Morocco brings together the African gambling, lottery and horse racing industry at the 5th Grand Prix d'Afrique
Morocco hosted the fifth edition of the Grand Prix d'Afrique from 10 to 12 September 2026, organised by SOREC and the Association des Loteries d'Afrique (ALA). The meeting brought together delegations and participants from 14 countries between El Jadida and Casablanca, together with operators, international companies and professionals from the gaming, lottery and horse racing sectors.
This year's edition also had an important geographical novelty. After three editions held in Marrakech and moving to Casablanca in 2025, El Jadida hosted the professional days for the first time, while Casablanca was the scene of the closing ceremony and the great equestrian day.
The program began on Thursday, September 10 at the Parc d'Exposition Mohammed VI in El Jadida, where the official opening took place and a B2B exhibition opened its doors that brought together 25 exhibitors, including 10 startups.
The presence of start-ups made it possible to present new solutions to African operators and professionals, incorporating business innovation into a meeting traditionally linked to lotteries and the equestrian sector. African lotteries analyse new consumption habits.
Friday, September 11 was dedicated to the seminar of the Association des Loteries d'Afrique, focused on "Culture, social behaviors and consumption in the African lottery business".
Representatives from different markets analyzed how cultural particularities and social changes are modifying consumer habits and, with them, the evolution of the lottery business on the continent.
The event also addressed the potential and challenges associated with further incorporation of international horse racing content into West African betting markets.
In many of these markets, horse racing bets operate within the scope of state lotteries and through locally managed tote pools. When these betting pools remain closed to external liquidity, their size can condition the volume and variety of international races that it is sustainable to offer.
Among the possibilities raised during these matches is the development of fixed odds horse racing betting as a complement to the traditional tote model. This format could facilitate the incorporation of a greater number of international races and bring the equestrian product closer to consumers who are already familiar with fixed-odds sports betting. It could also help to channel some of the activity that is currently aimed at offshore operators to local regulated markets.
Among the international participants was Racing1, which already supplies racing content to SOREC and attended the meeting representing its portfolio of North American and Turkish races, as well as content from its British and Australian partners. On Saturday, September 12, the event moved to Casablanca for its sporting closing.
The day featured eight races, culminating in the 2026 Grand Prix d'Afrique. With this fifth edition, Morocco is once again positioned as a meeting point between the African lotteries, gambling and horse racing industries, combining business, innovation, international cooperation and equestrian competition for three days.
