In June 2026, Bola Group launched Chatbet in Africa, a sports betting application entirely based on WhatsApp and the first of its kind in the region.
Users can check odds and place bets anytime by simply sending messages or voice notes within their usual chat interface, without the need to download a dedicated betting app or open a web browser. The process is as seamless as regular chatting.
The operation is very intuitive; users can receive the latest match odds and information by sending a text message, and place bets by sending a voice note, which the system quickly confirms and processes.
Chatbet is powered by ChatLayer Media Technologies and covers major sports such as football and basketball. It initially launched in Zambia and will soon expand to Zimbabwe and Malawi.
📱Innovative design precisely targets the pain points of African users
Firstly, although smartphones are rapidly proliferating in Africa, the cost of mobile data is high, and many users can only afford small data packages. Traditional betting apps or websites typically load many images and live streams, consuming significant data.
By contrast, 🔴 Chatbet operates on WhatsApp and hardly generates additional data usage, making it accessible even to users with unstable network signals or tight data budgets. This opens up opportunities for low-income and rural users in small towns to participate in sports betting.
Before Chatbet, sports betting for many African users mainly relied on offline and relatively simple mobile methods, with most people visiting physical betting shops, such as street or community stores. Although some operators offer SMS betting or basic mobile websites, these methods have significant barriers.
According to research, many Africans have only a few core apps on their phones and are reluctant to try new applications. Surveys show that over half of the young people aged 17-35 have tried sports betting, but the actual frequent participants are largely concentrated in urban areas with better internet access.
Chatbet, based on WhatsApp, can immediately cover all users who have WhatsApp, regardless of network quality.
📱The impact of user convenience in Africa
Secondly, literacy rates also play a crucial role in promoting sports betting in Africa. 🔴The average adult literacy rate in sub-Saharan Africa is only 66%, with some countries even lower. This directly affects users' acceptance of text-heavy applications.
Many users, despite owning smartphones, struggle with reading lengthy texts or navigating complex menus, and many rely more on voice or simple interactions. Chatbet's simple navigation and voice note feature perfectly address this need, allowing users to express their needs directly without navigating through clicks. This is particularly user-friendly for people with varying educational levels, reducing the learning curve.
Furthermore, WhatsApp's penetration rate is extremely high in Africa, exceeding 95% in countries like South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria, making it a primary communication tool for most users.
Bola Group's CEO, Hilton Hasson, views this launch as a significant milestone, "WhatsApp is already in everyone's pocket, data costs make traditional platforms a barrier, and digital services for sports betting in Africa are still far from sufficient. Chatbet solves these issues all at once." The Chatbet team spent six months developing this innovative product for Africa.
The timing of the launch, just before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, is also strategic, as it is the only operator in Africa to support voice note betting, hoping to attract more football fans. As Chatbet introduces more features and launches in more countries, it is expected to become a regular part of many sports enthusiasts' entertainment, offering a new perspective for the industry.
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