“Everyone is obsessed with Nigeria, but there are other countries in Africa,” said Altenar Director and COO Dinos Stranomitis, as the sportsbook software provider prepares to launch an omnichannel sportsbook offering for its new partner in Congo, Wildbets.
Stranomitis explained that for African countries, it’s critical to provide a sportsbook platform that allows clients to collect bets both through physical points of sale (POS) and online channels.
It’s equally important to consider the cost of data plans in many African markets, which is why Altenar has developed both ‘Mobile Full’ and ‘Mobile Lite’ versions of its platform for users.
“When it comes to internet access in these countries, it’s not like what we experience in Europe because mobile data is expensive,” said Stranomitis. “That’s why browsers like Opera Mini are popular, thanks to their data-saving modes that limit heavy page loads.
“If you want to operate in countries like Congo, you must offer a Lite version of the platform, especially for sports betting, which relies heavily on text-based display.
“For instance, it doesn’t use JavaScript and has no automatic refresh. Users need to manually refresh the page to see updated scores because automatic refresh consumes data—something users can’t afford to waste.”
Stranomitis then demonstrated how this setup works for Wildbets mobile users, who first choose between the two platform versions—‘Mobile Full’ and ‘Mobile Lite’.
Their choice often depends on connection quality—whether they’re on the move, using a basic smartphone with limited data, or connected to free Wi-Fi at a betting shop.
Once a selection is made, users can choose ‘Place Bet’ if they’re logged in and want to wager with their account credit, or select ‘Book Bet’ if they prefer to place their bet with a cashier at any of the 200+ Wildbets retail shops.
For those choosing the omnichannel POS option, selecting ‘Book Bet’ triggers a QR code for the cashier to scan. The customer then pays and receives a printed ticket, which can later be redeemed for cash or credited to their account if the bet wins.
Stranomitis added that Altenar has also developed a third component for Wildbets: USSD betting.
For those unfamiliar, USSD allows users to place bets by dialing a dedicated code on their mobile phones—no internet required. Bet details are delivered via SMS, and payment is processed as part of the user’s mobile subscription.
Reflecting on Altenar’s launch with Wildbets, a licensed operator in Congo, Stranomitis concluded: “We’re really pleased to finalize this partnership. I like that it’s a market often overlooked as a key African target.
“Africa is not just Nigeria, Kenya, or South Africa. Congo has developed a licensing process within a proper regulatory framework, and we’re excited to begin working with Wildbets.”
