The research shows that 96% of respondents believe safe gambling is only possible through cooperation between operators and regulators. This cooperation should help turn player protection from a compliance requirement into something players can understand and use.

1xBalance and the next step

1xBet’s responsible gambling work also includes 1xBalance, a dedicated project and website focused on education, self-checking and helping players better understand their betting behaviour.

Through the 1xBalance website, players can access simple educational materials, take a self-assessment test and use a budget calculator to better understand their spending habits. The idea is to make player protection softer, clearer and less intrusive.

Instead of treating responsible gambling as a clinical or distant topic, 1xBalance presents it as something practical: a way for players to check themselves, understand their behaviour and make more informed decisions.

This reflects the main message of the Responsible Gaming Symposium: safer gambling will depend on education, cooperation and tools that players can actually understand.

For 1xBet Nigeria, Nnanna Chigozie Ewuzie’s participation showed that responsible gambling in Africa is not only a regulatory issue. It is also a communication challenge, an education challenge and a trust challenge.

The next step is clear: teach better, explain earlier and help players turn protection tools into real choices.