Ladipo Abiose Akolade: "We're creating the tool I wish had been available when I needed assistance.

The GamblePause App is a pan-African platform aimed at empowering Africans with practical tools to manage their gambling habits. It offers more than just advice to gamble responsibly. Users can self-exclude, limit their access to gambling sites, receive psychological support, seek local assistance, and report illegal operators. We specifically designed it for Africa, providing support in over 40 African languages. This is crucial because Africa needs solutions tailored to its gambling realities. We can't keep adopting models from other regions and expect them to work here. GamblePause was inspired by personal experience. I spent nine years dealing with gambling-related harm, so I understand the struggle of wanting to quit but lacking the necessary tools and support. We are creating the tool I wish I had when I needed it.

Why do you believe a pan-African model is the right choice? Yes, there are challenges. Africa’s diversity—different regulations, cultures, languages, technologies, and gambling markets—presents a complex landscape. But this diversity is precisely why a pan-African approach is essential. Gambling transcends national borders. Digital platforms, advertising, payment systems, and online betting operate across countries. As the harm crosses borders, our protection strategies must also extend beyond them. We're not imposing a rigid solution on every country. Instead, we're developing a unified protection framework that can be adapted to fit local contexts.